Weekend Warrior Weapons
Twenty-Two Potent Meta and Off-Meta Brews, for the Discerning Ladder Climber
Welcome, my friend! Welcome!
So, please, step inside, and let me show you our wares! We have the best brews and blends furnished by formidable formulistas Balco, Legna and Seth, along with prominent pilot's takes overhead at the Blue Bird Inn.
A Glimpse to a Thing of Terrible Beauty
It is really hard for me to remember such an occasion, or if there even was one in the past: not a single Meta archetype reaches the 55% WR threshold…
… and only one barely grazes past 54%.
There is only two things to say about this, my friend: this Worldwalker expansion is a thing of beauty…
… enjoy this precious meta while it lasts!
Cream of the Crop
Here are the best of the best, my friend: archetypes performing over 53% WR, with playrates larger than 1% at Platinum and above.
While the shifts in the meta make it hard to predict what will happen next week, or in the next few days, this much is certain: as of right now, these are the most solid options to take to the ladder if performance is your main concern.
Noxus Elise Viego
An interesting sight: one could say this is an archetype that has de-spiced itself.
As noted last Tuesday and last Sunday, Katarina Elise Viego progressively took over the ladder. Yet it is the non-Kat version that, by the slightest margin, proves today to be superior when WR is concerned.
Do notice its much lower playrate, though, probably signaling more entrenched, experienced pilots behind the steering wheel.
Strong Against: Thralls, Annie Jhin, Lurkers, Yuumi Pantheon
Struggles Against: Ezreal Annie, Ezreal Caitlyn – slight underdog to the Katarina version
Katarina Elise Viego
The hottest trend this new patch, this threesome between the King of Mists, the Queen of Spiders, and the fire-haired Lady of Blades has proved most prolific, being the second most popular brew right. As superb scribe and skipper Sirturmund described it, this is the real deal.
I shall recommend the most popular list, which performs splendidly – yet if you feel in the mood for tweaks, consider cutting Undergrowth to make room for extra copies of Spirit Leech and Disintegrate.
Strong Against: Thralls, Annie Jhin, Lurkers, Deep, Demacian Krakens – slight edge over to the non-Katarina version
Struggles Against: Ezreal Annie, Ezreal Caitlyn, Heimerdinger Jayce
Lux Jayce
Quietly regaining the spotlight that Illaoi stole from him, Jayce again pairs with Lux and claws close to the top.
This is as refined as a blend can be, with our recommended list being the most popular by a mile.
Strong Against: Annie blends, Jarvan Illaoi, Lurkers
Struggles Against: Thralls, Deep, Elise Viego, Trundle Caitlyn
Jarvan IV Illaoi
This is currently the most popular version of Demacian Krakens, and performs above 54% WR.
If you are looking for spicier takes, though, you could test this Twisted Fate variation. There is also a Garen variation, but although very strong, does not perform as well as the previous two.
Strong Against: Jhinnie, Thralls, Deep, Afizzelios, Poppy Taric, Fizz Riven
Struggles Against: Elise Viego blends, Pantheon Yuumi, Caitlyn Ezreal, Jayce Lux, Heimer Jayce Shadows
Heimerdinger Jayce Shadows
Our recommended blend, my friend, has WR well past the "stupidly silly" breakpoint, as was noted last Tuesday and last Sunday.
It seems to be held back mostly by Thralls, although the recent resurgence of Sun Disc is really bad news
Strong Against: Jhinnie, Elise Viego, Demacian Krakens
Struggles Against: Thralls (terribly!), Lurkers, Sun Disc.
Sun Disc
Many eyes shall flood with tears, I am certain, upon news of Shurima's resurgence – whether from joy or despair, though, I would not dare say!
Yet returned it is, that is most certain – and its performance is even better than its average would suggest, since the archetype is marred by some questionable formulas. You can be confident in the one provided below, though: another medley with stupidly silly WR.
Strong Against: Annie Ezreal, Deep, Illaoi Lux
Struggles Against: Jhinnie (horribly!), Pantheon Yuumi, Scouts, Affizelios
Other Meta Staples
If looking for other options, these are the Archetypes with 52%+ WR when played at Platinum or above ranks.
Miss Fortune Quinn, aka Scouts
The rise of the Shirtless King and his bladed, spidery Queens has been terrible news for Scouts, being one of its worst matchups.
Coupled with the splitting headache Scouts stuffers when it gazes upon Thralls – which is the most popular blend on the Platinum+ ladder – it is no surprise this steadfast archetype has taken a dip in performance.
Medleys shifting to a higher Spell count, though, seems to be doing well, signaling the way forward in this go-tall meta.
Strong Against: Jhinnie, Zed Bard, Deep, Lurkers, Affizelios.
Struggles Against: Viego blends (both Noxus and Shurima), Thralls, Demacian Krakens.
Viego Shurima
The Shirtless King needs no queens to pack a punch all by himself – and currently enjoys one of the most fair matchup tables one could hope for, with very few lopsided matches.
For those eager to tweak formulas: numbers suggest that Quicksand is indeed a must, but Aspiring Chronomancer could perhaps be two, and a single Vengeance could perhaps suffice.
Strong Against: Ezreal Caitlyn, Trundle Caitlyn
Struggles Against: Ezreal Annie, Sun Disc
Lissandra Taliyah, aka Thralls
The most popular medley to be found on Platinum and upper rungs, its good fortunes have been marred a bit by the rise of Noxus Viego – Thralls can certainly hold their own against the Encroaching Mists, but is an uphill battle for sure.
