Royal Never Give Up. If you’ve followed professional League for more than a week, you know the name. You know the gold-and-black jerseys. Honestly, you probably still have visions of Uzi kiting through a chaotic teamfight at 2018 MSI. For years, RNG League of Legends was the final boss of the LPL. They weren't just a team; they were a philosophy built on aggressive Chinese skirmishing and an almost fanatical devotion to protecting their ADC.
But things are different now.
If you look at the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the "Royal" part of the name feels a bit like a cruel joke. The powerhouse that once collected Mid-Season Invitational trophies like they were cheap souvenirs has spent recent splits languishing near the bottom of the standings. It’s a fall from grace that serves as a cautionary tale for every big-budget organization in esports. Success isn't permanent. Money dries up.
The Identity That Defined a Region
RNG basically invented the "Protect the Puppy" strategy. It was simple: get Jian "Uzi" Zi-Hao ahead, and he would carry. It worked because Uzi was, quite frankly, a mechanical god. When you have the best pure laner in the history of the game, you don't need a Plan B. This approach didn't just win games; it defined the LPL's international reputation as a bloodthirsty league that prioritized micro-skills over the slow, methodical macro-play popularized by Korea’s LCK.
RNG League of Legends became the pride of China because they did it with an all-Chinese roster. While other teams like EDG or Invictus Gaming were importing Korean superstars like Rookie or PawN, RNG stuck to their guns. They wanted to prove that a domestic roster could conquer the world.
And they almost did.
Their 2018 run was legendary. They won LPL Spring. They won MSI. They won LPL Summer. They were the heavy favorites heading into Worlds, and then... the G2 Esports upset happened. Perkz’s LeBlanc happened. That loss didn't just end a tournament run; it fractured the aura of invincibility that had surrounded the organization.
The Post-Uzi Era and the MSI Paradox
When Uzi retired in 2020 due to health issues, everyone thought RNG was done. I mean, how do you replace a guy who was the team’s identity?
Surprisingly, they pivoted. They moved Xiaohu—their veteran mid laner—to the top lane. It was a move that sounded like a desperate "Hail Mary" at the time. Yet, it worked brilliantly. Xiaohu’s understanding of wave management and his deep champion pool turned him into a top-lane menace.
This led to a bizarre period of dominance where RNG League of Legends became the undisputed kings of the Mid-Season Invitational. They won in 2021 against DK. They won again in 2022 against T1. They are the only team to have three MSI titles.
💡 You might also like: Marvel Rivals Emma Frost X Revolution Skin: What Most People Get Wrong
But there’s a catch.
Despite being the kings of May, they could never translate that into a Summoner’s Cup. The "MSI Curse" became a recurring theme for the fans. They would dominate the mid-year international event, return to China, and then slowly lose steam as the meta shifted toward the end of the year.
Financial Turmoil and the 2024 Collapse
You might be wondering: "If they were winning MSI as recently as 2022, how did they fall so far?"
The answer isn't just about gameplay. It's about the bank account.
Esports is an expensive business. RNG spent years paying massive salaries to retain top-tier talent. By late 2023 and early 2024, the rumors of financial instability became impossible to ignore. There were reports of unpaid salaries, legal battles with former players, and a staggering amount of debt. At one point, the organization's CEO even went on a livestream to discuss the "financial crisis," suggesting they would sell digital collectibles and NFTs just to keep the lights on.
It was messy.
When the money ran out, the stars left. Ming, the legendary support and the "heart" of the team, departed. Xiaohu went to Weibo Gaming. Wei, the jungle prodigy, eventually moved on to BLG.
What was left was a hollowed-out version of the former champions. The 2024 LPL season saw RNG League of Legends struggling to even make the playoffs. They weren't just losing; they were getting stomped. The aggressive, confident style that made them famous was replaced by a hesitant, fearful approach. It’s hard to play with confidence when you aren't even sure if your organization will exist in six months.
Why Fans Still Care (And Why You Should)
Despite the losses, RNG still has one of the largest fanbases in the world. People don't just stop supporting a team because they hit a rough patch. There’s a deep-seated loyalty to the brand.
