LoR Meta Snapshot #52 | Team Leviathan Gaming

Welcome to TLG's latest meta snapshot for Legends of Runeterra, a series in which we give you our insight on the finest decks in the higher ... LoRMetaSnapshot#52 March18,2022wusubi WelcometoTLG’slatestmetasnapshotforLegendsofRuneterra,aseriesinwhichwegiveyouourinsightonthefinestdecksinthehigherranksoftheladder.Asthedevelopershavesetouttheirstallforfewercompetitiveupdatesoverthecomingyear,we’replanningtodooccasionalsnapshotstocoverthebiggerchanges. Ifyouhaveanyquestions,feelfreetodropbyourDiscord.Bestofluckonyourclimb! Graphics:WellMax81 Editing:Wusubi,Sebodunum Writers:Den,Ultraman,Othal Akshan-Sivir(4.5) Pantheon(4.5) Scouts(4.25) FaeSwarm(4.25) Darkness(4.25) CMCACAIABEAQGAAOAECQADAFAQDRINTHQEAYEAIEAEAQAHIBAIAACAIEAABAIBAHHNOYAAMKAEBACBAAAMAQKAAU Difficulty:Hard It’sbeenawhilesinceAkshan-Sivirdominatedtheladder,butDemaciaisbackinfullforce,profitingfromaMidrange-orientedenvironment,whereAggrodecksarebarelyplayable.WithmanyFirstStrikeeffectsonbothofyourchampionsandagooduseoftheChallengerandVulnerablekeywords,thedeckisextremelyproficientattrading. Iknow,Iknow,it’sDemacia,butthisdeckisespeciallystrongatvaluetrading,usingthelikesofCataclysm,SingleCombatandConcertedStriketodominatetheboard.SimilarlytoPantheon,thislistisoneofthebestoptionstobeatfasterDemaciandecksthatneedtoset-uptheirboardbeforetheycanthreatentheNexus-theystruggletodothatinthefaceofyourmajesticunits. Akshan-Sivirisalsofavoredagainstcontroldecks,asSpellShieldcanchangethecourseofthegame.(Write-upbyUltraman) CQCACAIABEAQGAAOAMBQSGZDGMBQKCIDAUDAKAIBAANACAQAAEAQGCK4AECQUHICAQAAEAYCAECQSCQDAMERGOSV Difficulty:Moderate WedebatedmergingtheAkshan-SivirandPantheonwrite-upsgiventheirsimilarityintermsofmatchups,butthegameplayitselfisslightlydifferent.PantheonisjustasgoodagainstfasterDemaciandecksandcontroldecks,whilesharingthesameweaknessesagainstAggro. InsteadofusingFirstStrikeandrelyingonvaluetrades,thedeckusestheFatedmechanic.Yourfollowersaretoobigtodie.Yuumihelpswithturningyourunitsintoaninvinciblewallofstats,andifthatisn’tenough,youalsohavemultiplebuffsandhealsatyourdisposal(GuidingTouch,PaleCascade,Sharpsight). Thismightsoundstrange,buthavingabunchofstatsistheonlystrengthofthedeck.Inordertobeatit,youhavetofocusondirectdamage,swarmorkillmechanics.IfyoudaretochallengeaPantheonplayertoagameofstats,youronlyhopeisthattheymissoutonakeycard.(Write-upbyUltraman) CIDACAYABYAQIAACAIBAMFR6AIBAABQHAICQACQMAQAQABQJDUZQEAIBAABQCAQAAIAA Difficulty:Easy Scoutsisafast-pacedMidrangedeckandasusual,thegoalistooverwhelmyouropponentusingtheRallymechanic.ThefactthateveryDemaciandeckusesRallywouldsuggestthattheabilitytoattacktwiceperturnmightbeoverpowered,butanyway,thislististhebestatRallying,especiallyduringtheopponent’sturn. Eachturn,ifyouattackonlywithScoutunits,yougainarenewedattacktoken,helpingyoudealmassivedamageeachtimetheopponentgetsoverwhelmed.MissFortuneandQuinnareperfectinthisdeck,astheybothrequireyoutoattack4timesbeforeflippingintoamazingfountainsofdamageandvaluetrades. ThegoodnewsforScoutsisthattheycandevelopasecondarywinconditionduetowonderfulunitslikeDurandSculptorandPetriciteBroadwing.Yourunitscansurviveanything,allowingthemtobenefitfromForDemacia!andCithriatheBold’sbuffs.YoucanjustoutswarmtheopponentandfinishofftheirNexuswhiletheyfocusonyourchampions.