Hello, Librarian Husky here! LeBlanc and Lilia are nerfed for this patch, so they’ll be dropping off the solo carry list. We’ve got at least one change for every role as we bring you three of the best solo carries for each role in patch 14.17. Are you sick of losing games because of bad teammates?

Garen vs Top Laners in Solo Q

Garen is currently faring well against many of the most played top laners in Solo Q. There is great incentive to play him right now. Aatrox is the most played top laner by a wide margin, and it’s a matchup Garen can neutralize or even win. Running Phase Rush as your Keystone Rune is key.

How to Counter Aatrox with Garen

If you dive in on Aatrox and proc Phase Rush, it becomes difficult for Aatrox to hit all his Qs. Garen, being a champion without skill shots, becomes extremely oppressive with a lead. Learning your matchups makes snowballing games much easier with Garen than most top laners.

Core Items for Garen

Your core two items for every game are going to be Stridebreaker and Phantom Dancer. From there, it’s situational. For healing cuts, go Mortal Reminder. For raw damage, Infinity Edge is great. For added tankiness, Dead Man’s Plate or Force of Nature are also viable options.

Challenging Matchups and Keystone Choices

Camille is one of the more difficult matchups in the meta, so banning her out is recommended. Phase Rush is the best performing Keystone for Garen in Solo Q, but Conqueror is an alternative if the enemy comp is less mobile. This choice depends on your specific needs in each game.

Aatrox Build for Maximum Damage

The Cleaver rush into Profane second and Hubris third is a popular build that Nile, a challenger Aatrox player on EU West, has been using. This build feels strong because Black Cleaver offers durability and armor shred, while Profane with Hubris amplifies one-shot power immensely. It makes you tough to take down while dealing massive damage.

Aatrox Bans and Rune Page

Right now, you can’t go wrong with banning Fiora, as she can be tricky to handle unless you’re highly experienced on Aatrox. The ideal rune page includes Conqueror, Triumph, Haste, and Last Stand, with Second Wind and Revitalize as secondaries for sustain and durability.

Set: A Solo Carry Staple

Set has been a staple on the Solo Carry list longer than most champions, as the top lane meta has stayed relatively unchanged. Set’s ability to generate advantages and snowball his lead makes him an easy champion to succeed with, similar to Garen, thanks to his reliable damage and strong stats.

Stridebreaker vs Blade of the Ruined King

One recent change that has affected Set is the adjustment to Blade of the Ruined King. Players rushing Blade have seen their win rate drop by 2%, while Stridebreaker rushes now boast a 4% higher win rate. This significant gap makes Stridebreaker the better option for Set in the current meta.

Set’s Optimal Build Adjustments

If you’ve been rushing Blade of the Ruined King on Set, definitely drop it in favor of Stridebreaker. Hullbreaker and Overlord’s Bloodmail are solid second and third pickups. One of Set’s worst matchups in Solo Q right now is Volibear, and since he’s played frequently in the current meta, banning him is a good option.

Set’s Rune Page Setup

The standard rune page for Set revolves around Conqueror, Triumph, Alacrity, and Last Stand, with Second Wind and Overgrowth as secondaries. This setup provides sustain and resilience, allowing Set to perform effectively in most matchups, especially when snowballing a lead.

Amumu: The Strong AP Jungler

With Lillia dropping out of the top three, Amumu stands out as a strong AP jungler with excellent team fight impact. He’s been performing well, taking full advantage of the Liandry’s Rush and spiking hard on item completion. The standard build includes Liandry’s, Sunfire Aegis, and situationally tanky items.

Countering Amumu and Rune Choices

Champs like Lulu or Braum can nullify Amumu’s backline access and are solid bans. The optimal rune page includes Conqueror, Triumph, Haste, and Last Stand, with Cheap Shot and Ultimate Hunter as the best secondaries, maximizing Amumu’s damage and survivability.

Kha’Zix: The Top Assassin Jungler

Kha’Zix is currently the best assassin jungler for Solo Q, especially with the repeated buffs to Dark Harvest. He has maintained a positive win rate even in the Lillia matchup, and her nerf for this patch makes him even stronger. There are a few viable variations for Kha’Zix builds, but all revolve around his burst potential.

