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By the Numbers – Best Decklists to Climb Fast

Need a solid option for a last-push climb? Look no further: these are the best decklists right now.
Daily Rumble Unlimited Champions Decks

NOTE: These lists are from a previous patch -- for the most up-to-date lists, check this link!


As of early Sunday 10, this is how the top of the charts look like according to Balco:

Below we'll provide the best decklists for these archetypes (an archetype being the aggregate decklists of a specific champion combination -- the numbers you see in the chart above are for archetypes as a whole).

Since in each archetype some decklists fare better than others (and sometimes the difference is quite noticeable), we'll broadly group decklists in four arbitrary categories, by amount of games played in the last few days in the data samples we check:

Juggernauts: decklists with more than 2700 games – best tried-and-true tools for the job.

Heavyweights: between 2700 and 900 games – excellent, well-tested choices.

Welterweights: between 300 and 900 games – we're entering the Land of Small Sample Sizes here, but anything in this category is fairly well tested.

Featherweights: between 90 and 300 games – risky stuff, but here's where you usually find the spice.

For this article, in all cases we'll look at decklists with win-rates at 53% or higher, in Platinum and above. 

Sources: Balco, Legna, Seth

If you have any feedback on how these decklists could be showcased differently, do let me know! =)


Juggernauts

If you're in doubt, then there's no doubt: pick any of these two decklists, and forget about the rest of this article.

These are both the most played decklists and also the best performing – it's very, very clear that Master players are not fooling around, because you rarely see such a good overlap between WR and playrate.

If you want every bit of edge and care for nothing else, you bring any (or both…) of them to ladder.

End of the story.


Thralls, aka Lissandra Taliyah

Thralls are not just back – it's been quite a few weeks since a single decklist performed so well: WR well above 55%, and nearly 3,500 games in the last three days.

It's also this archetype's most played list in all three shards, and in APAC in particular it's the overwhelming most popular version.

Two words: Play this! =)

You will likely lose to Jhinnie, Azirelia (quite badly) and Taric Poppy; Fizz Riven is not good news, either.

But, in the current field, you'll squash your favored matchups – TF blends for example – so thoroughly so as to more than make up for it.

Regions
Freljord
24 cards
Shurima
16 cards
Rarities
31 500
champion
6
epic
7
rare
12
common
15
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
8
1
9
2
6
3
5
4
7
5
3
6
2
7+
Champions
6
3
Lissandra
3
Lissandra
5
Taliyah
3
Taliyah
Landmarks
6
1
Frozen Thrall
3
Frozen Thrall
4
Blighted Ravine
3
Blighted Ravine
Followers
12
2
Clockwork Curator
3
Clockwork Curator
2
Harbinger of Thralls
3
Harbinger of Thralls
3
Kindly Tavernkeeper
3
Kindly Tavernkeeper
5
Draklorn Inquisitor
3
Draklorn Inquisitor
Spells
16
1
Imagined Possibilities
2
Imagined Possibilities
1
Three Sisters
3
Three Sisters
2
Time in a Bottle
3
Time in a Bottle
4
Rite of Negation
2
Rite of Negation
5
Harsh Winds
1
Harsh Winds
6
Sands of Time
3
Sands of Time
9
Buried in Ice
2
Buried in Ice

Taric Poppy

If Thralls are the returned menace, Taric Poppy is the left-field deck that could.

The specific list below is the most played deck right now on the Plat+ ladder (even more than the Thralls list we've just seen), again with WR over 55%.

And, again like Thralls, this list is the archetype's most popular version in all three shards, in this case being overwhelmingly preferred in Americas.

Six words: Don't like Thralls? Then play this! =)

Matchups are a bit inverted: Taric Poppy is strong against Jhinnie and Azirelia, and murders Fizz Riven; it's also strong against Thralls.

Regions
Demacia
22 cards
Mount Targon
18 cards
Rarities
25 900
champion
6
epic
3
rare
6
common
25
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
5
1
16
2
3
3
8
4
8
5
0
6
0
7+
Champions
6
4
Poppy
3
Poppy
4
Taric
3
Taric
Followers
19
1
Fleetfeather Tracker
3
Fleetfeather Tracker
1
Solari Soldier
2
Solari Soldier
2
Brightsteel Protector
2
Brightsteel Protector
2
Esmus, Breath of the World
3
Esmus, Breath of the World
2
Petricite Broadwing
3
Petricite Broadwing
3
Laurent Protege
3
Laurent Protege
5
Mountain Sojourners
3
Mountain Sojourners
Spells
15
2
Guiding Touch
3
Guiding Touch
2
Pale Cascade
3
Pale Cascade
2
Single Combat
2
Single Combat
4
Bastion
1
Bastion
4
Relentless Pursuit
1
Relentless Pursuit
5
Concerted Strike
2
Concerted Strike
5
Golden Aegis
3
Golden Aegis

Heavyweights

These decklists have between 900 and 2700 games played in the last three days.

