Note: This is an old article - for the most up-to-date data, check the latest LoR Best Decks article, or our Meta Tier List!
Best Legends of Runeterra Decks – The Seamstress, the Cultist and the Scout
As of early Tuesday, these are the best Legends of Runeterra decks and archetypes, according to Legna and Mastering Runeterra's Meta Tier List:
As we near the end of Domination, and as witnessed last Friday, Katarina Gwen, Kayn Vayne and Teemo Zoe remain the strongest LoR ladder decks when both winrate (WR) and playrate are taken into account, and are also a cut above the rest when looking at specific decklists…
… yet Annie TF and Jinx Lulu, as we'll see in detail today, may still shake things up a bit, before new cards arrive at Runeterra next week.
Technical note – About overall archetypes and specific decklists, and what we mean by "LoR best decks"
Most data sites (including MaRu's Meta Tier List) and articles like Leer's Monday Meta Report sort Legends of Runeterra meta decks by archetype ("archetype" being the aggregate of decks with a specific champion combination) – that's also how matchup tables are shown in pretty much all data sites.
In this article, we'll sort these Legends of Runeterra decks by the best specific decklist for each archetype – since in each archetype some decks fare better than others (and sometimes the difference is quite noticeable), we'll broadly group the best LoR decks in four arbitrary categories, by amount of games played in the data samples we check:
- Juggernauts: LoR decks with more than 2100 games – these are the best tried-and-true, top meta decks in Legends of Runeterra.
- Heavyweights: LoR decks with between 2100 and 900 games played – other excellent choices, with large enough samples to confidently say, "Yeah, this works."
- Punching Up: LoR decks with between 900 and 400 games played – we're entering the Land of Small Sample Sizes here, on top of the meta being up in the air, but as far as numbers go, these decks can put up one hell of a fight.
- YMMV: decks with less than 400 games in the last three days – risky stuff, but here's where you usually find the spice!
For this article, in all cases we'll look at decks in Platinum and above, and in the last three days, unless stated otherwise – and when talking about LoR decks in general, or best Legends of Runeterra decks in particular, we'll always be referring to specific lists (while reserving "archetype" to denominate the aggregate of all decks with a particular champion pair). As a rule of thumb, decks with a winrate (WR) above 52% catch our eye, above 53% are eye-widening, and anything with a WR over 55% is exceptional.
On the other hand, do notice that when talking about matchup tables, it's always about archetypes – in other words, we'll recommend which are the best Legend of Runeterra decks (ie. specific decklist) you can choose to face the most popular archetypes (since you'll find all versions in the LoR ladder).
Last but not least: all stats and recommendations above are for choosing the best LoR deck for the Legends of Runeterra Ladder environment – the Best-of-Three format (found in Tournaments and Gauntlets) is a very different kettle of fish!
Sources: Legna, Mastering Runeterra Meta Tier List.
If you have any feedback on how these decks could be showcased differently, do let me know! =)
Juggernauts – Best Legends of Runeterra Meta Decks
Here we showcase LoR decks with more than 2100 games and good-to-great WR – by current numbers, these are the best meta decks in Legends of Runeterra.
We will find a single deck in this category today.
Katarina Gwen. ft Elise
As this season's end draws close, the jury is back with its verdict: in this meta, this is indeed the best LoR deck.
17 cards
23 cards
29 500
There's hardly a doubt that Red Gwen is the best-performing deck this patch cycle – nearly 4,000 games in the last three days with a WR above 56%, and the exact same list being the most popular in all three shards (Americas, EMEA and APAC), which is a LoR deck's equivalent of a Grand Slam. If you want to make sure you are bringing the sharpest sword to the fight, this is it!
In spite of its amazing performance, though, Red Gwen is a fairly "fair" deck, with odds against the majority of other strong decks being from roughly even to only moderately favored – Jinx Lulu seems to be Red Gwen weakest spot (although not by much), and its best matchups are Shadow Isles decks (like Tryndamere Trundle, or Heimerginder Jayce).
Further reading: Scissorsbox's Hallowed Attacks and Harrowing Combos – A Katarina Gwen Deck Guide.
Heavyweights – Strong LoR Meta Decks
These LoR decks have between 900 and 2100 games played in the last three days – solid picks for climbing the Runeterra ladder.
Kayn Vayne
If looking strictly by the numbers, Kayn Vayne remains the second best option for the Runeterra ladder – its most popular version, showcased below, punches above 56% across 1,500+ games these last three days…
24 cards
16 cards
29 600
… while a slightly different version (exact same units, slightly different spell composition) does even better with 1K games played.
Roughly even odds against the other two strongest decks (Kat Gwen and Teemo Zoe), loses to Annie TF, an edge against most Shadow Isles brews, and very favored into Taliyah Ziggs.
Further reading: PakiInPyjamas Kayn and Vayne Bring the Pain – A LoR Deck Guide.
