SEASON 16 TOP LANE TIER LIST

Top Lane Tier List Update for Season 16

Introduction to the Tier List

• The video begins with an introduction, stating that the creator will update their top lane tier list for season 16.

• The previous tier list is displayed, and the creator plans to shuffle champions based on current understanding of the patch.

• A fresh tier list will be made in a few weeks when more data is available, focusing today on high ELO (Masters and above).

Champion Rankings: S Tier

• Jayce remains in S tier due to his overwhelming strength as a blind pick champion despite side laning changes.

• Jayce's ability to dominate lane phases and gain early XP advantages makes him a formidable opponent.

• Riven also stays in S tier; her power level is considered overpowered and likely needs nerfing soon.

Champion Adjustments: A Tier

• Rumble is moved down to the top of A tier due to faster wave spawning affecting his effectiveness in side lanes.

• Rumble's inability to match champions like Jax or Darius in split-pushing scenarios contributes to this adjustment.

Additional Champion Insights

• Ambessa remains in S tier, recognized as one of the best melee blind picks currently available.

• Darius retains his position but may see stronger performance at lower ranks; he benefits from added levels but not consistently reaching level 20.

Mid-Tier Champions Analysis

• Jax is elevated past Darius due to his balanced capabilities between split pushing and team fighting, especially with recent buffs enhancing his passive scaling.

• Cassiopia is moved down slightly as she struggles in fast-paced games despite being a strong blind pick option.

Final Thoughts on Other Champions

• Zahen is placed below Cassiopia due to weaker laning phase performance; however, he spikes well with items later on.

• Aurora, similar to Cassiopia, sees a drop in ranking reflecting challenges faced within the current meta dynamics.

Champion Tier List Update

Aurora's Positioning

• Aurora is moved down to B tier due to her performance in the current fast-paced meta, where she struggles without a lead.

• The comparison between Rumble and Jace highlights that while both have strengths, Aurora lacks strong side lane capabilities.

Fiora's Strengths

• Fiora benefits from the faster wave spawning and increased XP in the current meta, leading to her placement just behind Darius.

• Darius is noted for his versatility in team fighting and split pushing, making him a stronger pick than Fiora overall.

Rengar and Gangplank Analysis

• Rengar's inability to secure plates limits his effectiveness this patch; he remains an A tier champion but is placed lower.

• Gangplank received nerfs alongside buffs like Essence Reaver; more data is needed on his performance before making further adjustments.

Casante and Teemo Comparisons

• Casante retains his status as a top-tier tank with new items potentially enhancing his gameplay; however, he’s moved down slightly.

• Teemo and Quinn are compared; Teemo is considered stronger due to better laning power despite the faster-paced game possibly affecting them negatively.

Aurelia's Viability

• Aurelia remains stable in her tier placement, benefiting from faster wave spawning which aids good players significantly.

• The discussion includes how champions like Jani spike well but are reliant on team composition, similar to Casante.

Gwen's Rise in Tiers

• Gwen sees an increase in tier placement due to accelerated XP and gold advantages along with favorable new items.

Scion vs. Urgot Comparison

• Scion is positioned above Aurora for being one of the few tanks capable of effective side-laning strategies.

• Urgot is seen as slightly weaker than Aurora overall but has better sidelaning potential.

Olaf's Performance Insights

• Olaf’s performance improves with the fast-paced game dynamics; he gains TP upon completing quests which enhances his viability.

• Despite some inconsistencies across different compositions, Olaf’s strength peaks around two items when Baron spawns at 20 minutes.

Champion Tier List Analysis for Current Patch

Gaining Access to TP and Level Scaling

• The addition of Teleport (TP) is beneficial, especially for champions who can utilize it effectively.

• Level scaling is less impactful in high-level play, but the advantages from TP are significant.

Warwick's Positioning in the Meta

• Warwick has improved compared to last season; he no longer relies on waiting until 25 minutes for Baron fights.

• Despite some buffs, he still suffers from previous nerfs, making him not quite top-tier yet.

Champion Comparisons: Scion and ADC Synergy

• Scion can be effective with a strong team composition featuring champions like Zai'ra and Aphelios.

• Crit AD carries have become stronger due to accelerated gold gain, favoring champions that spike hard with their items. Tanks benefit from this synergy as well.

Yone's Viability in Top Lane

• Yone struggles against many current top lane matchups and is being moved down to C tier due to his difficulties in solo queue.

• While he can work under certain conditions, overall performance remains subpar compared to other champions.

Akali's Performance and Matchup Considerations

• Akali remains a solid pick if used as a counter against specific champions like Camille or Jax but falters when blind-picked against tanks like Renekton or Scion.

Renekton's Strength in the Current Patch

• Renekton benefits from being a strong laner; however, new item changes may not significantly enhance his effectiveness due to lack of defensive stats.

• Ignite becomes more viable now that TP is free, allowing for aggressive plays in certain matchups like Renekton vs Aatrox.

Atrox's Stability Amid Changes

• Atrox remains stable despite minor nerfs; he might be one of the few champs able to utilize the omnivamp item effectively but still ranks lower than Urgot overall.

Kale’s Ranking Challenges

• Kale shows potential for lower ranks but struggles at higher levels where she can easily be countered or dove by junglers early on.

Vladimir’s Decline Due to Game Pace

• Vladimir is likely falling behind due to fast-paced game dynamics which do not favor his playstyle; he's being moved down into C tier as a result of this shift in tempo.

