Set 17.4 Climb Playbook: 13 Lines Led by Xayah

T0.5: Stargazer Xayah, Magic 95, and N.O.V.A. 95.

High T1: Challenger Miss Fortune, Dark Star Aurelion Sol, Anima Diana, Meeple Corki, Space Groove Nami, Walking Aurelion Sol, and Mecha Aurelion Sol.

Mid T1: Challenger Jinx, Dark Star Cho'Gath, and Brawler Marauder Master Yi. Hero augment angles to keep in mind are Gragas, Meepsie, Jax, Aatrox, and Leona. Viktor, Replicator Miss Fortune, and Veigar are also worth monitoring.

The Xayah buffs make this one of the first physical 4-cost lines to test in 17.4. The board can use either Rammus or Tahm Kench as the main tank, so choose whichever frontline 2-star appears first.

You no longer need only the Medallion Stargazer effect. Viper and early Mountain are especially strong, and extra items or a Sniper Emblem can let Graves become a real secondary carry.

This reroll line rose near the end of the previous patch, and 17.4 buffs both Ornn and Challenger. Play it when you have a Challenger Emblem, good AD components, or enough economy to reroll cleanly.

At level 7, aim for 3-star Miss Fortune plus at least one 3-cost frontline. After that, go level 8 for Rhaast. If Diana is also close to 3-star, skip Rhaast or Kindred and keep Diana on the board.

Miss Fortune deals meaningful damage through both spells and attacks, so she is flexible after Deathblade. Dawncore with Infinity Edge and Deathblade is the artifact spike to respect.

Jinx is the cheaper Challenger version and works as a lower-cost backup to Miss Fortune, especially when the reroll setup arrives early.

Use Rek'Sai plus Maokai, or Jax plus Aatrox, as the frontline. Roll on level 6 for Jinx, Bel'Veth, and frontline 3-stars, then add Morgana and higher Challenger units later.

Jinx does not need Guinsoo's Rageblade. Pure burst AD is usually better; Red Buff and Last Whisper can cover utility when the rest of the board lacks it.

Magic 95 kept its high cap from the previous patch and was not hit by nerfs. The Nami buff also gives the level 8 transition a stronger temporary AP holder.

Use this as the main AP Fast 9 direction when you can stabilize on level 8, then move the board toward Bard, Sona, Nunu, and legendary utility.

N.O.V.A. 95 is still one of the most reliable high-cap AD boards. The Morgana buff adds another strong 2-star frontline or utility hit when rolling down late.

The plan is familiar: use early economy augments or a strong 3 Primordian streak, prioritize item augments, and reach level 9 around 4-7 when possible.

Graves usually plays the pellet route. If you have Spear of Shojin, the spell route becomes attractive; with weaker economy, the fighter route is the safer landing spot.

Six Dark Star was nerfed, so this is no longer a blind force. It is still playable when the game gives you Dark Star access through an emblem, trait tree, encounter, or divinity.

The emblem should go on non-transformed Aurelion Sol. If the frontline holds, the Dark Star scaling still gives enough damage to win late fights.

Nami was buffed in 17.4, which reopens the Space Groove Emblem angle.

This is still an emblem-first line. If the emblem appears and AP items fit, Nami can carry the mid game while the board adds Space Groove and high-value late units.

Only enter Dark Star Cho'Gath when both items and copies are already pointing there.

The late-game cap is lower after the patch, so this is a tempo and placement line rather than a comp to force from a neutral opener.

Aurora was buffed, so the finished Anima board has a higher ceiling. Commit when you meet at least two of these conditions: a good Arbiter effect, a loss-streak-friendly augment, or 3 Anima before 3-1.

The old 10-hit Arbiter condition is gone. Prefer every-three-attacks or every-four-seconds effects, with resistances as the best payoff, then shield or health.

The Zhonya's Paradox buff is a direct boost to transformed Aurelion Sol. If your items are AP-heavy and the artifact appears, this is one of the cleanest loss-streak AP stabilizers.

Zhonya's with Jeweled Gauntlet and Void Staff gives explosive spell damage. Once the three Mecha units transform, the board can lock health through stage 4.

This is the emergency AP landing spot when Magic 95 cannot afford level 9.

Keep the best AP items on Aurelion Sol, pair him with sturdy Vanguard or Brawler frontline, and play for a stable top-four finish instead of greeting every legendary unit.

Corki was nerfed, but he remains one of the best physical-item landings when you are loss-streaking or cannot reach a clean 95 board.

Prioritize Corki damage and a real front line. If the Meeple shell comes together, it still gives enough tempo to recover a bad early game.

This 4 Brawler and 4 Marauder style lost power because both the strongest augment angle and Fiora were nerfed.

Treat it as a watch-list comp for now. If the lobby gifts you the pieces, it can still place, but it is no longer a default force.