Who is "The Renekton" of each role?

Neofederalist·6/25/2014, 4:34:05 PM·6 votes·1,555 views

I'm curious about what Riot thinks of the ideal balance of each role/lane.

For background, various Rioters have stated that for the state of top lane, Renekton is the bar for what's considered viable. He's got the best laning phase for "viable" top lane champions.

I'm curious about who Riot considers what champions in other roles fill similar bars as Renekton does to top lane, i.e. the baseline that isn't likely to be nerfed itself, but to which other champions should be buffed.

28 Comments

Critkeeper6/25/2014, 7:31:29 PM8 votes

Top- Lee sin

Jungle- Lee sin

Mid- Lee sin

Support- Lee sin

Adc- Caitlyn

KSHarrison6/25/2014, 5:58:19 PM2 votes

Here's my opinion:

Top

Renekton

Jungle

Jarvan IV aggressive / Nunu support

Middle

Yasuo (for the foreseeable future)

Bot

Corki

Support

Leona

All of these champions can change the game but also offer considerable counterplay and/or tradeoffs. I think Twitch (since his nerfs), Draven, and Nami are also possible standards.

Champions who need nerfs are: Shyvana, Jax late game, Lee Sin, Elise, Leblanc, Ziggs, Lulu, Kayle, Ryze, Lucian, possibly Braum and Thresh. I'm on the fence about Morgana, simply because I don't like how her Black Shield hard counters so many things.

I'm also not sure if Orianna should be nerfed or if she should be the standard lol. She would make a good standard, but she offers everything except mobility. I'm not sure if that's healthy in the long run.

Well this is what popped into my head. It's obviously a complex topic so there's probably a lot more to consider.

Silverclaw6/25/2014, 7:06:32 PM2 votes

Purely on laning phase strength:

Top - Renekton (Shyvanna being #2)

Jungle - Lee Sin (Elise being #2)

Mid - Ziggs (Yasuo being #2)

ADC - Caitlyn (Lucian being #2, but I'm not 100% certain on that yet)

Support - Thresh (Braum being #2)

MackleDoge6/25/2014, 4:57:46 PM2 votes

I'll give my opinion on it if you don't mind, I'm no Rioteer (thought I wouldn't mind them hiring me since I'm applying haha) but I think this is an interesting discussion. Only thing is I'm going to make my decision based off of the entire game, not just laning phase, because I feel only including laning phase would be bad for overall game balance and skews the actual state of the game.

Top

Shyvana actually, not Renekton.

Jungle

Lee Sin far and away.

Mid

This is difficult to me. I think that overall right now Lulu is the strongest. But TF and Ziggs are also strong.

ADC

After these recent changes, I'm not sure. But I'm going to say either Lucian or Caitlyn.

Support

Thresh.

MrBuffington6/25/2014, 7:39:19 PM2 votes

When you mention a baseline, does it also include champions that should be nerfed down to that level? It just seems strange to me that Renekton should be the baseline for top lane, since, as you mentioned, he has the best laning phase, yet also scales pretty well into late game (recent changes to his ult gives him more tankiness late game), especially if he got ahead in early game, which he usually will. I feel like Shyvana would be a better baseline, since it seems she's a more consistent pick, usually won't crush a lane, but will really rarely lose or fall too far behind.

If we're considering picks similar to how Renekton is in top lane, I'd probably say Renekton top, Lee Sin jungle, LeBlanc mid (even though Riot is sort of trying to nerf her), Caitlyn/Lucian and Lulu/Karma. My reasoning is that these champions will usually win their lanes, but it's more difficult to transition into late game, especially if they're behind (or not far ahead) of their opponents.

Serpents Embrace6/28/2014, 4:28:29 PM1 votes

I'm really surprised that no one has suggested Syndra as the bar-setter for mid. :\ She's got the same wave-clear power that Ziggs does, and has a long ranged stun, and is a lot more reliable than him because her ultimate is not a skill-shot.

Sire Hippington6/25/2014, 8:32:10 PM1 votes

role != position

Renekton is the Renekton of off-tanks, not toplane. U could hardly compare renekton to jayce or Akaly, as they fill different roles

if u mean position, i would go with what Mr.Buffington said

if it's about lane-dominance, it's always matchup dependent. off-tank beats bruiser and assasins, assasin beats ranged, ranged beats offtank. ranged vs bruiser is rather close and depends on each champ, kog would loose vs jax, but vayne has a relative good chance if the E is timed right. Assasin vs bruiser is also close and usually depends on a close all in early or the jungler and than snowballs either way.

for simply a save laneing, renekton works vs any melee top, ziggs can always farm savely mid, cait got no bad matchup bot, Thresh alaways works as support, and lee can do anything on any position

asamu6/26/2014, 12:21:41 AM1 votes

ADC - Cait, since Lucian is above the baseline that they want.

Mid - Orianna? (Ziggs #2 probably)

Supp - Thresh

Jungle - Lee Sin

ILoveTiramisu6/27/2014, 4:52:57 PM1 votes

I think you means, "who is the bully in early game of the role".

In midlane, Leblanc and Ziggs, also without silence deals very high damage. Like support, Karma. Like toplaner, Pantheon. Like adc, caitlyn. Like jungler, Evelynn.

BeastlyNig6/28/2014, 11:13:59 AM1 votes

Top - Renekton

Jungle - Lee Sin

Mid - Ziggs

Adc - Lucian

Support - Thresh

Porkcchop6/25/2014, 6:23:03 PM1 votes

Top - Renekton Jungle - Lee Sin Mid - Kass ADC - Cait Support - Thresh