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The strongest League of Legends champions in patch 9.11
With a new patch comes a new set of OP champions. We're here to give you a helping hand and show you which champions you should be playing.
Summoner’s Rift constantly evolves and every minor gameplay tweak, item update and spell adjustment can have a huge impact on the current champion pool. Of course, the best League of Legends players are always adapting to these changes, seeking out the champions that are deemed overpowered or broken. League’s pro players may have set the foundations for the meta champions, but there are a few who have risen up under the new 9.11 changes.
Learning to play the strongest champs in the meta will give you an edge out on the Fields of Justice, so we’ve put together an in-depth guide that breaks down patch 9.11’s most popular meta picks and discusses why you should be using them.
Top-lane: Aatrox, Darius, Riven, Renekton
Aatrox is a game changer
© Riot Games
The Darkin Blade proudly returns to the top of the leaderboard after his 9.9 changes brought him out the dark confines of the champ select screen. While his ability to tower dive has reined in Aatrox’s early game kill potential, his devilish powers continue to be a favourite among those looking to deliver game-changing plays. Items like Black Cleaver and Death’s Dance keep the Darkin healthy during skirmishes and offer fantastic kill potential, especially in the late-game when his power spike becomes incredibly potent. Aatrox currently has a 52.78% win rate and is enjoying increased popularity over in Korea, so expect to see Riot’s resident demon roaming around the Rift a lot more.
Meanwhile, Darius is another top-laner who has been busy climbing the ranked solo queue ladder, and he currently boasts an impressive 55.51% win rate. The Hand of Noxus continues to deliver incredible amounts of damage at all stages of the game, giving players the opportunity to take tanky items without drastically reducing his overall DPS – in fact, Darius’ ability to carry games has proven so lethal that he currently has the second highest ban rate in top lane, sitting at a lofty 20.59%.
However, both Riven (52.42%) and Renekton (50.46%) have been busy climbing their way back into the top-lane spotlight. The Butcherer of the Sands is still swinging strong off the back of the 9.8 buffs that increased his base health, attack speed, and base armour. Riot’s ravenous reptile has been a staple pick this patch thanks to his strong 1v1 potential, making him a great counter to those that wish to utilise Riven’s highly aggressive mobile plays.
Jungle: Elise, Sejuani, Evelynn, Xin Zhao
Elise can shut down squishy damage dealers in 1v1 trades
© Riot Games
While patch 9.10’s Conqueror nerf brought more tank junglers back into the spotlight, there has been another shift in the meta. Elise and Evelynn find themselves at the very top of the tier list, with both champions enjoying 52.03% and 50.56% win rate respectively. These champions have seen an increase in popularity over in Korea thanks to their ability to shut down squishy damage dealers in 1v1 trades. With AP assassins like Zed, Talon, and Fizz being so popular right now, it’s no wonder Elise and Evelynn have returned for more jungle antics.
In terms of prioritisation, Sejuani and Xin Zhao follow close behind as players clearly favour these champions for their ability to delete key damage threats with their ultimates. After all, having ults that can gift and secure kills will make it that much easier to take control of game-changing buffs, especially in ranked where a few ganks can quickly snowball an entire game in your favour. Sejuani can single handedly take control of the early game and get her team ahead with her ultimate Glacial Prison, making her a great pick for those that want to support their team when playing ranked solo queue.
Meanwhile, Xin Zhao is the epitome of carry jungler and can snowball into an uncontrollable warrior who melts enemy champions in a blink of an eye. Be ready to ban or prioritise these champs if you wish to secure a dominant victory over your rivals.
Mid-lane: Zed, Ahri, Talon, Sylas
Zed is back and better than ever
© Riot Games
Zed has always been a staple mid-lane champion amongst those that wish to outplay their enemies at each and every turn. The Master of Shadows may have slinked into the darkness during previous patches, but he’s back and better than ever thanks to the recent tank nerf.
