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The New Best Solo Carry Champions on Patch 13.23

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A variety of top champions from patch 13.22 have received nerfs in patch 13.23, leading to significant changes in the Solo Carry list across all roles.

Champion Nerfs and Solo Carry Potential in League of Legends

As usual, we’ll discuss three champions for each role, focusing on their ability to dominate in the current meta.

Fiora: A Dominant Force in Top Lane

Fiora emerges as one of the strongest champions in the current 13.23 meta, particularly excelling in the top lane environment. Currently, champions like Cante and Atrox are highly favored, yet Fiora consistently performs well, except against Camille and Malite. When facing Malite, it’s advisable to use your ban, as his armor stacking and attack speed slow provide limited counterplay in the early laning phase.

Fiora’s strategy revolves around engaging in short trades focused on vital procs and grasping cooldowns. While she is adept at extended fights after acquiring a few items, her early game primarily involves quick engagements. If her W is ready, the enemy finds it nearly impossible to counterattack during these brief exchanges.

After wearing down the opponent with these short trades, opportunities arise for all-in plays. Fiora’s core build includes a rush for Divine Sunderer or Trinity Force, followed by Ravenous Hydra and Hullbreaker. Her Keystone Rune is Grasp, with secondary runes including Demolish, Second Wind, Unflinching, Manaflow, and Scorch.

Nasus: A Strategy for Lower ELO Players

For players below the Diamond rank, incorporating Nasus into their champion pool can be particularly beneficial, especially for those in Gold or lower ranks. Nasus is currently a strong pick, thanks to the recent 13.20 patch that allows him to scale more effectively into the mid and late game.

Starting with Doran’s Shield and opting for runes like Fleet Footwork and Second Wind, coupled with Nasus’s passive, makes it challenging for opponents to push him out of lane. Even if Nasus takes damage, the use of teleport helps in recovering and continuing to stack Q. The primary goal in the early game is to survive until level six without dying, ensuring you stay within experience range to build your strength progressively.

Optimizing Nasus Post-Level Six

From level six onwards, Nasus’s aggressiveness in duels significantly increases, especially when his R is active. For Nasus players, a viable ban is Garen, whose ignite and phase rush effectively counter Nasus’s kit. A crucial power spike for Nasus is the completion of Divine Sunderer. Subsequent purchases often include Frozen Heart, with situational items like Spirit Visage or Thornmail being optimal third choices.

Despite not being the typical Solo Carry archetype, Ornn is too valuable to overlook in the current meta. Ornn’s blend of engagement strength, crowd control, and surprising burst damage in his all-in combo makes him feel like a hybrid of a tank and an assassin. His ability to deal significant damage to squishy champions and upgrade items for his team gains more value as games progress. This is particularly pertinent since the 13.20 anti-snowball patch has made him more relevant.

Fiora, however, poses a significant challenge to Ornn players and is recommended as a ban. Her kit counters Ornn effectively, making it difficult to succeed in this matchup.

Ornn’s Skill Order and Itemization

A key strategy for Ornn players involves a specific skill order, prioritizing W max first, followed by E, and Q last. While many lower ELO players max Q second, it’s less effective than maximizing E for midgame team fights. Ornn’s E has a base damage of 260 at max rank, compared to Q’s 120, making it more valuable for burst power and mobility.

Ornn excels in solo queue by making catch plays with his R, and maxing E second enhances the reliability of these plays. The standard item core for Ornn includes a Sunfire Aegis rush, followed by Radiant Virtue and a situational tank item. The recommended Keystone Rune is Grasp, with Demolish, Second Wind, and Overgrowth as secondary runes. The best secondary rune choices are Magical Footwear and Biscuits.

Changes in the Jungle Solo Carry List

With both Jarvan and Brier nerfed in Patch 13.23, the jungle Solo Carry list has undergone changes. Rammus, benefiting from a significant buff in patch 13.22, has risen to the top three. The buff, which allows his pet DPS to scale with armor, has reinforced Rammus’s strength in the current meta. This enhancement has been particularly beneficial, aiding in his overall performance and positioning him as a more powerful and viable pick in solo queue games.

Enhanced Rammus Performance in Patch 13.23

The buff to Rammus’s W armor in patch 13.22 significantly improved his clearing speed. However, it’s not just this recent buff that has elevated Rammus in the jungle meta. Presently, there is only one AP jungler with a play rate above 5%, which is Ekko, while the eight most played junglers are all physical damage dealers. This environment suits Rammus exceptionally well. Lilia is a challenging matchup for many Rammus players, so she is a recommended ban.

For Rammus players habitually using Flash, consider switching to Ghost for superior consistent gank power. Ghost users win about 3% more than those who take Flash. The optimal build for Rammus includes a Thornmail rush, followed by an Even Shroud and a situational tank item. The best runes for Rammus are Aftershock with Font of Life, Conditioning, and Unflinching, along with Triumph and Alacrity as secondary runes.

