By the Numbers: Strongest New(*) Decks, Seven Days after the Balance Patch

These are the strongest new decks thus far this patch, according to our go-to data providers Balco (link) & Legna (link), with "new" meaning either "decks with recently buffed cards", "decks that had little impact on the meta before the balance patch," or both.

While there's now enough data to assert that these decks are not flukes, the meta is still in such a high state of flux that there's no guarantee that new (or very old, as we'll soon see) decks won't raise to prominence and shake things up again.

In short: this meta does not look solved, not by a long shot!

Here's a quick glimpse at the latest data from Balco (Platinum and above, last three days), with the decks we'll be covering in this article highlighted in red.

It's Good to Be (almost!) King: Tryndamere Trundle Shadows

Shadow Isles and Freljord have been the go-to Control regions since launch: board wipes and hard removal to keep foes in check, expensive spells like Feel The Rush to seal the deal.

With Trundle's stats reverted to his original values, and Vengeance down to six mana, Control has returned to the top of the meta.

Tryndamere Trundle is slightly favored against the current Meta rulers (Darkness and Ahri Kennen), murders Elise Noxus and Kindred Sentinels, and makes life hell for aggressive decks like Pirates or Nightfall.

It's not without counters, though, being weak to Champless Poros and Kindred Viego -- although these two seem to be on the decline.

Regions

Freljord
24 cards

Shadow Isles
16 cards

Rarities

26 600

5

5

13

17

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

7

2

Avarosan Sentry

3

3

Kindly Tavernkeeper

3

9

Commander Ledros

1

Spells

25

2

Vile Feast

3

3

Flash Freeze

2

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

Fortune Favors those Who Attack Twice: Miss Fortune Quinn

As Elise Noxus ("old-fashioned" spiders, so to speak) wanes, another very old deck has taken its role as counter to the new kids on the block: Scouts.

Very strong into Champless Poros, Ahri Kennen, Kindred Viego and Elise Noxus; not ideal against Darkness, Pantheon variants and Kindred Sentinels.

Regions

Bilgewater
5 cards

Demacia
35 cards

Rarities

28 500

6

3

19

12

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

7

1

11

2

6

3

7

4

6

5

3

6

0

7+

Champions

6

3

Miss Fortune

3

5

Quinn

3

Followers

22

1

Fleetfeather Tracker

3

1

Penitent Squire

3

2

Brightsteel Protector

3

2

Marai Warden

2

3

Vanguard Sergeant

3

4

Grizzled Ranger

2

4

Vanguard Bannerman

3

6

Yordle Ranger

3

Spells

12

1

Ranger's Resolve

1

2

Blinding Assault

3

2

Sharpsight

3

4

Riposte

2

5

Golden Aegis

3

Elise Trundle (ARAM and ARAM-less versions)

Now, this is an interesting development: this archetype (another take on SI Freljord) seems to have forked into two different variants.

Here's the most popular, going for long-game value via The Howling Abyss -- this version, which appeared during the first day of the patch, currently shows an okay performance:

Regions

Freljord
17 cards

Shadow Isles
23 cards

Rarities

26 900

6

3

11

20

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

8

1

12

2

0

3

5

4

6

5

8

6

1

7+

Champions

6

2

Elise

3

5

Trundle

3

Landmarks

5

4

Blighted Ravine

3

6

The Howling Abyss

2

Followers

6

1

Hapless Aristocrat

3

2

Avarosan Sentry

3

Spells

23

1

Crawling Sensation

2

1

Three Sisters

3

2

Glimpse Beyond

3

2

Vile Feast

3

4

The Box

1

4

Withering Mist

1

5

Iceborn Legacy

3

6

Brood Awakening

3

6

Vengeance

3

9

The Ruination

1

This second, more recent version -- less popular, but thus far showing better results -- eschews Abyss and board-wipes to focus on the Spiderling and Iceborn Legacy interaction.