(Write-upbyUltraman) CQBQCAYABYAQIAACBECQUIDPOB2IKANGAGXQDNYB3EAQEAICAADQEBIKQQA2CAIBAEAQICA Difficulty:Easy Youdon’twanttomesswithTristana,GnarandtheirFaes.It’sdebatablefornow,butthisdeckmightbemoreefficientatusingYordlesinArmsthanFizz-Lulu.You’reabletofilltheboardextremelyfast,activateYordlesinArmssimultaneouslyandmaybeevenRallyafterwards. TheusualDemaciantoolsareatyourdisposal,andarebestusedtoprotectGleamingLanternorGrandfatherFae.Withalotofcardcreation,thedeckdoesn’twanttoemptyitshandtooquickly.Ifyoumanagetofindtherightcardsinyouropeninghand,youshouldbeabletofilltheboardtwoorthreetimes. Let’stalkaboutHungryOwlcat,shallwe?SpellShieldisaridiculouskeywordtohaveona1-manaunit.Youropponentwillfacetonsof4-attackOwlsthatcannotberemoved.Andyes,they’retheperfectrecipientsofthebuffsfromYordleinArms. Gnarhelpswithprolongingtheopponent’ssuffering,withtheextradrawofPokeyStickthatmightendupdrawingmorecardgenerationsuchasLopingTelescope,whichmightcreateanotherwinconditionandstealthegame.(Write-upbyUltraman) CQBQEAIFAEUAEBIFBAEQMBIKGE4V2XTCUYAQCAQBAUOS4AQCAECQ6FAEAUFACBGGAHKQC Difficulty:Hard Veigar-Sennarequiresabitofskilltopilot,asyouhavetoset-upyourmainwincondition:makingDarknessasbigaspossible.AndsinceTwistedCatalyzerandVeigararetheonlycardsthatcanactuallydoit,you’llneedtomasteranotherimportantskill;beingluckyenoughtodrawthem. It’ssimple-ifyoumanagetofindbothcardsbeforeTurn4,youcanwineverygame,butiftheydecidetohaveapicnicatthebottomofyourdeck,you’reprobablygoingtolose.Thatsaid,makecleveruseofthinningandmulliganstoincreaseyourodds,andtryyourbesttostallfortimeuntilyoufindwhat’sneeded. OnceyourDarknessisbig,makesureyoureduceitscostandthenit’stimetospam.YoucancreateDarknessmultipletimesperturnwithSennaanddouble-diponitsdamagewithIxtaliSentinelinordertolevel-upVeigar.Don’tforgettoutilizeyourremovalsandhealingtoactuallystayalivewhilescaling.(Write-upUltraman) Timelines(4) Draven-Rumble(4) Fizz-Lulu(4) Ahri-Lulu(3.75) BandleTree(3.75) Gnardecks(3.75) EZ-Caitlyn(3.5) Elise-Kindred(3.5) FeelTheRush(3.5) CQDACAIBAMAQGAIGAECQIGACAECC2NACAQCAUEACAUFJQANBAECACAIEDMAQIAIMAIAQCAILAIBQCAQDAEAQIAIK Difficulty:Moderate Ifonlylifewasassimpleasthisdeck’sgameplan,whichistoplayConcurrentTimelines.Thisisoneoftheliststhatnoonesawcoming,butcardslikeFerrosFinancierandBuriedinIceactuallymadeithappen. WehavetomentionGnar,asthelackofasecondchampionwasahugeproblem.WhileGnardoesn’treallyofferanysynergies,thedeckitselfisapileofvaluecardstobeginwith.YouhaveafewcombossuchasBuriedinIceintoItThatStaresorTimelinesintoIcePillar,butthat’saboutit. TrollChantisstillFreljord’sbestcardandAloofTravelershaveacoupleofdecenttargetswhilebenefitingfromTimelines,giventheirweakstats.