Zed’s insanely high damage makes him the bane of any carry’s life and his ultimate can make short work of even the tankiest of foes. With ADC champs like Sivir currently running rampant around the Rift, it’s understandable that many players have been drawn towards his ludicrous burst damage. With an impressive 51.68% win rate, Zed currently stands proudly at the top of the mid-lane tier list.
Meanwhile, Ahri continues to be as popular as ever and 9.84% of players are picking her to utilise the Nine-tailed Fox’s well-rounded kit. Ahri still delivers great kill potential with her charm and mobility from Spirit Rush, while her incredibly safe playstyle makes her a fantastic choice for all levels of play. The Glacial Augment build absolutely destroys champions in team fights thanks to the passive slow and charm combination, so expect to see this mischievous fox waltzing her way around the Rift.
Rounding out the bottom of the top tier list are Talon and Sylas. Both these champions have great late-game scaling and can effortlessly delete foes in 1v1 engages. They may not be as safe as the Nine-tailed Fox, but they do have tremendous amounts of kill pressure. If you like to take part in early-game brawls and want to obliterate your foes with some devastating combos, then both Talon and Sylas will enable you to do just that.
Bot-lane: Sivir, Kai’Sa, Ezreal, Jinx
Sivir is dominating games in Korea
© Riot Games
Sivir is absolutely dominating games over in Korea and the Battle Mistress currently stands at the top of the ADC leaderboard with an impressive 54.23% win rate. The protection from Spell Shield makes Sivir incredibly safe to play, and On the Hunt’s bonus attack speed allows her to shred through both enemy champions and objectives, making her difficult to deal with throughout all stages of the game. Clearing waves is also incredibly easy thanks to Ricochet, while the long-range poke from Boomerang Blade can easily dissuade Sivir’s enemies from forcing a fight. If you’re playing bot-lane, be ready to see a lot more Sivir from now on.
Kai’Sa is still tearing up Summoner’s Rift in 9.11 thanks to her sustained damage and fantastic pushing power. The previous buffs to Essence Reaver and added armour penetration from Guinsoo’s Rageblade have increased the Daughter of the Void’s late-game damage, while popular supports like Nautilus allow her to ramp up her passive stacks, further increasing her lethality. It’s not hard to see why Kai’Sa has 38.18% pick rate on the Korean server, so make sure you capitalise on her abundant strengths when queuing up for ranked games.
Both Ezreal and Jinx are still tearing up Summoner’s Rift in 9.11 thanks to their sustained damage and fantastic pushing power. Ezreal’s safe playstyle and excellent outplay potential gives him the edge he needs to carve out a path at the very top of the rankings, while Jinx’s ability to split push and light things up with her speedy auto attacks has led to her increased popularity. Don’t be surprised to see your towers crumble when the Loose Cannon is let loose.
Support: Nautilus, Lux, Thresh, Pyke
Nautilus tanky nature has helped him climb the ranks
© Riot Games
Nautilus continues his climb up the rankings thanks to his tanky nature and brilliant engage that give his AD carry the tools they need to get ahead. The 9.8 buffs to the Titan of the Depths’ root duration and Dredge Line’s damage buff have made him a real threat when he locks down his target. Nautilus’ high CC and incredibly simple ult allow him to constantly maintain lane pressure, securing plenty of kills for his carry throughout all stages of the game. The Titan of the Depths has hurled his anchor into the bot lane and he shows no signs of leaving, so be prepared to see a lot more from this colossal support.
Thresh (51.17%) continues his previous supportive stomp and remains a staple pick among those looking to get their ADC ahead. Despite Death Sentence taking a hit to both its mana cost and cooldown in patch 9.4, Thresh’s overall utility keeps him from slipping out of contention – after all, early-game kills and turret access is vital in League of Legends and a decisive hook can quickly snowball an early-game lead for your team.
Meanwhile, both Lux (53.16%) and Pyke (50.28%) find themselves back in the limelight due to Nautilus’ increased popularity. These champs greatly benefit from hyper-aggressive plays and can capitalise on even the smallest of enemy mistakes. The current ADC meta lacks mobility and escapes, so consider picking these champs up if you wish to gift your carries some easy kills and avoid falling prey to Nautilus’ antics.
