Greetings, summoners! Librarian Husky here. 14.19 is one of the biggest meta-shifting patches of the season. There will be many new champions that emerge as powerful picks. In this article, we will provide you with three champions for every single role that we believe will be exceptionally strong carries for solo queue and explain the reasoning behind these picks. Did you know mastering your champion can boost your win rate by an average of 9%?

Champion Power Shift in Patch 14.19

Champion power will now be more dependent on how strong their kit is, rather than whether they can abuse the most overpowered items. For a while, it has felt like whichever champions were meta were the ones who could best exploit OP items. A good example of this was Ahri earlier in the season when both Everfrost and Lichbane were in their broken states.

Ornn’s Scaling and Teamfight Strength

Ahri was able to dominate because of those items, but champions like Ornn aren’t reliant on a single item spike to be impactful. Ornn has one of the best team-fighting kits in the game, with innate scaling built into his abilities. As items become weaker, snowballing will reduce, and games will last longer, allowing Ornn to reach higher levels and provide more item upgrades for his team.

Ornn’s Improved Position in Patch 14.19

Ornn has already been one of the higher win rate top lane champions in previous patches, so he’s only expected to improve in patch 14.19. However, one matchup to avoid when picking Ornn is Fiora. Her true damage and mobility are tough for Ornn to handle, making this matchup unfavorable.

Optimal Build and Runes for Ornn

For Ornn, consider rushing Sunfire Aegis into Thornmail. After that, the build becomes situational. Grasp of the Undying is the keystone rune, paired with Demolish, Second Wind, and Overgrowth. For secondaries, go with free boots and biscuits. Champions that rely less on OP items and more on their kit will shine in 14.19, and Darius is another top lane champion to watch.

Champions with True Damage in Patch 14.19

We are quite optimistic about champions that can deal true damage. These should be a higher priority in patch 14.19 because Riot is adjusting a lot of tank items by reducing health but increasing armor. For example, Thornmail is losing 200 health but gaining 10 armor. Champions like Darius, who can deal true damage, benefit greatly from this change.

Darius as a Counter to Tanks

Darius can shred through armor while tanks become easier to kill due to lower health. If tanks make a comeback in this patch, Darius will be one of the better answers. Fortunately for Darius, there aren’t many ranged top laners in the meta right now, with Teemo, Quinn, Vayne, and Kennen being played less frequently.

Matchups and Build for Darius

One melee matchup that presents some issues for Darius is Volibear, so consider banning him. Darius’ core build consists of rushing Stridebreaker, followed by Sterak’s Gage, and then Dead Man’s Plate. This combination allows for high mobility and survivability, making Darius a strong choice in extended fights.

Rune Setup for Darius

For runes, Darius should take Conqueror, Triumph, Alacrity, and Last Stand. For secondary runes, Nimbus Cloak and Celerity provide additional mobility. In the PBE, Nimbus Cloak was also in line for buffs, further solidifying its importance for Darius in this patch.

Indirect Buffs for Champions in Patch 14.19

This patch is set to indirectly buff champions like Darius, as games will last longer, benefiting champions with strong scaling. Champions with scaling abilities, such as Fiora, will see improvement. Fiora not only scales well but also has percent health true damage, which will be even more valuable against tanks in this patch, especially with items like Frozen Heart and Thornmail gaining armor.

Fiora’s Scaling and Optimal Build

Fiora’s passive heal scales based on her level, so the longer games last, the more value she gains. A challenging matchup for Fiora is Malphite due to his attack speed slow, making him a good ban option. For Fiora’s build, consider rushing Ravenous Hydra, followed by Trinity Force and Hullbreaker. Conqueror should be your keystone rune, with Presence of Mind, Alacrity, and Last Stand as part of the primary rune setup.

Shyvana’s Potential in Patch 14.19

Shyvana is another champion set to improve in patch 14.19. Games slowing down benefit Shyvana since she relies on her levels to be effective. Her E in Dragon form scales with her level, not with the points invested in it. The more dragons Shyvana secures, the tankier she becomes, making her a powerful pick for longer games.

Key Strategies for Shyvana

For Shyvana, it’s crucial to capitalize on the slowing pace of the game and focus on securing as many dragons as possible. This not only enhances her tankiness but also allows her to scale better into the late game. In terms of bans, be wary of champions that thrive in the current meta, as they might pose a challenge for Shyvana’s scaling potential.

Amumu’s Strength in Patch 14.19

You really can’t go wrong with banning Amumu in patch 14.19. For his build, a Spear of Shojin rush is ideal, followed by Liandry’s Anguish and Riftmaker as third. His optimal rune page consists of Fleet Footwork, Triumph, Alacrity, and Cut Down, with secondary runes being Cheap Shot and Ultimate Hunter. Amumu’s strength in team fights makes him a dominant pick in longer, more strategic games.

