Sirturmund's & MonteXristo's Bo3 Lineup Recommendations

Lets Beat Scouts 

Scouts have been soaring in popularity over the past week and a half and we expect it to be the most prominent deck in this week’s tournament meta, so it makes sense to try and target it. 

Pantheon Shyvana

Regions

Demacia
21 cards

Mount Targon
19 cards

Rarities

23 800

6

0

12

22

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

4

1

15

2

6

3

8

4

7

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

4

Pantheon

3

4

Shyvana

3

Followers

13

1

Dragon Chow

3

2

Mountain Goat

3

3

Wounded Whiteflame

3

4

Blinded Mystic

1

5

Screeching Dragon

3

Spells

21

1

Chain Vest

1

2

Guiding Touch

2

2

Hush

1

2

Pale Cascade

3

2

Sharpsight

3

2

Single Combat

3

3

Dragon's Clutch

2

3

Strafing Strike

1

4

Bastion

1

5

Concerted Strike

2

5

Golden Aegis

2

Fizz Lulu Yordles in Arms

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
18 cards

Bandlecity
22 cards

Rarities

23 200

6

0

9

25

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

10

1

15

2

9

3

3

4

3

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

1

Fizz

3

3

Lulu

3

Followers

18

1

Zaunite Urchin

3

2

Bomber Twins

3

2

Boom Baboon

3

2

Flame Chompers!

3

3

Loping Telescope

3

4

Yordle Captain

3

Spells

16

1

Poro Cannon

3

1

Scrapheap

1

2

Mystic Shot

3

2

Pokey Stick

3

3

Get Excited!

3

5

Yordles in Arms

3

Sivir Akshan

Regions

Demacia
19 cards

Shurima
21 cards

Rarities

22 800

6

0

7

27

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

7

1

14

2

7

3

3

4

9

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

2

Akshan

3

4

Sivir

3

Landmarks

1

2

Preservarium

1

Followers

18

1

Fleetfeather Tracker

3

1

Treasure Seeker

2

2

Brightsteel Protector

3

3

Merciless Hunter

3

3

Vekauran Vagabond

3

5

Screeching Dragon

2

5

Vekauran Bruiser

2

Spells

15

1

Shaped Stone

2

2

Sharpsight

3

2

Single Combat

2

2

The Absolver

2

3

Cataclysm

1

5

Concerted Strike

2

5

Golden Aegis

3

While we’re focused on beating Scouts with this lineup, it has the added benefit of doing well into any aggro lineups that look to target Ahri Kennen.

This lineup may struggle a bit into control, however. That’s not to say it’s completely un-winnable if you do run into a control player, just that you’ll find you may have to work a bit harder for the win.

When deciding what to ban with this lineup you should prioritize taking out Ahri Kennen > Trundle Tryndamere Feel The Rush > Kindred decks of all sorts. 

You should also know that Spiders can be very problematic for Shyvana Pantheon. If you don’t feel comfortable playing for a 2-1 set win, consider banning them out. 

If you’re not a fan of one of these decks, a good alternative choice is to bring Scouts yourself… as the saying goes: “If you can’t beat’em, join’em”.

Lurk is also another option here. Replacing Yordles in Arms with either of these decks lets you also target Darkness players. 

Alternatively, Kindred Sentinels can fit into this lineup as it boasts a good win rate into Scouts and Aggro.

Lets Ban Scouts

This lineup looks to ban Scouts and focuses on beating the rest of the field. 

Ahri Kennen (SI Version)

Regions

Ionia
37 cards

Shadow Isles
3 cards

Rarities

29 300

6

5

12

17

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

12

1

11

2

2

3

11

4

2

5

0

6

2

7+

Champions

6

1

Kennen

3

2

Ahri

3

Followers

15

1

Dancing Droplet

3

2

Navori Conspirator

3

3

Shadow Assassin

2

4

Kinkou Wayfinder

3

5

Scattered Pod

2

7

Sai'nen Thousand-Tailed

2

Spells

19

1

Go Hard

3

1

Recall

3

2

Nopeify!

