As we know, in their latest announcements, Riot has clearly shown their intent to heavily nerf physical damage compositions. This is due to the fact that these types of compositions have overwhelmingly dominated the meta for the past two patches. To diversify gameplay and prevent the meta from becoming stale, Riot had to reduce the power of physical damage compositions in Teamfight Tactics.
However, not every match will provide you with Mage units, so players have turned to Marksman units as a substitute. While they do not have the abundant damage of a full Mage composition, the Marksman units still offer strong magic damage potential with the recently patched Corki and Lucian, who has always been powerful since the start of season 6.5.
Additionally, this composition is very suitable for the reroll meta in patch 12.6 as compositions relying on 4-cost 2-star champions have been heavily nerfed. You can easily reroll Lucian and Gangplank to 3 stars at level 7 to compete against other reroll compositions like Warwick and Talon. This also helps players find and upgrade Guardian units much easier. Essentially, you will complete your composition at level 7 and only level up to 8 to add Jinx and activate the 4 Marksman bonus.
According to some high-level players using this composition, you should start with a 3 Yordles setup to have the chance to upgrade Poppy and Corki early on. Then you will manage your gold and gradually level up to level 7, starting a slow roll strategy. In this composition, the priority for upgrades will be Lucian, Gangplank, and then the Guardian units. If possible, players can also aim to upgrade Leona to 3 stars.
For the technology core choices, you can opt for upgrades that enhance the frontline’s durability, such as the Homemade Armor or the Super Technology Shield. Additionally, the Backline Shield core is a good option if you are facing strong assassin compositions and need extra durability for your backline. Moreover, cores that supplement damage for the Marksman system are always essential.
The “essential items” for Lucian in this composition are always the Blue Buff and Hextech Gunblade. They help Lucian cast spells continuously and heal so effectively that it’s hard to stop him. Gangplank needs critical items to deal damage and gain a bit of gold to make it easier for players to build their economy. For tank positions, Warmog’s Armor and Thornmail are always strong choices, while Dragon’s Claw is also a good item as magic damage compositions are making a comeback.