While Tomc's build, featuring Buried in Ice, is the most popular – and fares fairly well – in the last three days builds with a more traditional approach, like bringing back Preservarium and more copies of Avalanche, are finding even greater success.
Strong Against: Ezreal Annie, Trundle Caitlyn, Ezreal Caitlyn, Afizzelios, Heimer Jayce Shadows
Struggles Against: Viego Noxus, Jhinnie, Lurkers, Demacian Krakens
Yuumi Pantheon
It has happened at last… the Warrior and the feline Fae have been dislodged from the top!
Its bad matchup against Viego Noxus, and the rising popularing and refinement of the Annie medleys, have finally pushed Yummi Pantheon to a more mid-tier position – the most popular formula, in fact, performs well below the 50% WR mark.
It is still too early to toss this blend aside, though: the second most-popular formula, which we recommend below, has reconfigured its Spells a bit, and performs splendidly.
Strong Against: Deep, Thralls, Demacian Krakens.
Struggles Against: Viego Noxus, Annie blends, Ezreal Caitlyn,
Fizz Aphelios
The fate of the Fae flood is a bit harder to discern – like many other blends, it is disfavored against Viego Noxus, but only slightly. Its main predators appear to be Thralls, Demacian Kraken, and Fizz Riven.
Our recommended list, by far the most popular, fares well above the 53% WR mark, so it may be a case of bad lists polluting the archetype.
Strong Against: Annie blends, Lurkers, Deep, Ezreal Caitlyn, Viego Shurima, Sun Disc
Struggles Against: Thralls, Demacian Kraken, Fizz Riven (quite badly!)
Good Builds of Otherwise Mediocre Archetype
Below, you shall find well-performing formulas for otherwise "mediocre" archetypes – whether due to violent shifts in the meta, or due to pilot sticking to new brews that are not performing well, these archetypes as a whole have only average WR, yet when looking at specific lists, a different story emerges.
Jhin Annie
As said again, and again, and yet again, there is no need for Ravenbloom Conservatory in this archetype.
Stick to what works, as seen below, and accept this blend is not an easy one to pilot – and you shall be right on the path of great performance!
Strong Against: Thralls, Zed Bard, Trundle Caitlyn
Struggles Against: Viego Noxus, Annie Ezreal, Deep, Demacian Krakens
Ezreal Annie
Now THIS is a Ravenbloom Conservatory, and as superb scribe and skipper Jasinsane says, it is indeed the card that holds the archetype together in this case.
This blend suffers from a horrible Thralls matchup, but enjoys excellent odds against Viego Noxus.
Strong Against: Viego Noxus, Jhinnie, Zed Bard
Struggles Against: Thralls (horribly!), Deep, Trundle Caytlin.
Maokai Nautilus, aka Deep
The tides have turned for this ancient archetype – as noted by keen observer Wallach, it was surprising that, earlier this week, lists without Lure of the Depth were performing superiorly.
Such is no longer true, and in the last three days the more traditional builds that do include Lure the card are now the best performers.
Strong Against: Annie blends, Ezreal Caitlyn
Struggles Against: Viego Noxus, Thralls, Lurkers, Demacian Krakens
Connoisseur's Corner
Here's our selection of less-seen blends, for those looking for strong yet little-seen options.
Trundle Caitlyn
The latest iteration of Concurrent Timelines, switching Gnar for Caitlyn, and adding Revna, the Lorekeeper to the mix.
Strong Against: Ezreal blends
Struggles Against: Thalls (horribly!)
Fizz Riven
Hardly a new brew, but its performance is superb – yet pilots are still remiss to bring this Combo deck to the ladder.
Perhaps we should mention that it most thoroughly chews Viego Noxus for breakfast? Along with many other popular blends?
Strong Against: Viego Noxus, Ezreal Annie, Deep, Affizelios, Lurk
Struggles Against: Viego Shurima, Sun Disc.
Taric Poppy
Not as splendidly performing as last week, now that the meta has settled a bit – yet still a very solid, not-too-seen option.
Strong Against: Thralls, Jhinnie, Deep, Lurkers, Trundle Caitlyn
Struggles Against: Viego Noxus, Demacian Krakens (horribly!)
Garen Bard
As described by our resident Meta Reporter Leer in his test-piloting with MonteXristo, Garen Bard is arguably as simple as it gets – yet results it gets, too, and in spades.
Strong Against: Jhinnie, Deep, Affizelios
Struggles Against: Thralls, Zed Bard – slightly against Viego Noxus
Jayce Sentinels
Yet another established archetype that is pulling great results… and appears to have an edge against the most wave-making brew right now, Noxus Viego
Strong Against: Noxus Viego, Annie builds
Struggles Against: Thralls, Deep
A Walk on the Wild Side...
And here they are, my friend! The wild, untested brews – they have been putting quite the numbers as of late, but in such small samples that nothing is certain?
Perhaps you shall be the one making them shine?
Take them for a spin, then, and we shall soon see!
Galio Bard
A similar take to Garen Bard: take the most stat-y region, add Chimes and Boons on top.
Eye-widening performance across a somewhat smallish number of games.
Kindred Viego
Yet another take on Viego Noxus, but with a little-seen champion.
Curious Ezreal Viktor
A bit like with Riven, no showcase of decklists could be said to be complete without at least one Curious Shellfolk brew – in this case, with the classic inclusion of Glorious Evolution
And so, my friend!
Thus our today's selection ends. I hope we have succeeded to find a weapon of choice for you!
Any questions or comments, or more data you may need, feel free to:
Poke me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HerkoKerghans,
Ping me on Discord: https://discord.gg/VNN5NmGhXY,
And best of luck in your climb!
