LoR Meta Report - Patch 4.3 Week 1 - Best Ladder Decks • Meta Breakdowns • Legends of Runeterra (LoR) • RuneterraCCG.com

Greetings everyone, Sorry here! It’s Monday, which means it’s time for our weekly Meta Report. Today we’ll tackle Patch 4.3 Glory in Navori meta.

The introduction of new cards, as well as the new Rotation format, has drastically shaken up the meta field. Many staple archetypes have been removed from the Standard format, while older, less-played archetypes have returned to the meta. Additionally, the new champions Samira and Sett have seen success in some ranked ladder decks, while Jack appears to be the weakest of the three.

Please note that the stats I’ll be showcasing are only for the Standard format. As a new season has just begun, we have limited data to work with, especially in the Master rank. Master rank stats are typically inflated early in the season, so we’ll rely on “all ranks” to make our decisions.

Sources: The data presented here are Runeterra.AR and LLor, covering the period from March 29th to April 3rd.

Most Successful Archetypes

Tier 1 (Fizz Samira, Gwen Quinn, Vayne Aatrox, Garen Jarvan IV)

Garen Jarvan IV remains a reliable choice in Patch 4.3. Both Gwen Quinn and Vayne Aatrox have improved their performance in the new meta and can beat the popular Samira decks.

Tier 2 (Karma Sett, Heimerdinger Jayce (SI), Kayn Aatrox, Evelynn Kai’Sa, Samira Kayle Leona, Maokai Nautilus, Ashe Leblanc, Caitlyn Jayce, Seraphine Jack, Annie Caitlyn, Norra Veigar, Miss Fortune Quinn, Lissandra Taliyah, Jax Ornn, Ekko Jinx (SH), Akshan Varus, Pyke Rek’Sai, Heimerdinger Norra, Senna Veigar, Norra Veigar)

The removal of several archetypes and powerful cards has resulted in significant changes in Tier 2, with many underplayed decks now seeing more play. Miss Fortune Quinn and Ashe Leblanc, two unpopular decks, are performing well so far. As the ranked Standard format develops, there remains plenty of room for meta-development as players figure out the strongest decks.

Meme Tier

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Secret Keeper Flame created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

landmarks (6)

Ancient Preparations

The Black Flame

followers (20)

Forsaken Baccai

Aspiring Chronomancer

Sai’nen Thousand-Tailed

Spells (14)

The Ionia Shurima deck centers around the Secret Keeper and the Predict mechanic. Secret Keeper creates two level 2 champions at the bottom of your deck, and if you manage to play The Black Flame landmark on him, you’ll start creating more champions in the deck.

As the champions are at the bottom of your deck, you’ll need Predict cards like Forsaken Baccai and Aspiring Chronomancer to find them. You can also use Golden Ambassador to draw a champion through its Allegiance ability and give it +2|+2 stats.

Although the archetype offers a unique and enjoyable playstyle, it has a low win rate of just 18% on the ranked ladder.

Underplayed and Overplayed Archetypes

In the chart below, I’ve plotted win rates versus play rates for 21 decks to demonstrate which archetypes can be seen as the ‘kings’ in the current meta, and which decks can be labeled as ‘overplayed’ or ‘underplayed’.

The Y-Axis represents the win rate whereas the X-Axis represents the play rate.

Meta Kings: Fizz Samira. This archetype has quickly taken over the ranked ladder and boasts a high play rate and solid win rate. Interestingly, players continue to experiment with Fizz Samira, tweaking their decks as the meta develops. Fizz Samira has also been a popular choice in the tournament scene.

Overplayed: Teemo Caitlyn. Players are having fun with the new card, Flashbomb Peddler. However, despite being in the top 5 most played decks, it only has a win rate of 47.31%.

Underplayed: Samira Leona Kayle. The old aggressive deck has added Samira to its arsenal. It is underplayed but gaining attention. Its ability to stun units and set up powerful attacks makes it challenging for many decks to handle.

Hidden Gems:

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Jax Vayne created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

Jax

Vayne

followers (19)

Fireth, Reaper of the Sands

Steadfast Elkin

Ionian Hookmaster

Zealous Ranger-Knight

Spells (15)

I took this list of Jax Vayne to the ranked ladder and found success with the equipment-oriented deck. It held up well against most of the meta decks, especially the popular Fizz Samira.

Jax Vayne wants to set up units on the board and start working on leveling Jax. A leveled Jax will start pushing Overwhelm damage and threatening to destroy the Nexus. The strongest unit in the deck is Bloodcursed Harpy; the scout keyword, along with the extra life she has, will put a lot of pressure on the opponent, especially if you equip it with either an Overwhelm or Quick Attack weapon.

Vayne is in the deck for its Tumble spell. The Tumble can activate Rally if played on one of your Scout units, allowing you to accelerate the pace of the game.

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Caitlyn Jayce created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

followers (13)

Spells (21)

Caitlyn Jayce Sentinels is getting some attention for its ability to beat Fizz Samira decks and for putting a lot of pressure on the board with units like Caitlyn, Burgeoning Sentinel, and Buhru Sentinel.

