LoR: 1st Rotation in 2025 - Review and Predictions

Hi, it's me, Total, back again! I've been a game designer, caster, and professional Legends of Runeterra player since 2020, and, whenever we get a new rotation, I come bearing gifts. In this article, we'll review each card returning to Standard in 2025.

The first 2025 rotation is here, so let's see what changed: which decks are no longer viable, which new ideas returned, and what the meta will look like in this new Standard competitive season.

Below, I added all the champions that rotated in and out of Standard this season:

So, these are the available champions in Standard right now:

Greatest Losses

Most champions that rotated to Eternal weren't meta, nor were in any relevant/competitive deck. There are a few exceptions, though.

Such as, for instance, Vex, who was one of the most relevant champions in the game at the beginning of the last Standard season. She was also, for a long time, one of the best cards in the entire game. Many strategies used her as a "wildcard" at the end of that season, and she was also a main piece in Fearsome decks with Nocturne. These decks were at the top of the rankings for a long time.

Another champion that will be heavily missed is Jinx, which was one of the most versatile cards in the entire game in the last few months. She was the star of many decks, and many of them were the best Aggro decks in Standard at the time. Without her, the meta will be a bit slower, as we won't have many Burn lists to play.

Tristana will also be a great loss. She was the most important card in the meta a while ago. In fact, she was crucial in one of the many Mordekaiser decks that dominated the meta last season.

Finally, Poppy and Ziggs will also rotate out of Standard. Both are popular picks among new players, and, without them, we won't be able to play one of the most beginner-friendly and powerful lists in the entire game. This will also make the meta considerably slower, and a lot more complex as well.

Incredible News

One of the greatest bets for this season will be Scouts, with Miss Fortune and Quinn. This deck will probably be very strong straight away and become one of the best decks at the beginning of the season. Usually, this archetype becomes the center of the meta and is the first "big boss" we have to beat every season it is in.

Akshan is back too, and, as he is one of the most versatile champions in the entire game, he'll certainly star in a deck of his own. This will probably be a new archetype, or a new version of an old deck, but with cards from this season.

Azir has returned without Irelia, but he always performs really well in any meta, and is always extremely relevant because he is so popular. We can play him with Renekton in a sort of Mono Shurima. It will be an alternative version of this iconic archetype.

Zoe is also back and is one of the few Elusive early game options in Standard right now. She might surprise us with Vi in some value-focused deck. Furthermore, now that Aphelios is no longer in Standard, Targon will most likely struggle and will have to rely on Zoe to see any play.

Lissandra is back, and now can finally see play with Trundle in Standard. The problem is that many ramp cards rotated out with Volibear, so this archetype will have to adapt.

Though Ahri was one of the worst champions in the game in the last Standard season, she became popular in the last week of this past Eternal season Katarina deck. She might surprise us in Standard.

Heimerdinger and Jayce are back. (I won't discuss this any further. I would rather not encourage bad ideas).

And, lastly, we have Norra, which is one of the most versatile champions in the entire game and will be the most relevant Bandlecity champion in this Standard season. She might become a great martyr in this meta, as she'll bring back old archetypes like Norra Morgana Transform, Norra Jhin (Bandlecity Yasuo), and even Bandlecity Mordekaiser. These might become the best lists in the game.

The meta will be considerably slower, as we won't have as many Burn or Aggro decks to play. However, Lurk (with Pyke and Rek'Sai) will still be extremely powerful and relevant, particularly in lower ranks, in the hands of new players.

Midrange might be strong, but only for the first few weeks. It might not even last that long because, in this season, we'll have many control cards to play, as well as heavy removals.

Heimerdinger and Jayce, Lissandra Trundle, Mordekaiser decks of all kinds, Kindred, Morgana, and Senna will easily dominate the meta and stop any Midrange strategy that tries to stand out.

A good answer for Control metas are Darkin lists with Kayn and Aatrox, Spellshield, or other Control/combo decks, so this meta will most likely focus on Control. This means Shadow Isles, Piltover & Zaun, and Freljord.

We'll soon explore this rotation even more and show you all the new decks that might stand out, the first big meta lists, and everything that is happening in the game. So, keep an eye out for more content soon.

If you read this far, thank you! I hope you had fun, and enjoyed reading this article.

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See you next time!