The Swiss Stage pits 16 teams in a format requiring three wins to advance or three losses for elimination, with early rounds in best-of-ones and later ones shifting to best-of-threes. Lower-seeded squads from the LCP, CBLOL, and LCS—such as the Play-In survivor, LYON, Team Secret Whales, CTBC Flying Oyster, and LOS—enter with thinner international experience and roster depth compared to LCK and LPL sides like Dplus Kia or Invictus Gaming. The October 18 draw pairs top tiers against bottom ones initially, while same-record matchups follow, amplifying mismatch risks for underdogs. Recent regional finals and MSI results underscore Eastern consistency, while Western and minor-region volatility heightens the probability that several squads drop their first three series before the October 23 start in Texas.