Weekend Warrior Weapons, Dec 17
The recent hotfix has kicked the meta back to Day One -- here are some of the best-performing decks, both new and old, in this brave new ladder!
Welcome! Welcome, my friend, please step inside… and yet again, like last week, I must beg you, please turn a blind eye to the mess our shop is in right now: the recently-deployed hotfix has descended upon us like a deranged deluge, dashing everything into disarray.
And what a wonderful, wondrous disarray, I may add! You thought last week was hectic? Just wait until you find yourself with a fresh new meta, two Fridays in a row!
So, please, be my guest and stroll around our humble shop at leisure. We are proud to showcase the finest inventory from admired APIarists Legna & Balco, so feel free to check our wares as much as you please.
The Hotfixed Meta
Oh how the mighty have fallen. As notable numeromancer Legna shows…
… Poppy piles have plunged into a profound precipice, along with Ezreal's short-lived partnership with Kennen.
But power abhors vacuum, and as soon as the top is empty, others Archetypes clash for preeminence.
Pantheon Blends
Kept at bay by the former powerhouses, Atreus has climbed to the top. Abundant blends exist, including the Lonesome version which currently stands out as the strongest.
In every case, we've chosen the top-performing build among the most popular versions of each blend -- but a word of caution is not out of place here, I believe: you should exercise a healthy degree of circumspection, my friend, when choosing or piloting any of our suggested blends. Data is a scarce commodity in these early ladder times!
Lonesome Pantheon Demacia, 55%+
Standing tall and proud, and requesting assistance from no other Champion, this Lonesome blend currently stands at the top of the meta, and looks like the strongest of all Pantheon formulas.
Strong Against: Kennen Ahri Shadows, Lurkers, Dragons, Thralls, Teemo Swain, Pirates
Struggles Against: Zoe Lee Sin, Bandle Tree
***
Taric Pantheon Demacia, 52%
Quite similar to the Lonesome variant, but showing less stellar results. Do note that this variant does top the popularity ranking, which may drag it's performance down by being polluted with inferior builds, and/or being steered by less skilled pilots.
In particular, note it's weakness against Lurkers, which the Lonesome variant preys upon.
Strong Against: Thralls, Swain Teemo, Plunder
Struggles Against: Lee Sin Zoe, Bandle Tree, Lurkers.
***
Riven Pantheon, 52%
A blend that has shown mediocre results on average, but offers a slightly different matchup spread along with a very different playstyle.
Strong Against: Taric Pantheon, Plunder, Lurkers, Thralls
Struggles Against: Lee Sin Zoe, Bandle Tree, Teemo Swain
***
Other Pantheon Blends
For the risk-takers and adventurers, other experimental blends exist, although with too little data about specific matchups:
Shyvana Pantheon, focusing greatly on the Dragon synergy, has shown great success in the Asian shard,
Preeminent pilot Szychu has found great success blending Zoe Pantheon with Freljordian tricks.
Kennen Ahri blends
Apparently too busy being a Path of Champions Boss, Ezreal has abandoned the Constructed scene, freeing Kennen to partner with Ahri in their struggle as top performing archetype.
True to their tricky nature, Kennen & Ahri blends may superficially seem similar -- but do note how their matchups are keenly different.
As mentioned previously, exercise caution when choosing or piloting any of the suggested blends -- scarcity of data may lead to unexpected results, my friend!
Kennen Ahri Shurima, 55%+
Sticking with the recently nerfed Kinkou Wayfinder and God-Willow Seedling, and making great use of Fae Bladetwirler and Dancing Droplet, the Shurima version brings The Absolver to the fray for overwhelming superiority.
Do notice also the rock-paper-scissor-ish nature of the meta, this blend being strong against two Pantheon counters (Lee Sin Zoe and Bandle Tree), while itself being weak to its own Shadow variant
Strong Against: Taric Pantheon, Lee Sin Zoe, Bandle Tree, Lurkers, Dragons.
Struggles Against: Teemo Swain, Kennen Ahri Shadows.
***
Kennen Ahri Shadows, aka Go Hard, 53%+
This shadowy blend focuses on Go Hard, and goes for a slightly costlier curve with Scattered Pod. The list may seem similar to the SH variant, but matchups are proving to be quite different.
Strong Against: Lee Sin Zoe, Lurkers, Dragons, the Shurima variant.
Struggles Against:Teemo Swain, Darkness, Plunder, Bandle Tree
If you'd like a slightly different option, check this build (link) with WhatAmI's take, cutting Eye of the Dragon to make room for Sai'nen Thousand-Tailed.
Meta Staples
If you're looking after the well-known blends, or if your budget is meager and you very wisely wish to preserve your wildcards for when the meta stabilizes and for now prefer to pilot what you already possess, these would be our recommendations.
