5 Best Bot Lane Duos in League of Legends Patch 9.9

League of Legends Patch 9.9 marks a step in the gradual return to the game's traditional gameplay rhythm in which junglers facilitate lanes early and help tank later, top lanes play either carries or tanks, the mid laners play roaming utility damage-dealers, and the bottom lane focuses around a potent AD Carry and enabling Support.

Patch 9.9 sees many Supports go through changes, while the AD Carries are largely untouched. With this changing dynamics, it is the time for new optimizations of the duo lane. Here are the five best bot lane duos in the upcoming patch.

5. Ezreal and Tahm Kench

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Image courtesy of Riot Games / MinuteMedia

Tahm Kench is getting hit with huge nerfs to his defining Devour (W) ability and even the compensation buffs to the rest of his kit won't be able to overcome that. The removal of his ability to Devour and Flash teammates to safety no longer allows the catfish to serve as a bungee cord to allow immobile marksmen to extend further than they'd normally be able.

4. Sona and Taric

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Image courtesy of Riot Games / MinuteMedia

3. Varus and Morgana

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Image courtesy of Riot Games / MinuteMedia

The premier example of alternate strategies still viable even in the consolidating metagame, Sona and Taric remain playable as a potent bot lane that abuses the Frostmancy strategy.

2. Vayne and Alistar

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Image courtesy of Riot Games / MinuteMedia

1. Ashe and Shen

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Image courtesy of Riot Games / MinuteMedia

With long range and strong laning, Varus is powerful in lane and if set up properly can be a menace in mid/late-game team fights as well. His main weakness, his lack of mobility, can be protected against by Morgana's Black Shield (E) to help keep him safe as well as her own Dark Binding (Q) to dissuade divers.