As a rule of thumb, player skill will matter more than the specific choice you go for, but do notice that as of right now, the Juggernauts' performance is really a cut above the rest – in other words, if you're switching decks and are aiming to climb with something you're inexperienced with, the Juggernauts above are probably the best option.


Annie Jhin

Blazing brat and bullet buff have been displaced as the most popular decklist, yet still remain one of the best tools for the job: nearly 2,500 games with this specific code, and surpassing the 53% WR mark.

They are in the interesting position of being a strong counter to one Juggernaut – namely Thralls – while weak to the other, namely Taric Poppy. They also have excellent odds against Azirelia and Ahri Bard, while being weak to Scouts, Heimer Jayce and Winding Light decks.

Same as Taric Poppy and Thralls, this list can be considered "solved": it's the most popular version, by a landslide, in all three shards – with EMEA in this case being the one that loves it most.

Regions
Runeterra
28 cards
Noxus
12 cards
Rarities
22 000
champion
6
epic
0
rare
3
common
31
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
12
1
15
2
7
3
3
4
0
5
3
6
0
7+
Champions
6
1
Annie
3
Annie
4
Jhin
3
Jhin
Followers
28
1
Crackshot Corsair
3
Crackshot Corsair
1
Legion Rearguard
3
Legion Rearguard
1
Legion Saboteur
3
Legion Saboteur
2
Boomcrew Rookie
3
Boomcrew Rookie
2
Imperial Demolitionist
3
Imperial Demolitionist
2
Solari Sunhawk
3
Solari Sunhawk
2
The Stagehand
3
The Stagehand
2
Tusk Speaker
3
Tusk Speaker
3
Arachnoid Sentry
1
Arachnoid Sentry
3
Doombeast
3
Doombeast
Spells
6
3
Noxian Fervor
3
Noxian Fervor
6
Decimate
3
Decimate

Almost there

There are three decklists that amply make the Heavyweight cut play rate, but with WR close yet not quite reaching 53% – since in all cases they have more than a thousand games under their belts, they are still very solid choices:

  • This Bandle Renekton Akshan list (2600 games, 52%+ WR) has been all the rage as of late; has lost a bit of steam in the last couple of days – probably due to an influx of new pilots – but remains a strong choice for Overwhelm aficionados and Ricko Rex cosplayers. It's also a fairly "fair" deck, in that most matchups are in the 45-55% odds range; try not to run into Ashe Leblanc, though.
  • In spite of their archetype's overall performance, the most popular Ahri Bard list (2,000+ games, 52%+ WR) is a solid choice, with lots of tricks up their sleeves.
  • And, a bit of a surprise: although their odds against Thralls is humongously bad, Annie TF also has a list that almost makes the Heavyweight cut, with a 52%+ WR in more than a thousand games.

Middleweights

Punchy decklists with between 300 and 900 games, and WR near or above 55%. 


Fizz Riven

Only ten games short of the Heavyweight cut, Reforger and Fishy Yordle punch way above the 55% WR mark.

And when, as Boulevard notes, all the cool kids are adding Papercraft DragonPapercraft Dragon to their brews, these two champions can say, "Yeah… been there, done that, wrote the guide."

Beware of Demacia decks and their pesky rallies, and try not to run into Askhan Renekton. Then giggle and run circles around Thralls, Heimer Jayce and Ahri Bard.

Regions
Noxus
16 cards
Bandlecity
24 cards
Rarities
27 100
champion
6
epic
3
rare
12
common
19
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
15
1
11
2
7
3
4
4
0
5
3
6
0
7+
Champions
6
1
Fizz
3
Fizz
3
Riven
3
Riven
Followers
17
1
Blade Squire
3
Blade Squire
1
Yordle Squire
1
Yordle Squire
2
Assistant Librarian
2
Assistant Librarian
2
Conchologist
3
Conchologist
2
Runeweaver
3
Runeweaver
4
Ruined Reckoner
2
Ruined Reckoner
6
Papercraft Dragon
3
Papercraft Dragon
Spells
17
1
Elixir of Wrath
3
Elixir of Wrath
1
Fae Sprout
3
Fae Sprout
1
Trinket Trade
2
Trinket Trade
2
Pokey Stick
3
Pokey Stick
3
Might
2
Might
3
Wallop
2
Wallop
4
Friendship!
2
Friendship!