Bandle Tree
Her Yordles piles may have been hammered hard, but Poppy still stands steadfast by The Bandle Tree: and ideal blend for those seeking a bit more variety in their weapon of choice, both in the amount of extra choices this deck provides, and two different win conditions.
Newcomers to this deck should notice that this blend contains followers from all ten regions: House Spider, although itself a Noxian card, will also summon a Spiderling from Shadow Isles.
Strong Against: Plunder, Lee Sin Zoe, Lurkers, Darkness, Dragons, Pantheon blends, Pirates
Struggles Against: Thralls, Teemo Swain, Discard Midrange, Kennen Ahri Shadows, Twisted Fate Nami
For a second option, check Genesys' take on Bandle Tree (link), including one copy of Teemo.
***
Lee Sin Zoe
Having welcomed Wounded Whiteflame into their midst, the Trickster and the Blind find themselves in an interesting spot when it comes to matchups, being perhaps one of the components of a rock-paper-scissors dynamic.
Strong Against: Pantheon blends, Thralls, Plunder
Struggles Against: Bandle Tree, Darkness, Teemo Swain, Kennen Ahri blends
Widely labeled as a tough deck to pilot, by the way, and doubly so in unstable metas, so newcomers beware.
***
Pirates
With Marai Warden a confirmed staple and as always preying on poorly-refined prescriptions, Pirates is the ideal Archetype for an early, quick 'n' bloody climb.
Strong Against: Taric Pantheon, Plunder, Lurkers, Dragons
Struggles Against: Thralls, Bandle Tree, Lee Sin Zoe, Darkness
***
Darkness
Profiting from its very strong matchups into Lee Sin Zoe, Teemo Swain, and Kennen Ahri Shadows, Darkness seems to be positioning itself as the counters' counter
Strong Against: Lee Sin Zoe, Teemo Swain, Kennen Ahri Shadows, Pirates, Ping City
Struggles Against: Taric Pantheon, Bandle Tree, Thralls, Dragons
***
Teemo Swain
Ah, how it warms my heart to see an Archetype, after a long struggle, finally reach to popularity and power-level to deservedly be labeled a meta staple!
Don't be fooled by it's good-yet-not-great average performance, by the way: with so many reactive tools at their disposal, the furry Scout and the Grand General are still exploring for their ideal complement of spells -- a week from now, it would not surprise me in the least to find them much nearer the top.
Strong Against: Taric Pantheon, Bandle Tree, Lee Sin Zoe, Riven Pantheon, Kennan Ahri blends
Struggles Against: Plunder, Lurkers, Darkness, Dragons, Lonesome Pantheon
Into Uncharted Waters
If you're feeling adventurous -- and, let's be frank, what's a Friday without flirtation with what's fresh and exciting? -- here are the radically new, and some of the old that currently sail uncharted waters.
Nami Twisted Fate
Perhaps the hottest new tech at the top, Micah 'Burblefish' Lupa has turned a pile of card into a Nami Twisted Fate powerhouse:
Strong Against: Kennen Ahri Shadows
Struggles Against: Lee Sin Zoe
Here is their take on why such a pile actually works. The deck is undergoing lots of changes, with most recent lists leaning towards three copies of Curious Shellfolk.
***
Teemo Caitlyn
Perhaps a fluke -- since these Champions never quite found its footing even though they are clearly printed (and voiced!) to work together -- this blend has nevertheless performed admirably as of late.
Strong Against: Bandle Tree
***
Thresh Viego
A perennial Tier Two deck, and arguably the quintessential Midrange deck (it actually makes a seven-mana card a core part of its gameplan! =), this shadowy pair has been packing quite the punch as of late.
***
Lone Ziggs
Left alone to do all the work, Ziggs without Poppy seems still capable of packing quite the punch.
***
Fizz Lulu, aka Rumbless Yordle Discard
While Rumble doesn't seem to find a deck for him yet, two other Yordle champs have taken the torch of making Bandle Discard a thing.
***
Taliyah Ziggs
Longing for the brief spotlight they managed to enjoy a few weeks ago, Ziggs and Taliyah throw a bit of Landmark fun into an otherwise board-centric meta.
***
Ahri Teemo
Lots of 1-game variants in a single server usually signal somebody's pet research project. Join the research effort, if you dare!
***
Draven Ezreal
The tri-beam duo is back! Have other nerfs finally allowed this old favorite to resurface? Unique list from a single server -- likely a top player dusting off their favorite brew.
So, my friend!
I hope our vast inventory has enticed you to jump well-equipped into the LoR ladder. Should you require more metrics for your choice of weaponry, by all means let me know and I'll do my best to acquire more detailed information.
Good luck in your climb!