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Top 5 Gauntlet Lineups

This Top 5 is based on the results of our weekly Wednesday Night Runeterra community tournament. The lineups have been curated based on results but we added some variety to spice things up. We wanted to ensure that multiple gameplay styles were covered so everyone can find a lineup they enjoy!

Hello! It’s Wamuu again!

Today I’m bringing you this week’s Top 5 Gaunlet Lineups for your prime glory.

 

Like last week,  this Top 5 is based on the results of our weekly Wednesday Night Runeterra community tournament. The lineups have been curated based on results but we added some variety to spice things up. We wanted to ensure that multiple gameplay styles were covered so everyone can find a lineup they enjoy!

 

I won’t be covering matchups with the Bo3 Ban Helper, because we are in a new patch there is not enough data to effectively utilize the tool. I will however provide you with my personal opinion on the matchups using the 2.18 patch matchup table.

 

Without further ado here are this week’s top decks:



#1 MEMAANHC 4-0

Regions
Noxus
18 cards
Bandlecity
22 cards
Rarities
27 500
champion
6
epic
3
rare
14
common
17
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
8
1
8
2
10
3
4
4
3
5
4
6
3
7+
Champions
6
1
Teemo
3
Teemo
5
Swain
3
Swain
Followers
17
2
Conchologist
3
Conchologist
2
House Spider
2
House Spider
3
Arachnoid Sentry
3
Arachnoid Sentry
3
Loping Telescope
3
Loping Telescope
4
Lecturing Yordle
3
Lecturing Yordle
7
The Leviathan
3
The Leviathan
Spells
17
1
Poison Dart
2
Poison Dart
1
Ravenous Flock
3
Ravenous Flock
2
Pokey Stick
3
Pokey Stick
3
Death's Hand
2
Death's Hand
3
Scorched Earth
2
Scorched Earth
4
Buster Shot
1
Buster Shot
6
Hidden Pathways
2
Hidden Pathways
6
Minimorph
2
Minimorph
Regions
Noxus
12 cards
Bilgewater
28 cards
Rarities
29 400
champion
6
epic
6
rare
7
common
21
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
7
1
10
2
7
3
7
4
3
5
3
6
3
7+
Champions
6
4
Twisted Fate
3
Twisted Fate
5
Gangplank
3
Gangplank
Followers
19
1
Jagged Butcher
3
Jagged Butcher
2
Dreadway Deckhand
3
Dreadway Deckhand
2
Fortune Croaker
1
Fortune Croaker
2
Marai Warden
3
Marai Warden
3
Arachnoid Sentry
3
Arachnoid Sentry
4
Zap Sprayfin
3
Zap Sprayfin
8
Captain Farron
1
Captain Farron
8
The Dreadway
2
The Dreadway
Spells
15
1
Parrrley
1
Parrrley
1
Ravenous Flock
3
Ravenous Flock
2
Make it Rain
3
Make it Rain
3
Death's Hand
3
Death's Hand
3
Scorched Earth
1
Scorched Earth
4
Whispered Words
1
Whispered Words
6
Monster Harpoon
3
Monster Harpoon
Regions
Piltover & Zaun
21 cards
Bandlecity
19 cards
Rarities
24 000
champion
4
epic
6
rare
9
common
21
eternal
Mana cost
1
0
10
1
13
2
6
3
0
4
2
5
5
6
3
7+
Champions
4
1
Fizz
2
Fizz
5
Vi
2
Vi
Landmarks
2
3
The Forge Of Tomorrow
2
The Forge Of Tomorrow
Followers
11
1
Otterpus
3
Otterpus
2
Conchologist
3
Conchologist
2
Ferros Financier
2
Ferros Financier
6
Curious Shellfolk
3
Curious Shellfolk
Spells
23
0
Thermogenic Beam
1
Thermogenic Beam
1
Poro Cannon
2
Poro Cannon
1
Trinket Trade
3
Trinket Trade
2
Mystic Shot
3
Mystic Shot
2
Pokey Stick
2
Pokey Stick
2
Time Trick
3
Time Trick
3
Stress Defense
1
Stress Defense
3
Sump Fumes
3
Sump Fumes
6
Hidden Pathways
2
Hidden Pathways
10
Glorious Evolution
3
Glorious Evolution

This is a very spicy lineup because all three decks except TeemoTeemo SwainSwain are unique in their way. 

