Photo Credit: Riot Games
Two days ago on January 16th 2018, League of Legends finally ended preseason and with it came Season 8. Everyone’s rank has received a soft reset and like previous seasons will need to play 10 placement games to receive their new rank. With the soft reset it is typical that your rank will be slightly lower than the previous season’s unless you do extremely well in placements. Honor levels have also been reset
Meta Changes
With the start of the new ranked season, it is important to be aware of the current meta to ensure maximum success on the rift. Currently, Fleet Footwork + Overheal + Relic Shield for ADCs in the bot lane is very strong, giving them a shield after upgrading the Relic Shield to a Targon’s Embrace. This gives ADCs good healing from poke in lane and survivability in early and mid-game team fights with the extra shields from Targon’s and Overheal. With this addition to the meta, most lanes will be less aggressive as this build is mainly defensive and doesn’t provide the ADCs with as much kill pressure as starting with a Doran’s Blade.
Control mages in the mid-lane are also some of the strongest in the current meta. Champions like Ryze, Malzahar, and Azir with strong wave clear and consistent DPS in team fights are very strong at the moment. While assassins are better for snowballing leads and solo-carrying, control mages are capable of having a more consistent impact on the game rather than relying on early kills and roams to generate a lead.
With the nerf to Ardent Censer a while back, it is simply not worth buying it as an early item on supports. One of the best items to get after Sightstone as a support would be Locket of the Iron Solari as it has a major impact on team fights. Additionally, this leads to tanky, roam supports being slightly better in this meta over healing/shielding supports although they are still viable. Champions like Thresh, Blitzcrank, and Tahm Kench are all good champions to getting a pick in lane or roaming quickly to mid.
The Climb
With the coming of the new season, Riot has released another short cinematic video called “The Climb”.