FOTM Ranked Solo Queue Tier List (High Elo) ~ Patch 8.6 - March

Hi everyone and welcome to the latest iteration of the FOTM Tier List! Duskblade nerfs this time around doesn't seem like they've heavily affected the users, so good job on compensating buffs Riot. Meanwhile, Jax is absolutely LOVING the new Conqueror rune, and somehow Lee Sin's back on top as the most played jungler again...

SEASON 8 - March - PATCH 8.6
FOTM RANKED META TIER LIST

"PLAY LIKE A PROFESSIONAL"

Preface Chatter

Hi everyone and welcome to the latest iteration of the FOTM Tier List! Duskblade nerfs this time around doesn't seem like they've heavily affected the users, so good job on compensating buffs Riot. Meanwhile, Jax is absolutely LOVING the new Conqueror rune, and somehow Lee Sin's back on top as the most played jungler again...

Check out the full list below!

The purpose of the "Flavor of the Month" ("FOTM") list is to show which champions are popular in today's metagame in terms of pro picks and high Elo choices.

If you're looking for the division climber 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!

Be sure to check out our the Optimal Champion Bans by Division Listing!

Patch 8.6 Summary

Duskblade Nerf Compensating Buffs: Graves, Kayn, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Nocturne, Rengar, Shaco, Talon, Wukong, Zed

Buffs: Kai'Sa, Lee Sin, Lucian, Quinn, Rakan,
Nerfs: Xayah

Toolkit and Options

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The Tier List

God Tier [High Priority Picks]:
Mid: Zed, Yasuo, Fizz, Swain, Twisted Fate
Jungle: Kha'Zix, Lee Sin, Jax
Marksmen: Caitlyn, Xayah, Kai'Sa
Top: Darius, Fiora, Camille, Yasuo
Support: Janna, Lulu, Thresh

Tier 1 [Meta Picks]:
Mid: Ahri, Katarina, Anivia, Ryze, Kassadin, Orianna, Zoe, Ekko, Azir, Veigar, Xerath, Lux, Cassiopeia, Vladimir
Jungle: Warwick, Kayn, Sejuani, Rengar, Zac, Master Yi, Jarvan IV, Shaco, Kai'Sa, Evelynn, Camille, Nocturne, Olaf, Xin Zhao, Skarner, Nidalee
Marksmen: Ezreal, Vayne, Jhin, Tristana, Varus, Jinx
Top: Sion, Gangplank, Swain, Riven, Jax, Nasus, Renekton, Illaoi, Vladimir, Gnar, Teemo, Irelia, Rengar, Cho'Gath, Shen, Malphite
Support: Blitzcrank, Alistar, Rakan, Braum, Nami, Morgana, Leona, Sion, Soraka, Brand, Tahm Kench, Zoe, Karma, Bard

Tier 2 [Crowd Favorites]:
Mid: LeBlanc, Corki, Viktor, Galio, Malzahar, Talon, Taliyah, Syndra, Vel'Koz, Brand, Diana, Ziggs, Aurelion Sol
Jungle: Graves, Shyvana, Udyr, Rammus, Volibear, Vi, Wukong, Nunu, Elise, Kindred, Rek'Sai, Amumu, Riven, Twitch, Hecarim
Marksmen: Draven, Lucian, Miss Fortune, Twitch, Sivir
Top: Singed, Garen, Tryndamere, Ornn, Kled, Urgot, Maokai, Jayce, Aatrox, Wukong, Pantheon, Olaf, Tahm Kench, Yorick, Akali
Support: Taric, Zyra, LeBlanc, Sona, Olaf, Zilean, Shen, Lux, Xerath, Veigar, Volibear, Vel'Koz, Nidalee

Tier 3 [Playable]:
Mid: Annie, Akali, Karma, Zilean, Lissandra, Karthus
Jungle: Fiddlesticks, Pantheon, Cho'Gath, Singed, Tryndamere, Gragas, Aatrox
Marksmen: Ashe, Kog'Maw, Kalista
Top: Trundle, Poppy, Quinn, Volibear, Dr. Mundo, Rumble, Kayle
Support: Miss Fortune, Fiddlesticks

Tier 4 [Rarely Seen]:
Mid: Jayce, Heimerdinger, Kayle
Jungle: Trundle, Ivern, Diana, Maokai, Quinn, Dr. Mundo
Marksmen:
Top: Galio, Kennen, Heimerdinger, Mordekaiser, Nautilus
Support: Pantheon, Nautilus, Malphite, Ornn

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

• Caitlyn [God Tier Marksman] - Ever since sustain was reduced and the relic shield meta phased out, Caitlyn is a greater threat than ever before. Now her poke has a chance to stick to the enemy, allowing her a very abusive during laning phase. The buff to Baron also means objective-taking marksmen are exceedingly powerful. Using her traps, Caitlyn happens to be one of the strongest objective-taking marksmen in the game.
• Jax [God Tier Jungle] - The newest rune "Conqueror" is crazy good on Jax. As a champion that naturally gets into long fights, Jax can make great use of the rune's AD granting power. Press the Attack is still good on him, but Conqueror seems to be even better.
• Kai'Sa [God Tier Marksman] - After buffs on Kai'Sa, she's been picked up more and more as a high-level dueling marksman. Her damage is incredibly good, and her late game feels like a higher ranged version of Vayne. If she snowballs, she snowballs HARD.
• Kai'Sa [Tier 1 Jungle] - Kai'Sa in the jungle is arguably even stronger than Kai'Sa in lane. As a jungler, she can maximize her Icathian Rain [Q] damage during ganks. Her clear time is decent, and once she hits level 6, her long-range burst ganks are very difficult to predict.
• Lee Sin [God Tier Jungle] - After the Lee Sin buffs this patch, he's back as the most played jungler. Even without his free wards, players can still execute sick combos. All they really need to do is bring some control wards along for the ride.
• Master Yi [Tier 1 Jungle] - The new rageblade is in a word, "busted" on Master Yi. It gives him so much free damage so early in the game that he's nearly impossible to deal with even if he doesn't get free kills early on.
• Swain [God Tier Mid] - Swain is finally getting some recognition as the massively overpowered monster laner that he is. After a rough start post-rework, players are starting to appreciate the absurd amount of base damage he puts out.
• Volibear [Tier 2 Jungle] - After a brief stint at the top of the list, Volibear's quickly dropped back down. He's still played, but not nearly as often.
• Warwick [Tier 1 Jungle] - Warwick is a high priority ban for most players. However, even when he's not banned, he isn't picked up that often either. Maybe some players just enjoy a challenge?
• Xayah [God Tier Marksman] - Xayah's been at the top of the list for a few patches now. The Rakan/Xayah combo change didn't seem like it would be a major blow for her, but it's good to see that she's still flying high around the Rift.

Disclaimer:

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

Agree? Disagree? Comment below!

Looking for older versions of the FOTM Tier List?

Check out prior versions via this link!