The deck runs a lot of removal tools to keep the board in check while also setting up powerful plays with Jayce and Albus Ferros. Jayce can burn down the opponent’s Nexus with the double-cast Shock Blast. Similarly, Albus Ferros is a value card that can burn down the Nexus with his Attack ability.

Broken Ball brought this archetype to the Aegis tournament with the plan of beating Fizz Samira and managed to place first.

Balance Watch: Many cards in the Fizz Samira deck have become a concern for the player base. Samira, Pirouette, and All Out are all powerful cards that enable the deck’s potent performance. Samira’s Challenger Flair seems to be the most frustrating aspect of her in the early game, as it can put early board pressure and become problematic for many decks. This has led many to include Heavy Metal in their lists to get rid of Samira immediately. However, it is still early to call for any nerfs as the meta is still adapting to the new patch.

Most Popular Archetypes

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Fizz Samira created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

followers (15)

Spells (19)

Fizz Samira is the most-played deck on the ranked ladder. Its ability to put early pressure with Samira and transition into an Elusive gameplan has made it one of the strongest decks in the meta. The archetype has a 54.42% win rate on the ranked ladder.

Good Matchups: Karma Sett IO, Kayn Aatrox, Ashe Leblanc.

Bad Matchups: Gwen Quinn, Annie Caitlyn, Miss Fortune Quinn.

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Karma Sett created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

Karma

Sett

followers (11)

Acorn, the Hextechnician

Spells (23)

Karma Sett is the second most played deck with a 51.96% win rate across all ranks. The control deck is still holding up well on the ranked ladder, even among the many popular counter decks.

Good Matchups: Heimerdinger Jayce, Jack Seraphine, Annie Caitlyn.

Bad Matchups: Fizz Samira, Gwen Quinn, Maokai Nautilus.

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Quinn Gwen created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

landmarks (3)

followers (14)

Spells (17)

Gwen Quinn has been seeing success since the previous patch, but the introduction of Rotation only solidified the deck’s performance in the meta. It has one of the best matchup tables, making it a great choice for a serious ladder climb. Gwen Quinn is in the top 3 most-played decks and has a 56.21% win rate.

Good Matchups: Fizz Samira, Karma Sett IO, Pyke Rek’Sai.

Bad Matchups: Leona Samira, Ashe Leblanc, Garen Jarvan IV.

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Pyke Rek'Sai created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

followers (26)

Aspiring Chronomancer

Redfin Hammersnout

Snapjaw Swarm

Xer’sai Caller

Xerxa’Reth, The Undertitan

Spells (8)

Pyke Rek’Sai has been performing well since Patch 4.3 dropped. The Lurk deck has a win rate of 54.31% across all ranks and a 52% win rate in the Master rank.

Good Matchups: Kayn Aatrox, Maokai Nautilus, and Teemo Caitlyn.

Bad Matchups: Gwen Quinn, Lissandra Taliyah, and Leona Samira.

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Caitlyn Teemo created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

followers (18)

Spells (16)

Teemo Caitlyn held a 50% win rate early on in Patch 4.3 but slowly dropped to a 47.31% win rate across all ranks. As players figured out the best-performing decks, it was inevitable for Teemo Caitlyn to start struggling, especially against fast-paced decks.

Good Matchups: Gwen Quinn, Leona Samira, Pyke Rek’Sai.

Bad Matchups: Maokai Nautilus, Annie Caitlyn, Norra Veigar.

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Kayn Aatrox created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (5)

Kayn

Aatrox

equipments (9)

The Darkin Bloodletters

followers (14)

Ranger-Knight Defector

Spells (12)

Momentous Choice

The Violent Dischord

Furious Wielder

The Expanse’s Protection

Heedless Resurrection

The Unforgiving Cold

Kayn Aatrox makes its comeback in the Standard format. The archetype holds a 54.23% win rate across all ranks.

Good Matchups: Teemo Caitlyn, Jack Seraphine, Annie Caitlyn.

Bad Matchups: Gwen Quinn, Pyke Rek’Sai, Vayne Aatrox.

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Maokai Nautilus created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

followers (21)

Devourer of the Depths

Spells (13)

Deep in the top 10 most-played decks. The archetype seems to be putting up a good fight against the new rising decks. It has a 53.09% win rate across all ranks.

Good Matchups: Karma Sett, Vayne Aatrox, Heimerdinger Jayce.

Bad Matchups: Fizz Samira, Gwen Quinn, Pyke Rek’Sai.

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Jack Sett created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

equipments (3)

followers (20)

Master Bingwen, the Sieve

Sai’nen Thousand-Tailed

Spells (11)

Jack Sett was one of the first archetypes the community tested out on the first day of Patch 4.3. However, the deck was underwhelming, holding an extremely low win rate of 38.82% across all ranks.

Good Matchups: None.

Bad Matchups: Everything.