 

This lineup consists of a standard Shellfolk Vi deck with the addition of some new cards like The Forge Of TomorrowThe Forge Of Tomorrow and Ferros FinancierFerros Financier that make the deck a little bit better. He also added FizzFizz as an additional one drop in aggro matchups and an alternate win-con in slower matchups.

 

The other two decks are two midrange SwainSwain decks but the Twisted FateTwisted Fate one runs GangplankGangplank instead of SwainSwain because of the format limitations.

 

If I had to guess what MeMaanhc was going for I would say he wanted to run two SwainSwain decks. Twisted FateTwisted Fate SwainSwain and TeemoTeemo SwainSwain but because the format does not allow us to run two of the same champions in a lineup he replaced SwainSwain with GangplankGangplank and The LeviathanThe Leviathan with The DreadwayThe Dreadway. This lineup also has the added benefit of being favored against most control decks in the current meta so control lineups are targeted by this deck also.

 

The reason to run this lineup is that SwainSwain decks tend to have an approximately 50% win rate across their matchup table. This is a very smart move right now because in competitive play there is a Rock, Paper, Scissors situation going on where aggressive lineups beat rally lineups; control lineups beat aggressive lineups and rally lineups beat control lineups. As such, if you run any of these lineups, chances are you probably won’t make it to the end of the tournament because you will most likely run into a counter lineup along the way and lose.

 

This makes lineups that lie outside of the Rock, Paper, Scissors triangle extremely good because you have better chances of making it to the end if you pilot your decks with skill! 

 

 

 

GOOD MATCHUP

A good matchup for this lineup would be Chirion The Mage’s control lineup: Lee SinLee Sin ZoeZoe, VeigarVeigar SennaSenna, and ViegoViego ThreshThresh.

 

Utilizing data from our Patch 2.18 matchup table the matchups should look something like this:

 

 

 

 

Thresh Viego (IO)

Lee Sin Zoe

Senna Veigar

Teemo Swain (BC)

65,3%

64,1%

55,4%

Ezreal Vi (BC)

60,8%

66,3%

54,1%

Teemo Swain (BC)

65,3%

64,1%

55,4%

Note: Teemo Swain is used twice because there is no data for Twisted Fate Gangplank NX.

 

 

 

My personal opinion is that the GangplankGangplank Twisted FateTwisted Fate deck has a similar matchup table to TeemoTeemo SwainSwain. If we accept this, every single deck is favored into Chirion’s lineup and MeMaanhc should 2-0 him easily.

 

 

 

BAD MATCHUP

The lineup that can do best into MeMaanch’s is, TheSkyvalkeR’s lineup

 Aggressive decks will run MeeManch over if he doesn’t draw well:

 

 

 

 

Sivir Akshan (DE)

Ziggs Poppy

Gangplank Sejuani

Teemo Swain (BC)

52,3%

38,7%

36,6%

Ezreal Vi (BC)

41,3%

39,3%

30,4%

Teemo Swain (BC)

52,3%

38,7%

36,6%

Note: Teemo Swain is used twice as an example because there is no data for Twisted Fate Gangplank NX.

 

 

 

This might look bad but we have to remember that MeMaanhc has teched his decks to be better against aggro. 

 

He runs FizzFizz in his Curious ShellfolkCurious Shellfolk deck which gives him an extra one drop. 

Twisted FateTwisted Fate GangplankGangplank can shut down aggro with Make it RainMake it Rain, Twisted FateTwisted Fate and Marai WardenMarai Warden 

While SwainSwain TeemoTeemo can survive early aggression with House SpiderHouse Spider, Arachnoid SentryArachnoid Sentry and Poison DartPoison Dart.

 

The matchups are probably not as bad as I have shown them to be on the table. They are probably slightly unfavored instead of outright unfavored, making this lineup incredibly strong!

 

The only major weakness of this lineup is any lineup with at least two Targon Invoke decks.  This is because EquinoxEquinox can shut down Curious ShellfolkCurious Shellfolk]], The LeviathanThe Leviathan, and The DreadwayThe Dreadway for a mere one mana. While Falling CometFalling Comet can remove all of those plus SwainSwain and GangplankGangplank for essentially an even trade.