Amumu’s Dominance in Team Fights

Amumu remains one of the best team-fighting junglers you can play, and with games becoming less snowball-heavy, his relative strength will stay high. Since matches will often come down to one decisive team fight, Amumu’s ability to provide consistent DPS with his W and E gives him a huge advantage in drawn-out battles.

Amumu’s Matchups and Optimal Bans

Champions relying on burst damage will struggle more in this patch, making Amumu’s consistent damage even more valuable. A good ban to consider when playing Amumu is Lulu. Due to her recent buffs, her priority has increased, and diving into fights with Lulu on the enemy team becomes more difficult.

Optimal Build and Rune Setup for Amumu

For Amumu’s build, rush Liandry’s Anguish, followed by Sunfire Aegis, and Abyssal Mask. Conqueror is the best keystone, with Triumph, Alacrity, and Last Stand as part of the primary rune setup. For secondary runes, Cheap Shot and Ultimate Hunter will further enhance his potential in extended fights.

Udyr’s Strength in Patch 14.19

Udyr is expected to thrive in patch 14.19 due to his consistent DPS and tankiness. With many items losing damage, champions reliant on burst will become less powerful, but Udyr’s ability to deal sustained damage will make him even more formidable. Additionally, with Dead Man’s Plate receiving buffs to health and armor, Udyr will become significantly harder to take down in extended skirmishes.

Udyr’s Optimal Build and Scaling Potential

The new sleeper OP build, consisting of Unending Despair and Spirit Visage, will become even stronger with longer game durations. This build requires all three key items to synergize properly, so with games lasting longer, Udyr’s build will gain more power. His rune page should include Conqueror, Triumph, Alacrity, and Last Stand, with free boots and Approach Velocity as secondaries.

Scaling Mids in Patch 14.19

Scaling mid-laners will be more valuable in patch 14.19, and Aurelion Sol is one of the best examples. Aurelion Sol scales incredibly well over time, with his passive stacks making him stronger as the game progresses. Unlike other champions, he isn’t as tied to item spikes, and if games go past 30 minutes, Aurelion Sol becomes a significant threat.

Why Aurelion Sol Excels in Long Games

Aurelion Sol’s unique scaling mechanics make him a powerful late-game pick. The longer the game, the more passive stacks he can accumulate, boosting his overall effectiveness. As a result, he can maintain high impact even in the late stages, giving his team a considerable advantage in extended matches.

Aurelion Sol’s Consistent Power in Patch 14.19

Aurelion Sol gains most of his strength from his kit, making him less dependent on whether his items are overpowered. With less burst damage in the game now, champions like Aurelion Sol, who can deal consistent DPS, should thrive. Melee mid-laners with high mobility, like Yone, can pose a challenge for Aurelion Sol, making Yone a good ban option.

Optimal Build for Aurelion Sol

Aurelion Sol’s build includes rushing Rylai’s Crystal Scepter, followed by Liandry’s Anguish and Archangel’s Staff. The best keystone for him is Arcane Comet, paired with Manaflow Band, Absolute Focus, and Scorch. For secondary runes, choose Bone Plating and Overgrowth to enhance his durability.

Syndra’s Rise in Patch 14.19

Syndra has already been gaining popularity, and patch 14.19 will only make her stronger. Reaching 120 splinters is key to unlocking her maximum power, and with snowballing becoming less impactful, reaching this goal will be more consistent. Syndra’s reliable burst and consistent damage make her a formidable pick in extended fights.

Syndra’s Item Build and Patch Advantages

Syndra’s core build in patch 14.18, consisting of Luden’s Tempest and Shadowflame, remains untouched in 14.19. While many champions will lose burst potential due to item changes, Syndra’s burst damage will remain just as strong. Meanwhile, several fighter and ADC items are losing up to 10 AD, giving Syndra an edge in her matchups with champions who rely on those items.

Syndra’s Strength with First Strike in Patch 14.19

Syndra is poised to dominate the meta, with the value of First Strike increasing in patch 14.19 as games last longer. With the recent changes to Biscuits, it’s likely that players will opt for triple tonic as an alternative moving forward. This shift further enhances Syndra’s ability to maintain consistent pressure in longer games.

Galio’s Role as a Solo Carry Mid in Patch 14.19

Galio is expected to gain significant power in this patch due to his tanky nature. With reduced damage overall, Galio will become more difficult to take down, making him a strong pick. The current ADC meta, likely featuring Jinx and Kai’Sa as top priorities, benefits from Galio’s ability to protect carries in mid to late-game team fights.

