Solo Queue FOTM Tier List - Dec - Patch 4.21

PRESEASON 5 - December - PATCH 4.21 FOTM TIER LIST

"THE POPULAR KIDS"

Preface Chatter

Happy holidays everyone, and welcome to what will probably be the last FOTM Tier List ever...this year. As we close out 2014 strong, new faces are in the crowd at the top of the list, most notably the new champion, Rek'Sai! Check out the full list below~

If you're looking for the regular solo queue tier list, be sure to check it out via this link!

For a list of champions with the highest *potential* in the game without regard to difficulty or team synergies, check out the list of strongest potential champions in each position!

Patch 4.21 Summary

Buffs: Azir, Cassiopeia, Diana, Galio, Jarvan IV, Jax, Kennen, Nocturne, Shen, Shyvana, Varus, Yasuo. Zac;

Nerfs: Corki, Fiddlesticks, Jayce, Lucian, Pantheon, Rengar, Warwick;

Tweaks: Cho'Gath, Sejuani, Soraka

Updates:

• 12/28: Sejuani jungle moved up

Search for a champion:

The Tier List

God Tier [Pee Your Pants - BAN]:
Mid-Lane Gods: Zed, Fizz, Akali, Syndra
Jungle Gods: Rek'Sai, Fiddlesticks, Pantheon
AD Gods:
Top Lane Gods: Rek'Sai, Gnar, Irelia, Akali
Support Gods: Thresh, Janna, Morgana

Tier 1 [Expected Powerhouses]:
Mid-Lane: Azir, Leblanc, Yasuo, Katarina, Ahri, Kassadin, Talon, Orianna, Lux, Jayce, Xerath,
Jungle: Jarvan IV, Warwick, Vi, Shaco, Lee Sin, Xin Zhao, Sejuani, Udyr, Kha'Zix, Maokai, Amumu, Rengar, Master Yi
AD Carry: Lucian, Jinx, Graves, Vayne, Ezreal, Tristana, Corki
Top Lane: Riven, Lissandra, Jax, Darius, Rengar, Jayce, Yasuo, Tryndamere, Pantheon, Nasus, Lee Sin, Rumble, Jarvan IV, Fiora
Support: Leona, Braum, Blitzcrank, Soraka, Sona, Alistar, Nami, Lulu,

Tier 2 [Crowd Favorites]:
Mid-Lane: Annie, Lissandra, Ziggs, Twisted Fate
Jungle: Sion, Elise, Skarner, Nocturne, Volibear, Nautilus, Evelynn
AD Carry: Twitch, Draven, Caitlyn, Sivir, Ashe, Kog'Maw
Top Lane: Azir, Maokai, Sion, Wukong, Nidalee, Renekton, Trundle, Cho'gath, Udyr, Vladimir, Lulu, Shyvana, Olaf, Xin Zhao, Warwick, Swain, Dr. Mundo, Zed
Support: Annie, Zilean, Karma

Tier 3 [Playable]:
Mid-Lane: Diana, Lulu (AP), Pantheon, Cassiopeia, Kayle, Nidalee (AP), Morgana, Zilean, Mordekaiser, Swain, Viktor, Brand, Vel'Koz, Malzahar, Anivia, Ryze, Galio, Vladimir, Zyra, Karma, Veigar, Heimerdinger, Karthus, Gragas, Kha'Zix, Tristana, Cho'Gath, Kennen
Jungle: Wukong, Rammus, Olaf, Trundle, Kayle, Jax, Dr. Mundo, Nasus, Shyvana, Gragas, Diana, Malphite, Tryndamere, Hecarim, Aatrox, Zac, Nunu, Cho'Gath, Darius
AD Carry: Miss Fortune, Kalista, Varus,  Quinn
Top Lane: Kayle, Malphite, Ryze, Alistar, Singed, Gragas, Kennen, Teemo, Shen, Yorick, Garen, Quinn, Aatrox, Elise, Volibear, Kha'Zix, Karma, Poppy, Vi, Master Yi, Viktor, Gangplank, Zac, Mordekaiser, Talon
Support: Zyra, Fiddlesticks, Vel'Koz, Taric, Gragas