(Write-upbyUltraman) CQDACAYEAUAQIBAQAECQUWACAEBRGFACAUBQMDIEAECCMJZNGQBACAYECIAQKAYJAIAQGAYPAIAQGAQL Difficulty:Easy Draven-RumbleisoneofthefewDiscardvariationsthatstillseessomeplayafterthenerftoSion.Withalowcurveandalotofdirectdamage,itfitsthebillofanAggrodeck,butLostSoulstraightensyourcurveandallowsyoutotakeaslowerapproach. Thatsaid,thedeckispronetohavingpooropeninghandsandisabitunreliable.Rumblecanhigh-rolleverynowandthen,butmostdeckshaveenoughanswersthesedays,whichmakesithardforRumbletobecomeanactualcarry.YourplanBisfindingsomedirectdamagethroughElusivesandBallisticBotandhopethatyourBurnwillbeenoughtostealthegame. TheinstabilityofthedeckiscompensatedbyitsfavoredmatchupsagainstFaeSwarmandTheBandleTree,andbyhowstrongtheperfecthandcanbe,withRebornGrenadierbeingsodominantintheearlygameandSurvivalSkillsgivingyouafreetrade. Mightisaspecificwincondition,mainlyusedonaBallisticBotoraRumblewithSpellShield-addanextraWhirlingDeathtothemixandyoucandealalotofdamage.(Write-upbyUltraman) CQCQCAYCAIAQGBASAECAIEAEAECAYJZNGQCQKCTPPCTADLYBYAAQCAICAYXACAQFBI2MQAI Difficulty:Easy LuluisfollowedbyherFlameChompers!friends,helpinghermakevaluetradesintheearlygame.Asawinconditionthough,thisisontheweakerside.ThearchetypeneverreallytookoffuntiltheinclusionofYordlesinArms,benefitingfromtheswarmbasednatureofthedeck. Thisallowsyoutocreateaboardfullofgiganticunitsandusethemtoeitherforcetradesorsimplyfinishoffthegameduetoabsoluteboarddomination.ThedeckisprettygoodagainstDemacia,butitstrugglesifyourfollowersgetremovedeachturn.YordleCaptainisyourbesttooltopreventthatfromhappening,asraisingthehealthofyourunitsby1isoftenenoughtosavemostofthemfromcheapremoval. Butalas,ifthatisn’tenough,yourlastcallisthe10-manaTreasuredTrash.EmbracethetruenatureofBandleCityandletRNGdecideyourfate!(Write-upbyUltraman) CQDACAICBQAQGAQCAEBQIEQBAQCBAAQFAICAOBABAQGCMLJUAQAQCBBHAEBAEBIBAUFJQAICAEBBKMIA Difficulty:Hard Ahristillexists,butonlyintheformofanotherLulu&FlameChompers!combination.YoucanbuffAhriandwatchherswitchwithChompers,effectivelytradingwithanopposingfollowerwhilegivingyouanewDiscardtarget. Outsideofthatfunlittleinteraction,thedeckexcelsatkeepingitscardsalive,duetobothDenyandTwinDisciplines.YoucanwearouttheopponentwithElusives,leadingintoaSai’nenThousand-TailedorWindfarerHatchlingfinisher. AloofTravelersareanecessaryinclusiontohelpyoustabilizeinthemidgame,asthelistneedstoslowdownbetweenturns3and6inordertokeepafullhandandreacttotheopponent’splays.Thecurrentversionofthedeckisquitestable,butit’snotaneasytasktopressureyouropponentwhilekeepingafullhandandstayingalive.