DNS secures victory despite trailing in kills against Hextech Soul advantage

DN SOOPers just proved that spreadsheets don’t win League of Legends games. Down 8 kills and staring at an opponent armed with Hextech Soul, DNS pulled off the kind of comeback that makes you question whether any lead in this game is ever truly safe.

The 2026 LCK season match saw DNS enter a pivotal teamfight with virtually every measurable stat working against them. They came out the other side with a win, flipping what looked like a comfortable opponent advantage into pure chaos in the span of a few seconds.

One fight to rule them all

For anyone unfamiliar with League of Legends economics, being down 8 kills is not a minor inconvenience. Each kill grants gold, experience, and map pressure to the team that secures it. Stack 8 of those advantages together and you’re looking at a team that should have meaningful leads in items, levels, and overall combat power.

Then layer on Hextech Soul. Dragon souls in League of Legends are earned by slaying four elemental drakes before the opposing team, and they grant permanent, team-wide buffs for the rest of the game. Hextech Soul specifically provides chain lightning and a slow effect on abilities and attacks, making teamfights significantly more dangerous for the team on the receiving end.

Context makes this even wilder

This wasn’t some dominant team having a bad game and pulling out a scrappy win. DNS, formerly known under identities including Afreeca Freecs and Kwangdong Freecs, has been one of the LCK’s most beleaguered rosters in recent memory. The organization endured an 18-game losing streak before managing to string together some victories this season.

The LCK, Korea’s premier League of Legends league, is widely considered the most competitive domestic league in the world. Teams like T1 and Gen.G have set the standard for years.

The Hextech Soul debate

DNS’s victory has reignited a familiar conversation within the League of Legends community: just how decisive should dragon souls be?

Dragon souls were designed to be powerful rewards for teams that prioritize objective control throughout the mid-game. But when a team with Hextech Soul and an 8-kill lead can still lose off a single fight, it raises questions about whether the system achieves its intended purpose.

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