Kha’Zix Build Options and Playstyle

Right now, some players prefer to rush Ghostblade, while others opt for Profane Hydra. Both have their pros and cons. Ghostblade gives you more catch power and skirmish strength, while Profane Hydra enhances your clear speed and one-shot potential. Kha’Zix excels against squishy junglers, but tanky ones can pose a challenge if the game drags on.

Kha’Zix Rune Page Setup

The ideal rune page for Kha’Zix in high ELO consists of Dark Harvest, Sudden Impact, Eyeball Collection, and Treasure Hunter, with Free Boots and Cosmic Insight for secondaries. This setup maximizes his burst potential and helps him snowball through early kills and objectives.

Amumu: A Priority Ban for Kha’Zix

Since Amumu is highly prioritized right now, banning him is a solid option. If you don’t snowball hard early, it can be tough to match Amumu’s late-game team fight presence. Avoiding this matchup makes it easier for Kha’Zix to dominate the game and maintain control.

Udyr: The Easy ELO Jungler

Another jungler who benefits greatly from the Liandry’s rush is Udyr. If you want easy ELO, start spamming Udyr, as he’s relatively simple to learn and highly effective with minimal skill required. Empowered R, combined with Liandry’s, can shred health bars effortlessly.

Udyr Skill Order and Playstyle

The skill order for Udyr in this build focuses on maxing R first, W second, and E last. Take Q at level one to help with early clears, but don’t put any more points into it for the rest of the game. Maxing R by level 11 will allow you to dominate with empowered Phoenix Stance.

Udyr’s Optimal Build and Runes

With Liandry’s completed, Udyr spikes hard in terms of damage output. Your build should start with Liandry’s Anguish, followed by Dead Man’s Plate, and then situational tank items. Champions with point-and-click CC can limit Udyr’s mobility, making Lulu or Braum good bans. Your rune page should include Conqueror, Triumph, Haste, and Last Stand, with Free Boots and Approach Velocity as secondaries.

Silas: Returning to the Solo Carry List

Making his first appearance on the Solo Carry list in a while, Silas is still strong despite a small nerf to his W AP ratio. The buffs from patch 14.16 were huge for Silas, and there are now multiple viable ways to build him in Solo Q, making him a flexible pick for various matchups.

Silas’ Rocketbelt and Cosmic Drive Build

The new meta build for Silas features a Rocketbelt rush into Cosmic Drive. This setup is especially effective against teams with bruisers or tanks, as it gives Silas a lot of health and ability haste, allowing him to perform well in extended fights. This build thrives in long skirmishes against tankier champions.

Alternative Silas Builds

Lich Bane with Shadowflame remains a viable option, but it’s more effective against comps that lack tanks or bruisers. This build focuses on burst potential but may struggle in drawn-out fights, especially against tankier opponents, making Rocketbelt and Cosmic Drive the better choice in most situations.

Silas Matchups and Rune Pages

If you’re playing into a comp with mostly squishy champions where you can engage easily, Silas thrives. However, his worst matchups right now are Galio and Vex, so either is worth banning. There are two different rune pages to consider depending on your build: Electrocute if you’re rushing Lich Bane, and Conqueror for the Rocketbelt and Cosmic Drive build.

Vex: Dominating the Mid Lane

Vex is incredibly powerful in the current meta, especially in patch 14.17. Several of her problematic matchups, such as Silas, LeBlanc, and Katarina, are being nerfed, which gives Vex an advantage. As long as you play around your W cooldown, it’s tough to lose trades against assassin or fighter midlaners.

Positioning and Strategy for Vex

Positioning with Vex is crucial, especially when your W and fear are ready. Champions like Yasuo, Yone, or Katarina can’t easily engage on you, making it easy to win trades. However, longer-range mages like Viktor and Orianna are tougher matchups for Vex and are worth banning out.

Vex Rune Page and Build

The standard build for Vex includes Luden’s Echo into Shadowflame, followed by Zhonya’s Hourglass or Rabadon’s Deathcap. For runes, take Electrocute as your Keystone, along with Taste of Blood, Eyeball Collection, and Ultimate Hunter. Manaflow Band and Transcendence are strong secondary options for mana and cooldown management.