 

TAKEAWAY

This is a very unique lineup and I applaud MeMaanhc for thinking outside the box to come up with it. Besides very aggressive matchups, which we are teched for, and the odd Invoke lineup, you shouldn’t have trouble getting your prime glory with this lineup. It is a good all-around lineup in a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament meta.

I recommend this lineup for experienced Curious ShellfolkCurious Shellfolk and SwainSwain players.  If you’re not practiced on the decks be cautious of locking this in as they can be extremely tricky to pilot correctly in some scenarios.

 

#2 KAIS3R 3-1

Regions
Noxus
20 cards
Bandlecity
20 cards
Rarities
28 400
champion
6
epic
4
rare
13
common
17
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
9
1
6
2
13
3
3
4
3
5
2
6
4
7+
Champions
6
1
Teemo
3
Teemo
5
Swain
3
Swain
Followers
16
2
Conchologist
3
Conchologist
3
Arachnoid Sentry
3
Arachnoid Sentry
3
Loping Telescope
3
Loping Telescope
4
Lecturing Yordle
3
Lecturing Yordle
7
The Leviathan
3
The Leviathan
8
Captain Farron
1
Captain Farron
Spells
18
1
Poison Dart
3
Poison Dart
1
Ravenous Flock
3
Ravenous Flock
2
Pokey Stick
3
Pokey Stick
3
Culling Strike
1
Culling Strike
3
Death's Hand
3
Death's Hand
3
Scorched Earth
3
Scorched Earth
6
Hidden Pathways
2
Hidden Pathways
Regions
Demacia
21 cards
Ionia
19 cards
Rarities
23 400
champion
6
epic
0
rare
10
common
24
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
8
1
17
2
7
3
5
4
3
5
0
6
0
7+
Champions
6
3
Zed
3
Zed
4
Poppy
3
Poppy
Followers
18
1
Fleetfeather Tracker
3
Fleetfeather Tracker
1
Navori Bladescout
2
Navori Bladescout
2
Brightsteel Protector
3
Brightsteel Protector
2
Greenglade Duo
3
Greenglade Duo
2
Young Witch
3
Young Witch
3
Laurent Protege
2
Laurent Protege
3
Shadow Assassin
2
Shadow Assassin
Spells
16
1
Ghost
1
Ghost
1
Ranger's Resolve
2
Ranger's Resolve
2
Nopeify!
2
Nopeify!
2
Sharpsight
3
Sharpsight
2
Twin Disciplines
3
Twin Disciplines
4
Relentless Pursuit
2
Relentless Pursuit
5
Golden Aegis
3
Golden Aegis
Regions
Demacia
19 cards
Shurima
21 cards
Rarities
23 000
champion
6
epic
0
rare
8
common
26
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
7
1
15
2
7
3
3
4
8
5
0
6
0
7+
Champions
6
2
Akshan
3
Akshan
4
Sivir
3
Sivir
Landmarks
2
2
Preservarium
2
Preservarium
Followers
18
1
Fleetfeather Tracker
3
Fleetfeather Tracker
1
Treasure Seeker
2
Treasure Seeker
2
Brightsteel Protector
3
Brightsteel Protector
3
Merciless Hunter
2
Merciless Hunter
3
Vanguard Sergeant
1
Vanguard Sergeant
3
Vekauran Vagabond
3
Vekauran Vagabond
5
Radiant Guardian
2
Radiant Guardian
5
Ruin Runner
2
Ruin Runner
Spells
14
1
Shaped Stone
2
Shaped Stone
2
Sharpsight
3
Sharpsight
2
Single Combat
2
Single Combat
2
The Absolver
2
The Absolver
3
Cataclysm
1
Cataclysm
5
Concerted Strike
2
Concerted Strike
5
Golden Aegis
2
Golden Aegis

 

Kais3r’s lineup is a pretty standard rally lineup except for the inclusion of TeemoTeemo SwainSwain. This lineup looks to punish control lineup as rally is very punishing to them. Something to take notice of in Kais3r’s lineup is his SivirSivir AkshanAkshan list.  It is a bit more aggressive because he’s gone back to Ruin RunnerRuin Runner over Vekauran BruiserVekauran Bruiser.