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Vayne Aatrox Quinn created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

Vayne

Quinn

Aatrox

equipments (11)

The Darkin Bloodletters

followers (14)

Zealous Ranger-Knight

Ranger-Knight Defector

Spells (9)

Vayne Aatrox Quinn has made a comeback. The archetype once dominated the meta before it was hit with multiple nerfs. The archetype didn’t receive any buffs, but it’s generally performing well in the new meta. Vayne Aatrox has a 56.9% win rate across all ranks and a 53.4% win rate in the Master rank.

Good Matchups: Karma Sett, Kayn Aatrox, Jack Seraphine.

Bad Matchups: Gwen Quinn, Maokai Nautilus, Ashe Leblanc.

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Garen Jarvan IV created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (5)

Garen

Jarvan IV

followers (26)

Cithria of Cloudfield

Spells (9)

The Demacia deck is still as powerful as ever. It has dropped in play rate compared to the previous season but still holds a high win rate of 55.76% across all ranks.

Good Matchups: Fizz Samira, Karma Sett, Gwen Quinn.

Bad Matchups: Pyke Rek’Sai, Heimerdinger Jayce, Ashe Leblanc.

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Jack Seraphine created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

landmarks (2)

followers (9)

Spells (23)

The only Jack deck with a positive win rate, and it’s barely holding onto a 50% win rate across all ranks. Its ability to beat Fizz Samira is giving it a shot to survive the meta.

Good Matchups: Fizz Samira, Teemo Caitlyn, Heimerdinger Jayce.

Bad Matchups: Karma Sett, Aatrox Vayne, Aatrox Kayn.

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Caitlyn Annie created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

Annie

Caitlyn

landmarks (2)

Ravenbloom Conservatory

followers (10)

Spells (22)

Annie Caitlyn is the newest version of a Lord Broadmane deck. With Ezreal and Katarina out of the picture, Caitlyn was quickly added to the deck, along with Flashbomb Peddler. The archetype has a 50.81% win rate across all ranks.

Good Matchups: Fizz Samira, Jack Sett, Miss Fortune Quinn.

Bad Matchups: Karma Sett IO, Pyke Rek’Sai, Kayn Aatrox.

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LeBlanc Ashe created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

followers (19)

Trifarian Gloryseeker

Avarosan Trapper

Trifarian Assessor

Avarosan Hearthguard

Revna, the Lorekeeper

Spells (15)

Ashe Leblanc is performing well on the ranked ladder. There’s another version of the deck that runs Legion Marauders. It has a 55.26% win rate across all ranks.

Good Matchups: Gwen Quinn, Kayn Aatrox, Vayne Aatrox.

Bad Matchups: Fizz Samira, Maokai Nautilus, Caitlyn Teemo.

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Miss Fortune Quinn created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

followers (26)

Spells (8)

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Miss Fortune Quinn in the meta report. The archetype has a 52.94% win rate across all ranks.

Good Matchups: Fizz Samira, Caitlyn Teemo, Karma Sett IO.

Bad Matchups: Kayn Aatrox, Heimerdinger Jayce, Vayne Aatrox.

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Leona Samira Kayle created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

equipments (1)

followers (26)

Rahvun, Daylight’s Spear

Spells (7)

Brothers’ Bond

Might

Noxian Fervor

The Leona aggressive Noxus deck adds Samira to the team. The archetype has been performing well on the ladder, holding a 56.2% win rate across all ranks and a 55.3% win rate in the Master rank.

Good Matchups: Fizz Samira, Karma Sett, Gwen Quinn.

Bad Matchups: Ashe Leblanc, Garen Jarvan, Heimerdinger Jayce

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Taliyah Lissandra created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

landmarks (5)

followers (10)

Spells (19)

The old archetype has been out of the meta for quite a while, until Patch 4.3. Lissandra Taliyah has a 51.22% win rate across all ranks.

Good Matchups: Teemo Caitlyn, Seraphine Jack, Vayne Aatrox.

Bad Matchups: Fizz Samira, Gwen Quinn, Karma Sett.

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Samira Miss Fortune created by Sorry • last updated 8 months ago

Regions

Types

Rarities

Mana Cost

Champions (6)

followers (16)

Spells (18)

Miss Fortune Samira is a more aggressive version. It uses Powder Pandemonium to set up a powerful attack and close out the game. The archetype isn’t performing as well as the more popular Fizz Samira, holding a 48.73% win rate across all ranks.

Good Matchups: Fizz Samira, Pyke Rek’Sai, Jack Sett.

Bad Matchups: Karma Sett, Vayne Aatrox, Kayn Aatrox.

Closing Words

The recently released Standard format has brought a refreshing change to the meta. With the removal of several dominant archetypes, previously underplayed decks are now receiving more attention and recognition. However, it is important to note that it is still early days in the new patch, and further changes are expected before next week’s meta-report.

If you wish to stay updated with my content, I invite you to follow me on Twitter. With that said, I hope you found this week’s Meta Report informative, and I look forward to seeing you at the next one.