(Write-upbyUltraman) CQBACAIDG4CQKCTUQQA2MANPAHBACAYBAIBQSAIDAMGQSBIKAENCSMJ2NKMADIIBYAAQA Difficulty:Easy Areyousadwhenplayingacardmeanshavingonelesscardforthenextturn?Don’tworry,TheBandleTreeishere.Evenifthedeckcombinestwoofthemostpokeyregionsinthegame,itoffersavarietyofwaystowinthegame-especiallyonceyoustartgeneratingnewcardswithLopingTelescope,BandleCityMayorandofcourseBandleTreeitself. YouhavealotofdisposablecreaturestoprotectyourNexusandtodamagesomekeyopposingunitsforaScorchedEarthoraRavenousFlockwhileprogressingyourwincondition.Evenso,asanaggressivedeck,BandleTreeisoutshinedbyDemaciaandsomeGnardecks. Poppyisagreatswarmingthreat,andifshestickstotheboard,she’llkeepbuffingyourunitstoapointwhereit’llbeimpossibletosurvivethepressure.Thismightwinyousomegames,butit’snotwherethedecktrulyshines.TherealpowerofBandleTreeshowsitselfagainstslowcontroldeckslikeDarkness. Yes,you’llputweakcreaturesontheboardandthey’lldietothesimplestremoval,butthat’snotanissue.Youhavemanywaysofgeneratingnewcards,allowingyoutokeepthepressureupandstayaliveuntilBandleTreehitstheboard. Thenitbecomesaraceagainsttimeforyouropponent,whosimplyknowstheyneedtokillyouinafewturns.Andthat’sthebiggeststrengthofthedeck:whentheTreeison,youonlyneedtothinkabouthowtosurvive,whiletheopponentneedstothinkabouthowtowin.(Write-upbyOthal) Akshan-Gnar CEBAKBIKGFE2CANGAGYQCBQEA43DOXLHQAAYEAICAECAORIBAUFK4AICAECQVVIBAICAOO4KAE Ziggs-Gnar CEBQEAQDAMCAIAIDAIGCQNYHAUFAODRRJGQQDIYBUYAQAAIBAEBQ6 Gnar-Swain CEBQEAIDFY3QIAQDAEDQQCIFAUFA4MKJUEA2MAICAEAQGFQCAUFKIAOVAEAQCBIKVAAQ Gnar-Darius CEEACAQBAYAQGAICAECQCBQBAIBQKAIFBKQQCAIFAMHQEAIBCYPQIAIDBMGA2JQBAEAQCBICAEAQCGQBAEBTG Gnaristhemostpopularchampionrightnow.TheYordleisreminiscentofPoppy’sdominationbackinthesecondhalfof2021,whereshewasahugetempoenforcerandslottedinbasicallyanydeckusingtheBandleCityandDemaciaregions.Gnarfeelsverysimilarinthewayhe’scurrentlyplayed. Hecanserveasaremoval,avalueengineorsimplyanotherthreatontheboardforyouropponenttodealwith.Thankstothiscombinationofpowerandflexibility,Gnarappearsinmanydecks,andthey’realldecentinthecurrentmeta.Wechosetogivethemonebigcategoryinoursnapshot,astheyfeelsimilarintermsofpowerlevel.Onasidenote,Wallopisagreatchampionspellthat’sbeingusedinmostofthosedecksandseesplayevenindecksthatdon’tfeatureGnar(e.g.Darkness). MostGnardecksaretempo-based,withminortwistsinhowtheyoperate.ThepairingwithZiggsorDariusisdamage-based,eitherthroughtheBurnmechanicortheOverwhelmkeyword.Bothdecksaimtoputtheiropponentonthebackfootintheearlygame,allowingthemtopresstheadvantageandset-uptheirbiggerdamageenabler.GnarcanhelpwithsustainduetoPokeyStickgeneration,buttherealshiningmomentisthelevel-up,turninghimintoamassiveOverwhelmunit. Akshan-GnarandGnar-Swainaremoreboard-baseddecks,althoughdifferentintheirapproach.Akshanisaproactivedeck,whiletheSwainversioniscapableofadoptingareactiveplaystyle.Inthosedecks,Gnar’sPokeyStickisasolidhelp,asyou’relookingtoplaylongergamesthanwiththeNoxuspairings.Whenflippedthough,hecanstillpushalotofdamageifneeded. Overall,eachGnardeckisworthyofTier2contention,withupsanddownsdependingonthemetaatyourrank.Butonethingisforcertain,he’sapowerfulchampionthatcanfulfillvariousrolesinordertoadapttodifferentmatchups.