📖 Related: Finding the Right Words That Start With Oc 5 Letters for Your Next Wordle Win
Part of it is nostalgia for the Uzi era. Part of it is the respect for what they represented for Chinese League of Legends. They were the ones who finally broke the Korean stranglehold on international play.
There’s also the underdog story. Everyone loves a comeback. Even now, when they sign a new rookie or pull off a surprising 2-0 win against a top-tier team, social media explodes. People want RNG to be good again. The LPL feels more "right" when RNG is a threat.
But we have to be realistic. The current LPL landscape is dominated by teams with massive corporate backing—names like JDG (JD.com), BLG (Bilibili), and TES (Top Esports). RNG, as an independent organization, is fighting an uphill battle against giants who can outspend them ten to one.
Technical Breakdown: What Went Wrong on the Rift?
If we look at the actual gameplay, the RNG League of Legends decline is a masterclass in failing to adapt to a changing game.
League of Legends has moved away from the "four-protect-one" style. In modern League, you need threats across the entire map. You need a mid laner who can roam, a top laner who can carry on picks like Camille or Jax, and a jungler who can facilitate everyone.
RNG stayed stuck in their old ways for too long. Even after Uzi left, they tried to force their new ADCs—like GALA or LP—into that same mold. GALA was incredible, don't get me wrong. His Kai'Sa penta-kills were the stuff of legend. But the game evolved.
The 2024 meta favored "heavy" mid-jungle synergy and lane-swaps that required immense communication. RNG’s younger rosters lacked the veteran leadership to navigate these complex macro-rotations. They would often win the early game through sheer mechanics but lose the game at the 25-minute mark because they didn't know how to close.
- Shotcalling Void: Without Ming or Xiaohu, the team lost its voice.
- Drafting Issues: Often stuck on "comfort" picks rather than meta-defining powerhouses.
- Mental Pressure: The weight of the RNG name is heavy. Young players often crumbled under the expectation of being the "next big thing."
The Roadmap for a Potential Resurrection
Can RNG League of Legends ever return to the top?
It's not impossible, but it requires a total "ground-up" rebuild. They can't buy their way back to a trophy anymore. They have to scout. They have to find the next generation of talent in the Chinese solo queue and develop them.
👉 See also: Jigsaw Would Like Play Game: Why We’re Still Obsessed With Digital Puzzles
We’ve seen it before with teams like DRX or T1’s younger iterations. You find a core of hungry, talented rookies and give them the time to grow without the immediate pressure of winning a championship.
The organization also needs to settle its off-rift drama. Stability in the front office leads to stability on the stage. If the players are worried about whether the team is going bankrupt, they aren't going to be focused on hitting their Smite timings.
Actionable Takeaways for the RNG Fan
If you're still rooting for the Black and Gold, here’s how to follow the journey without losing your mind:
1. Watch the LDL (The Challenger League)
Keep an eye on Royal Club (RNG's academy team). This is where the future lies. If a player starts smurfing in the LDL, there’s a good chance they’ll be on the main roster by the next split.
2. Adjust Your Expectations
The days of RNG being an automatic title contender are over for now. Celebrate the small wins. A 2-1 victory over a middle-of-the-pack team is progress.
3. Follow Independent Sources
LPL news can be hard to track if you don't speak Mandarin. Follow reliable English-language LPL scouts and analysts on X (formerly Twitter) like @Hanyi or @LPLEnglish. They often provide the context that the broadcast misses regarding the organization's internal status.
RNG League of Legends is currently in its "darkest timeline" phase. It’s painful for long-time fans, but it's also a part of the natural cycle of sports. No dynasty lasts forever. Whether they become a permanent bottom-tier team or rise from the ashes remains to be seen, but their impact on the history of the game is already written in stone. You can't tell the story of League of Legends without Royal Never Give Up.
The kings might be down, but the history books still remember their reign. For now, we just wait to see if they can ever find that old magic again.
Next Steps for Deep Understanding:
To truly understand the current state of RNG, you should compare their recent match history against teams like BLG or JDG. Look at the gold leads they often throw away in the mid-game; it highlights the exact shotcalling issues mentioned above. Additionally, keep a close watch on the 2026 off-season roster rumors, as the organization's ability to retain talent will be the ultimate indicator of their financial health.