Champion Tier List Discussion

Vlad's Position in the Tier List

• The speaker discusses Vlad's performance, noting that while he can use teleport with ghost or ignite, the 7-minute cooldown limits his effectiveness. Consequently, Vlad is moved down to C tier.

Game Pacing and Champion Viability

• The pacing of the game is deemed too quick for certain champions like Garen, who is placed in low B tier due to being a solid blind pick despite not excelling overall.

Singed and Zach's Performance

• Singed remains consistent across seasons; however, he is not considered an A-tier champion. He stays in B tier as a reliable choice for one-trick players.

• Zach's performance declines this patch due to fast-paced gameplay, leading him to be positioned at the bottom of B tier.

Volibear and Gragas Updates

• Volibear shows potential improvement this season but struggles with build viability. His ability to adapt may place him slightly above other champions like Garen.

• Gragas is expected to perform worse this season due to changes that negatively impact his side-laning capabilities, resulting in a drop to C tier.

Camille and Wukong Comparisons

• Camille sees slight improvements but remains in B tier. She shares similarities with Garen and Atrox regarding their previous dominance now diminished.

• Wukong maintains situational strength alongside other champions like Malphite; however, they are all categorized similarly based on matchup conditions.

Vayne vs. Cho'Gath Analysis

• Vayne benefits from bonus XP and tower procs, making her stronger than Malphite and more viable as a blind pick compared to Wukong.

• Cho'Gath’s effectiveness decreases this season due to limitations on wave clearing abilities; he remains in C tier but isn't considered weak overall.

Trundle's Changes

• Trundle experiences significant changes that some players perceive as nerfs; however, the speaker argues these adjustments could enhance his gameplay dynamics moving forward.

Champion Tier List Discussion

Side Lane Dynamics and Champion Buffs

• The speaker discusses the impact of crit changes and side laning power, noting that waves now come every 25 seconds, which benefits champions who excel in side lanes by allowing them to pressure waves faster and absorb farm more efficiently.

Champion Comparisons: Urgot vs. Camilan

• The speaker evaluates the positioning of champions like Camilan and Urgot, suggesting they are interchangeable at this point based on limited gameplay experience with both.

Doy Mundo's Viability

• Doy Mundo is noted for his improved side laning capabilities; however, he still requires careful match selection to be effective. His mid-game performance has improved compared to last season.

Varys' Power Level

• Varys is described as having a similar overall power level but slightly stronger due to lane phase importance. He can perform well if played correctly, especially in a favorable matchup.

Yoro's Split Pushing Potential

• Yoro's split-pushing potential is acknowledged, but his weak lane phase limits his effectiveness. The speaker places him at the bottom of B tier due to challenges against higher-ranked champions.

Morichiser's Positioning in High Elo

• Morichiser is expected to perform worse in high elo due to difficulties in side-laning and lane progression. The speaker suggests he may be placed lower than some other champions.

Yasuo's Top Lane Challenges

• Yasuo is criticized for being ineffective in top lane unless played by an experienced player. The speaker expresses skepticism about his viability against various matchups.

Pantheon and Nasus Evaluation

• Pantheon struggles with side-laning despite having good lane progression abilities. Nasus is deemed ineffective due to poor quest progression despite improvements in tower hitting mechanics.

Shen’s Role and Limitations

• Shen receives mixed reviews; while he can take Ignite now and has some utility, the speaker believes he remains a liability unless played by a dedicated main. His overall strength compared to other champions is questioned given the current game pace.

Champion Tier List Analysis in Current Meta

Udyr's Strengths and Weaknesses

• Udyr is perceived to be strong early game, especially with the faster pacing of the current meta, making him a better choice than other champions.

• His ability to hit towers and farm effectively allows for quick quest completion, positioning him as a valuable champion for early skirmishes.

• Despite being strong at one or two items, he becomes less effective later in the game; however, he can still force advantageous Baron fights.

Poppy's Positioning

• Poppy struggles due to her poor side-laning capabilities and inability to utilize bonus XP effectively compared to champions like Darius or Fiora.

• She lacks significant level scaling advantages that would make her more competitive in higher tiers of play.

Illaoi's Side-Laning Potential

• Illaoi shows improved side-laning potential but remains vulnerable against stronger champions in the meta.

• Her ability to consistently push waves every 25 seconds makes her a nuisance for opponents but limits her overall tier placement.

Trundle's Comparison with Other Champions

• Trundle is noted for his superior pushing abilities and side-laning effectiveness, placing him slightly above Shen in terms of utility.

• The importance of being able to function well against high-tier champions is emphasized; Trundle’s performance hinges on matchups against top-tier picks.

Champion Tier List Analysis for Season 16

Trundle and Jax Matchups

• The speaker discusses the unfavorable matchups for champions like Trundle against others such as Jace or Rumble, emphasizing that survival is key rather than winning outright.

• It is noted that keeping Trundle in the "CT" (likely referring to a lower tier category) is justified due to these challenging matchups.

Shyvana's Ranking

• Shyvana is categorized as the worst champion in the game, with her performance being described as ineffective even in cinematic portrayals.

• The speaker indicates a decision to demote Shyvana further down the tier list based on her overall utility and effectiveness.

Finalized Tier List Adjustments

• The finalized tier list for season 16 has been presented, highlighting several champions that have been moved around based on their lane functionality.

• Champions like Kenan and Aurora are mentioned as not performing well in side lanes or level scaling, leading to their demotion.

• Casopia's ranking was also lowered despite her good level usage because she struggles to keep pace with rapid side lane waves.