Patch 16.6 Guide
The most popular meta lines for the patch are included here. Use the tier list to see all lines. Tips for the patch:
- Patch 16.6 shifted the meta towards Fast 9 as the highest cap boards in the meta have AP legendary carries such as Ryze, Mel, Sylas, and Annie.
- There are three main AP paths to these boards: 1) Demacia; 2) Noxus Invoker; and 3) Ionia Ahri.
- The change to unlocks have made the Demacia AP line far more flexible with Kennen, Sylas, and Galio all much easier to unlock
- AD has one main Fast 9 line (the old Draven Fast 9 with Kindred Lucian) and several Fast 8 comps. The old Yunara Ionia line has faded in favor of the new Ionia Yone line.
- At the top of the tier list, there is an openers and Stage 1 hold guide that you can read to get a better idea of how to play into these meta lines.
AD Core Lines
These are the lines you should play in most games if provided attack damage (AD) items. Conditions are recommended, but not mandatory.
AP Core Lines
These are the lines you should play in most games if provided ability power (AP) items. Conditions are recommended, but not mandatory.
Ahri from Orb
Demacia Opener
Jarvan IV
Lulu
Sona
Neeko
Poppy 
3
2
2
2
Ionia Demacia Opener
Jarvan IV
JhinPoppy 
Xin Zhao
Kennen 3
3
2
2
0
Uploaded a day 1 guide to the patch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4F6PVf6yBM
Usual warning that a day 1 guide can easily be inaccurate, although this one might be more accurate than usual due to all the PBE testing. Biggest thing I am close to changing my mind on is ranking Kindred Lucian as A-tier when it is fairly situational since it really wants to skip level 8 while the other fast 9 lines can actually play the game on 8 if they have to.
Thanks for your hard work my goat
thx goat
The website has been updated for Patch 16.6. During Project PBE (a competition where many pro players practiced on 16.6 over the past week and a half), 5-costs rose to the top of the meta. The change in unlock condition for Sylas had a massive impact on the meta and helped cement AP as better than AD this patch. Typically AP has more level 9 options than AD, but AD has several options on level 8. The issue is that level 8 is not where you want to be on this patch and the AP boards scale the highest for winning lobbies.
The new Demacia AP flex line on the website highlights the primary way that AP lines tend to get played this patch: Demacia opener into Ryze or Annie. The other primary way to play AP is the Bruiser Invoker opener with Noxus into ideally Mel Flex, but can also play Bruiser Flex if Mel is not an option for whatever reason (or if you high roll the Bruisers).