Scouts, aka Miss Fortune Quinn

More than 700 games, WR above 55%, and a new trick to play with: Inspiring LightInspiring Light has become one of their staple spells now.

Otherwise, this stalwart archetype has yelled, "We leave no card behind!" – both Brightsteel ProtectorBrightsteel Protector and Petricite BroadwingPetricite Broadwing still make the cut.

Scouts bloody murders Annie Jhin, Azirelia and Ahir Bard, and can hold their own against Thralls – Taric Poppy and Heimer Jayce are a bit of a problem, though.

Regions
Demacia
31 cards
Bilgewater
9 cards
Rarities
28 100
champion
6
epic
3
rare
17
common
14
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
5
1
17
2
6
3
3
4
6
5
3
6
0
7+
Champions
6
3
Miss Fortune
3
Miss Fortune
5
Quinn
3
Quinn
Followers
23
1
Fleetfeather Tracker
3
Fleetfeather Tracker
2
Brightsteel Protector
2
Brightsteel Protector
2
Durand Sculptor
3
Durand Sculptor
2
Marai Warden
3
Marai Warden
2
Petricite Broadwing
3
Petricite Broadwing
3
Vanguard Sergeant
3
Vanguard Sergeant
4
Island Navigator
3
Island Navigator
6
Genevieve Elmheart
3
Genevieve Elmheart
Spells
11
1
Ranger's Resolve
2
Ranger's Resolve
2
Inspiring Light
3
Inspiring Light
2
Sharpsight
3
Sharpsight
5
Golden Aegis
3
Golden Aegis

Jarvan IV Poppy Bard

Something we see time and again are decks being pushed to the fringe, only for their WR to skyrocket. JPB started the patch strong – at first the Demacia nerfs seemed to have affected not the Prince & Friends – then was pushed to the side as Thralls surged…

… and now seems to be coming back strong.

The list below reaches 54.9% in more than 700 games, and its odds against most of the popular archetypes – including Annie TF, Thralls, Jhinnie, Scouts, Taric Poppy and Azirelia – go from even to great.

Regions
Runeterra
6 cards
Demacia
34 cards
Rarities
25 600
champion
6
epic
2
rare
10
common
22
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
9
1
10
2
3
3
12
4
5
5
1
6
0
7+
Champions
6
4
Bard
3
Bard
4
Poppy
2
Poppy
6
Jarvan IV
1
Jarvan IV
Followers
26
1
Byrd, The Bellringer
3
Byrd, The Bellringer
1
Fleetfeather Tracker
3
Fleetfeather Tracker
1
Penitent Squire
3
Penitent Squire
2
Brightsteel Protector
2
Brightsteel Protector
2
Durand Sculptor
3
Durand Sculptor
2
Petricite Broadwing
3
Petricite Broadwing
3
Laurent Protege
2
Laurent Protege
3
Vanguard Sergeant
1
Vanguard Sergeant
4
Silverwing Vanguard
1
Silverwing Vanguard
4
Swiftwing Flight
2
Swiftwing Flight
4
Vanguard Bannerman
3
Vanguard Bannerman
Spells
8
2
Sharpsight
2
Sharpsight
4
Relentless Pursuit
1
Relentless Pursuit
5
Concerted Strike
2
Concerted Strike
5
Golden Aegis
3
Golden Aegis

Winding Light Brews

It's hard to make clear-cut distinctions between the several Winding Light champion combinations – and I'd agree with Master APIarist Legna that they are, by now, similarly enough to perhaps consider them a single archetype – so I'll just share the stats with minimal comments:

  • Vi Aphelios Viktor seems to be the strongest approach to Winding Chompers madness, punching well above 55% in 700+ games in the last few days…
  • …. while this Zoe Aphelios Viktor list performs even better with nearly 700 games.
  • What used to be the prime Winding Light version, namely Vi Zoe Aphelios, is still played and with solid results (this decklists punches a bit above 52% across 800 games), but seems to not be the best approach against the current field.

Ziggs Annie Shurima

Then again, you could just go for keeping things simple, and just watch 'em burn.

In that case, this list is probably a good choice – a lot less played than other recommendations here (by play rate, it's nearly a Featherweight) but has worked great all this patch, and is working great right now.

