The most successful core build consists of Locket of the Iron Solari, Bandlepipes, and Zeke's Convergence which has a 62.9% win rate. For boots, Boots of Swiftness are the preferred choice with a 51.7% win rate and a 56.3% pick rate.
The recommended rune setup is Aftershock with Font of Life, Bone Plating, and Unflinching from the Resolve tree. For your secondary tree, choose Inspiration to take Cosmic Insight and Hextech Flashtraption.
Alistar is currently ranked as an A-tier support in Patch 16.2.1. This indicates he is a strong and viable pick in the current meta despite his 49.6% win rate.
Alistar holds a 49.6% win rate as a support in Platinum+ ranked games. His build-specific win rate also stands at 49.6% with a 4.1% pick rate across 2,406 games.
The data from Platinum+ suggests Alistar is a solid A-tier pick, but he has a difficulty rating of 7/10. Lower elo players may find success if they master his mechanics, though his overall win rate is slightly below 50%.
Alistar is worth maining due to his A-tier status and the high potential of his Q > W > E skill max order which boasts a 76.9% win rate. He provides consistent utility and tankiness for his team.
His 49.6% win rate is fairly balanced as there were no changes to the champion or his core items in Patch 16.2.1. Specific item combinations like Locket and Zeke's significantly outperform his average win rate.
Shurelya's Battlesong is the best first item with a 57.1% win rate over 63 games analyzed. It provides Alistar with the necessary mobility and utility to effectively initiate fights for his team.
You should pick Alistar when you need a tanky initiator who can handle matchups like Leona or Rell. He is particularly effective when playing with Flash and Ignite to secure early lane pressure.
Alistar spikes when he completes his first item, especially Shurelya's Battlesong, and as he levels his Q, W, and E skills in order. Use your Flash and Hextech Flashtraption to find engage opportunities during these timings.
Alistar is consistently strong, but his mid-game is excellent once his Q > W > E skill max order is completed, resulting in a 76.9% win rate. His tankiness and displacement tools remain useful at all stages of the game.
Alistar did not receive any buffs or nerfs in Patch 16.2.1 according to the latest champion notes. Additionally, there were no item changes this patch affecting his core build path.
The Aftershock and Inspiration setup is the most common with a 29.0% pick rate. While this is the standard, ensure you are utilizing Bone Plating and Unflinching to survive heavy engage or crowd control from the enemy support.