(Write-up byden) CECQCAIDFYAQEAYJAEBQIEICAECCINAEAUCAMDANDECQCAIEDMAQGAYNAECAGAQBAUCBQAQBAMZTOAIBAEBQI Difficulty:Moderate Tri-beamImprobulatorisbackinthemeta.It’sbeenafewmonthswithoutthelovelyEzreal-Draven,sorry,Ezreal-Caitlyndeck.Packingalotofcheapremovals,thegoalistostoptheopponentfromdevelopingaboardwhilebuildingahugeImprobulatorinordertohaveenoughtempotowinthegame. Thegameplanhaschangedabit,giventhedeckdoesn’thavetheabilitytoplaythevaluegameanymore,especiallyagainstthelikesofBandleCityandtheirManifestkeyword.Aftersomechanges,thedeckisnowmoreproactiveandtriestopressuretheopponentateverystageofthegame.Ithasdecentearlygameunits,ImprobulatorforthemidgameandCaptainFarroncombinedwithaleveled-upEzrealtosealthedeal. AlwaysgoodagainstotherMidrangedecks,relativelyfineagainstAggroandbadagainstcontrol,theliststillfeelsthesamedespitethechangestoitsgameplan.Ifyou’reyearningforatripdownthememorylane,looknofurtherthanEzreal-Caitlyn.(Write-upbyUltraman) CQDACAIEGQAQIBIFAECQVGABAECQIGACAUCQWDYDAECQCKBRAIAQCBA3AMAQKEZBGUBQCAQEBAAQKBAMAMAQKDYZDU Difficulty:Easy SI/Piltoverhasalwaysbeenapopularcombination,andhasbeenperformingmoresteadilyasoflate.ThedeckusedtostruggleagainstDemacia,buthasbeendoingbettersinceKindred’sbuffto4-manaandVengeance’sbuffto6-mana. TheSentinelsaddanextralayerofpressureagainstotherwisebadmatchups,likeTheBandleTreethatoftenstrugglestocleartheFearsomeunits.Giventheirdecentamountofhealth,theyhelpagainstDemaciaandothercontroldecks. YouobviouslyhaveanamazingmatchupagainstAggrodecksthankstoVileFeastandmanycheapremovals.TheRuinationisespeciallyimportantinthisDemacia-heavymeta,andisneededtoovercomesomeofthestrongerDemacianboards.AtrocityandCommanderLedrosmakeforanicecombo,allowingyoutofinishoffthegame.(Write-upbyUltraman) CECACAIBAMAQIAIOAIBQCBQWAMAQKAI5FACACAYBAMAQIAIKAIAQKDYZAUAQCAIMCQTTEAIBAECSC Difficulty:Moderate Withlonggamesandaneasygameplan,FeelTheRushistheentry-levelcontroldeckandanold-timeclassicthatI’msureyou’llthoroughlyenjoy.AslongasyouavoidPantheonandScouts.OhandDarkness.AndalsoTheBandleTree.Okay,you’vegottoavoidquiteafewdecks,butnoneofthosematchupsarestrictlyunwinnable. WhyisthisdeckinTier2withsomanybadmatchups?Well,that’sbecauseithasjustasmanygoodones!EnjoycrushingthepoorFaes,andlaughastheswarmdecksgetremindedthatFreljordhascontroltools,andgreatonesatthat.AvalancheandBlightedRavinewillcrushtheirbody,mindandsoul. Noxus/PnZdecksareeasytobeatforsimilarreasons.You’llbeabletoplaythereactivegameagainstthose,maximizingthevalueofyourremovalsbeforehealingyourselftoavoidanyunpleasantsurprises.