Riot targets Taric-Yi funnel comps with Season 11 changes to restore champion balance
The Funnel Comp Problem
Riot Games is taking decisive action against what they deem ‘unhealthy’ funnel compositions in League of Legends, with Taric positioned at the center of these strategic changes for Season 11.
The Shield of Valoran has become synonymous with funnel strategies rather than his intended support role. While maintaining a respectable 51.41% win rate according to op.gg, his 0.69% pick rate reveals how narrowly he’s being utilized in the current meta.
Despite multiple nerfs to jungle XP and lane gold distribution since Seasons 8-9, funnel comps persist in ranked play. These strategies circumvent intended game balance by concentrating resources on a single hyper-carry while using the support champion to maintain lane control.
Taric-Master Yi Synergy Breakdown
The Taric-Master Yi combination dominates current funnel strategies through a precise rotation: Yi clears jungle camps while Taric freezes the mid lane wave. When Yi rotates to lane, he collects the farm while Taric provides protection, creating an unstoppable gold-generating cycle.
Riot developer Mark Yetter identified the core issue in an April 2 blog post: “The unhealthy synergy between Taric’s Dazzle (E) and Yi’s Alpha Strike (Q) creates near-guaranteed crowd control with minimal counterplay options for opponents.” This reliable CC chain allows the duo to dominate skirmishes once the funnel strategy comes online.
Advanced players have noted that the combo becomes particularly oppressive when Yi times his Alpha Strike to coincide with Taric’s stun projectile, effectively removing the skillshot element from the equation.
Upcoming Changes and Impact
Riot’s planned adjustments focus on two fronts: disrupting the funnel synergy while strengthening Taric’s traditional support capabilities. The development team has hinted at changes to how Dazzle interacts with untargetable states (like during Alpha Strike), potentially requiring more precise timing from the Taric player.
“Our goal is to create space for meaningful buffs to Taric’s core support identity,” Yetter explained. This likely means reductions to his prohibitive mana costs on Q – Bravado and updates to better align with Season 11’s item changes that left many support champions struggling.
While these changes won’t arrive with patch 11.8, players should monitor the mid-season update for significant shifts. The timeline suggests Riot wants to thoroughly test these adjustments rather than implement quick fixes that might create new balance issues.
Player Adaptation Guide
While waiting for the changes, players facing funnel comps should prioritize early game aggression. The strategy’s weakness lies in its slow ramp-up time – coordinated dives against Taric before level 6 can severely delay the funnel’s activation.
For Taric mains anticipating the rework, consider practicing these adjustments:
- Master positioning for maximum Bravado (Q) healing efficiency
- Experiment with alternative item builds focusing on mana sustain
- Develop precise Dazzle timing without relying on Alpha Strike synergy
Post-rework, expect Taric to return to bot lane with enhanced protective capabilities. Players who adapt quickly to his modified kit may discover new synergies with traditional AD carries that outperform the current funnel approach.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » New Taric changes in League of Legends will kill “unhealthy” funnel strat Riot targets Taric-Yi funnel comps with Season 11 changes to restore champion balance