SEN Impact: “[Last year], I lost passion, and I won’t be like that anymore. I feel like I’m alive, you know?”
Interview conducted after SEN’s victory over TLAW, Feb 7, 2026.
Q: Was there anyone tilted after the Game 1 rune problems?
Impact: We’re not tilted. We just talked about whether we made mistakes. For example, that game problem Pantheon tried to engage too early. So, we get sucked in. So, [when to] buy most matters. We talk about, okay, so people need to communicate more about tempo. Someone has tempo or not.
So, we can decide [when to take better fights]. That’s how we [wanted to review] it, I think. I think no one has a mental problem. I think people are not emotional.
Q: I thought SEN drafts got stronger over the series — like I thought Lee Sin looked really useless in Game 3. Thoughts on Goldenglue’s drafts?
Impact: I mean, I was pitching them, you know. I said, just give Rumble. I think this guy [Morgan] wanted Rumble no matter what, because I know he has a hard time second game. So, he wanted to pick a safe pick. That’s the Rumble.
So we can get [a stronger] jungler. So I said let’s trade, that’s fine, you know? And even if they pick jungler, I have trust, I believe [in] myself too, I can play [against] Rumble well. So then, [it’s] man against man, you know? Who’s gonna play better?
Q: Yeah, you give him the Rumble because you know it’s coming.
Impact: Yeah, that’s why I’m playing Ornn. I think Ornn’s kind of low tier compared to other top laners like Aurora or like K’sante against Rumble — but I think [he’s still strong for] teamfight stuff. That’s why I choose Ornn.
Q: Do you think it’s just easier for SEN to play around a tank top/bruiser jungle? It looked a lot smoother in those games.
Impact: I think that’s kind of frustrating, in my opinion. It’s like not true because first game actually we lose because I don’t have prio and it’s same thing, you side situation.
Anyway, Ambessa TP early first and kill them all. [Whether I’m] a tank or not doesn’t matter with that situation. [Game 1], Aatrox was best because we need more damage and bruiser — I choose Aatrox. I was thinking of Gwen, but they [banned] the Gwen.
Second game, we were looking like ranged support. Then, okay Sion is best — [that’s] big tank against Renekton too. And it’s not like I choose… I don’t want to be like, “Oh I have to play tank.” I played tank [when] it’s right spot. You cannot play tank in the wrong spot. For example, if we play Alistar, I cannot play tank. Alistar is going to lose the lane. I have to prio. You have to balance all this. Second game, third game looks good because we make the balance well.
Q: So, after beating TL, are you guys Top 4? Top 3?
Impact: I’m not sure. I think [it’ll depend on] who’s gonna learn and improve more. Because like, I think we are improved a lot of our teamfight stuff more. I think everyone have no problem with the emotional thing, like mentally bad. I think it’s always, I cannot say who is the best.
I mean, everyone gonna say C9 is the best and FlyQuest is 2nd maybe something like that, but FlyQuest I’m not sure too. I think it’s up to how we can improve in the decision. I don’t care that much about rank you know. People say TL good. I mean if TL, I hope TL think they’re good, because then they’re not getting better.
But I think I know TL is not gonna do like that — they’ll try to improve more.
Q: Yeah, but you want them to think they’re good, so they don’t improve as fast as you — they get complacent. It’s a good mindset.
Impact: I mean not [for SEN to win]. I mean for fun. […] Watching them is kind of fun, like, “Oh TL’s have a hard time because they think they’re good, and they’re not improved.” [But] I think they’re not like that. I know they’re TL, so.
[Still], I don’t care [about] other team now to be honest. I won’t focus on other team.
Q: How do you help incorporate DARKWINGS into comms?
Impact: Me and Huhi are speaking both. For example, Viktor, I want to push bot wave and go into top. And I say, oh, I speak Korean after. I speak English first. When Isaac [Darkwings] needs to understand what I’m going to do, the tempo, side tempo. I’m trying to speak more English at that time, but if I have to focus jungle and mid, like for example, “I [want to] get turret now, this kind of timing,” then I speak Korean first. Because Isaac doesn’t need to understand their own parts. I choose when I have to talk.
Q: But, then you guys are generally translating it for him, you and Huhi?
Impact: I think, yeah, most likely. But I think we speak… Yeah, I think so.
Q: But during teamfights, you don’t have time to translate, right?
Impact: They understand basic English actually. So, it’s we going, where we back kiting back, play slow. Okay. He understand everyone.
Q: So, teamfights are English.
Impact: Yeah. English. Everyone speak English in teamfight. I think if it’s too hectic, [we] sometimes speak Korean.
Q: For the Baron play, where everyone went around the pit and stopped hitting, was that communicated in Korean, or English?
Impact: Me and HamBak said that we should stop HP like 4k, 3k.
Q: Yeah. You stopped at exactly 4k. It was 4001.
Impact: Yeah. And I said, oh, Corki can jump with Rakan E. I asked Corki, I think I speak Korean at the time, “Can you jump? Rakan has E and Lee Sin no kick, so,he could jump in” — and he said yes and we jumped in. I think we speak Korean at the time mostly.
Q: That’s interesting — it’s a complex plan, DARKWINGS is dead, so you can afford to do it all in Korean.
Impact: Yeah. I think [we normally] speak English first, like “We’re gonna stop at 4k HP.” After, I think, detail-wise, I speak Korean to them; “Then, Corki can jump, or Rakan can E, to go to that bush, no matter [if] Lee Sin will be there.” […]
I think we play well. I think we don’t have a problem with communication, that much.
Q: Have you tried teaching DARKWINGS Korean?
Impact: He actually knows some more. Cheoncheonhi is slow. Because HamBak says sometimes “Cheoncheonhi,” meaning slow — play slow.
Q: Has he started a curse in Korean? FlyQuest was doing that last year.
Impact: Not sure, but I think he knows some Korean actually. That’s kind of surprising.
Q: How are the vibes with the team? Sounds like mental is strong.
Impact: I think, even [when] we played bad in scrim, I think our vibe’s pretty good. I think everyone’s kind of positive.
We don’t turn negative — we try to find a way to improve and get better. So that’s why I enjoy it here now. Yes, I think I can be that. Like, a long time ago, when I was young, you know, people played hard more and tried to improve — [we didn’t] care about other stuff that much.
That’s what I’m looking for. I joined SEN because I won’t be like [last year again]. I lost passion, and I won’t be like that anymore. I feel like I’m alive, you know?
Q: And that’s because of the people, or just because of mindset?
Impact: Both. Mindset changed a little more. I’m not [as] sensitive — [saying], “Try, possible, can?” — I say it more nicely now, I still think I can fix that. I’m not saying it [mean], I try to stay nice. I think it’s very important to make [the other players] have fun, you know? […]
When they’re having fun, I’m having fun too, so I like it now [at SEN].
Transcription assistance from @earlofsquirr3l
Header Image Credit: Riot Games