2

2

Twin Disciplines

3

4

Concussive Palm

3

4

Deny

2

4

Homecoming

3

Darkness

Regions

Shadow Isles
16 cards

Bandlecity
24 cards

Rarities

25 100

6

1

13

20

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

0

1

15

2

4

3

8

4

3

5

8

6

2

7+

Champions

6

4

Veigar

3

5

Senna

3

Followers

16

2

Conchologist

3

2

Darkbulb Acolyte

3

2

Twisted Catalyzer

3

4

Stilted Robemaker

3

6

Ixtali Sentinel

3

7

The Rekindler

1

Spells

18

2

Pokey Stick

3

2

Vile Feast

3

3

Mist's Call

1

3

Passage Unearned

1

3

Stress Defense

2

4

Withering Wail

2

6

Hidden Pathways

2

6

Minimorph

2

6

Vengeance

1

9

The Ruination

1

Thralls

Regions

Freljord
21 cards

Shurima
19 cards

Rarities

31 500

6

7

12

15

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

8

1

7

2

8

3

9

4

3

5

3

6

2

7+

Champions

6

3

Lissandra

3

5

Taliyah

3

Landmarks

7

1

Frozen Thrall

3

2

Preservarium

1

4

Blighted Ravine

3

Followers

8

2

Clockwork Curator

3

3

Kindly Tavernkeeper

3

8

The Clock Hand

2

Spells

19

1

Imagined Possibilities

2

1

Three Sisters

3

2

Time in a Bottle

3

3

Ice Shard

2

4

Avalanche

3

4

Rite of Negation

2

4

Succumb to the Cold

1

6

Promising Future

3

This lineup tends to do well versus other Ahri Kennen decks, FTR, and other control-centric lineups. The AoE spells provided by Darkness and Thralls also give you some defense against unit-heavy decks or aggro-style decks. The main weaknesses to this sort of lineup, aside from Scouts, are Zilean Xerath and Pantheon Shyvana decks. 

When choosing what to ban, the priority should be Scouts > Zilean Xerath > Pantheon Shyvana. If none of those decks are present, banning Rally-type decks tends to be a safe bet as two of your decks tend to be vulnerable to rally strategies. 

If any of these three decks don’t speak to you, alternative options include Scouts itself or Zilean Xerath. Both of these decks also sport good matchups against Ahri Kennen and control decks. Of course, the downside is that the Scouts ban becomes a bit weaker, in which case if substituting I would prioritize banning the Pantheon decks then Scouts.   

Anti-Control

This lineup looks to beat the full control lines up that you might run into in the tournament, while still giving you some flexibility to survive against Scouts- and Thralls-centric line-ups.