You can also go for a version with Katarina, but it doesn't perform as well.

Regions
Noxus
22 cards
Shurima
18 cards
Rarities
23 200
champion
6
epic
0
rare
9
common
25
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
15
1
9
2
10
3
0
4
3
5
3
6
0
7+
Champions
6
1
Annie
3
Annie
3
Ziggs
3
Ziggs
Followers
24
1
Baccai Reaper
3
Baccai Reaper
1
Legion Rearguard
3
Legion Rearguard
1
Legion Saboteur
3
Legion Saboteur
1
Treasure Seeker
3
Treasure Seeker
2
Imperial Demolitionist
3
Imperial Demolitionist
2
Legion Grenadier
3
Legion Grenadier
3
Merciless Hunter
3
Merciless Hunter
5
Ruin Runner
3
Ruin Runner
Spells
10
2
Ruinous Path
3
Ruinous Path
3
Might
1
Might
3
Noxian Fervor
3
Noxian Fervor
6
Decimate
3
Decimate

Featherweights

Decklists with great stats, but less than 300 games played in the last few days.

In some cases (like Heimer Jayce or Azirelia) they belong to Meta Staples archetypes that are either so scattered (see Heimer Jayce), or their most popular version being somewhat disappointing (see Azirelia) that their best decklists fall, by number of games played, into the Featherweight category.


Bandle Akshan Gnar

The Renekton variety has proven superior, but this take on Bandle Overwhelm does perform great, and if you're considering an Overwhelm Best-of-Three lineup, may leave Renekton free for a different spot.

Regions
Bandlecity
20 cards
Shurima
20 cards
Rarities
28 200
champion
6
epic
6
rare
1
common
27
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
12
1
9
2
7
3
6
4
3
5
3
6
0
7+
Champions
6
2
Akshan
3
Akshan
4
Gnar
3
Gnar
Followers
19
1
Byrd, The Bellringer
3
Byrd, The Bellringer
1
Inventive Chemist
3
Inventive Chemist
1
Yordle Squire
2
Yordle Squire
3
Merciless Hunter
3
Merciless Hunter
3
Vekauran Vagabond
2
Vekauran Vagabond
5
Ruin Runner
3
Ruin Runner
6
Papercraft Dragon
3
Papercraft Dragon
Spells
15
1
Shaped Stone
3
Shaped Stone
1
Shuriman Tellstones
1
Shuriman Tellstones
2
Flamespitter
1
Flamespitter
2
Pokey Stick
3
Pokey Stick
2
The Absolver
2
The Absolver
3
Wallop
2
Wallop
4
Rite of Negation
3
Rite of Negation

Heimerdinger Jayce (SI)

Now, these are a really odd pair – they consistently show at the top of archetype charts (and for good reason), but they seem to have so many possible configurations that each of their specific decklists we usually have to list either in this Featherweight category, or at the bottom of our Middleweights.

This particular recommendation has a 53%+ WR in nearly 300 games, but as noted above there are a lot of slightly different builds all doing from good to great.

Regions
Piltover & Zaun
32 cards
Shadow Isles
8 cards
Rarities
26 400
champion
6
epic
2
rare
14
common
18
eternal
Mana cost
5
0
6
1
8
2
8
3
3
4
3
5
7
6
0
7+
Champions
6
4
Jayce
3
Jayce
5
Heimerdinger
3
Heimerdinger
Landmarks
1
3
The Forge Of Tomorrow
1
The Forge Of Tomorrow
Followers
11
1
Adaptatron 3000
2
Adaptatron 3000
1
Forge Chief
2
Forge Chief
2
Ferros Financier
3
Ferros Financier
3
Hextech Handler
3
Hextech Handler
3
Station Archivist
1
Station Archivist
Spells
22
0
Production Surge
3
Production Surge
0
Thermogenic Beam
2
Thermogenic Beam
1
Piltovan Tellstones
2
Piltovan Tellstones
2
Mystic Shot
2
Mystic Shot
2
Vile Feast
3
Vile Feast
3
Flash of Brilliance
3
Flash of Brilliance
6
Piercing Darkness
2
Piercing Darkness
6
Shock Blast
2
Shock Blast
6
Vengeance
3
Vengeance

Irelia Azir

Another fairly scattered archetype, with lots of slightly different lists, and on top of that the most popular decklists are not doing too well, but this nearly-Middleweight punches above 55%.