Regions

Freljord
12 cards

Shadow Isles
28 cards

Rarities

24 800

6

2

6

26

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

6

1

15

2

0

3

3

4

6

5

6

6

4

7+

Champions

6

2

Elise

3

5

Trundle

3

Followers

8

1

Hapless Aristocrat

3

2

Avarosan Sentry

3

9

Commander Ledros

2

Spells

26

1

Crawling Sensation

3

2

Glimpse Beyond

3

2

Troll Chant

3

2

Vile Feast

3

4

The Box

1

4

Withering Wail

2

5

Iceborn Legacy

3

6

Brood Awakening

3

6

Vengeance

3

7

Atrocity

2

It's hard to tell from matchup data how each deck fares specifically; as a whole, this Champion pair seems weak against Champless Poros, Kindred Viego and Pantheon variants, while strong versus Lurkers, Draven Rumble, Kindred Sentinels and Nightfall.

Here's Wamuu's recent detailed deck guide (link) for this many-legged archetype.

Little Bird Told Me that Control's Not Dead: Anivia Shadow Isles

There's never two without three: yet another very old SI FR Control deck has resurfaced.

Preys on other control decks (like Darkness and Kindred Sentinels), and is very strong into Elise Noxus and Draven Rumble. Weak to Thralls, Champless Poros and Sun Disc decks (one of the very few decks in the latter category, actually!)

Regions

Freljord
19 cards

Shadow Isles
21 cards

Rarities

20 300

3

4

16

17

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

0

1

10

2

6

3

11

4

0

5

6

6

7

7+

Champions

3

6

Anivia

3

Landmarks

3

4

Blighted Ravine

3

Followers

9

2

Avarosan Sentry

3

3

Kindly Tavernkeeper

3

7

The Rekindler

3

Spells

25

2

Entreat

2

2

Glimpse Beyond

2

2

Vile Feast

3

3

Flash Freeze

2

3

Passage Unearned

1

4

Avalanche

3

4

The Box

2

4

Withering Wail

3

6

Vengeance

3

9

The Ruination

2

10

The Harrowing

2

The Great Kindred Hope: Kindred Sentinels

Kindred Viego seems on the decline (although it's very strong into Trundle Tryndamere, so we shall see), but Kindred is not out of the Meta picture.

Strong into Ahri Kennen, Champless Poros, Elise Noxus and Draven Rumble, but has a horrible time against Darkness, Trundle Tryndamere and Lurkers.

Regions

Piltover & Zaun
11 cards

Shadow Isles
29 cards

Rarities

27 400

6

4

8

22

eternal

Mana cost

2

0

3

1

11

2

3

3

9

4

3

5

3

6

6

7+

Champions

6

2

Elise

1

4

Kindred

3

5

Vi

2

Followers

12

1

Burgeoning Sentinel

3

2

Minion

2

3

Buhru Sentinel

3

9

Commander Ledros

2

9

Corina Veraza

2

Spells

22

0

Thermogenic Beam

2

2

Glimpse Beyond

2

2

Mystic Shot

3

2

Vile Feast

3

4

Statikk Shock

2

4

The Box

2

4

Withering Wail

2

5

Grasp of the Undying

1

6

Vengeance

3

7

Atrocity

2

Other options

If you're feeling a bit more adventurous:

• As long as you're not having nightmares about Rally Elusives, Lulu Poppy (link) is doing quite good.
• Nightfall is having a hard time in the current meta, but the deck is very strong in the right hands -- check this link for MonteXristo's guide on how to pilot Diana Nocturne.
• Champless Poros (link) is still a thing (if you're not sick and tired of it) -- current numbers put it as "mediocre at best", but it has very good odds against some of the strongest decks.
• Something similar happens with Kindred Viego (link) -- current performance is mediocre but is a strong counter to some of the strongest decks, so time will tell if it will fade or rise again to prominence.

For a look at the rest of the meta decks, check Leer's latest Meta report (link).