Xerath Zilean

Regions

Bandlecity
13 cards

Shurima
27 cards

Rarities

29 600

6

4

19

11

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

5

1

12

2

11

3

7

4

0

5

2

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Zilean

3

4

Xerath

3

Landmarks

5

1

Hexplosive Minefield

2

2

Preservarium

3

Followers

15

1

Inventive Chemist

3

2

Rock Hopper

3

3

Endless Devout

3

4

Desert Naturalist

3

8

The Arsenal

3

Spells

14

2

Pokey Stick

3

3

Ancient Hourglass

2

3

Rite of the Arcane

3

3

Unraveled Earth

3

4

Rite of Negation

1

6

Minimorph

2

The Bandle Tree

Regions

Bandlecity
32 cards

Noxus
8 cards

Rarities

24 000

4

6

9

21

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

8

1

9

2

12

3

8

4

0

5

3

6

0

7+

Champions

4

1

Kennen

2

4

Poppy

2

Landmarks

3

3

The Bandle Tree

3

Followers

16

1

Proto Poro

1

2

Bomber Twins

2

2

Grumbleslug

2

2

House Spider

2

3

Arachnoid Sentry

1

3

Bandle City Mayor

3

3

Loping Telescope

3

4

Aloof Travelers

2

Spells

17

1

Group Shot

3

1

Ravenous Flock

2

2

Pokey Stick

3

3

Scorched Earth

2

4

Buster Shot

3

4

Whispered Words

1

6

Minimorph

3

Miss Fortune Quinn

Regions

Demacia
28 cards

Bilgewater
12 cards

Rarities

27 600

6

2

20

12

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

8

1

12

2

6

3

6

4

6

5

2

6

0

7+

Champions

6

3

Miss Fortune

3

5

Quinn

3

Followers

22

1

Fleetfeather Tracker

3

1

Jagged Butcher

3

2

Brightsteel Protector

3

2

Marai Warden

3

3

Vanguard Sergeant

3

4

Grizzled Ranger

2

4

Island Navigator

3

6

Cithria the Bold

2

Spells

12

1

Ranger's Resolve

2

2

Blinding Assault

3

2

Sharpsight

3

4

Riposte

1

5

Golden Aegis

3

All three of these decks sport fantastic win rates against the likes of Darkness and FTR. In addition, they have even matchups vs Scouts, and these versions of the decks are teched so they do very well vs Thralls. The lineup also doesn’t do too horrible vs Ahri Kennen SI, perhaps allowing you to go after a more dangerous deck for your ban in certain situations. This lineup allows you to cover a wide spread of different lineups. 

In terms of unfavorable matchups, Pantheon decks tend to be very scary. I would prioritize my ban here. Ahri Kennen Shurima variants can also go way faster than you can, and they will probably ban your Scouts to ensure they have favorable matchups vs the rest. 

If you want to replace any of these three decks with something else, some dark horses such as TK Raka and Lurk can do very well vs control lineups as well, without sacrificing too many points vs Scouts or Thralls. 

Triple Control

Feel The Rush

Regions

Freljord
23 cards

Shadow Isles
17 cards

Rarities

26 800

5

5

14

16

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

0

1

6

2

5

3

12

4

5

5

3

6

9

7+

Champions

5

5

Trundle

3

8

Tryndamere

2

Landmarks

3

4

Blighted Ravine

3

Followers

6

2

Avarosan Sentry

3

3

Kindly Tavernkeeper

2

9

Commander Ledros

1

Spells

26

2

Vile Feast

3

3

Flash Freeze

2

3

Passage Unearned

1

4

Avalanche

3

4

The Box

3

4

Withering Wail

3

5

Catalyst of Aeons

2

6

Vengeance

3

7

Atrocity

2

9

The Ruination

1

12

Feel The Rush

3

Darkness

Regions

Shadow Isles
16 cards

Bandlecity
24 cards

Rarities

24 200

6

0

14

20

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

2

1

15

2

2

3

10

4

3

5

7

6

1

7+

Champions

6

4

Veigar

3

5

Senna

3

Followers

17

2

Conchologist

3

2

Darkbulb Acolyte

3

2

Twisted Catalyzer

3

4

Aloof Travelers

1

4

Stilted Robemaker

3

6

Ixtali Sentinel

3

7

The Rekindler

1

Spells

17

1

Group Shot

2

2

Pokey Stick

3

2

Vile Feast

3

3

Mist's Call

1

3

Stress Defense

1

4

The Box

2

4

Withering Wail

1

6

Minimorph

2

6

Vengeance

2

Kindred Sentinels

Regions

Shadow Isles
28 cards

Piltover & Zaun
12 cards

Rarities

26 700

6

3

10

21

eternal

Mana cost

3

0

3

1

11

2

4

3

9

4

3

5

2

6

5

7+

Champions

6

2

Elise

2

3

Ezreal

1

4

Kindred

3

Followers

13

1

Burgeoning Sentinel

3

2

Ferros Financier

2

3

Buhru Sentinel

3

5

Officer Squad

3

9

Commander Ledros

2

Spells

21

0

Thermogenic Beam

3

2

Glimpse Beyond

1

2

Mystic Shot

3

2

Vile Feast

3

4

Despair

2

4

The Box

2

4

Withering Wail

2

6

Vengeance

2

7

Atrocity

2

9

The Ruination

1

This is the standard control lineup that has been around for the past two weeks or so. SaltySimon piloted this lineup to a win in the MasteringRuneterra Championship Qualifier #4 so you KNOW it’s got the potential. 