(Write-upbyUltraman) Zoe-Lee(3.25) Lurkers(3.25) EliseBurn(3) CICACAICBQAQKCIGAQBAEAYGBAEQKAYJBENSGM6XAEBQCAICAIAQEAQFAEBQSVIBAEAQEMI Difficulty:Hard YouthoughtLeeSinwasgoingaway?Thinkagain!Whilemostdecksbenefitedfromthelatestexpansion,Zoe-Leereliesonitspowerlevelandastrongfinishertotryandcompetewiththenewflavorsofthemonth.ItremainsstrongagainstAggroduetoEyeoftheDragonandWoundedWhiteflame,buttheleadersofthemetahavenumerouswaysofdealingwithit,makingitadifficultchoiceforclimbingtheladder. BandleCitydecksarequiteefficientatturningyourmainthreatintoawow-reactingmammalthankstoMinimorph,andtheycanplayaroundBastionduetotheirhighnumberoflow-costspells.Assuch,wearen’tincludingtheSpellShield-giverinfavorofcardsthathelpwithourwincondition. AgainstDemacia,boardswarmandRallyaretheissue.Lee’sbestprotectionaretheDragonlings,butsincethey’reEphemeral,theycansurviveforonecombateachround.ThepresenceofConcertedStrikemeansDemaciacanplayaroundyourBarrier. Pantheonisahugeproblem,comingonlinefasterthanLeeSin,withlikelybiggerstatsandnoconditionalkeywordactivation.HisdecksalsoincludeaSilencepackagewithBlindedMysticandHush,effectivelyturningyourEyeoftheDragonintofoodfortheirownWoundedWhiteflame. Whennotfacingthedifficultmatchups,thegameplanremainsthesame:EyeoftheDragonandGiftsfromBeyondareheretoprovidethebestanswersagainstAggroandswarmdeckswithoutRally,sotryandputthemdownasfastasyoucan.YourgoalistosurviveuntilyoucanclosethegameinoneswoopwithaZenithBlade-buffedLeeSin. Attimes,youmightwanttothreatentheopponentwithoutLeeSinandforcethemtoansweraboostedWoundedWhiteflame.Eventhoughthecardwon’twinyouthegame,everyremovalusedonadifferenttargetthanLeeSinisgreatforyou. Intheend,LeeSinremainsoneofthemostdifficultdecks,butalsooneofthemostrewarding.Everygameisapuzzleyouneedtosolve,andevenwhilelosing,you’llbeabetterplayerforit.(Write-upbyOthal) CMBAKBAGAEBQKBYPBACAOAITCY3ECRCKKAAACAIEA45Q Difficulty:Easy Lurkstrugglesalotinthismeta.Whilethedeckisaclassicandahardonetocountout,thematchupagainstDemaciaisevenatthispoint.Assuch,Lurk’smatchupsheetsuddenlydoesn’tlookappealing.Mostdeckshaveanearlygamepresence,makingitdifficultforyoutodealdamage,andyourlategameunitswithOverwhelmgetshutdownonaregularbasis. Pyke’sspellisasgoodasbefore,butRek’Saihasahardtimeleveling-upinthecurrentenvironment.Thedeckmightbedecentintournaments,butwedon’trecommendplayingitonladder.(Write-upbyUltraman) CECACAQDAMBQCBJHGU4AGAYFAMCAMBIBAMBAYDZIG4AQCAQDAQBACAIFGEAQIBIM Difficulty:Easy Eliseisoneofthebestanti-Pantheondecksoutthere,andit’sjustasgoodagainstAkshan-Sivir.Butifthat’sthecase,whyisitonlyrated3stars?Well,that’sbecausebothScoutsandDarknessshutitdownextremelyhard.Allthecontroldecksarenaturalcounters,andtheMidrangedecksdon’tfeartheFearsomekeywordasmuchastheyusedto. YoucantryusingFrenziedSkitterertosurpriseyouropponent,butyourlineargameplanrequirestheopponenttomisplayormisstheirkeycards.Thatsaid,youhavetonsofdirectNexusdamage,whichcanalwaysstealagame.Thedeckisbestusedasananti-metapick,orintournamentstotargetslowerDemaciandecks.(Write-upbyUltraman) Copyright2020©TeamLeviathanGaming|AllRightsReserved PrivacyPolicy|E-Mail|Support Loading...