Welcome, Summoners! I’m Librarian Husky, here to guide you through the latest changes in League of Legends with Patch 14.2.24. This patch introduces major shifts to the meta, with new champions rising to OP status in the Top, Jungle, and Mid roles. In this guide, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of champion updates, role-specific tier lists, and the best strategies to dominate solo queue. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a player looking to climb before the season ends, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to stay ahead of the competition. Let’s dive in!

Introduction to Patch 14.2.24

Patch 14.2.24 brings major shifts to the League of Legends meta as we approach the end of the season. Key roles like Top Lane, Jungle, and Mid Lane have seen significant changes, with certain champions rising to dominance. This guide will provide a complete breakdown of the most important changes, champion updates, and the updated tier list for every role. Adapt to these changes to maximize your climb before the season concludes.

Top Lane Meta Breakdown

The Top Lane has seen drastic changes in patch 14.2.24. New champions have emerged as top-tier picks, with Warwick and Tom Kench standing out as particularly dominant choices. This section will break down the most impactful updates for top lane champions and offer guidance on how to best utilize them in solo queue.

Warwick’s Rise to OP Tier

Warwick has surged in power, earning a spot in the OP tier for top lane. Initial predictions suggested that the changes to his abilities would be relatively balanced, but it became clear that his power had increased significantly. Riot had to release hotfix nerfs due to his overwhelming performance. Despite these nerfs, Warwick remains one of the most effective top lane champions in this patch.

Warwick Ability Changes

Warwick’s Q now costs 20 more mana at rank one, but it remains unchanged at max rank. The cooldown on his Q has also increased by 2 seconds at rank one but stays the same at max level. Meanwhile, his W attack speed buff duration has been reduced from 2.5 seconds to 1.25 seconds. While these changes are more noticeable in Top Lane than in Jungle, Warwick continues to dominate thanks to his strong sustain and trading potential.

Impact of Nerfs on Top Lane Warwick

The nerfs to Warwick’s mana costs and attack speed duration have a larger impact in Top Lane than in Jungle. In Top Lane, champions are more reliant on resource management, and Warwick now needs to be more mindful of his Q usage. However, his core strengths — sustain, all-in potential, and dueling power — remain intact, allowing him to maintain his position as an OP-tier champion.

Tom Kench’s Dominance

Tom Kench has solidified himself as one of the strongest Top Lane champions in the current meta. Even after nerfs to his AP ratios, his hybrid build remains a game-changer. Players have adapted to a strategy that utilizes Heartsteel as a core item, followed by Riftmaker, creating a fighter-tank hybrid that is difficult to deal with.

Optimal Tom Kench Build

The most effective build for Tom Kench starts with rushing Heartsteel as the first item. This gives him a massive health pool and bonus damage. The second item is Riftmaker, which enhances his skirmishing power and allows him to deal sustained damage over long fights. The synergy between Heartsteel’s health boost and Riftmaker’s passive (which converts health to ability power) makes Tom an unyielding force in extended engagements.

How Tom Kench Impacts the Meta

Tom Kench’s hybrid build turns him into a durable fighter who is significantly tankier than most standard bruisers. This makes him exceptionally effective for players looking for a champion that is easy to execute but hard to kill. As a result, Tom Kench has secured his position in the S tier for Top Lane.

Other Changes to the Top Lane Tier List

The Top Lane tier list has seen some minor adjustments in mid-patch updates. While Warwick remains the sole OP-tier champion, Ambessa has been pushed down to B tier. Nerfs to her W shield have made it more difficult for her to compete with stronger laners like Riven, Renekton, and Aelia.

Ambessa’s Decline

Ambessa’s early game has become much more challenging after the shield nerfs to her W ability. As a result, she now struggles against powerful lane bullies like Riven and Renekton. Her only notable matchups are against Aatrox and a few tank-oriented champions, but even those are no longer as favorable.

Mid-Patch Adjustments

The mid-patch tier list adjustments have seen few major changes for Top Lane champions. Warwick maintains his position as the best pick, while Ambessa‘s status continues to decline. These adjustments reinforce the growing power gap between top-tier and lower-tier champions.

Jungle Meta Breakdown

The Jungle role has experienced fewer drastic changes than Top Lane, but Warwick’s presence remains a significant factor. Adjustments to other popular jungle champions like Elise, Graves, and Talon have kept the role relatively stable, with Warwick remaining a top-tier pick.

Warwick’s Jungle Power

While Warwick is a dominant Top Lane champion, he also maintains strong performance as a Jungler. The nerfs to his Q mana cost are less impactful in Jungle since jungle camps restore mana naturally. As a result, Warwick remains a premier pick for players seeking a consistent, high-impact jungler.

Hotfix Nerfs and Jungle Impact

The nerfs intended to curb Warwick’s power have had little effect on his Jungle performance. Since mana issues are less relevant in Jungle, Warwick can still clear camps efficiently and apply pressure through ganks. His sustain and dueling potential keep him as one of the strongest Jungle champions in patch 14.2.24.

Mid Lane Meta Breakdown

The Mid Lane has seen one of the most impactful changes in this patch, with Viktor emerging as the top pick. Significant buffs to his abilities and a visual update have made him the undisputed king of the Mid Lane, while other champions like Ahri and Vex have been moved down to S tier.