The most standard control lineup right now is SennaSenna VeigarVeigar, Lee SinLee Sin ZoeZoe + a control deck of your choice. All three decks in this lineup have favorable matchups into both Darkness and Lee SinLee Sin ZoeZoe, you should have no trouble closing out if you queue into a control player.

Aggressive lineups can, however, be a problem as SivirSivir AkshanAkshan and PoppyPoppy ZedZed have a hard time blocking.



GOOD MATCHUP

As this lineup seeks to target control players, Chirion’s lineup is a good example to use when drawing our matchup table:



 

Thresh Viego (IO)

Lee Sin Zoe

Senna Veigar

Teemo Swain (BC)

65,3%

64,1%

55,4%

Sivir Akshan (DE)

49,1%

54,4%

58,5%

Rally Elusives

65,9%

63,8%

65%



As we can see the control lineup target succeeded! Kais3r is very favored in this matchup, he just needs to ban either ThreshThresh ViegoViego or Lee ZoeZoe and he should 2-0 he’s opponent most of the time. 



BAD MATCHUP

Aggressive lineups tend to counter rally lineups so let’s use a standard aggressive lineup:



 

Draven Sion

Ziggs Poppy

Gangplank Sejuani

Teemo Swain (BC)

48,3%

38,7%

36,6%

Sivir Akshan (DE)

35,6%

48,8%

40,1%

Rally Elusives

47,4%

46,3%

56,3%



As expected the matchups are very bad for Kais3r, and his only good matchup will likely be getting banned. No matter what he bans he is going to have two terrible matchups while the other two are slightly unfavored. He has a fighting chance but he’ll have to work for it if he doesn’t want his opponent to walk away with the W.



TAKEAWAY

This is a pretty standard lineup and you can get your prime glory with it if you pilot it well. I would only recommend this lineup if you anticipate a lot of control players or if you’re someone who loves rally decks!

As this lineup has a major weakness to aggro, so you may want to consider one of our other recommendations if you expect a lot of it!



#3 CHIRION THE MAGE 3-1

Regions
Shadow Isles
15 cards
Bandlecity
25 cards
Rarities
26 400
champion
6
epic
2
rare
14
common
18
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
0
1
14
2
3
3
10
4
3
5
7
6
3
7+
Champions
6
4
Veigar
3
Veigar
5
Senna
3
Senna
Followers
19
2
Conchologist
3
Conchologist
2
Darkbulb Acolyte
2
Darkbulb Acolyte
2
Twisted Catalyzer
3
Twisted Catalyzer
4
Aloof Travelers
2
Aloof Travelers
4
Stilted Robemaker
3
Stilted Robemaker
6
Ixtali Sentinel
3
Ixtali Sentinel
7
The Rekindler
1
The Rekindler
8
Dess & Ada
2
Dess & Ada
Spells
15
2
Pokey Stick
3
Pokey Stick
2
Vile Feast
3
Vile Feast
3
Mist's Call
1
Mist's Call
3
Stress Defense
2
Stress Defense
4
Withering Mist
2
Withering Mist
6
Hidden Pathways
2
Hidden Pathways
6
Minimorph
2
Minimorph
Regions
Ionia
21 cards
Mount Targon
19 cards
Rarities
27 300
champion
6
epic
3
rare
13
common
18
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
3
1
20
2
6
3
5
4
6
5
0
6
0
7+
Champions
6
1
Zoe
3
Zoe
5
Lee Sin
3
Lee Sin
Followers
6
2
Eye of the Dragon
3
Eye of the Dragon
3
Solari Priestess
3
Solari Priestess
Spells
28
2
Gifts From Beyond
3
Gifts From Beyond
2
Guiding Touch
3
Guiding Touch
2
Hush
1
Hush
2
Nopeify!
1
Nopeify!
2
Pale Cascade
3
Pale Cascade
2
Sonic Wave
3
Sonic Wave
2
Twin Disciplines
3
Twin Disciplines
3
Zenith Blade
3
Zenith Blade
4
Concussive Palm
3
Concussive Palm
4
Deny
2
Deny
5
Deep Meditation
3
Deep Meditation
Regions
Ionia
21 cards
Shadow Isles
19 cards
Rarities
26 100
champion
6
epic
3
rare
7
common
24
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
0
1
14
2
8
3
8
4
3
5
3
6
4
7+
Champions
6
5
Thresh
3
Thresh
6
Viego
3
Viego
Followers
14
2
Greenglade Lookout
3
Greenglade Lookout
3
Camavoran Soldier
3
Camavoran Soldier
3
Shadow Assassin
2
Shadow Assassin
3
Tasty Faefolk
3
Tasty Faefolk
7
Invasive Hydravine
3
Invasive Hydravine
Spells
20
2
Glimpse Beyond
3
Glimpse Beyond
2
Syncopation
2
Syncopation
2
Twin Disciplines
3
Twin Disciplines
2
Vile Feast
3
Vile Feast
4
Concussive Palm
2
Concussive Palm
4
Deny
2
Deny
4
Homecoming
1
Homecoming
4
Spirit's Refuge
2
Spirit's Refuge
4
Will of Ionia
1
Will of Ionia
7
Atrocity
1
Atrocity

