In the current 12.7 patch of Teamfight Tactics, we can see the return of a series of long-range carries like Sivir, Jhin, and various Mage teams. The reason is that units with strong backline access like Irelia and more recently Talon, Twitch have all been nerfed, and there are not many hard counters to long-range carries anymore. Naturally, with ongoing buffs, Draven is also part of the game as he quickly rises to the top of the current meta.
Among the compositions centered around Draven, the 4 Mech team combined with 3 Elegant units proves to be the most effective as it ensures all conditions for this unit to shine. So how do we build an effective Draven – Mech composition? Let’s find out.
Typically, at the beginning of the game, you will start similarly to the Innovator composition using units like Ezreal, Camille, Zilean, and Singed. This formation ensures that your frontline is sturdy enough while still dealing sufficient damage to secure a winning streak. Meanwhile, Zilean can stun from the backline while Ezreal is the perfect unit to hold items for Draven.
Moving into the mid-game, you should look to add Blitzcrank and Leona to your team (at level 6). These two units provide excellent tanking capabilities, adding sturdiness to your frontline. Moreover, Blitzcrank’s hook will help you eliminate one target and minimize health loss during the mid-game. Essentially, this composition heavily relies on having the 4-cost carries, so you will be quite weak in the mid-game without Draven or Jhin, making health preservation the most important task.
After reaching level 8, you need to roll heavily to acquire the key 4-cost units including Draven, Jhin, Orianna, and Braum. Among them, Draven and Braum should be prioritized for leveling to 2 stars to ensure damage output and tankiness. Jhin and Orianna do not need to deal too much damage in this composition, so staying at 1 star is not a major issue. Additionally, you should keep an eye out and purchase Zeri as soon as possible to complete the composition.
When it comes to choosing technology cores, upgrades that help the backline deal more damage and become more resilient are the top choice. For example, cores like Sharpshooter and Defensive Formation should be prioritized immediately. Additionally, the core that provides 2 Decoys is also a good option when you have extra units to protect Draven. Furthermore, cores that enhance the Elegant trait are also upgrades to consider as they make Draven stronger and harder to take down.
For item choices, you should build full damage items for Draven and skip Guinsoo’s Rageblade. With the synergy of 4 Mechs and 2 Challengers, Draven has more than enough attack speed, so this unit greatly benefits from high-damage items like Infinity Edge, Giant Slayer, and Bloodthirster. Additionally, you should consider building a Trap Claw for Orianna and place it next to Draven to maximize the protection for your carry.