Tier 4 [Not Amused]:
Mid-Lane: Elise, Wukong, Malphite, Teemo, Gangplank, Riven, Fiora, Fiddlesticks, Kog'maw, Ezreal (AP), Sona, Soraka, Janna
Jungle: Leona, Zed, Shen, Yasuo, Fiora, Riven, Poppy, Gangplank, Malzahar, Blitzcrank, Alistar
AD Carry: Twisted Fate, Kennen, Urgot
Top Lane: Heimerdinger, Vayne, Galio, Nunu, Soraka, Urgot
Support: Teemo, Nunu, Volibear, Lux, Kayle, Nautilus, Maokai, Anivia, Veigar, Gangplank, Malphite, Nidalee, Orianna, Poppy, Elise, Galio, Shen, Yorick, Lissandra, Ashe, Leblanc, Caitlyn

Instructions and Caveats:

• This tier list details which champions are most popular in today's current metagame, for better or for worse. Selecting a high popularity champion and doing mediocre is always favorable to selecting a low tier champion and doing mediocre for team morale.

Click Here for a description of the tiers

God Tier: These champions are common bans and are likely perceived as being "overall extremely strong/broken". They have very obvious and/or flashy skills that make them appear stronger than other champions. You'll likely see these champions picked early on if they're not banned.

Tier 1: These champions are the ones you'll see in the majority of your games and are good to familiarize yourself with as you'l be battling against them a lot.

Tier 2: These champions are relatively strong and have historically been picked more often than other champions. They may have been nerfed at one point at another, but are still perceived as strong in their current states.

Tier 3: These champions aren't quite as popular as the rest of the champions in the first 3 tiers, but picking them one at a time isn't going to cause much of a concern on your team. However, if you have a team of 5 of them your teammates are likely to feel a bit uneasy about your chances of winning in solo queue.

Tier 4: Selecting these champions will likely cause a rift between you and your teammates, who will proceed to flame you if you fail your lane. Exercise caution when selecting these champions, as team morale often plays a big part in victory or defeat.

Champion Explanations

• Azir [Tier 1 Mid] - Azir's utility and "fun" level are absolutely through the roof and offers plenty of damage to boot. Although difficult to master, his abilities are very satisfying to use. 
• Gnar [Top God] - Despite nerfs on Gnar last patch, this yordle still remains high on the popularity list with his unique abilities and kiting power.
• Kassadin [Tier 1 Mid] - The Riftwalker recently made a strong comeback as one of the most mobile champions on the rift. Despite not receiving any changes, many players are starting to feel their way back into the cycle.
• Leblanc [Tier 1 Mid] - Similar to Kassadin, despite being essentially the same, nerfs on alternate champions have brought Leblanc back into the spotlight. With her flashy plays and strong gap closer, she remains a top contender mid lane in the eyes of most people.
• Lissandra [Tier 1 Top] - Nerfs on Ryze created a void for the ranged AP top players, and Lissandra fills the void quite well. At the moment, she's extremely popular for her strong initiation skills.
• Pantheon [God Tier Jungle] - Despite nerfs to his jungle via the change in dragon damage, Pantheon remains a highly popular pick. He can no longer effectively stall out at dragon with full health the entire time, but his passive still remains strong in the jungle as a form of sustain.
• Rek'Sai [God Tier Jungle/Top] - Rek'Sai is the new queen of the rift, with her insane mobility, CC, and damage. More thoughts on Rek'Sai available here.
• Shaco [Tier 1 Jungle] - With the new jungle valuing small creep camps highly, Shaco has made a comeback in the jungle with his strong counterjungling abilities. While still somewhat of a high skill champion in terms of knowing what to do when, he remains a popular selection for many junglers looking for constant action.
• Soraka [Tier 1 Support] - Surprisingly, Soraka remains highly popular in her current state, even more so than Sona. As a very simple to use support with a few unique mechanics to her, she is very user friendly while still offering some interesting playmaking abilities.
• Warwick [Tier 1 Jungle] - After nerfs last patch, he's much more in-line with other strong junglers on the rift. Although still a force to be reckoned with, he's not longer a must ban champion.

Disclaimer:

• The purpose of this list is for discussion and to provide a starting point for hero selection.

Agree? Disagree? Comment below!