Quick LoR Ladder Update
Best Builds for a Dozen Meta and Off-Meta Decks
As of Sunday noon (EST), this is how the top of the ladder looks like according to Balco:
Personal opinion: as far as I can remember, this is the best glimpse at the top this year – no deck reaches 55% WR, and except Heimerdiner Jayce, none of these decks were near the top (or even existed) two weeks ago. As far as personal opinions go, Riot has knocked it out of the park this patch.
Personal opinions aside, let's get to the data!
In this quick ladder overview, we'll provide the best lists for:
The above six best-performing archetypes,
A few archetypes that, while overall performing below 53%, have list quite above that,
Two little-played brews (with still more than 200 games in the last three days),
By the way: this is not a comprehensive list of every strong deck out there, and there's a lot of stuff in the 51-53% WR bracket – we're focusing here on the by-the-numbers best performers in Platinum and above.
Top Cut
For this quick overview, we'll define Top Cut as decklists (not archetypes, but the specific, exact decklist) with:
More than 500 games in the last three days, and
WR above 52%
Vi Zoe Aphelios
Step aside, Shirtless King – there's a new 3:2:1 Champ split in town. The Winding Light did not (yet) revitalize Nightfall, but did give birth to this beautiful pile. This decklist punches above 56% in more that 2500 games – jump to this, don't look back.
Suffers with Thralls (badly), and a bit against Bard Galio – Kills Viego brews, Annie decks, Zed Bard, and chews Lurkers for breakfast.
Fizz Riven
As we've been noting for quite a while now, this thing rocks. As of late seems to have made room for Yordle Squire and Elixir of Wrath, but most lists with small tweaks work just fine.
Fears Yummi Pantheon (which is having a bit of a hard time in this meta), and has a slight problem with Thralls.
Scares the Poro poop out Viego and Deep – also scares Annie Jhin, Zed Bard and Ezreal Caitlyn.
Galio Bard
Another deck going from zero to hero in the last few days, with this decklist surpassing 55% across 2K games.
During spoiler season many saw Bard into Allegiance decks, and specifically Demacia – interestingly, though, this deck seems to have no use for Bannerman.
Also: there's a competing, very bad brew with Mystic Vortex; that one performs below 50%.
Another interesting bit: it loses to Thralls and KEV, which may be the reason why this brew was a bit late to surface; also dislikes Yuumi Pantheon and Trundle Caitlyn – but can hold its own against, or readily beat, everything else.
Elise Viego
Now, this one is interesting!
The non-Kat builds, by way of being a lot less popular, are the ones performing better – a list with nearly 600 games is a beast, punching above 57% (for those not used to these numbers and write-ups: that would be between "bonkers" and "broken"):
The yes-Kat builds seem to be in disarray, with several very popular lists doing from okay to very good (53%)
But!
Hidden among those, you find this little 56% jewel, with 900+ games:
As you'll see, both lists are nearly identical, with minor splits between Kat, Haunted Tomb, Disintegrate and Undegrowth.
Suggestion: fret not about individual cards, pick whichever list you find the coolest, go to town.
While in town: beware of Ezreal Annie and Vi Zoe Aphelios, run away from Ezreal Caitlyn and Fizz Riven, feel confident against all else.
Thralls
Most popular archetype by an avalanche – we'll recommend the third most popular list (800+ games) since it's the most popular that crosses the 54% WR threshold.
Suffers from Annie Jhin, unhappy with Viego Noxus, murders Ezreal blends like Ez Annie or Ez Caitlyn.
And seems to have help exterminating aggro, because as noted by several commentators, it's nowhere to be found.
Heimer Jayce
Repeating ourselves here, but this one is scary. All the most popular decklists punch above 55% – the most popular, below, nearly at 56%.
Dies from Thralls (horribly), and similar for Zed Bard – murders the Shirtless King and Jhinnie, same for Ezreal Caitlyn.
Annie Jhin
Pilots have wisened up to the correct list (read: not Ravenbloom Conservatory). This is the most popular decklist at Plat+, and hits above 53% WR.
Slaps Thralls and Zed Bard. Gets slapped by Ezreal Annie, Galio Bard, Ezreal Caitlyn, Viego Deserters, and murdered by Heimerdinger Jayce
Zed Bard
A fairly well-known story: an archetype dragged down by bad brews. Try the one below – 55% across 1K games in the last three days, and was the best list three days ago, too. Switch Kinkou for Fae Guide if you prefer – sticking with Greenglade Elder seems to be the correct move, though.
Happy to see: Lurkers, Demacian Krakens.
Sad to see: Annie decks
Trundle Caitlyn
This deck cooled off a bit – this specific list, by far the most popular, sits at around 52%+ across nearly 2K games.
Thralls, Deep and Zed Bard slap these two around, but the Timeline due can push Viego Noxus, Ezreal Annie, Galio Bard, Lurkers and Ezreal Caitlyn quite hard.
Poppy Bard
Another take on Bardemacia – and looking quite solid across nearly 1200 games.
Has a hard time a Viego Noxus, other Bard brews, and Ezreal Caitlin, but is very solid into Deep and Jhinnie, and not afraid of ThrallsÂ
Off the Radar
Two lists punching up, with 200-300 games played
Ahri Bard
Ahri Kennen, but with less furry ninjas and more wandering caretakers.
Broken WR across nearly 300 games.
Sejuani Gnar Bard
As we noted, while Bard seems to have found a cozy home in Demacia, he doesn't have an Allegiance deck that may want him…
… except perhaps this one, for an extra dose of Overwhelm. Does fairly well (53%+) across 200 games.
In Closing
Legion Deserter left way to the Winding Light as the coolest new toy…
… Jhinnie pilot seems to have agreed upon the best builds…
… Bard can still be found kicking butts with Zed, but looks like he may be wandering to Demacia…
… this is, to my recent memory, the most the Top Cut has changed after a patch. Good times.
And good luck out there! =)
