About the tier list
This is the first update to the tier list started in Patch 3.9. This update is for patch 3.10a. Within the tier list there have been a total of 48 major changes. The reason for such a large number of changes is because this is not only updating the tier list for patches 3.10 and 3.10a but also cleaning up mistakes from the first list. Champions who moved from one tier to another are bolded. Champions moved within their own tier are not bolded. There are notes below detailing why certain champions were moved.
Explanation of Tiers
Legend: T = Top, J = Jungle, M = Mid, C = AD Carry, S = Support
Tier S – These champions tend to either do so many things well that they could replace multiple other champions, or they do one thing so well that no other champion quite compares. Elise has a high HP jungle with amazing clear, she has some of the best ganks in the game, and to top it all off she can build in many ways to benefit her team. She’s hard to shut down and if fed becomes quite unstoppable.
Tier 1 – These champions tend to almost always be good picks but a certain weakness will hold them back from being capable of tier S. Renekton is pretty much one of the best champions in the game but problems with being kited around keep him out of S tier.
Tier 2 – These champions tend to be similar to tier 1 champions, however, they tend to have one fatal flaw which abused can destroy them. Ryze has insane damage but is squishy early and can be shut down hard by almost any jungler.
Tier 3 – These champions tend to be used as counter picks once you already know some of what you are facing, or used to build a specific type of team composition. Urgot can destroy an ADC and is good against comps meant to shut down an ADC.
Tier 4 – These champions just tend to have other champions that do what they do better, and they already don’t do it well enough to make them a contested pick. Swain is highly mana reliant and requires a little snowballing to really take off.
Tier 5 – These champions are hard to fit into competitive play without a specific strategy designed around them. Shaco while having good map presence really lacks in any team related situation and would only be played in a situation where he is meant to be solo, and even then there are other champions who do it better.
The Tier List
Tier S – Elise (J), Jarvan IV (J), Zac (J, T), Lee Sin (J), Evelynn (J), Karthus (M), Nasus (J), Sona (S), Zed (T, M), Vayne (C), Rumble (T), Ahri (M), Thresh (S)
Tier 1 – Shen (T), Twitch (C), Fiddlesticks (S), Zyra (S), Twisted Fate (M), Renekton (T), Vladimir (T), Nami (S), Lissandra (M), Ezreal (M, C), Orianna (M), Graves (C), Diana (T, M), Tristana (C), Gragas (M), Kassadin (M), Jax (T), Jayce (M),
Tier 2 – Nunu (J, S), Varus (C), Caitlyn (C), Kennen (T, M), Lulu (S, M, T), Ryze (M, T), Aatrox (T), Tryndamere (T), Ashe (C), Rengar (T), Master Yi (J, M), Kayle (M), Nocturne (J), Blitzcrank (S), Kha’Zix (T), Vi (J), Nidalee (T, M), Rammus (J), Maokai (J), Alistar (J, S), Amumu (J), Corki (C), Karma (M, J)
Tier 3 – Janna (S), Xerath (M), Malphite (T), Nautilus (J), Miss Fortune (C), Talon (M), Draven (C), Sejuani (J), Lux (M), Ziggs (M), Irelia (T), Annie (M), Singed (T), Yorick (T), Riven (T), Quinn (C), Urgot (M, C), Anivia (M), Wukong (M, T), Fizz (M), Leona (S), Kog’Maw (C), Brand (M), Shyvana (J), Sion (M), Teemo (T, M), Trundle (J), Xin Zhao (J), Cho’Gath (J), LeBlanc (M), Morgana (M), Syndra (M), Malzahar (M), Hecarim (J), Udyr (T, J), Dr. Mundo (J), Volibear (J)
Tier 4 – Viktor (M), Swain (M), Zilean (M), Soraka (S), Katarina (M), Darius (T), Akali (M, T), Cassiopeia (M), Pantheon (M), Sivir (C), Skarner (J), Gangplank (T), Garen (T), Mordekaiser (M), Olaf (T, J)
Tier 5 – Warwick (J), Veigar (M), Shaco (J), Galio (M, T), Taric (S), Fiora (T), Poppy (T), Heimerdinger (M)
Changes
Moved from Tier S
Nunu – Tier S to Tier 2: Part of Nunu’s strengths was that people didn’t quite know how to play against him. As Nunu has both been nerfed and people have been given a chance to learn how to beat him, he has dropped massively in priority in competitive play. While still strong, he’s not usually picked due to other junglers having a greater presence in the game.
Twisted Fate – Tier S to Tier 1: Twisted Fate has always been one of the strongest champions in the game due to his ability to win other lanes, not only his own. However, nerf after nerf has finally brought him down. While he is still very strong, there are other mid laners which can just do more.
Caitlyn – Tier S to Tier 2: Caitlyn’s pushing ability is godlike and it allows her to snowball games and teams. However, she has lower damage than most ADC and therefore when she falls behind she has trouble recovering. Caitlyn is still insanely strong when ahead, but the risk of falling behind places her below godlike.
Moved from Tier 1
Vayne – Tier 1 to Tier S: Vayne’s insanely high damage and utility makes her arguable the strongest ADC in the game, often a contested pick between teams. Vayne seems to be quite an unstoppable force unless faced with Twitch. Vayne vs. Twitch is a match-up you’ll see constantly in very competitive games.
Jarvan IV – Tier 1 to Tier S: Having strong jungle clear as well as some of the best ganks in the game, and having good damage and waveclear at the same time. Jarvan is basically the most all around balanced jungler in the game, which in the right hands makes him unbalanced all around.
Rumble – Tier 1 to Tier S: Rumble is a champion that whether you are behind or ahead you will still have a huge impact in the game, whether it be picking people off or dominating team fights. Rumble is tier S because he is unstoppable no matter how many times you may kill him.
