Statikk Shiv
With a slew of champions in Teamfight Tactics being nerfed in terms of basic physical damage, the ability to deal physical damage in the early game has significantly decreased. Therefore, players are forced to seek other solutions to address damage issues in the early stages of the game, one of which is Statikk Shiv. This item was not weak, but with the physical meta dominating the previous patch, Statikk Shiv had little opportunity to shine.
However, with patch 12.6, this item is proving to be incredibly useful as it provides champions with energy, attack speed, and above all, substantial magic damage. The biggest change for Statikk Shiv compared to the previous patch is that it is no longer “useless” in the late game. With many compositions focusing on magic damage emerging at this time, the magic resistance reduction effect of Statikk Shiv is extremely important, especially in the late game.
Dragon Claw
Clearly, in a meta where magic damage is gradually returning to a dominant position, defensive items that provide significant magic resistance are essential. As the item providing the most magic resistance (200 points), Dragon Claw has become much more favored by players than before, with its pick rate now rising to 21.8%. This item has become so important that Dragon Claw consistently appears in high-ranked matches.
Another advantage of Dragon Claw over other defensive items is that it can deal direct damage to the unit casting abilities. Therefore, the pressure of being taken down by opponents when you possess Dragon Claw is considerably higher, even though the damage dealt by this item has already been nerfed previously. With so many benefits that this item receives in patch 12.6, there’s no reason not to combine Dragon Claw early unless you’re just too “unlucky” and don’t have a tanky champion to wield it effectively.
Chalice of Power
As a natural consequence, whenever magic damage compositions return to the meta, Chalice of Power will definitely be more favored. This is one of the few items that can help the carries become stronger even when they are fully equipped or reach the maximum level thanks to buffing skill damage stats. Not stopping there, being crafted from Tear of the Goddess and Silvermere Cloak allows players to combine this item very early as the component items are not heavily contested.
One note for players combining Chalice of Power is that you should keep an eye on opponents and equip additional items to protect your carries. Usually, when using Chalice of Power, you rarely change your composition because once you “pivot,” you have to move 2-3 champions. Opponents will take advantage of this to use Blitzcrank, Sword of the Divine… and counter your composition. In such cases, players should combine additional Trap Claw to maximize the protection of their carries.