Chirion’s lineup is a standard control lineup that runs ThreshThresh ViegoViego as it’s third deck. This lineup is targeting aggressive lineups, particularly those including DravenDraven SionSion. Chirion’s lineup runs a ton of healing in all three decks, making it very difficult for aggro lineups to stand a chance.

 

This lineup’s weakness is of course rally lineups.  Rally helps to exploit the lack of blockers in any given control deck and it lets you close out the game by starting a surprise attack when they’re out of resources. 



GOOD MATCHUP  

The dream scenario for Chirion is to encounter an aggro lineup with DravenDraven SionSion in it, the standard aggressive lineup used before can be a good example for this scenario:



 

Draven Sion

Ziggs Poppy

Gangplank Sejuani

Thresh Viego (IO)

62,2%

50,1

47,6

Lee Sin Zoe

82,1%

67,2

54,2

Senna Veigar

60,3

52,2

48,2





BAD MATCHUP

Rally lineups are this lineup’s kryptonite so we’ll use Kais3r’s lineup as an example of a bad matchup:



 

Rally Elusives

Sivir Akshan (DE)

Teemo Swain (BC)

Thresh Viego (IO)

34,1%

50,9%

34,7%

Lee Sin Zoe

36,2%

45,6%

35,9%

Senna Veigar

48,2%

41,5%

44,6%



This is a nightmare scenario for Chirion’s lineup; it doesn’t matter if he bans Rally Elusives or TeemoTeemo SwainSwain the results are going to be the same. Kais3r is probably banning SennaSenna VeigarVeigar and Chirion will end up with, at best, three unfavoured matchups and a 50/50 matchup. This doesn’t bode well for his series, Kais3r will likely come out as the victor in this scenario.



TAKEAWAY

 

If you’re looking to punish aggro players and love control you should try out this lineup! 

If you’re only looking for prime glory or winning a tournament, I wouldn’t recommend it as it is hard countered by rally lineups and these are pretty common in tournament play and you will probably run into it a few times.  




