In the current meta, there are some carry champions that simply have overwhelming power compared to the rest, making them more deserving of use than others, especially when you have the right items to equip them as early as possible.
Here are the super strong carry champions in the current meta:
Xerath
In the current patch, most players consider Xerath to be the strongest 5-cost champion in the meta. Xerath often serves as the primary carry in the hottest team compositions right now, such as Star Guardian Sorcerers or 6 Shadow.
Many players prefer Xerath’s ability to rain down “meteor showers,” choosing Guinsoo’s Rageblade for both attack speed and magic damage. Conversely, some believe that using a Sorcerer’s Hat and a Guardian’s Gauntlet is better for Xerath, allowing him to potentially eliminate an enemy with each meteor shot, activating stun and dealing additional damage from his passive ability.
Recommended offensive items for Xerath are Sorcerer’s Hat, Guinsoo’s Rageblade, and Giant Slayer. As for defensive items, it would be the Guardian Angel, Dragon’s Claw, or Thief’s Claw.
Jhin
As the hottest physical damage dealer at the moment, many top Challenger players believe you should use Jhin even when he has no items, as long as you activate the Marksman trait – illustrating Jhin’s overwhelming power after being buffed significantly by Riot Games in the current patch.
In detail, Jhin serves as the main carry in the Shadow Marksman composition, with 3 standard “textbook” items being Guardian Angel, Blue Bow, and Infinity Edge. These items can temporarily be used by Caitlyn or Shaco to maintain health in the early game.
Syndra
As the most fearsome carry in the Star Guardian Sorcerer composition, Syndra can help you secure a winning streak in the early game with just a Blue Buff.
From mid-game onwards, Syndra should have a basic item set of Guardian Angel, Blue Buff, and Sorcerer’s Hat. The longer she survives, the more damage she deals, so Syndra should also activate Cosmic and Mystic; this combo allows her to completely heal with each “ball shot” one-shotting an opponent.
Cassiopeia
There’s no denying that the popularity of Cassiopeia has significantly decreased in the current meta; however, with the right items, she can still be a true carry that helps you reach the top 4 or even aspire for top 1 with a 3-star Cassiopeia.
The item set that allows Cassiopeia to stand still and deal damage will be Blue Buff, Rabadon’s Deathcap, and Morellonomicon. Additionally, depending on the situation, Cassiopeia alongside Mystic can counter Shadow if the enemy team lacks a Blue Bow, potentially “taking down” Sorcerers if the opponent fails to eliminate Cassiopeia early.
Shaco
This is a carry that is used extremely frequently in the current meta; many players share that in a match with 8 players, 7 of them have Shaco. This indicates Shaco’s immense popularity in the Shadow composition. Furthermore, Shaco can also eliminate hot carries in the meta like Jhin or Syndra in the backline, making this stealth champion highly utilized, often paired with Fizz to increase attack speed.
In-game, a 2-star Shaco with Guardian Angel and an item like Bloodthirster or Infinity Edge is enough to help you carry from the beginning to the end of the match. If you can achieve a 3-star Shaco, it becomes very difficult to “slip” the top 1 out of reach.
Xayah
Xayah is the cheapest champion on this list, but true to her price, she is a champion that is “easy to play but also… easy to fail.” This is a carry that can reach her maximum power threshold very early with 1-2 offensive items like Infinity Edge, Blue Bow, or Giant Slayer. Combined with Jarvan and activating Duelist, Xayah can take down many champions before they can even use their abilities. With this carry champion, you can secure a winning streak very early. However, if you can’t get a 3-star Xayah, from mid to late game, this lineup will collapse, falling behind compared to other hot compositions in the meta.
The reason Xayah is included in this lineup is that you can sell Xayah and swap items to Jhin as a safety measure, using Xayah as a champion to hold onto gold and health early game, then later switch the composition for a stronger late game.