Bandle Teemo Zoe
Our pesky Elusive champs have lost a bit of their edge (punching a bit below 54% today, down from a crazy 56%+ last Friday) yet, overall, remain among the three strongest decks this patch.
25 cards
15 cards
26 100
As noted in previously, Teemo Zoe's matchup spread is that of a "bully" (it's not that great against the strongest decks, but pummels weaker brews to dust) – you may have a bit of a hard time if, in your pocket meta, you run into Annie decks (Annie Jhin, or Annie TF), Draven Jinx and/or Shadow Isles brews (Feel the Rush, Heimer Jayce), but against unrefined or weaker decks you'll have a very easy time.
Further reading: Leer's Trickster Never Loses – A Teemo Zoe Elusives LoR Deck Guide.
🏀On the Rebound: Annie Twisted Fate
After cooling off quite a bit last week, Annie TF has regained some steam, now striking above 52% in about 1700 games.
Taliyah Ziggs and Tryndamere Trundle (both awful matchups for Annie TF) have lost a bit of traction, which is great news here; and Annie TF is very well positioned against the three Top Dogs, being roughly even into Katarina Gwen and very favored into both Teemo Zoe and Kayn Vayne.
21 cards
19 cards
28 200
If you want to pick a fight against the current meta rulers, this is one excellent choice!
Further reading: For tips and tricks, you may want to check Dr Chekhov's Annie TF Deck Guide.
Other Considerations
Although still somewhat popular, Viktor Seraphine Shadows is not a good choice currently.
Same goes for Norra Veigar: there are versions with close to 2000 games played, but none of them goes over 48% WR.
Punching Up – Runeterra Decks Doing Great
Runeterra decks with between 400 and 900 games in the last three days – while some may be just a fluke, more often than not should end up being on the strong side of things.
🏀On the Rebound: Bandle Rumble Sion
Snnuy's Mecha-Yordles take on Discard was doing very well exactly one week ago, yet but last Friday it had deflated below the 50% WR mark…
… yet today we find Rumble Sion on the upswing again, punching above 53% in more than 700 games!
24 cards
16 cards
23 800
It seems to be a serious underdog to Jhinnie, Teemo Zoe and Kayn Vayne, though, and without too many good matchup against strong decks (Trundle Timelines seems to be the only matchup that Rumble Sion wins consistently), so jury is still out on whether or not this deck is the real deal – but, at least by today's numbers, it's looking promising!
🧊Cooling Off: Lonesome Trundle Timelines
After two stellar weeks, Concurrent Timelines
reaches a plateau. It has gained a bit of traction when looking at play rates (700 games in the last three days, up from 650 last Friday) but WR has mellowed to an okay 51%+.
17 cards
23 cards
21 500
Dies a lot versus Teemo Zoe, Jhinnie is rough, and Red Gwen is also a bit of an uphill struggle.
⭐Rising Star – Jinx Lulu
Still on the rise, the best Jinx Lulu deck now strikes above 57% across 600 (up from 400 last Friday), with top pilots taking it all the way to the LoR Leaderbord's front page.
22 cards
18 cards
24 200
The follower package seems solved, with other Jinx Lulu versions (all doing terrifically well) showing just minor variations in the spell ratios.
Great matchup spread; save for Kayn Vayne, Jinx Lulu is heavily favored against all other popular decks, including great odds versus Teemo Zoe, Jhinnie and Timelines.
Annie Jhin
Annie Jhinn is gaining traction yet again (although with always the same build, which has remained immutable since soon after these champs joined Runeterra), now punching above 57% when it was at 53% last Friday.
28 cards
12 cards
22 000
Great against Teemo Zoe, quite good against Kayn Vayne – not ideal versus Red Gwen, though.
Further reading: Yangzera's Annie goes to Stack School – A Jhin Annie Aggro Guide.
Tryndamere Trundle, aka Feel The Rush
The best Tryndamere Trundle deck cuts one copy of It That Stares
, Vengeance
and Harsh Winds
to make room for Withering Wail
and Voices of the Old Ones
, and with very good results: a great 54% WR across 400+ games, while the previous list still does very good too (53%+ in around 350 games).
11 cards
29 cards
27 500
Gangplank Sejuani, aka Plunder
Losing a bit of momentum compared with last week, the best Gangplank Sejuani deck has stabilized at around 54% (down from 56% last Friday) and has shrunk its playrate a bit, now with about 400 games played in the last three days – poor odds against Teemo Zoe and Kayn Vayne, but has the upper hand versus Red Gwen, and generally favored against most other popular options.
Further reading: PakiInPyjamas Plunder, Now with Tentacles – A Gangplank Sejuani LoR Deck Guide.