These lists are looking to prey on the Aggro players, like Monte, who’ve decided to target Ahri Kennen. It should also do well into the general field as it is a “three good decks” lineup. If you enjoy open-passing and running your opponents out of steam then this lineup is an excellent choice. 

Your ban priority with this is Iceborn Legacy decks (Poros or Spiders) > Landmark decks (in order) Thralls, Xerath Zilean, The Bandle Tree > Taric Pantheon

Note: The ladder stats indicate Ahri Kennen is a reasonable matchup for this lineup but that can quickly go out the window if you’re playing against a competent pilot (ex. xXWhatamIXx, Kevor24, or Aikado). Doubly so if they are on the Shadow Isles (SI) version of the list, if you find yourself in this position or have not played the matchup you should BAN IT!

Alternative choices that you can consider if one of these decks isn’t your style (or you don’t like that Kindred PnZ has bad control matchups) are Scouts, or Anivia. 

Another choice, if you’re particularly confident with the deck, is Ahri Kennen (SI) (if you’re feeling really spicy, you can play Icevale Archer as your splash in Ahri Kennen to improve its matchup into Aggro) as alternatives. 

Sirturmund’s Lineup (Ban Ahri Kennen)

When coming up with my tournament lineups, I like the approach where I try to counter as many of the meta decks as possible while trying to take as many neutral matchups as possible. In this meta where I expect Scouts, Ahri Kennen, and Control to run the field, it makes it straightforward to predict what my opponents might be bringing, thus I came up with the following lineup:

Xerath Zilean

Regions

Bandlecity
13 cards

Shurima
27 cards

Rarities

29 600

6

4

19

11

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

5

1

12

2

11

3

7

4

0

5

2

6

3

7+

Champions

6

2

Zilean

3

4

Xerath

3

Landmarks

5

1

Hexplosive Minefield

2

2

Preservarium

3

Followers

15

1

Inventive Chemist

3

2

Rock Hopper

3

3

Endless Devout

3

4

Desert Naturalist

3

8

The Arsenal

3

Spells

14

2

Pokey Stick

3

3

Ancient Hourglass

2

3

Rite of the Arcane

3

3

Unraveled Earth

3

4

Rite of Negation

1

6

Minimorph

2

Tahm Kench Soraka Star Spring

Regions

Bilgewater
14 cards

Mount Targon
26 cards

Rarities

29 400

6

6

7

21

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

8

1

19

2

3

3

10

4

0

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

3

Soraka

3

4

Tahm Kench

3

Landmarks

3

2

Star Spring

3

Followers

15

1

Crusty Codger

3

1

Star Shepherd

3

2

Boxtopus

3

2

Fortune Croaker

3

4

Broadbacked Protector

3

Spells

16

1

Shakedown

2

2

Guiding Touch

3

2

Hush

2

2

Pale Cascade

3

2

Sunblessed Vigor

2

4

Astral Protection

3

4

Bastion

1

Pantheon Taric

Regions

Demacia
14 cards

Mount Targon
26 cards

Rarities

23 000

6

0

8

26

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

3

1

16

2

6

3

10

4

5

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

4

Pantheon

3

4

Taric

3

Followers

12

1

Saga Seeker

3

2

Brightsteel Protector

3

2

Mountain Goat

1

3

Wounded Whiteflame

3

4

Blinded Mystic

2

Spells

22

2

Guiding Touch

2

2

Hush

1

2

Pale Cascade

3

2

Sharpsight

3

2

Single Combat

3

3

Zenith Blade

3

4

Bastion

2

5

Concerted Strike

2

5

Golden Aegis

3

This lineup will ban Ahri Kennen decks automatically, as their spells are very dangerous for both TK Raka and Pantheon Taric. Instead, this lineup seeks to beat Scouts, Darkness, and Thralls. All three of those decks are currently popular but they are all usually in different lineups, meaning that my lineup can target different styles of lineups. This gives us an advantage as we are not at the mercy of any one bad opposing match-up.