Evelynn’s Dominance in the Jungle

Evelynn secures the second spot on the Solo Carry list for jungle in Patch 13.23. As one of the best pure carry AP junglers for solo queue, Evelynn’s significant power spike comes at level six. To maintain consistency, it’s essential to cycle camps on respawn and only pursue ganks that are guaranteed.

Post-six, the focus shifts to maximizing impact, especially in lanes with optimal gank setups. Evelynn’s catch power in mid to late game is a critical aspect of her lethality in solo queue. Utilizing stealth to flank and patiently waiting for the enemy’s priority target to isolate themselves is crucial.

Evelynn Strategy Guide: Patience and Precision in the Jungle

Successful Evelynn play requires patience, often waiting for the enemy to make a mistake. When playing Evelynn , consider banning meta junglers who are aggressive gankers, such as Jarvan or Hecarim.

Core items for Evelynn include Rocket Belt and Radons, with an early Dark Seal crucial for potential Mejai’s upgrades. Electrocute, Sudden Impact, Eyeball Collection, and Relentless Hunter are her best primary runes, while Absolute Focus and Gathering Storm are recommended secondary runes.

Nocturn’s Continued Success

Nocturn has remained a top-tier pick in the jungle meta, consistently avoiding nerfs and emerging as one of the best carries for patch 13.23. Previously, Nocturn was closely ranked with Jarvan and Brier in recent patches. Now, with both Jarvan and Brier receiving nerfs, Nocturn’s position has been further solidified. His ability to maintain dominance in the current meta, despite the changes to other champions, underscores his viability and strength as a top jungle pick. His unique skill set and adaptability continue to make him a formidable choice for players looking to excel in the jungle role.

Nocturn’s Enhanced Priority in the Current Meta

With other champions getting nerfed, Nocturn gains increased priority in the game, especially as the game pace slows down and becomes less snowball-focused. This shift benefits champions like Nocturn and Evelynn, who need to reach level six to fully come online.

The early game dueling strength of Nocturn at level three or four, particularly if his E fear is activated, is often underestimated. Nocturn gains 30 AD when fighting in his Q at level four, making him a formidable opponent in early skirmishes. Correct usage of his W can be crucial in 1v1 scenarios, potentially nullifying the dueling power of popular picks like Lein and Jarvan.

Nocturn: Mastering Early Game and Build Strategies in League of Legends

Despite the focus on reaching level six quickly, contesting for Scuttle and engaging in early fights should not be entirely avoided, especially if laners can provide support. Immediately after Scuttle, a reset and full clearing are recommended. Unlike other level six spiking junglers like Shyvana and Evelynn, Nocturn has more options for early engagement.

When playing Nocturn, it’s advisable to ban champions with strong peel abilities, such as Janna or Lulu, to maximize his R’s effectiveness. His core build includes a Stridebreaker rush, followed by Black Cleaver and either Death’s Dance or Maw. The recommended runes are Lethal Tempo, Triumph, Alacrity, and Coup de Grace, with Eyeball Collection and Ultimate Hunter as secondaries.

Silas as a Top Mid Lane Choice

Silas stands out as one of the best melee mid-laners currently, demonstrating considerable success in the midlane meta. Among the top 15 most played midlane champions, Silas only has a negative win rate against Vex, making Vex a recommended ban when playing Silas. His kit, which thrives on mobility, is particularly countered by Vex’s abilities.

At level one, Silas players have two optimal starting options, adapting to each game. Starting with E is most effective against melee mids, providing Silas with a strong level one trading tool. When combined with a rune page featuring Electrocute and Scorch as secondaries, his burst power at level one can surpass most melee mids.

Unlike many champions whose power spikes are at levels two or three, Silas can seek to gain an advantage right from the start. In ranged matchups, where trading with E is riskier, starting with Q and securing the first three melee minions without taking damage is crucial. For a more detailed understanding of Silas’s gameplay, the Master in Minutes course offers comprehensive insights.

Mastering Silas in Solo Queue

To excel with Silas in solo queue, the core build strategy involves a Night Harvester rush, followed by Shadowflame second and Zhonya’s Hourglass third. This build capitalizes on Silas’s strengths, allowing players to dominate in their games. Night Harvester provides burst damage, Shadowflame offers magic penetration, and Zhonya’s Hourglass adds crucial survivability. Understanding this core build is essential for anyone looking to leverage Silas’s full potential in the midlane.

Syndra’s Evolution in the Meta

Syndra has become one of the top midlane mages for solo queue, especially after being heavily featured in this year’s Worlds tournament. The recent anti-snowball patch has favorably impacted her weaker early game. Since her mini-rework, Syndra’s playstyle has shifted from being a mass AOE lane bully to a more potent mid-to-late game champion.

