Hey Summoners! Patch 3.12 has been out a bit and with the World Championship done, I think its time to take a look at what's been trending and changed up with the patch. Like always, I looked at general data, forum threads, and opinions ranging from gold to diamond players for Summoner's Rift.
Item Changes
Phage and Trinity Force: The cost of the item was increased by 100 gold. The movement speed effect is halved for ranged champions. Its slightly more costly and less effective for ranged champions, but its still a great item and probably won't deter players from buying the item.
OP OP
Kassadin: They haven't done much about Kassadin yet. He's still hanging around in the near OP area because he can dismantle squishies in seconds. Once he gets rolling, he will destroy you. Even losing the lane is ok for him. He just has to roam and gank, get snowballed, and he's relevant. Very strong assassin.
Jax: He's back again. People keep forgetting that he exists, and with Trinity Force and worlds, he's risen up in popularity. His scaling is incredible and he's very hard to beat once he gets items.
Renekton: This croc will also eat you. The amount of bullying he can do is unbelievable. He can get very tanky and deal great amounts of sustained damage.
Very Strong
Corki: The Trinity Force nerfs didn't touch him hard. He's still the strongest ADC right now, and his burst potential and mixed damage makes him an absolute monster. The only thing he has to worry about is Caitlyn in lane and laners that can toe-to-toe with him in burst.
Orianna: A popular pick from World Championship, this mage has been strong before, but shows that a mage can be built in a variety of ways. From utility to full on heavy AP, she can do wonders with the right set of mechanics.
Ahri: The foxy assassin will tear through squishy targets easily and her power spike at level 6 in lane is incredible. Her roaming is also very strong, as she can pull off some very Kassadin-esque things with her Spirit Rush.
Zed: This champion has been coveted by many Mid Laners and for great reasons. He can become stronger in the hands of mechanically skilled players. His skill cap is high, and the amount of damage he can dish out is absurd.
On the Rise
Gragas: Popularity rising from World Championship, and people have come to realize his strength. While he is gated by cool downs in the end, his ability to dismantle team fights is incredible.
Fizz: He's been around in solo que for awhile but many players at Worlds showed his limits. He is a very scary assassin once he reaches his power spike with Lichbane and Zhonya's, and hard to catch once he reaches that point.
Zyra: People are picking her up more after what they saw she could do from Worlds as a support. Her auto attack range and harass is incredible in lane and can swing the lane once you gain tempo. Her ability to zone is amazing.
Annie: Support Annie is a very new and rising choice brought by Royal Club's Tabe. She's been rising up in popularity after many saw what she could do in Tabe's hands. She has an easy 1.75 second stun, great base damage, and a 600 range auto attack that can harass many ADCs. She's rising up and can fill some similar niches that Zyra can.
Leona: She was coming up already last patch, and Yellowstar's brilliant Leona play made her shine more. She also pairs wonderfully with Corki and Varus. Her full stun combo is something to fear.
Aatrox: Fnatic's Cyanide showed a powerful jungle Aatrox, and proved he wasn't just a different Tryndamere. Well timed Dark Flight and surprise amounts of damage makes him a deceptively good pick. He compliments well in a team filled with some CC.
Vi: Just to note, the Charming Assault combo with Ahri is dangerous. She's still solid, just rising up in popularity again.
Bread and Butter
Jarvan IV: Pretty much the standard of tank or bruiser junglers now.
Elise: While her top lane is weaker, she is definitely still viable in the jungle.
Evelyn: She can still stutter people's tempo from being stealthed out, and she fills out the second of bread and butter AP junglers.
Lee Sin: How can you have Bread and Butter without a blind man? He's versatile and rewards high skill play. He's as strong or as weak as you make him.
Caitlyn: Easy playability, and she has an easy time against Corki you say? Might as well stick around.
Changed Up
Olaf: I would think he needs more time to have an accurate picture. So far having a scaling true damage ability and a high attack speed steroid is pretty strong. There might be some promise with this Olaf.
Ryze: He's going to zoom zoom, but I feel like he has the issue of having less range, and that made him weaker against the bruisers and melee in top lane. He's faster now at least, but right now doesn't feel stronger or weaker.
Lucian: Mana problems seem less of an issue, and he is a snowbally ADC. If he gets rolling in lane, he's going to destroy the opposing team. He's been doing well in competitive areas after Worlds, so we'll have to see how he fares now.
Garen: He's still a bayblade. Just more shiny!
