ASK THE PROS: CLG'S ZIONSPARTAN

Ask The Pro is an ongoing series on lolesports.com, where we ask a pro player questions from the community. The player then picks the next pro the community will get to ask questions. Be sure to follow us on Twitter to submit your questions for the next Q&A!

In our last Ask The Pro interview, we talked with Alliance's Wickd about changing teams in 2014, top lane tactics, and his top-secret Irelia strategies.

He also had a question for Counter Logic Gaming's new top-lane transfer, ZionSpartan.

Wickd: Zionspartan, my favorite NA top laner, how does it feel to be one of the few carry tops left?

ZionSpartan: I'm the type of player that's always looking to be ahead of the curve and the meta. I'm also the type of player that's not afraid to take the risk of playing the less safe carry top laners because I believe in my own ability and the ability of my team to help set me up to carry the game.

ALL THROUGH THE CLG HOUSE

Brad: How do you think your top lane carry style will affect CLG?

ZS: It's going to be a whole new CLG! I'm going to incorporate my playstyle as well as I can with the rest of the team, so everything works together nicely. There will be times where I play carries, and times where I play tanks. It all depends on whatever gives us the best chance of winning.

Spirits: How will you make sure you're still able to make big plays on this new team?

ZS: I always look to make plays. Thats just how I play. So regardless of whatever team I end up on, you can always expect me to make plays. Or at least try….

Kurisu: What are two differences that you've noticed between the Dignitas and CLG houses?

ZS: The CLG house is a lot cleaner. The DIG house had Imaqtpie's hair laying around everywhere, which made the place a mess at times. The CLG house is also more spacious because it is a compound, while the DIG house is just a decent regular house.

NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THEIR TOP LANES

Keven: When should a top laner use Teleport, and why?

ZS: In competitive, Teleport is a must-have summoner spell, because of the significant increased impact it allows a top laner to have in the game. In previous seasons, when Ignite was often used instead of Teleport, top lane would be the island on the map. Teleport is the boat that takes you from the island to the mainland and allows the top laner to more directly affect the game. In solo queue, however, Ignite is fine because it's much harder to coordinate Teleport, and snowballing your lane is usually much more beneficial in solo queue.

Mailbox: What do you think of Jax and what runes/masteries would you run on him?

ZS: I think Jax has always been good, even after the nerfs. The problem is that whenever a champion that was good gets nerfed, people stop playing it just because it got nerfed. The opposite is true for champions that get minor buffs, giving them the attention they need to become viable.

Mariner: What are the top three champions that I should be comfortable with if i want to main top lane?

ZS: I think a lot of people get stuck on trying to main the "meta" or "best" champions. I think the best thing to do is just play champions that you enjoy playing, and if it so happens that there are strong champions that you also like playing, such as Rumble, Gnar, Maokai, etc., then you get the best of both worlds.

Brett: Who is your favorite champion, and who is your least favorite champion to play against?

ZS: My favorite champion has to be Yasuo or Riven. My least favorite champions to play against are Yorick and Teemo….

VISIONS OF LCS DANCED IN THEIR HEADS

Patryk: What do you think separates LCS-level top laners from high challenger ones?

ZS: They generally understand how to win the game better and play accordingly. A lot of the challenger players are fresh out of solo queue and have many bad habits for competitive play.

Austin: If you could make your dream LCS team, who would be on it?

ZS: My dream team is the CLG roster I am on right now *smile*.

Francisco: Which champions do you think will appear in Season 5 LCS top lanes? Will the tanky meta come back?

ZS: In season 5, I feel there are a plethora of top lane champions of all kinds that are viable - tank, mage, carry, bruiser.

Dave: What do you think of the changes going into Season 5?

ZS:I actually like season 5 a lot at the moment. Top lane is a lot more fun than it was season 4 for me personally.

Truth: If you could pick any champion to instantly become meta, who would it be and why?

ZS: I wish Akali would be meta. But the problem is that, with her kit, if she is ever good competitively, then she is too good. She was the first champion I ever played.

I KNEW IN A MOMENT IT MUST BE ZIONSPARTAN

Peta: Pick one for each - one champion to be, one champion to date, and one champion to be your best friend.

ZS: I would be Yasuo. I would date Urgot and tell him that he's beautiful on the inside. And my best friend would be Amumu.

Saf: What does your teacher call you?

ZS: Fire this guy for asking this question....

LoLesports: What pro player do you want to answer questions next? Would you like to ask him anything?

ZS: I would like to ask Cloud 9's top laner, Balls, what the most memorable event of his esports career has been so far.

Josh Augustine's favorite champion is Rek'Sai, he's never enjoyed a Darius, and he will likely be fired for asking that question. He currently works as a game designer on EverQuest Next at Sony Online Entertainment. He’d love to talk with you on Twitter.

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