Optimal Best Champions Bans At Each Division - Patch 7.3 February List

We're rounding the end of a ban cycle. Are you wondeirng what this means? It means that the same champions have banned so long that despite Riot's continuous nerfs to the same champions over and over again, players STILL keep banning the same champions.

The best example is Camille, who's been nerfed more times than Irelia. but continues to never see the light of day. Even when she does get played, she's hitting the bottom five rankings on win rates. It's really not worth banning her anymore...

Anyway, check out the full list below!

SEASON 7
PATCH 7.3 BAN LIST

"Problems"

Preface Chatter

We're rounding the end of a ban cycle. Are you wondeirng what this means? It means that the same champions have banned so long that despite Riot's continuous nerfs to the same champions over and over again, players STILL keep banning the same champions.

The best example is Camille, who's been nerfed more times than Irelia. but continues to never see the light of day. Even when she does get played, she's hitting the bottom five rankings on win rates. It's really not worth banning her anymore...

Anyway, check out the full list below!

Be sure to check out the regular ranked queue list, and the FOTM tier list as well!

The purpose of this list is to discover optimal bans, with the knowledge that enemy teams will likely ban the ones at the top of the list.

Banning Thought Process

1. Which champions could the enemy team pick that would really screw my team over?
2. Which champions could the enemy team pick that would really screw ME over?
3. Which of the champions above is the enemy team likely going to pick if it's not banned?
4. Which of the champions above is the enemy team probably going to ban?

After considering these items, it's time to hit the ban phase.

Optimal Bans

 Diamond+

God Tier [Likely/Should Bans]: Leblanc, Katarina, Rengar, Kha'Zix, Jayce
Good Bans [Popular Strong Champions]: Jhin, Graves, Zed

Meh Bans [Probable But Unnecessary Bans]: Camille, Malzahar, Ryze, Hecarim

Platinum

God Tier [Likely/Should Bans]: Zed, Jayce

Good Bans [Popular Strong Champions]: Jhin, Lee Sin, Graves, Corki

Meh Bans [Probable But Unnecessary Bans]: Katarina, Leblanc, Camille, Kha'Zix, Malzahar, Yasuo, Hecarim

Gold

God Tier [Likely/Should Bans]: Zed
Good Bans [Popular Strong Champions]: Jhin, Lee Sin, Miss Fortune, Graves, Blitzcrank, Corki

Meh Bans [Probable But Unnecessary Bans]: Camille, Katarina, Leblanc, Yasuo, Rengar, Malzahar

Silver

God Tier [Likely/Should Bans]: Darius
Good Bans [Popular Strong Champions]: Jhin, Lee Sin, Miss Fortune, Varus, Blitzcrank, Graves

Meh Bans [Probable But Unnecessary Bans]: Camille, Leblanc, Katarina, Yasuo, Zed, Malzahar

Bronze

God Tier [Likely/Should Bans]: Yasuo, Warwick
Good Bans [Popular Strong Champions]: Jhin, Miss Fortune, Blitzcrank, Varus

Meh Bans [Probable But Unnecessary Bans]: Camille, Leblanc, Katarina, Darius, Zed, Malzahar, Rengar, Kha'Zix  

Method

To do this list, I first start with whichever statistical compilation site I have available (my personal preference is leagueofgraphs.com). Afterwards, I check the most banned champions and separate them into either "God Tier" or "Meh Bans" based on win rate and popularity, sometimes subjective reasoning (in which case I'd do a write up).

Last I do an analysis of both the win rate and the popularity by division and add in good bans for that division based on such.

Some people may note that most sites don't distinguish between "Platinum Only" and "Platinum and Higher". However, this generally doesn't make much of a difference as a result of the way the overall player distribution is between the ranks. Bronze and Silver make up the highest percentage of error, but generally run similar to each other.

Explanations

• Leblanc [God Tier Ban Diamond, Meh Other Divisons] - Leblanc is currently balanced for professional level play. As a result, a good Leblanc in Diamond is extremely strong, but only in the right hands. Meanwhile in lower divisions, the skill necessary to play her correctly hinders her ability to carry. As a result, it's not worth banning her in lower divisions.
• Jhin [Good Ban All Divisions] - Jhin is currently one of the strongest, if not the strongest marksmen in the game as a result of the changes to lethality last patch. As a result, his ability to snowball games is incredibly good right now. This, combined with his extraordinarily high play rate in all divisions means that you should probably ban him out if you're not planning on playing him in your own game.
• Camille [Meh Ban All] - Camille has been banned for so long that nobody even reads about her nerfs any more, they just never want to see her in their game. However, in her current state, she is relatively weak in the hands of most players. Combine this with the fact that nobody has had a chance to practice her as a result of her permaban status, and this results in a champion that really doesn't need to be banned.
• Malzahar [Meh Ban All] - The Malzahar nerfs have made it so that he isn't the faceroll champion that he was in the previous patch. If you're playing Thresh, Morgana or Blitzcrank you may still want to ban him simply because he's a pain to deal with in lane, but if you plan on playing a ranged support like Janna or Zyra, banning him is really a waste.
• Ryze [Meh Ban Diamond] - Ryze is an extremely well respected champion as a result of his strong showing in the professional Korean bracket. However, he performs extremely poorly and ranks as a bottom three win rate champion in all divisions including diamond as both a top and mid laner.
• Zed [God Tier Ban Platinum] - The latest edge of night changes make Zed very powerful if your team does not respond with good peel. As a result, banning him out is a good idea if you don't want him to snowball through your game.
• Lee Sin [Good Ban Platinum] - Lee Sin is currently in a fairly balanced state. His early game is incredible, but his late game doesn't have the same carry deleting potential it did prior to nerfs. However, his early game can heavily demoralize teams and there are tons of one trick Lee Sin junglers out there. As a result, banning him out may still auto-win you some games, and it may be worth blocking him once in a while.

Agree? Disagree? Comment below!

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