Hello guys, my name is DarkDraven69, TFT expert from Mobalytics, Multiple Sets Rank 1 and I'm here to share a secret with you which you won't find out on statistics.
As you have learned from the title, the secret is Shepherd LeBlanc is the most efficient, ruthless climbing tool you can get at the end of Set 17!
Now if you look at the stats, Shepherd LeBlanc isn't nearly on the top of stats by any means.
However in my games, in my real experience of coaching/playing, the comp is absolutely dominating multiple elos at the same time. High elo, low elo, it simply works.
Now why don't we see it on stats?
Why:
The reason is very simple --- once people success with it, they very often pivot from LeBlanc to Vex. (Which is not ideal in this patch, I will explain why later on)
Unless you have a Shepherd emblem to go 7 Shepherd. (7 Shepherd is one of the most powerful late game board right now)
Therefore, the success examples of LeBlanc drastically decreased, causing it to not show its real potential on the stats boards.
How to play, Key idea:
This comp is incredibly easy, and it's flexible. You can play with more vanguards and more Shepherds, both fine. You can also use Morgana as your tank if you can't find any vanguards or Shepherds.
Your core LeBlanc item is literally just Guinsoo's Rageblade. Sometimes you can even do without it, if you can get attack speed fron other sources, such as Flickerblades artifact or Arbiter effect.
However Guinsoo's Rageblade is the most efficient item in the early game, due to how long the early game fights are, if you have a Guinsoo on a proper carry, you usually win.
Potentiall Carries during pivot
Strong Early/Mid game board is the KEY to climb at the end of the season. Make sure your frontline is upgraded and not crispy, so the fight is actually long enough
If your frontline is not tanky enough, then Guinsoo's Rageblade ain't worth it.
So instead of making multiple carries in this comp, try to focus on building a strong frontline first. In this set, frontline units have much more basic stats than ever. So if they are all upgraded, even without items, they can be very tanky.
What that means is you need to have A LOT of gold to upgrade your entire frontline, therefore augments/space gods which allow you to gain extra econ and exp are very good in this comp, on the other side, you really don't need too many items in this comp. Radiant item however is great on LeBlanc, since you are running solo carry.
Only level to 8 on 4-2 or after since you are playing a 4 costs comp, the least thing you want is to pick up your champions from a uncleaned pool.
Best Augment
Gold:
Speedy Double Kill (for a Guinsoo's Rageblade)
Jeweled Lotus I
Spreading Roots at 2-1 (Stump upon a Shepherd Emblem will be a great initiation and make your cap higher, use reforger if you have, Vanguard Emblem and Arbiter Emblem are also worthy. This one is risky but often worth it)
Prismatic:
New Recruit
Expected Unexpectedness
Jeweled Lotus II
Potential Branches:
1. Too many Zoes or Reroll augment at 3-2 → Zoe reroll
2. Early Vex instead of LeBlanc 2 → Vex fast 9
3. Find Kindred 2 first → Play Kindred as item holder, with Diana for 2 Challenger, then slowly pivot into LeBlanc.
Stick to the Shepherd in the late game
Now about super late game, we must know one thing: Vex has been nerfed around 10% after she gained the Stargazer trait in the last patch.
And LeBlanc is buffed three patches in a row, so the total strength difference between Vex and LeBlanc is actually very little, especially if you have a good arbiter variation to buff up LeBlanc, LeBlanc could be even better.
If you already have a LeBlanc 2, you totally don't need to pivot into Vex in this newest meta.
Instead, you should look for more upgraded frontline, since the frontline doesn't require that many items to be useful.
The hard truth is, a lot of power in Vex 95 also relies on other 5 costs, such as Graves/Fiora/Blitz Crank, it's a great way to get 1st but also much riskier than LeBlanc. You could often get an 8th if the luck simply wasn't there. It simply isn't worth it.
However this Shepherd LeBlanc comp is much easier, much more consistent and much quicker for you to learn to get to your ideal rank. And once you have learned it, you can spam it
