League of Legends global power rankings through February 5

We're on to our second week of League of Legends global power rankings, and there's been some shifting in the top 10 spots. First, Misfits is out and Schalke is in. Next, Suning takes a small dive. The rest? Well, let's just say the LPL is still has a leg up on the rest of the world.

1. Griffin

Record: 6-0 | League: LCK | +/-: --

In the past two years, only one team (Afreeca) has ever topped our Global Power Rankings and has not repeated the next week. Griffin made sure it stayed on top by keeping its undefeated match streak alive by dispatching SK Telecom T1 and Sandbox Gaming.

Against SKT, Griffin was at its best, denying the winningest organization in League of Legends history a single turret throughout the entire series. In its follow-up with virtually an opposite opponent, rookie organization Sandbox in its inaugural season in League Champions Korea, the series turned out to be a bit more work. Don't worry, though: Griffin shored things up in the deciding set and took a convincing victory to keep the perfect season, led by mid laner Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon, alive in South Korea.

2. Invictus Gaming

Record: 4-1 | League: LPL | +/-: +1

Despite FunPlus Phoenix's impressive 4-0 record, we still think Invictus Gaming is the better team. It dropped a bit last week due to its Week 2 loss against JD Gaming, and remains below Griffin due to the latter's continued dominion over LoL Champions Korea, yet it's difficult to argue against iG being the best team in China right now, especially with FPX and Suning still working out small kinks in communication with their new lineups.

3. FunPlus Phoenix

Record: 4-0 | League: LPL | +/-: +2

The highlight matchup in the LPL since our last ranking, and across the entire split thus far, was FunPlus Phoenix taking on Suning. While Kim "Doinb" Tae-sang inevitably takes center stage for all things FPX, this week's series belonged to the bot lane duo of bot laner Lin "Lwx" Wei-Xiang and support Liu "Crisp" Qing-Song. These two have taken a back seat to Doinb's early-game machinations -- which have made jungler Gao "Tian" Tian-Liang look a lot more stable -- but they're shaping up to be one of the better bot lanes in a highly competitive LPL split. FPX had already made a name for its with an explosive early game. Yet, in its latest two series, first against JD Gaming in Week 2 and now against Suning this past week, FPX have played more controlled in the mid game, stalling out opponents if its adversaries want to play toward the early game or pressuring early before opponents can scale.

4. Topsports Gaming

Record: 3-1 | League: LPL | +/-: --

Did not play since last power ranking.

5. Suning Gaming

Record: 4-0 | League: LPL | +/-: -3

FPX bested Suning for now, but there is the lingering sense that had Huang "Maple" Yi-Tang played the entire series, or if jungler Yang "H4cker" Zhi-Hao played, the outcome would have been different. At the very least, they might have been able to stop a few of Doinb's roams from the mid lane due to potentially stronger mid lane pressure from Maple, who fell ill before this match and played only in Game 3. Xiang "Angel" Tao played well, but wasn't able to synchronize with Hu "SwordArT" Shuo-Chieh's roams on Tahm Kench in their first two games of the series, despite a Game 1 victory. Its players are still coming together as a lineup, but Suning has the foundation to be an incredibly strong team that only continues to improve as the LPL split continues, especially if Maple isn't stuck with the flu. Its top side in particular with Suning continue to occupy a spot in a group of new, exciting Chinese lineups to complement and challenge iG for the title of best in the LPL. Like its adversaries this past week in FPX, the real test begins two weeks from now after the Lunar New Year.

6. JD Gaming

Record: 2-1 | League: LPL | +/-: --

Did not play since last power ranking.

7. G2 Esports

Record: 6-0 | League: LEC | +/-: --

G2's players continue to banter on Twitter over short bouts of poor play and moments of miscommunication, but it all comes across as a clear joke to their army of fans. As G2 would have it, the League European Championship has also served as a joke to the dominant European force. Currently 6-0, teams might be able to strike down G2 in the early game, but one has yet to drive the nail in the coffin and draw first blood. It almost looks too easy for G2 and for that reason, the team is just a bit stuck in the power rankings. Europe is going as expected, while China continues to throw curveballs among even its best teams. G2 is looking for a challenge, and until it's found it, it will be difficult for the team to be perceived as a true top-tier threat.

8. Sandbox

Record: 5-1 | League: LCK | +/-: +4

Wow, we're actually talking about Sandbox in the top 10 of the best teams in the world. How did this happen?

Take some untapped talent, mix it in with a weaker-than-average LCK class and throw in some reckless abandon with unorthodox champion selections, and you have why Sandbox Gaming is the undisputed second-best team in South Korea right now. Although it's difficult to see it in a final with Griffin come April for the spring split championship, it doesn't mean Sandbox doesn't have some real talent in its ranks. Jang "Ghost" Yong-jun has reinvented himself from overhyped bust to one of the best AD carries in South Korea, and similarly, top laner Park "Summit" Woo-tae is the best top laner in South Korea at this moment after sitting on the bench for Afreeca last year.

It's impossible to say how the Sandbox magic will last, but for now, we're enjoying this frantic ride.

9. Royal Never Give Up

Record: 1-1 | League: LPL | +/-: --

Did not play since last power ranking.

10. Schalke 04

Record: 5-1 | League: LEC | +/-: +6

Misfits rose and fell in a week, showing off its brilliant early game play, while also struggling to close. In that area, Schalke 04 was consistent in wrestling teams down with strong mid-game play. Like other teams worldwide, Schalke has done well for itself to secure compositions that fight well later in the game, often relying on Elias "Upset" Lipp to be the primary carry. Compared to the fast and furious Vitality, Schalke is a tad more consistent and certainly more controlled, so for the moment the team stands as the second-best in Europe. Complemented by a meta littered with tanks and late-game carries, Schalke is in a strong position to stay near the top.