A new build that has emerged recently involves Liandry’s Anguish into Cosmic Drive, providing a significant two-item spike. This build offers a lot of ability haste, beneficial for Syndra whose spells generally have high base cooldowns.

When playing Syndra, the most challenging matchup and recommended ban is Fizz, whose long-range catch with R and evasive E ability make it hard for a skillshot-reliant, immobile mage like Syndra to compete effectively. Syndra players should focus on accumulating passive stacks early on, even if it means running low on mana, as this is crucial for maximizing her in-lane effectiveness.

Orianna: The Ideal Blind Pick Mage

Orianna is currently the best blind pick mage for the midlane, offering tremendous team fight impact and consistency in each game. Her ability to farm effectively and reach core items is enhanced by recent W buffs.

Many high ELO players, including Challenger midlaners, have adopted a unique skill order for Orianna, involving three points in Q followed by W max. This adjustment in skill prioritization reflects the evolving strategies at higher levels of play, where maximizing Orianna’s damage and utility in team fights becomes paramount.

Understanding and adapting to these skill order changes is crucial for players aiming to excel with Orianna in the current patch.

Refining Orianna’s Playstyle in Solo Queue

Orianna’s playstyle has evolved, with some players, like the high ELO player Shy, opting to max W first. This approach transforms Orianna into more of a poke mage rather than a consistent damage mage, simplifying her gameplay. By focusing on landing the QW combo for substantial upfront burst, players can reduce the need for constant ball movement. Interestingly, Orianna players who max W first are winning about 1% more than those who max Q first.

When it comes to bans, Syndra and Zerath are recommended choices as they can outrange Orianna, making it challenging for her to function effectively in team fights.

The optimal build for Orianna in the current meta involves a Luden’s Echo rush into Shadowflame for squishy comps, or Liandry’s Anguish with Archangel’s Staff against tankier teams. With the W max strategy, experimenting with Comet as the keystone rune is suggested to maximize the QW combo’s burst potential.

Vayne’s Versatility in Patch 13.23

In Patch 13.23, Vayne emerges as the best ADC for solo queue, thanks to her incredible versatility. Contrary to her traditional role of countering tanks with her W’s true damage, Vayne is now highly effective against squishy targets.

The Stormrazor, Essence Reaver, and Ghostblade build allow Vayne to burst significantly with a Q-auto attack setup, reducing the spell’s cooldown to under two seconds in the mid-game. Fleet Footwork is the recommended keystone rune for this build.

Mastering Vayne’s Builds and Strategy in Patch 13.23

The Trinity Force setup is an alternative for Vayne, better suited against compositions with more bruisers or tanks. In this scenario, Lethal Tempo is the ideal keystone rune. Both the Essence Reaver and Trinity Force builds benefit from the Spellblade passive, and prioritizing Q-auto attacks maximizes this passive’s effectiveness. When choosing a ban, targeting ADCs with stronger early game power, such as Ashe, is advisable, as she is currently a frequent pick in the meta.

Jinx Secures Second Place in ADC Rankings

Jinx takes the second spot for Solo Carry ADC in Patch 13.23. Her ability to reach three items and gain a passive reset in a team fight is crucial for her success. Jinx’s strength lies in her late-game scaling and team fight presence, where she can capitalize on resets to deal massive damage. Understanding and leveraging Jinx’s power spikes, particularly at the three-item mark, is key to dominating as an ADC in the current meta. Players should focus on farming efficiently, positioning safely in team fights, and capitalizing on opportunities to secure passive resets to fully utilize Jinx’s carry potential.

Maximizing Jinx’s Potential in the Current Meta

Jinx stands out as an ideal ADC for the current meta, thanks to her exceptional Solo Carry ability. The update to her passive, allowing attack speed stacks on takedowns, has significantly boosted her performance. Unlike Vayne, Jinx doesn’t have the same level of self-peel, so banning hard engage champions like Jarvan or Rakan can be beneficial.

An often overlooked strategy for Jinx players is using her ultimate for lane pressure rather than kills. If the enemy ADC is attempting a recall in a bush, even out of kill range, using R to interrupt their recall can provide significant value. This tactic either forces the enemy into an unfavorable reset, allowing Jinx to gain lane advantages, or if they stay, gives Jinx the upper hand with her item advantage.

The core build for Jinx should be adapted based on the enemy composition: Stormrazor and Rapid Firecannon against squishy targets, or Kraken Slayer and Hurricane for dealing with bruisers or tanks. The recommended rune page is Lethal Tempo with Presence of Mind, Bloodline, and Cut Down, combined with Absolute Focus and Gathering Storm as secondary runes.