Regions
Ionia
27 cards
Shurima
13 cards
Rarities
25 400
champion
6
epic
2
rare
9
common
23
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
11
1
14
2
6
3
4
4
5
5
0
6
0
7+
Champions
6
3
Azir
3
Azir
3
Irelia
3
Irelia
Landmarks
5
1
Ancient Preparations
2
Ancient Preparations
2
Emperor's Dais
3
Emperor's Dais
Followers
17
1
Dunekeeper
3
Dunekeeper
1
Shadow Apprentice
1
Shadow Apprentice
1
Sparring Student
3
Sparring Student
2
Greenglade Duo
3
Greenglade Duo
2
Ribbon Dancer
3
Ribbon Dancer
4
Field Musicians
2
Field Musicians
5
Blossoming Blade
2
Blossoming Blade
Spells
12
1
Rite of Calling
2
Rite of Calling
2
Lead and Follow
2
Lead and Follow
2
Twin Disciplines
3
Twin Disciplines
4
Homecoming
2
Homecoming
5
Defiant Dance
3
Defiant Dance

Jinx Bard

Yep, this is a thing.

Little-tested, scary-looking, teal-reddish kinda thing!

Regions
Piltover & Zaun
31 cards
Runeterra
9 cards
Rarities
25 300
champion
6
epic
3
rare
3
common
28
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
8
1
17
2
3
3
9
4
0
5
3
6
0
7+
Champions
6
4
Bard
3
Bard
4
Jinx
3
Jinx
Followers
23
1
Byrd, The Bellringer
3
Byrd, The Bellringer
1
Forge Chief
2
Forge Chief
1
Zaunite Urchin
3
Zaunite Urchin
2
Boom Baboon
3
Boom Baboon
2
Esmus, Breath of the World
3
Esmus, Breath of the World
2
Flame Chompers!
3
Flame Chompers!
3
Sump Dredger
3
Sump Dredger
6
Augmented Experimenter
3
Augmented Experimenter
Spells
11
2
Iterative Improvement
2
Iterative Improvement
2
Mystic Shot
3
Mystic Shot
2
Rummage
3
Rummage
4
Suit Up!
3
Suit Up!

Shen Jarvan IV

Pilots have been experimenting with this champion pair all this patch – this is the first time I've found results promising enough to recommend it.

Only around 100 games though, which likely means a single highly-skilled pilot is pushing the results upwards.

Regions
Demacia
24 cards
Ionia
16 cards
Rarities
27 200
champion
6
epic
4
rare
7
common
23
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
5
1
9
2
5
3
7
4
8
5
3
6
3
7+
Champions
6
4
Shen
3
Shen
6
Jarvan IV
3
Jarvan IV
Followers
21
1
Fleetfeather Tracker
2
Fleetfeather Tracker
1
Greenglade Caretaker
3
Greenglade Caretaker
2
Brightsteel Protector
3
Brightsteel Protector
2
Petricite Broadwing
1
Petricite Broadwing
3
Laurent Protege
2
Laurent Protege
3
Rivershaper
3
Rivershaper
4
Laurent Chevalier
1
Laurent Chevalier
5
Screeching Dragon
3
Screeching Dragon
7
King Jarvan III
1
King Jarvan III
7
Sacred Protector
2
Sacred Protector
Spells
13
2
Sharpsight
2
Sharpsight
2
Single Combat
1
Single Combat
2
Twin Disciplines
2
Twin Disciplines
4
Deny
1
Deny
4
Spirit's Refuge
2
Spirit's Refuge
5
Concerted Strike
3
Concerted Strike
5
Golden Aegis
2
Golden Aegis

Closing Words

As usual for these write-ups, I've attempted to cover everything from well-tested Meta Staples to fringe Off-Meta brews, since as the saying goes, "Different strokes for different folks…"

… but, given that both the Seasonal cut-off (next Friday) and the Worldwaker Season's End (the Tuesday afterwards) are right around the corner, I'll state it plainly again: if your goal is to climb, the recommended Juggernauts, namely the Thralls and Taric Poppy decklists, are really a cut above everything else.Unless the field shifts quite a bit (which is always a possibility), if your sole focus is LPs I'd strongly recommend picking and sticking with one of those two; they are that good right now.

Last but not least: as shown by Legna's data in bA1ance's Mastery Curves article, it takes about 20-30 games to get the hang of a new deck that you've never played before – bear that in mind when factoring which deck you'll focus on for your last-push climb.


Any questions or comments, or more data you may need, feel free to:

Poke me on Twitter: 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/

And good luck in your climb!