In terms of really bad matchups, aside from Ahri Kennen, the deck should theoretically struggle against other elusive oriented decks such as Iceborn Legacy Poros and it also struggles against Kindred Viego. Low to the curve aggro decks that include fearsome such as Spiders and Nightfall might also be problematic if you are not able to draw your heals or removal quick enough.  

An alternative for a deck like TK Raka would be Bandle Tree, although that will lose you some match-up points vs Scouts. An alternative for Pantheon Taric is using Scouts, although that now makes you vulnerable to anti Scouts lineups. 

Monte’s Lineup (Beat Ahri Kennen)

Spiders

Regions

Noxus
21 cards

Shadow Isles
19 cards

Rarities

14 500

3

0

9

28

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

12

1

12

2

12

3

1

4

0

5

3

6

0

7+

Champions

3

2

Elise

3

Followers

27

1

Legion Rearguard

3

1

Legion Saboteur

3

1

Precious Pet

3

1

Stygian Onlooker

3

2

Arachnoid Horror

3

2

House Spider

3

2

Imperial Demolitionist

2

3

Doombeast

3

3

Frenzied Skitterer

3

4

Astral Fox

1

Spells

10

2

Brothers' Bond

1

3

Noxian Fervor

3

3

Stalking Shadows

3

6

Decimate

3

Scouts

Regions

Demacia
26 cards

Bilgewater
14 cards

Rarities

28 100

6

3

17

14

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

8

1

14

2

6

3

3

4

6

5

3

6

0

7+

Champions

6

3

Miss Fortune

3

5

Quinn

3

Followers

23

1

Fleetfeather Tracker

3

1

Jagged Butcher

3

2

Brightsteel Protector

3

2

Hired Gun

2

2

Marai Warden

3

3

Vanguard Sergeant

3

4

Island Navigator

3

6

Genevieve Elmheart

3

Spells

11

1

Ranger's Resolve

2

2

Blinding Assault

3

2

Sharpsight

3

5

Golden Aegis

3

Nightfall

Regions

Shadow Isles
18 cards

Mount Targon
22 cards

Rarities

23 400

6

0

10

24

eternal

Mana cost

3

0

14

1

15

2

4

3

3

4

1

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

2

Diana

3

4

Nocturne

3

Followers

18

1

Lunari Duskbringer

3

1

Solari Soldier

2

1

Stygian Onlooker

3

1

The Flight

3

2

Lunari Shadestalker

3

3

Crescent Guardian

1

3

Doombeast

3

Spells

16

0

Fading Memories

3

1

Heavens Aligned

3

2

Pale Cascade

3

2

Unspeakable Horror

3

2

Unto Dusk

3

5

Moonlight Affliction

1

My goal with this lineup is to farm the Ahri Kennen players. Out of everything in the current meta-game, these three decks boast the best win rates into Ahri Kennen. This is also an anti-aggro, aggro lineup.

You’ll want to ban out the most threatening control deck you see. In my opinion, this is Kindred decks, followed by whatever has the most healing. If there is not a more pressing ban, I would prioritize banning Rumble Draven > Yordles in Arms .

Alternative decks for this lineup are Pirates, the current lists with Island Navigator do a good job of forcing out blocks from the Ahri Kennen players, and Ekko Zilean.

Do NOT bring Ekko Zilean if you have not put a good amount of time into the deck, the Ahri Kennen matchup is very much a skill matchup and without a deep understanding of the Ekko’s play patterns you will struggle.

About the authors

Sirturmund is a long-time player of the game, having played LoR since beta. He has found competitive success in the past year with a couple of seasonal top cuts finishes, rank 1 ladder placements, and first spot in a Qualifier of Mastering Runeterra's Championship. Best known for being one of the very few to still bring Star Springs to tournaments, you can find Sirturmund lurking around all the social media sites absorbing anything he can about the game!

MonteXristo has been playing the game since closed beta and has consistently made it to masters every season he’s been active.  His accomplishments include having peaked in the top 20, taking first place in the “Streamer Sideboard Showdown” and LPP Riot Grand Prix. When he’s not writing for Mastering Runeterra he keeps his card-slinging skills sharp by playing in the Runeterra Academy tournament, with his team The Wobbly Wombats!