Big Bans in Town
Riot dropped an absolute bomb after the Chinese Regional with a 2-card ban. This was meant to highlight the Lux Infinite deck stalling out opponents for wins as well as the well-rounded versatility of purple. Both Stacked Deck and Ekko are making their departure from standard play on September the 18th. The community seems to be divided about the selections on the bans as well as the timing. There are still Regional Qualifiers to be played ahead of the championships. The reasoning behind the bans can be found in the official article. However, whether it can be considered valid or not is up for interpretation.
Kayle Kickoff
The bans in hindsight have everyone from locals to the pros scrambling to adjust their decks and perhaps even switch to new archetypes completely. This weekend brings GNL week 5 Skirmishes into focus with a meta still waiting to be solved. We may yet see the most diverse lineups of decks ever vying for a Kayle Playmat and Champion promo. Check your local events for signups!
Hunting Herons
The latest rise in the meta is still Astral heron winning two Regionals back to back powering Akali across both the west and east. It has cemented itself as one of, if not the, best cards in the meta. The dismantling of Lux Infinite and retiring of Stacked Deck have highlighted green superiority with Astral Heron becoming a must-include card and a play-around strategy. Be on the lookout this weekend for Astral Heron decks and keep removal ready!