Ahri – Tier 1 to Tier S: Having mobility, waveclear, and insane burst damage Ahri is possibly the single most feared mid laners. Being strong in most situations, countering many champions but having fewer counters, Ahri is queen among mid laners. One of the few champions who can safely shut down a defensive Karthus.
Xerath – Tier 1 to Tier 3: I simply overestimated his damage/burst potential versus his squishiness and immobility.
Varus – Tier 1 to Tier 2: Valued his CC too highly for a role that is meant to do damage.
Kennen – Tier 1 to Tier 2: Slight nerfs brought him down a little, not much.
Malphite – Tier 1 to Tier 3: Overestimated usefulness with bad comps or in bad situations. Is more of a team-comp specific or strategy specific champion, or a counter pick.
Nautilus – Tier 1 to Tier 3: Still has a weak early game, if you can get past his early game he’s insanely strong though.
Lulu – Tier 1 to Tier 2: Strong in three roles with limited counters, however, not the strongest pick in any unless you’re an expect Lulu player.
Ryze – Tier 1 to Tier 2: Didn’t really get a huge nerf but rather players learned more about how to play against Ryze which brought him down a bit as a viable pick.
Moved from Tier 2
Zyra – Tier 2 to Tier 1: Zyra Support is easily one of the strongest in the game. Her Mid Lane is good too, although slightly weaker. Zyra has utility, waveclear, and some of the best and safest harass of any support champion.
Gragas – Tier 2 to Tier 1: Amazing burst, mobility, and waveclear as well as being innately tanky compared to other mid laners, Gragas was being underestimated and has been placed higher as he deserves.
Twitch – Tier 2 to Tier 1: Currently one of the strongest ADC’s in the game and probably the single strongest team fight carry in the game, I had twitch far too low and have placed him more properly this time.
Diana – Tier 2 to Tier 1: Strong initiation, waveclear, split-pushing, and assassination abilities makes Diana a jack of all trades.
Tristana – Tier 2 to Tier 1: Just a strong ADC, okay early, has a rough mid-game, but amazing late-game. Possibly the only ADC who can 1v1 Vayne late-game in a fair fight.
Miss Fortune – Tier 2 to Tier 3: I just thought too highly of her early-game compared to her weaknesses elsewhere.
Talon – Tier 2 to Tier 3: A strong assassin but has an insanely hard time recovering from behind. Countered a bit by oracles.
Draven – Tier 2 to Tier 3: The passive nerf hit him harder than I thought.
Jax – Tier 2 to Tier 1: Trinity Force buffs as well as the fact he was never weak brought him up a bit.
Jayce – Tier 2 to Tier 1: Nerfs made him weaker top lane, but his mid laning is still tier 1 so I just fixed his position.
Sejuani – Tier 2 to Tier 3: Can be rather useless if put behind.
Lux – Tier 2 to Tier 3: High burst/poke but is outclassed in a lot of ways.
Moved from Tier 3
Fiddlesticks – Tier 3 to Tier 1: In the right hands quite possibly the strongest support in the game. Fiddle has been on the rise for awhile now and I hadn’t really thought much of it, but lately after seeing just how much a good Fiddlesticks support can do, I expect to be seeing a lot more Fiddle.
Aatrox – Tier 3 to Tier 2: One of the best split-pushers in the game. Snowballs insanely hard.
Kha’Zix – Tier 3 to Tier 2: A godtier assassin, however, can be shut down early and have a hard time recovering.
Vi – Tier 3 to Tier 2: Very aggressive jungler who is good at trading. Can pick up easy kills on command with her ultimate.
Darius – Tier 3 to Tier 4: Feels really weak, don’t feel he has a good place in the competitive scene right now.
Nidalee – Tier 3 to Tier 2: Can be a bruiser, assassin, poker, etc. Strong waveclear and split-pushing if built for it.
Rammus – Tier 3 to Tier 2: Insane map control and ganks, in the right hands can wreak havoc all over the map.
Maokai – Tier 3 to Tier 2: Placed him low because of seeing too many bad Maokai players, he deserved better.
Alistar – Tier 3 to Tier 2: Still very strong as a jungler and support. Stronger in certain situations but almost always a decent pick.
Moved from Tier 4
Ziggs – Tier 4 to Tier 3: I don’t really know why I made him tier 4.
Amumu – Tier 4 to Tier 2: Strong waveclear, ganks, and initiation for team-fights. As well as an insanely fast jungle clearspeed. Amumu was placed far too low.
Kog’Maw – Tier 4 to Tier 3: Still situationally strong assuming the Kog’maw player has good positioning.
Corki – Tier 4 to Tier 2: Due to never seeing any I placed Corki lower than he belonged. Recent buffs to his mana costs as well as a Trinity Force buff made him a stronger ADC.
Yorick – Tier 4 to Tier 3: Never belonged in tier 4.
Karma – Tier 4 to Tier 2: Karma has insanely high burst and a lot of utility. She’s also a strong jungler. Perhaps tier 3, but it’s close.
Brand – Tier 4 to Tier 3: Still a strong mage and has a 2 second stun on his Q which is insane CC if you’re good with skillshots.
Moved from Tier 5
Viktor – Tier 5 to Tier 4: Very high burst but lacks in basically every other regard, still strong burst though.
Shyvana – Tier 5 to Tier 3: Recent buffs made her a strong counter jungler again.
Sion – Tier 5 to Tier 3: Was placed too low, CC, waveclear, burst. Still a strong mid laners.
Teemo – Tier 5 to Tier 3: I underestimated Teemo, having high burst and shrooms being an insanely annoying mechanic, AP Teemo still viable.