What are the best League of Legends champions? Metas change, the LoL tier list will fluctuate, and it could be that your favorite champion might not be in a great place right now. While you can win games and climb the ranked ladder with nearly anyone in the lower ranks, the changes that come via champion and item balancing can tip the scales enough that some picks are almost mandatory, regardless of which rank you play in.
We’ve studied the latest LoL patch notes and found the strongest champions in League of Legends right now. Whether it’s due to a buff, kit change, or item change, these picks will give you the best chance to climb the solo queue ranks in the free PC game. If you do want to play something other than what’s on this list, keep these champions in mind for your ban, as they all have the potential to go on and dominate Summoner’s Rift.
Best top lane champions in LoL
The top lane can be quite a lonely place at times, with a lot of the objective-based skirmishes occurring towards the lower portion of the map. You should always plan on receiving little help, with any ganks from the jungle coming as a bonus. This means that you need a champion with sustainability, mobility, and consistent damage. Top is also a very long lane, so having a pick with CC included in their kit will make punishing an enemy for overstepping very easy. Here are the best top laners in LoL:
Malphite
An incredibly tanky pick, with a ton of CC in their kit and a surprising amount of damage. Malphite can bully their lane opponent with devastating slow and AOE damage attacks, and once they hit level 6, can be the primary engage champion for their team.
The most popular runes for Malphite are:
Resolve
- Grasp of the Undying
- Shield Bash
- Conditioning
- Overgrowth
Sorcery
- Manaflow Band
- Transcendence
The most popular build path for Malphite is:
Core items
- Iceborn Gauntlet
- Plated Steelcaps
- Sunfire Aegis
Additional items
- Thornmail
- Frozen Heart
- Gargoyle Stoneplate
Darius
A perennial top lane menace. Darius has hovered around the top of the top lane meta for a long time, and it’s easy to see why. His kit revolves around running down foes, stacking bleeds from his autos and abilities, and finishing opponents off with a satisfying dunk. Darius not only has a pull and a slow in his kit, but he heals from the amount his enemy bleeds, so being aggressive in lane can pay off big if you’re clever with your skirmishes.
The most popular runes for Darius are:
Precision
- Conqueror
- Triumph
- Legend: Tenacity
- Last Stand
Resolve
The most popular build path for Darius is:
Core items
- Stridebreaker
- Plated Steelcaps
- Dead Man’s Plate
Additional Items
- Sterak’s Gage
- Force of Nature
- Death’s Dance
Other S-tier top lane champions: Poppy, Aatrox, Camille, and Olaf.
Best jungle champions in LoL
The jungle role is perhaps the most influential in League of Legends. A good jungler will be able to set the pace of the game in your team’s favor – pouncing on opportunities that arise in the three lanes, locking down objectives, and clearing your jungle camps will ensure both you and your team are ahead of the opposition. If this sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. Jungling has become slightly more beginner-friendly with emotional support pets, but can be brutal if you fall behind. To ensure that never happens, here are the best jungle champions in League of Legends:
Jarvan IV
If you’re after a champion who can tank a lot of damage whilst also outputting a serious amount of hurt to your opponents, Jarvan IV might just be the Jungler for you. Great engage potential with his flag-and-drag combo (E > W) and an ultimate ability that completely locks your enemy down means that Jarvan IV is a force to be reckoned with.
The most popular runes for Jarvan IV are:
Precision
- Conqueror
- Triumph
- Legend: Alacrity
- Coup de Grace
Inspiration
- Magical Footwear
- Cosmic Insight
The most popular build path for Jarvan IV is:
Core items
- Goredrinker
- Plated Steelcaps
- Spear of Shojin
Additional items
- Frozen Heart
- Black Cleaver
- Guardian Angel
Fiddlesticks
While you’ll have to lay low during the early game, there are few ultimate abilities more devastating than Fiddlesticks’. Being able to fear enemies and take their health as your own can turn the tide in any team fight, and make you surprisingly tanky.
The most popular runes for Fiddlesticks are:
Inspiration
- First Strike
- Perfect Timing
- Future’s Market
- Cosmic Insight
Domination
- Cheap Shot
- Ultimate Hunter
The most popular build path for Fiddlesticks is:
Core items
- Hextech Rocketbelt
- Sorcerer’s Shoes
- Zhonya’s Hourglass
Additional items
- Shadowflame
- Void Staff
- Rabadon’s Deathcap
Other S-tier jungle champions: Lillia, Zac & Briar.
Best mid lane champions in LoL
Mid lane champions are often the damage carry for their team, and as long as they play their lane correctly, they can be the menace that the opposition fears when entering the late game. The mid lane can consist of anything from artillery mage, to burst assassin, and with it being the shortest lane on Summer’s Rift, it can be quite a volatile affair. Damage is generally considered to be the most important attribute when choosing a mid lane champion, with CC a close second – you won’t be able to run your opponent down with this lane being so short, so locking them down or killing them where they stand is vital. Here are the best mid laners in League of Legends:
Naafiri
The newest LoL champion, Naafiri was created to fill a gap for beginner players, so she’s easy to play in mid lane whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned veteran. Not only is she the coolest-looking Champion we’ve seen in a while, but her power comes from a ferocious dagger, and she’s surrounded by a pack of demon dogs, so expect huge damage if you have all of your minions on hand.
The most popular runes for Naafiri are:
Inspiration
- First Strike
- Magical Footwear
- Biscuit Delivery
- Cosmic Insight
Domination
- Sudden Impact
- Treasure Hunter
The most popular build path for Naafiri is:
Core items
- Eclipse
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Black Cleaver
Additional items
- Serylda’s Grudge
- Edge of Night
- Guardian Angel
Swain
Swain is a scaling champion who can become nigh-on unkillable with a few items under his belt. A drain tank, he possesses plenty of CC in his kit, as well as a passive that allows him to gain health whenever he hits an enemy with specific spells. His ult can be a game-changer in fights – staying in the mix, causing an obscene amount of damage, and allowing your team to cause havoc around him.
The most popular runes for Swain are:
Precision
- Conqueror
- Presence of Mind
- Legend: Tenacity
- Last Stand
Resolve
The most popular build path for Swain is:
Core items
- Liandry’s Anguish
- Sorcerer’s Shoes
- Rylai’s Crystal Spear
Additional items
- Zhonya’s Hourglass
- Demonic Embrace
- Spirit Visage
Other S-tier mid lane champions: Kassadin, Syndra & Xerath.
Best ADC champions in LoL
The ADC role (Attack Damage Carry) is important in any League of Legends team. As the only traditional duo lane in the game, the ADC is generally a slow starter, having to share experience with their support player, but with enough items under their belt, the ADC can be a true 1v5 menace. Relying mainly on auto attacks to deal damage, the key to getting the most out of the ADC role is crisp movement and an understanding of spacing in a fight – they are a prime target for the opposition damage dealers, who will aim to take down the ADC quickly to gain an advantage. Here are the strongest ADCs in League of Legends:
Jhin
Jhin is an interesting ADC in that he is forced to reload after every four attacks. This means that you don’t have to focus on attack speed and instead construct a build that maximizes the amount of damage with each shot. Move speed is also key with Jhin, as you’ll have to dip in and out of fights when you have shots available.
The most popular runes for Jhin are:
Precision
- Fleet Footwork
- Presence of Mind
- