League of Legends Patch 9.7 tier list: mid lane edition

Buffed champions

Azir

Azir remains a C tier pick in soloQ after the new nerfs in Patch 9.7, although he has been boosted slightly higher in the tier list. Most tier lists have him rated as C or lower (only Proguides lists him as a B tier pick) and I would venture to say it’s likely due to his high skill cap.

Generally, these tier lists tend to favor more consistent, easy-to-execute champions over more mechanically-intensive champions. This makes sense, considering it can be very easy to misplay on those harder champions unless you have massive experience. Azir fits this bill to a tee, and I wouldn’t expect to see him rise above C tier unless he becomes massively over-tuned numbers-wise.

Nerfed champions

Kayle

Since the rework, Kayle has been known as the late-game monster that comes online in a big way once she hits her level power spike. You would anticipate for her to thrive in the mid lane, where she’ll have the ability to hit levels quicker due to minions reaching the lane faster than on the side lanes.

However, Kayle has struggled as a mid laner since the rework and has been considered a C tier pick for all of that time. However, I don’t think this is an accurate depiction of her power level, considering that four of the tier lists rate her as a B tier or higher. She has the largest spread of opinion (disagreement) as to her power in this position, so I would still consider her to be viable, even if the stats would say otherwise.

Lissandra

As noted above, that Q nerf to Liss was very significant. It will be interesting to see if Riot elects to give any of her power back in a future patch or leave her in this weak but viable state.

Morgana

Morgana, on the other hand, continues to thrive despite those targeted nerfs to her mid lane power in Patch 9.7. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Riot take another pass at her W damage next patch.

Sylas

Sylas was certainly hurt by the nerfs he got in Patch 9.7, and I’m going to be very interested to see whether he stabilizes as a low A/high B pick or continues to drop. I’m also curious to see if Riot continues to tune his kit.

Dark seal users

When the Dark Seal changes were announced in Patch 9.7, I speculated that this would more hurt the champions who relied on the Dark Seal to boost their corrupting pot sustain to get through a rough early game (Kassadin, Ryze) or assassins who liked on the snowballing aspect of the item (Leblanc, Katarina, Akali).

One patch in, I’d say that’s about right. Kassadin has taken a massive step back from A tier to B tier following these changes. Ryze improved slightly, but he’s still considered to be a low C tier pick as he was in Patch 9.6.

Katarina, who has long been one of the highest-rated AP mids, has fallen off and Leblanc fell even harder, dropping to B tier from A tier. Akali also continues to struggle, as she’s rated as C tier or lower by seven out of eight sites (the last one, coincidentally, does rate her as S tier). This has led rise to more of those control mages like Taliyah, Morgana, Malzahar, and Xerath, who were held down by assassins blowing them up in the early game or getting out-scaled by those massive hyper carries who leaned on the item for sustain.

Which mid laners are you going to use to rank up in Patch 9.7? Let us know in the comments!