Sentinels
Since their slight rework in patch 11.17, the Sentinel composition has proven to be an effective ranked climbing option for Teamfight Tactics players. With Lucian being able to deal extremely powerful damage regardless of the type of item he holds, players can build a Sentinel team in almost every match, no matter what items they receive. The only weakness of this composition is that it can easily fall into a damage deficit in the mid-game, the time when players need to level up to reach the 6 Sentinel threshold.
With both Lucian and Senna targeting the farthest opponents, these champions are difficult to control or quickly eliminate Assassin units. This further makes strong mid-game compositions like the Assassin team a significant counter to the Sentinel team. Fortunately for this composition, the Assassin effect was heavily nerfed in patch 11.18b, allowing the Sentinel team to rise to the top of the meta.
Aphelios – Akshan
We probably don’t need to say too much about this Archer duo as they provide players with an abundant source of damage in the late game. However, like other ranged carries, Aphelios and Akshan have extremely low health stats, making them easy targets for Assassin units. Additionally, with the Void trait, Nocturne can afford to go down, allowing opponents to target someone else before resurrecting to attack the aforementioned Archer units.
Therefore, when the Assassin composition received heavy nerfs in patch 11.18b, teams built around Aphelios and Akshan naturally became stronger. According to insights from several top players, in the late game, you should use high-value Void and Mystic units to protect Aphelios – Akshan. Units like Volibear and Ivern will provide strong crowd control while Lulu enhances the two carries. These are the ideal conditions for Aphelios – Akshan to deal the most effective damage.
Vayne – Despair
Although also nerfed in patch 11.18b, Vayne’s strength hasn’t diminished too much. Rolling for a 3-star Vayne will help players secure victories and accumulate Despair stacks quite easily in the mid-game. This compensates for the damage reduction in the previous version, making the Vayne – Despair composition still an excellent choice for ranked climbing.
If you notice, the distance between the two lines of the Vayne – Despair team is usually quite large. This is because Vayne, Ashe, and Miss Fortune have a very long range (4-5 tiles), while frontline units like Hecarim and Rell tend to rush in quickly due to the Knight trait. When facing an Assassin team, the carries of this composition can easily be controlled and taken down due to insufficient protection. Therefore, with their nemesis, the Assassin team nerfed, the Vayne – Despair composition has become significantly stronger.