Disclaimer: This tier list is a compilation of observations and opinions from a 5v5 COMPETITIVE STANDPOINT (excluding solo queue opinions). Check back regularly as changes to the list are updated frequently.
Hello, my name is Jera and I am an analyst for compLexity gaming. Over the past couple of months, I have begun compiling the tier lists for champions for pick priorities, as well as to helping with the theoretical selection of champions based on how the meta is moving forward. Now I would like to present to you my humble opinion on what’s strong right now in competitive and team play, as well as provide links to ProBuilds.net for each champion listed in case you would like to research further. If you have any questions, feel free to tweet @coL_Jera and I’ll be happy to respond.
Last Update: 5/3/2014
[tabgroup][tab title=”The Top 6 Bans”]
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[tab title=”Top-Tier Champions”]
These champions are the strongest (and most versatile) in their respective roles. Most of these champions are seen in 75% of competitive play due to their strengths in teamplay or ability to take over a game. The shade of red indicates the relative power within the top-tier list.
Sample Champion Explanations
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[tab title=”Competitive-Viable Tier”]
Many of these champions are still seen in competitive (or are trending towards the top tier). These champions tend to be more niche (and less versatile) picked, or are weaker than their top-tier counterparts. The shade of green indicates the relative power within the competitive viable list.
Sample Champion Explanations
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Lee Sin (Jungle/Top): Lee Sin received a change to his Safeguard (W) that increased its cooldown when not used on a Champion, making it harder for Lee to escape. Its hard to evaluate if Lee Sin should be higher or lower in the tier list, as the skill of the player usually dictates Lee Sin’s effectiveness. |
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Jayce (Top/Mid): Jayce is a versatile AD poke champion that has been used against laners with a gap closer or utility focused laners. Jayce has a high damage output, along with team disengage. The problem with Jayce is that it takes some time to get him rolling, and Jayce does not fulfill the tanky bruiser role that most Top Lanes do. |
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Jinx (ADC): Jinx is a fragile AD Carry that has the best early level tower siege, but lacks reliable ways to escape if dived upon. Jinx does not have the best laning phase against bullies, and desperately needs a strong front-line to protect her. |
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Vladimir (Top): Vladimir has started to return to competitive as an answer to Jax and other divers. With the buffs to Will of the Ancients item, along with the trend of large-scale teamfighting, Vladimir’s sustain and wave clear make him a potent threat. Additionally, Vladimir has little problem dealing with an AD Carry by himself. |
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Nami (Support): Nami is a high-risk, high-reward support that works best when enemies are bottlenecked in jungle passages. The lane pressure and sustain that Nami brings works best with lane bullies like Caitlyn/Twitch. Players are beginning to master the art of the Aqua Prison (Q), which can thwart the arrival of a Teleported foe or diving adversary. |
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Pantheon (Jungle): Pantheon has started to fall out of competitive play due to people knowing how to properly react to the Grand Skyfall, and Pantheon’s reliance on early kills to remain relevant in the game. Pantheon is being passed ahead by junglers like Nocturne and Elise. |
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Kassadin (Mid): Kassadin was gutted and violently thrown from his permaban status from recent patches, but hope still lies in the spirit of Kassadin. Patch 4.6 gave a substantial buff to his (Q) for good trades against AP mids, along with extra base mana. Kassadin is scheduled for another nerf in 4.7. |
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[tab title=”Wild Card Tier”]
This section is the hardest to define. The order of these picks are not set in stone, and minor adjustments to these champions could catapult these champions to competitive-viable or even top-tier. These champions are good IF the team can work towards their strengths (rather than having general strategy). Some of these picks are more experimental and theoretical in nature, but could have future success with changes within the game and the metagame strategy.
Sample Champion Explanations
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A Brief History
4.6 was a smaller patch compared to 4.5, and readjusted some of the bolder changes implemented in the patch prior. So in order to understand why certain champions have made a resurgence in the past month, we must first look towards the adjustments in 4.5 and 4.6.
Patch 4.5 was less about specific champions being nerfed or buffed, but the changes to Summoner Spells, which can shift the paradigm of play directly. The big changes were the massive increase in power to Teleport/Heal/Exhaust and the lowering of power to Ignite. Assassins have a harder time executing targets, and top laners that work well with Teleport have a massive advantage.
4.5 also added a new jungle item, Feral Flare, which is a scaling AD item that basically allowed the jungler to become a “4th carry” by encouraging early farming and rewarding with damage and sustain. Feral Flare was toned down in 4.6, making it a much more risky pick (5 more camps is a full small camp jungle clear + 1 larger objective, which adds between 2 to 3 minutes before completion).
The General Trend of Each Lane
King of the Top | Teleporting Timebombs – Most of the prolific top lane champions are those who scale well into the mid-late game and perform well with Teleport. This means that split pushers, duelists, and heavy farm-dependent champions are in favor. |
Story of the Jungle | Impact the Early – Making the difference in the early game, whether by assisting an early tower push or denying an enemy jungler a buff is critical to making the impact. Often the jungler’s biggest window is if the jungler can create an advantage in the first 10 minutes or not. |
Motive of the Mid | Control Pre and Post 6 – The number 1 priority of every mid laner should be to stay alive, not necessarily go for the early kill. How well a champion can contain its opponent from roaming (through poke or wave clear) allows more opportunities for Dragons/Tower Kills. |
Actions of the ADC | Push into Late Game – Pushing out the lanes is a vital part of any AD Carry, and many of the in vogue champions have at least 1 skill that can quickly push a wave. Pushing is important because every minion that dies to a tower alone is XP and gold lost for the opponent. |
Supporting Cast | Battlefield Control – The age of the roaming support has returned (at least in the fast push scenario). The supports that can roam with the jungler to secure deep vision are some of the most impactful characters in the current meta. Vision is power. Knowledge of enemy vision is even valuable. |
That should do it for this patches competitive tier list. Patch 4.7 is rumored to release before the next season of LCS begins (around late May) and is thought to have more drastic changes. If you enjoyed content like this, feel free share this on social media (there should be a bar to the left of the page if AdBlock is disabled), or bookmark the page for reference.
A special thank you goes to Cloth5.com for providing a medium for me to share my thoughts to you, and compLexity gaming for allowing me to observe professional play and interact with professionals in the eSports scene.