2015 Champion Tier List - Solo Queue - Patch 5.1 Update

Buffs: Azir, Elise, Evelynn, Hecarim, Kalista, Renekton, Skarner;
Nerfs: Corki, Gnar, Janna, Jayce, Rek'Sai, Sona, Syndra;
Tweaks: Nautilus

• Added Top Hecarim and Support Lee Sin
• Removed Twisted Fate Jungle and dropped Karthus a bit based on soft leash changes in Patch 5.1
• Swapped Akali and Cassiopeia

• Azir [Tier 2 Mid] - Azir is definitely getting stronger and stronger as the bugs are worked out of his system. I think that as he is now he's fairly strong, but still needs a few more bug fixes before being reliable enough to be a true Tier 1 champion. That being said, his kit definitely has a ton of potential and I look forward to seeing more of him...eventually.
• Cassiopeia [God Tier Mid] - Cassiopeia's early game damage is back to being at an extremely suppressing state, and her late game now scales very well thanks to her rework. That being said, with melee assassins being extremely popular on the rift right now, it's not hard for her to pull off easy level 1~2 cheeses. That combined with the fact that most assassins no longer have CC means that she can easily counter their gap closers with her ultimate and quickly burst them down. 
• Cassiopeia [Tier 1 Top] - Similar to her abilities mid, Cassiopeia is a great duelist and lane bully top lane as well. Although she needs blue to get to her full potential mid game, she does a fair job top. She also does a great job countering tanky champions once she gets her liandries.
• Elise [Tier 3 Jungle] - Despite the buffs to Elise this patch, it seems like it hasn't impacted her gameplay that much. The new jungle was already fairly kind to her, but it's really her team-fighting and effort to benefit ratios that still need tweaking. While her cocoon tends to be a fairly slow projectile and her main CC, hitting it doesn't always guarantee a kill. This combined with her weak late game teamfighting potential at low gold amounts keeps her from being higher. 
• Galio [Tier 3 Mid] - Ever since AD mids have taken over the rift, Galio has gotten much weaker. Additionally, more mages are now high damage, sustained mages rather than tanky CC bots. With the current meta, Galio has trouble keeping up in teamfights, even if he lands a good ultimate.
• Hecarim [Tier 1 Jungle] - Hecarim's new buffs have been an absolute boon to him. Expect to see much more of the horsey in the future. While I'm still not so sure about this Hecarim mid that keeps getting hyped and expect that to be a passing fad, he's definitely very strong right now.
• Kalista [Tier 3 ADC] - Despite professionals having success with Kalista, it's also important to remember that she is an extremely high skill cap, high coordination AD carry. While she can pull off some amazingly flashy plays and outplays, in a solo queue setting her effort doesn't show in the benefits received.
• Kennen [Tier 1 Top] - A definite underdog right now, Kennen is currently in sleeper OP status. His damage, poke, and CC are on par if not above Lissandra's, and I'd definitely expect to see more of him as the Season goes on, especially after Riot decides to nerf Lissandra with all the QQ going on.
• Lee Sin [Tier 3 Support] - Lee Sin support has been added due to popular request. On that note, I also need to add that playing Lee Sin support is absurdly troll (here's looking at you QTpie). Lee Sin's CC is essentially non-existent, and his only engage (besides assassinating) is basically an annoyingly difficult to pull off Blitzcrank hook. That being said, you're better off playing Jarvan or Fiora if you want a high damage melee support.
• Lissandra [Tier 1 Top] - Lissandra is definitely in a great place right now, and I'd say she's a little stronger than usual considering how popular she is in the professional scene. Expect a nerf soonish, but in the meantime she's greater in solo queue as well.
• Malphite [God Tier Top] - If I were to choose one champion that could easily take you from Bronze to Platinum the fastest, I'd say pick Malphite. Right now he's basically untouched, and with all the "caster" AD carries nerfed and the auto attacking ones being very popular, his ground slam is insanely good right now. Also, with Zed's popularity and the majority of junglers being AD based as well, he essentially counters entire teams just by being in the game.
• Nunu [Tier 3 Jungle] - Despite having strong objective control and good jungling capabilities, Nunu's very subpar right now in teamfights. Most champions are a bit too mobile to get hit by his ultimate, and so most of his power is banked on the AD carry being good enough to utilize bloodboil. 
• Orianna [Tier 2 Mid] - Although her potential in a combo is still very high, her current status as a solo queue carry artist has dropped with the number of assassins on the field. Her ultimate is very dodgeable, so against most match-ups there's always a strong possibility of being outplayed. This combined with the nerfs on athene and morellonomicon over time have left her fairly balanced.
• Rek'Sai [God Tier Top/Jungle] - After this patch's nerfs, Rek'Sai's power has definitely fallen, but remains very high compared to other champions on the rift. We'll need more data to tell, but I believe she's still very strong and ban worthy.
• Renekton [Tier 1 Top] - They weren't kidding when they said the croc is back. Renekton's new found buffs are much better than the ones they gave Jax, and he's definitely very strong right now.
• Sona [Tier 1 Support] - Sona's recent nerfs have dropped her significantly. Her bullying and chasing power were both reduced, and at the moment I think Taric may be slightly better.
• Swain [Tier 1 Top] - With nerfs on Morellonomicon, Swain's gained an indirect power boost this time around. This combined with the fact that DFG will be removed from the game in patch 5.2 means Season 5 will likely be a great time to pick him up and get on board the Swain Train.
• Syndra [Tier 3 Mid] - This patch has been surprisingly brutal on Syndra, and her win rate has plummeted as a result. I'm sure people with pinpoint precision like Bjergsen will notice only a minor inconvenience, but others will find that her stun hit box seems awfully dodgeable now.
• Taric [Tier 1 Support] - Taric's still gaining ranks steadily as supports are nerfed left and right. His time to shine is soon. Diamonds.
• Zed [Tier 1 Mid] - I've talked about Zed many times before, but I'll make a concession. He's very strong if you practice and get good at him, so I'll give him a Tier 1 status as it doesn't take that long to master. However, it does take some studying up, and to learn his timing is a crucial part of his game. That being said, I personally think he's very balanced as most people understand how to outplay him at this point.