#4 THESKYVALKER 3-1

Regions
Noxus
15 cards
Bandlecity
25 cards
Rarities
26 700
champion
6
epic
3
rare
10
common
21
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
9
1
12
2
9
3
6
4
0
5
3
6
1
7+
Champions
6
3
Ziggs
3
Ziggs
4
Poppy
3
Poppy
Followers
24
1
Inventive Chemist
3
Inventive Chemist
1
Legion Rearguard
3
Legion Rearguard
1
Legion Saboteur
3
Legion Saboteur
2
Conchologist
3
Conchologist
2
Imperial Demolitionist
3
Imperial Demolitionist
2
Stone Stackers
3
Stone Stackers
3
Bandle City Mayor
3
Bandle City Mayor
4
Lecturing Yordle
3
Lecturing Yordle
Spells
10
2
Pokey Stick
3
Pokey Stick
3
Noxian Fervor
3
Noxian Fervor
6
Decimate
3
Decimate
10
Treasured Trash
1
Treasured Trash
Regions
Freljord
4 cards
Bilgewater
36 cards
Rarities
28 900
champion
6
epic
5
rare
10
common
19
eternal
Mana cost
3
0
7
1
11
2
2
3
5
4
3
5
6
6
3
7+
Champions
6
5
Gangplank
3
Gangplank
6
Sejuani
3
Sejuani
Followers
23
1
Crackshot Corsair
3
Crackshot Corsair
1
Jagged Butcher
3
Jagged Butcher
2
Black Market Merchant
3
Black Market Merchant
2
Fortune Croaker
3
Fortune Croaker
2
Marai Warden
2
Marai Warden
3
Monkey Idol
2
Monkey Idol
4
Yordle Grifter
3
Yordle Grifter
4
Zap Sprayfin
2
Zap Sprayfin
8
The Dreadway
2
The Dreadway
Spells
11
0
Warning Shot
3
Warning Shot
1
Parrrley
1
Parrrley
2
Make it Rain
3
Make it Rain
6
Monster Harpoon
3
Monster Harpoon
12
Feel The Rush
1
Feel The Rush
Regions
Demacia
19 cards
Shurima
21 cards
Rarities
23 600
champion
6
epic
0
rare
11
common
23
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
7
1
15
2
6
3
4
4
8
5
0
6
0
7+
Champions
6
2
Akshan
3
Akshan
4
Sivir
3
Sivir
Landmarks
2
2
Preservarium
2
Preservarium
Followers
17
1
Fleetfeather Tracker
2
Fleetfeather Tracker
1
Treasure Seeker
3
Treasure Seeker
2
Brightsteel Protector
3
Brightsteel Protector
3
Merciless Hunter
2
Merciless Hunter
3
Vanguard Sergeant
1
Vanguard Sergeant
3
Vekauran Vagabond
2
Vekauran Vagabond
5
Radiant Guardian
2
Radiant Guardian
5
Vekauran Bruiser
2
Vekauran Bruiser
Spells
15
1
Shaped Stone
2
Shaped Stone
2
Sharpsight
3
Sharpsight
2
Single Combat
2
Single Combat
2
The Absolver
2
The Absolver
3
Cataclysm
1
Cataclysm
4
Riposte
1
Riposte
5
Concerted Strike
2
Concerted Strike
5
Golden Aegis
2
Golden Aegis

 

Skyvalker’s lineup is an aggressive midrange lineup, playing two decks that do well against most of the meta. These decks are SivirSivir AkshanAkshan and GangplankGangplank SejuaniSejuani. His third deck, ZiggsZiggs PoppyPoppy is here to help round out his matchup table. I guess that Skyvalker wanted a neutral lineup and included PoppyPoppy ZiggsZiggs to give his lineup better odds against Rally Elusives and TeemoTeemo SwainSwain. 

If he did curate this lineup predicting that TeemoTeemo SwainSwain was going to be popular in the tournament he was right! Filling his third slot with PoppyPoppy ZiggsZiggs paid off, as it beats TeemoTeemo SwainSwain which normally can’t deal with wide boards (their only stall tools are House SpiderHouse Spider and Arachnoid SentryArachnoid Sentry). 

 

This lineup is just an amalgamation of good decks with good matchups spreads into the current meta, because of that a true ‘counter lineup’ to this one doesn’t exist. It also doesn’t target any other lineups.

 

 

 

GOOD MATCHUP

It was hard coming up with a good matchup for this lineup as it wasn’t built to counter a specific lineup. The best I could come up with is an aggro lineup using TeemoTeemo SwainSwain to target rally lineups:

 

 

 

 

Poppy Ziggs (BC NX)

Twisted Fate Gangplank (BC)

Teemo Swain (BC)

Gangplank Sejuani

48,0%

53,2

63,3

Poppy Ziggs (BC NX)

50%

39,6

61,2

Sivir Akshan (DE)

48,8%

57,3

47,7

 

 

 

 As you can see in the table, the matchup isn’t even that good. It would require your opponent to mess up their ban to work for this strategy to work. If both players ban correctly PoppyPoppy ZiggsZiggs, and GangplankGangplank SejuaniSejuani should get banned. Leaving Skyvalker with potentially two good matchups, one terrible matchup, and one coinflip matchup. This makes TheSkyvalker slightly favored at best.