9 cards
31 cards
27 900
⭐Rising Star – Ekko Jinx Shurima
Seems like this is a good week for Jinx: Lulu Jinx, as we've seen, is on of today's success story, and (although to a lesser degree) Ekko Jinx is following the same path: the best Ekko Jinx deck improves its playrate to nearly 500 games, and a very solid 52% WR.
16 cards
24 cards
23 600
All the strong Jinx Ekko builds seem to share an extremely flat Follower curve, with minor tweaks in the spell ratio.
Miss Fortune Swain
As noted in previous articles, folks: don't sleep on Privateers! =)
20 cards
20 cards
29 200
They may not be new, they may not be shiny, but they be punching at 55%, and them be doing for pretty much all of Domination. They are a bit of a "bully" deck (not great against the strongest decks, but great against weaker brews), but a bully that can surely get the climbing job done.
Further reading: for the other side of this matchup, check PakiInPyjamas' By Her Guns Shall Noxus Rise – A Miss Fortune Swain LoR Deck Guide.
Other Considerations
Taliyah Ziggs remains a playable, 50%+ option – a very interesting consideration if Landmarks are your jam. Leer shares tips and tricks in his Taliyah Ziggs Deck Guide.
Elise Norra and Viktor Aphelios have fallen on harsh times, and are not decks we can recommend today.
Your Mileage May Vary – Fringe LoR Decks
Runeterra decks with less than 400 games played in the last few days, and solid to great WR.
🧊Cooling Off: Quinn Vayne, ft. Fiora
Looks like Quinn Vayne is approaching the end of its run – after being the second most-played deck at Runterra's Regional Worlds Qualifiers and among the Top Dogs in the ladder, Quinn Vayne keeps dropping both in play rate and WR. Still a solid choice today (its most popular version performs at 52%+ across 350 games), but only a shadow of its former self.
Further reading: Scissorsbox's On Harps and Harpies – A Vayne Quinn LoR Deck Guide.
32 cards
8 cards
32 900
Pantheon Varus
Pantheon Varus keeps not just hanging in there, but actually improving its performance! While still a fringe option, it now punches at above 55% in about 250 games – probably a sign that only its hardcore, die-hard pilots remain faithful this this brew, but and impressive performance nevertheless. Leer covers the deck in detail in his They Can Stall Their Fate, but Cannot Deny It — A Varus Pantheon LoR Deck Guide.
16 cards
24 cards
26 700
🔥Hot! – Elise Gwen, aka Spider-Gwen
This deck has very little to do with Katarina Gwen, even if they share the same regions and four of their six champions – quite the contrary, Elise Gwen is the latest iteration of the classic Spider Aggro package, and quickly emerged right after Gwen reached Runeterra.
Elise Gwen was doing amazing last Friday, and is doing even better now: a silly-high 60%+ WR across 250 games, with amazing odds against Teemo Zoe and Annie decks.
Further reading: Scissorsbox's Spider-Gwen: an Elise Gwen Deck Guide.
19 cards
21 cards
23 800
Akshan Sivir Varus
A marriage of the classic Akshan Sivir package with Cultist spells and followers, today the best Akshan Sivir Varus deck punches at 54% in about 200 games – it's been a bit of an inconsistent brew (beats Kayn Vayne, but loses to Kat Gween, Teemo Zoe and Annie decks), so tread carefully; numbers today look fairly promising, though.
21 cards
19 cards
28 500
Deep, aka Nautilus Maokai
One very old archetype which die-hard fans that always try to make work, although most often with lackluster results on ladder – yet the ebbs and flows of the meta put it today at 52% across nearly 200 games, making this the best chance to showcase a Maokai Nautilus deck in quite a long time!
18 cards
22 cards
27 800
Lonesome Jinx Freljord
One of the many Jinx decks to surface after her buff, Lonesome Jinx had a great first week post-patch, although it later cooled off. Still a fun, if fringe, deck now punching at 52% across around 120 games.
Further reading: GeneralSchwartz's Fishbone Unleashed: A Jinx Spirits Unleashed LoR Deck Guide.
6 cards
34 cards
16 700
Wrapping Up
Katarina Gwen, Kayn Vayne and Teemo Zoe are solidly positioned as the strongest decks in the current patch cycle, although Annie TF may still shake things up a bit – and Lulu Jinx could shake things up a lot if it gains further traction.
Do bear in mind that new cards and champs should arrive in a week – if you are short on shards and wildcards, it may be wise to hold on to them until we get the new toys to play with.
Hope you have enjoyed today's selection, and good luck out there! =)
Any questions or comments, or more data you may need, feel free to:
Poke me on Twitter (assuming it still exists, by the time you read this...): https://twitter.com/HerkoKerghans,
Stop for a chat on the LoR Poetry Discord (we talk a fair bit about decks and data, too! =): https://discord.gg/VNN5NmGhXY,
Or find more writings on substack: https://riwan.substack.com/