Galio’s Optimal Build and Rune Setup

Galio’s core build includes rushing Radiant Virtue, followed by Riftmaker and Zhonya’s Hourglass. He excels against melee mid-laners, but struggles against champions with strong mobility or long range, making Yasuo or Ahri good ban choices. For runes, Galio should take Aftershock, Shield Bash, Bone Plating, and Overgrowth, with Nimbus Cloak and Transcendence as secondary runes.

Conclusion: Galio’s Potential in 14.19

With the tank meta gaining strength and less burst damage in the game, Galio’s utility and team fight presence make him one of the highest win-rate mid-laners in recent patches. We expect him to maintain his position as a top-tier pick in patch 14.19, offering unparalleled protection for high-priority ADCs like Jinx and Kai’Sa.

Kog’Maw’s Comeback in Patch 14.19

We believe that Kog’Maw will make a strong comeback in patch 14.19. With items providing less damage, champions like Kog’Maw, who have built-in percent health damage in their kit, will feel more impactful. Percent health damage scales better in longer games, making Kog’Maw a strong pick as snowballing becomes more difficult.

The Support Meta Shift and Kog’Maw’s Advantage

The recent shift in the support meta, where melee supports like Leona are losing strength and enchanters like Lulu are on the rise, benefits Kog’Maw. He works much better with enchanters, and this change increases his viability in solo queue. However, Kog’Maw’s lack of mobility remains a weakness, so banning meta dive champions like Jarvan or Zed is advisable.

Kog’Maw’s Core Build and Rune Choices

Kog’Maw’s optimal build includes rushing Blade of the Ruined King, followed by Guinsoo’s Rageblade and Runaan’s Hurricane. Another factor that may further boost Kog’Maw’s power is the return of Lethal Tempo. While it’s hard to determine if it will become more prioritized than Press the Attack, it will now be a viable option for him once again.

Kai’Sa as Another Percent Health Damage ADC

Another ADC who scales well and has percent health damage in her kit is Kai’Sa. This gives her more strength in patch 14.19, as she also benefits from the game’s longer duration and lessened snowballing. Like Kog’Maw, Kai’Sa is expected to perform better with these meta adjustments.

Kai’Sa’s Scaling in Patch 14.19

Kai’Sa’s passive provides her percent health damage, dealing 15% of the enemy’s missing health on every proc. Kai’Sa has been one of the best ADCs in recent patches, and the slower pace of the game will benefit her even more. Since her early game is often her weakest point, fewer powerful items will allow her to more consistently level up and scale into her mid to late game form.

Jinx’s Build Adjustments in Patch 14.19

With the changes in patch 14.19, returning to a critical strike build could be the better option for Jinx. The lethality setup is losing some strength, with Eclipse’s AD dropping by 5 and its lethality reduced by 3. Additionally, The Collector is losing 2 lethality and will cost 200 more gold. Crit builds haven’t been weak recently; they’ve just been overshadowed by lethality as the favored setup.

Poppy’s Durability in Patch 14.19

With Dead Man’s Plate becoming more durable in patch 14.19, it will be even harder to kill Poppy. The core build that works best for her consists of rushing Dead Man’s Plate, followed by Locket of the Iron Solari. Blood Song is the optimal item upgrade. For runes, take Hail of Blades as the keystone, with Sudden Impact, Zombie Ward, and Relentless Hunter. Hexflash and Cosmic Insight are solid secondary rune choices.

Senna’s Buffs in Patch 14.19

As if Senna wasn’t already powerful enough, patch 14.19 will provide her with even more strength. With less burst damage available to other champions, Senna, as a squishy support, will survive longer in fights. Additionally, longer game durations benefit her immensely, as she can collect more souls, increasing her damage over time. This makes her one of the highest priority supports for this patch.

Optimal Builds for Senna

For Senna, Echoes of Helia and Moonstone Renewer are always strong choices. However, Black Cleaver is an underrated option, and its value increases this patch with tank items like Frozen Heart and Thornmail gaining armor. Black Cleaver provides Senna with added durability, helping her survive burst damage more frequently. When running the Cleaver build, take Grasp of the Undying as the keystone for additional sustain.

Grasp for Senna’s Black Cleaver Build

Grasp of the Undying works particularly well with Senna’s Black Cleaver build, as it provides extra durability. This rune allows her to survive longer in extended skirmishes and helps her contribute more effectively to her team in longer games. With tankier metas emerging in patch 14.19, Senna’s ability to shred through armor will be crucial.