 

 

 

BAD MATCHUP

Coming up with a bad lineup for our lineup is also hard since the lineup is made to do slightly well against most lineups. The best I could come up with is an aggressive lineup that runs Rally Elusives as its third deck:

 

 

 

 

Rally Elusives

Draven Sion

Poppy Ziggs(BC NX)

Gangplank Sejuani

43,7%

53,6%

48%

Poppy Ziggs (BC NX)

53,7

35,4

50%

Sivir Akshan (DE)

46,7

35,6

48,8%

 

 

 

Most of the bad matchups are against DravenDraven SionSion, banning it is optimal. If our opponent banned either PoppyPoppy ZiggsZiggs or GangplankGangplank SejuaniSejuani Skyvalker is only looking at one slightly favored matchup, two coinflips, and one slightly unfavored matchup.

 

In the end, the bad matchup isn’t threatening to immediately end your tournament run. With a solid understanding of your deck’s win-conditions and ‘perfect’ play, you’ll have a fighting chance in even your worst matchups!  This is what this lineup is looking for, average matchups across the board, leaving it up to player skill to decide the winner.

 

 

 

TAKEAWAY

 

I recommend this lineup above all others on our list for two reasons: 

 

  1. The decks are fairly easy to pilot (particularly when stacked up against our other recommended lineups)

 

  1. It is a very neutral lineup so it doesn’t have bad matchups against other lineups.

 

For these reasons this lineup can be played by both experienced and inexperienced players and you should get some satisfying results.

 

 

#5 AKAIDO 3-1

Regions
Bandlecity
23 cards
Piltover & Zaun
17 cards
Rarities
21 300
champion
3
epic
6
rare
10
common
21
eternal
Mana cost
1
0
11
1
12
2
7
3
0
4
0
5
6
6
3
7+
Champions
3
1
Fizz
3
Fizz
Landmarks
2
3
The Forge Of Tomorrow
2
The Forge Of Tomorrow
Followers
9
1
Otterpus
3
Otterpus
2
Conchologist
3
Conchologist
6
Curious Shellfolk
3
Curious Shellfolk
Spells
26
0
Thermogenic Beam
1
Thermogenic Beam
1
Poro Cannon
2
Poro Cannon
1
Trinket Trade
3
Trinket Trade
2
Mystic Shot
3
Mystic Shot
2
Pokey Stick
3
Pokey Stick
2
Time Trick
3
Time Trick
3
Stress Defense
2
Stress Defense
3
Sump Fumes
3
Sump Fumes
6
Hidden Pathways
2
Hidden Pathways
6
Minimorph
1
Minimorph
10
Glorious Evolution
3
Glorious Evolution
Regions
Bandlecity
26 cards
Demacia
14 cards
Rarities
28 100
champion
6
epic
3
rare
17
common
14
eternal
Mana cost
0
0
6
1
12
2
3
3
5
4
8
5
6
6
0
7+
Champions
6
4
Poppy
3
Poppy
5
Lux
3
Lux
Followers
20
1
Otterpus
3
Otterpus
2
Brightsteel Protector
3
Brightsteel Protector
2
Conchologist
3
Conchologist
3
Loping Telescope
3
Loping Telescope
4
Lecturing Yordle
2
Lecturing Yordle
5
Radiant Guardian
3
Radiant Guardian
6
Curious Shellfolk
3
Curious Shellfolk
Spells
14
1
Trinket Trade
3
Trinket Trade
2
Pokey Stick
3
Pokey Stick
2
Sharpsight
3
Sharpsight
5
Concerted Strike
2
Concerted Strike
6
Minimorph
3
Minimorph
Regions
Mount Targon
20 cards
Piltover & Zaun
20 cards
Rarities
26 300
champion
6
epic
1
rare
19
common
14
eternal
Mana cost
2
0
6
1
12
2
6
3
3
4
5
5
5
6
1
7+
Champions
6
1
Zoe
3
Zoe
4
Jayce
3
Jayce
Landmarks
3
3
The Forge Of Tomorrow
3
The Forge Of Tomorrow
Followers
15
1
Lunari Duskbringer
1
Lunari Duskbringer
1
Spacey Sketcher
2
Spacey Sketcher
2
Ferros Financier
3
Ferros Financier
2
Mountain Goat
2
Mountain Goat
2
Solari Sunhawk
3
Solari Sunhawk
3
Solari Priestess
3
Solari Priestess
7
Albus Ferros
1
Albus Ferros
Spells
16
0
Thermogenic Beam
2
Thermogenic Beam
2
Hush
1
Hush
2
Mystic Shot
3
Mystic Shot
5
Starshaping
2
Starshaping
5
Sunburst
3
Sunburst
6
Assembly Line
2
Assembly Line
6
Shock Blast
3
Shock Blast

This lineup is very interesting, it utilizes the new cards and champion JayceJayce in an Invoke deck. They synergize because the invoke deck already played some six cost cards like SunburstSunburst and Falling CometFalling Comet. Switching ViVi for JayceJayce makes sense because you can level up JayceJayce consistently.

