Kai’Sa keeps getting picked at Worlds, but they keep losing

Kai’Sa is not only most picked bot laner, but it’s the most picked champion altogether so far in the Worlds 2023 Main Event. It’s been picked in 19 games, yet it’s only been on the winning side in six of those.

So why do teams keep playing it?

Esports.net took the opportunity to ask some of the players and staff at the tournament for their thoughts, leading to some difference of opinion.

GALA stresses the importance of runes and team comp

One of those quizzed on the pick was LNG Esports bot laner GALA, who spoke following his team’s loss to JD Gaming. Kai’Sa was picked in all three games that series, GALA losing with it in game one before Ruler picked it in the following games with one win and one loss.

Despite the losses, GALA spoke positively of the champion, explaining how he finds it a “pretty good” pick, though “she needs a really good comp around her.” He added the the choice of “runes for Kai’Sa are really important.”

The choice of keystone runes seems split between Hail of Blade and Lethal Tempo. Hail of Blades has been used in nine matches and won only twice (22.2% winrate) while Lethal Tempo has been played in 10 matches, winning four (40% winrate).

Read also: Yike and Gala seek different opponents in next Worlds 2023 round

Deft not sold on Kai’sa like the rest

One AD carry that is yet to play the champion at all in this tournament is current-Worlds holder Deft. He’s the only bot laner in the Main Event to have not yet played either Kai’Sa or Xayah, the two bot lane mainstays. Perhaps unsurprising then was his blunt assessment when asked by Esports.net for his thoughts on the Kai’Sa pick.

“I think we saw a lot of Xayah/Kai’Sa matchup and in that matchup — I can say for sure — Kai’Sa is not a good pick.“

He added that there are currently few champions to blind pick in the bot lane and it seems that Kai’Sa is one that teams are comfortable choosing.

However, of the 19 games of Kai’Sa so far, only nine of those were blind picked – with four wins and five losses (44.4% winrate). In contrast, there were 10 times Kai’Sa was used as a counter-pick, claiming only two wins (20% winrate). Eight out of the ten counter-picks were in response to Xayah, including the two victories (25% winrate as a Xayah counter-pick).

Read next: Deft and Adam discuss Dplus vs. BDS duel, rest of Worlds 2023

MAD Pad gives some insight into the stats

Another Worlds attendee that we asked about the pick was MAD Lions interim head coach Pad. His side is one of a few that haven’t played the champion at all so far in the tournament. Like Deft, Pad also cited is blind pickability as a possible reason for it’s presence.

“I would guess the general assumption is that in draft, at some point, you’re going to have to blind pick something, and that kind of seems to be how teams are treating Kai’Sa – as the sacrificial blind pick… Who knows, maybe if Xayah is out and Kai’Sa is still being played, she’ll raise in wins, but it certainly seems like it’s the Jinx of former tournaments or Apehlios of former tournaments. Usually when a champion is being picked blind a lot, there’s a pretty big correlation between that and losing unless the champion is massively overpowered.”

The clearest pattern between winning and losing with Kai’Sa is perhaps the clearest pattern being seen across the board at Worlds – red side vs blue side. Blue side teams have won 77% of games during the Swiss stage, something that hasn’t surprised Pad.

“The favorites of the tournament… have been having a lot of blue side games. Which makes sense because they’re higher seeds.”

When Kai’Sa is picked on blue side — by the presumed better teams — is has won five out of seven matches (71% winrate). When played on red side — by the presumed weaker teams — it has won only once from 12 (8.3% winrate). The single red side win was claimed by JD Gaming, the tournament favorites.

Read next: LoL Worlds Picks and Bans: What is the meta be like?