Nefi: The Best Solo Q Assassin

Nefi has been performing exceptionally well in Solo Q, especially with the emergence of a new build that increases her versatility. Stridebreaker Rush has been a game-changer, allowing Nefi to be played more like a bruiser, paired with Eclipse for added durability. This build is particularly strong against bruisers and tanks, offering flexibility depending on the enemy composition.

Nefi’s Alternative Build and Matchups

If you’re facing a squishier comp, Eclipse with Profane Hydra offers better one-shot potential. Nefi has been winning over 57% of the time against LeBlanc throughout patch 14.16, and this might increase in 14.17 with LeBlanc’s nerfs. However, Yone has proven to be a tough matchup, making him a solid ban choice for Nefi players.

Rune Page for Nefi

The standard rune page for Nefi includes First Strike, Free Boots, Biscuits, and Cosmic Insight, with Sudden Impact and Treasure Hunter as secondaries. This setup maximizes Nefi’s burst and mobility, making her a dominant force in Solo Q, especially with the current meta shifts.

Misfortune: Rising ADC in Patch 14.17

With nerfs to Fleet Footwork, Ashe, and Ezreal in patch 14.17, Misfortune is poised to become even more dominant. She has already been performing well in previous patches and is set to rise further. One interesting take from Challenger analyst Hector is that Essence Reaver Rush on Misfortune is being undervalued, as many players are prioritizing Bloodthirster for its shield, even though Essence Reaver provides better early game power.

Essence Reaver Rush for Misfortune

By rushing Essence Reaver, Misfortune gains a significant boost in burst damage potential from the Spellblade proc. Additionally, the 25 ability haste early on provides more uptime on her ultimate, making it a strong first item choice. The stats support this, as Essence Reaver is currently outperforming Bloodthirster, which is better as a second item, followed by Infinity Edge as the standard third.

Bans and Rune Setup for Misfortune

When playing Misfortune, banning a meta dive champion like Kha’Zix or Zed is a smart choice. The best rune setup for her includes Press the Attack, Presence of Mind, Alacrity, and Cut Down, with Free Boots and Biscuits as secondaries. This setup maximizes her damage output and sustain in lane.

Draven: Rising Solo Q ADC

With the nerfs to Fleet Footwork in this patch, Draven is set to emerge as one of the top-tier Solo Q ADCs. He has gained indirect strength from recent patches, with meta ADCs like Jinx and Kai’Sa getting nerfed, and items like Kraken Slayer and Statikk Shiv, which Draven doesn’t use, also being hit with nerfs.

Draven’s Core Build and Playstyle

Draven excels with a Bloodthirster rush, allowing him to play aggressively and sustain through lifesteal. His core build prioritizes Bloodthirster first, followed by Infinity Edge and Lord Dominik’s Regards as the third item. This build allows him to dominate in aggressive trades and snowball quickly.

Banning Meta Assassins for Draven

When playing Draven, banning meta assassins like Zed or Kha’Zix is a smart move, as they can threaten your aggressive playstyle. The optimal rune page for Draven includes Press the Attack, Presence of Mind, Alacrity, and Cut Down, with Eyeball Collection and Treasure Hunter as secondaries to maximize his damage output and snowball potential.

Jhin: Still a Top Tier ADC

Despite the nerfs to Fleet Footwork in this patch, Jhin remains one of the strongest Solo Q ADCs. While Fleet nerfs might hurt Jhin a bit, they also affect other ADCs, keeping Jhin’s relative strength intact. He’s now more on par with Misfortune and Draven instead of being significantly stronger, as he was in patch 14.6.

Jhin’s Meta Builds

Jhin has two strong meta builds right now. The Shiv and Rapid Firecannon setup provides safety with added movement speed and range, making it ideal against squishy dive comps where positioning is critical. However, The Collector into Infinity Edge offers more mid-game burst, making it the better choice against comps with low dive threat.

Choosing the Right Build for Jhin

If you’re facing a squishy dive composition, where staying alive and positioning are key, Shiv and Firecannon is the safer choice. But if you’re up against a comp with low dive threat, opting for The Collector and Infinity Edge will give you more damage and a stronger mid-game power spike. Choose your build based on the game’s dynamics.