JayceJayce’s package provides the removal option of Shock BlastShock Blast and fearsome blockers (Assembly LineAssembly Line and The Forge Of TomorrowThe Forge Of Tomorrow).

 

The other two decks are PoppyPoppy LuxLux and Glorious Evolution Shellfolk with FizzFizz, these two decks tell me Aikado was targeting Lee SinLee Sin ZoeZoe while taking the opportunity to test out JayceJayce. 

It is also notable that he is running six copies of Curious ShellfolkCurious Shellfolk in his lineup, so he could also be betting on Curious ShellfolkCurious Shellfolk being a broken card for countering control lineups.

 

JayceJayce is a new card so I do not have data available to cover matchups for Targon/PnZ. I will cover the weaknesses and strengths of the other two lists in Aikado’s lineup. For our example, we’ll pretend JayceJayce ZoeZoe was banned.



GOOD MATCHUP

Since Akaido’s lineup is targeting Lee SinLee Sin ZoeZoe, Chirion’s lineup is an excellent example of a good matchup:



 

Senna Veigar

Lee Sin Zoe

Thresh Viego

Lux Poppy (BC)

44,8%

65%

54,7%

Ezreal Vi (BC)

54,1%

66,3%

60,8%

Jayce Zoe

???

???

???

Note: Ezreal Vi (BC) represents the Fizz Shellfolk because it is the most similar in the statistics.

 

Here we see that two of our decks counter Lee SinLee Sin ZoeZoe, potentially three depending on how good JayceJayce ZoeZoe turns out to be.

This tells Akaido he only needs to ban SennaSenna VeigarVeigar to be left with four potentially good matchups. Even if JayceJayce ZoeZoe doesn’t get banned we can guarantee at least two favorable matchups. I doubt that JayceJayce ZoeZoe is too bad into Lee SinLee Sin ZoeZoe or ThreshThresh ViegoViego so it is more likely than not a victory for Akaido.



BAD MATCHUP

Because we run six copies of Curious ShellfolkCurious Shellfolk in our lineup our main weakness is aggressive midrange lineups. TheSkyvalkeR’s lineup serves as a good example:



 

Gangplank Sejuani

Sivir Akshan (DE)

Poppy Ziggs(BC NX)

Lux Poppy (BC)

43,1%

45,5%

40,2%

Ezreal Vi (BC)

30,4%

41,3%

39,3%

Jayce Zoe

???

???

???

Note: Ezreal Vi (BC) represents the Fizz Shellfolk because it is the most similar in the statistics.



We can see here that even without knowing JayceJayce ZoeZoe’s matchups we can still counter Akaido’s lineup because his lineup is made to counter Lee SinLee Sin ZoeZoe and control lineups, the decks lack mid-sized unit removal. If the opponent gets too ahead on board, as these decks usually do, Akaido will have a hard time coming back. These are four losing matchups, Skyvalker should win the series.




TAKEAWAY

 

If you love Shellfolk decks this is the lineup for you, it has some notable weaknesses but if you’re confident in your play you can overcome them. 

 

This is also a good lineup if you want to try out JayceJayce in competitive play because Akaido already confirmed that you can do well competitively with him in this lineup.

As JayceJayce is a new champion I would not personally recommend you run him without extensive practice. These three decks can be very complicated to pilot so I advise you to play as many games as you possibly can them before bringing them to a competitive setting. 






About Wamuu

 

Top 200 Master LoR player. I have a lot of passion for this game and love sharing my thoughts and game knowledge through deck guides and articles for competitive play.

 

If you would like coaching from me, you can dm me in Discord at Wamuu#7531

 

 

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