Yone Best Mid Laner
At the 2024 League of Legends World Championship in Berlin, Yone has emerged as a significant presence, captivating attention with his impressive performance as a mid laner. He demonstrated remarkable impact during the opening days of the championship's Swiss Stage, participating in the draft process more frequently than most and achieving a noteworthy win rate in the matches he played.
With the anticipated changes in the upcoming LoL Patch 14.20, scheduled enhancements for Yone could amplify his influence even further. These modifications are currently undergoing evaluation on the test servers, providing the potential for Yone to maintain or even improve his formidable standing in the competitive scene.
Riot Encourages Crit Builds for Yone
The League of Legends developers are encouraging players to return to building critical strike items on Yone. This decision follows recent updates that have boosted the critical strike damage ratio of Yone's Q ability, Mortal Steel, to 157.5%. Riot Games is deliberately steering Yone, and his brother Yasuo, back towards their roots in crit-focused playstyles, as they have traditionally thrived with these types of builds.
In recent seasons, however, both champions have leaned more towards bruiser item paths, which has prompted the development team to make adjustments. According to Matt „Phroxzon“ Leung-Harrison, who oversees game balance, the melee crit item system has not been favorable, causing the champions to move away from their crit-based builds. This indicates a need for interim adjustments while more comprehensive updates are considered.
Despite these enhancements, there is a possibility the „Wind Brothers“ may be re-evaluated for balance changes in the future. Presently, these buffs serve as a temporary measure to maintain their viability in the game’s evolving landscape. Riot has not specified when or if a subsequent power reduction for Yone and Yasuo might occur, keeping players attentive to possible future changes.
Yone to Dominate Championship Games
Throughout the year-end championship event in Europe, the metagame remains unchanged, cementing Yone's presence from the opening match to the finals on Patch 14.18. This particular patch ensures Yone continues to influence the competition significantly.
Among the champions, Yone holds a prominent position. Though overshadowed by Aurora—the newest addition to the roster in July—who boasts a flawless presence in drafts, Yone's impact is undebatable. Aurora's drafts have mostly resulted in bans; however, in the limited opportunities where she played, the success rate stood impressively high, with Gen.G's Kim „Kiin“ Gi-in notably utilizing her formidable skills.
Yone has been played by nine different competitors across 12 matches. In terms of match numbers, he trails only behind Rell. Key players like Rasmus „Caps“ Winther and Marek „Humanoid“ Brázda have encountered setbacks when maneuvering Yone, with Gen.G's Kim „Zeka“ Geon-woo demonstrating standout performances, achieving victories in both matches played.
There have been few effective counters to Yone such as Akali, Cassiopeia, and Vex positioned within the strategy playbooks, yet their introduction remains unforeseen. With Yone's formidable status in the Patch 14.18 environment, it is anticipated that these counters will surface shortly in game plans as the Swiss stages progress.
As the Swiss Stage of the Worlds 2024 continues to unfold, the upcoming matchup, MAD versus GAM, presents exciting prospects. Expect Marek „Humanoid“ Brázda from MAD to potentially secure Yone again in their pivotal best-of-three encounter. The ongoing influence of Yone in this significant event indicates his sustained prominence and strategic value, showcasing his vital role in defining the championship's competitive landscape.
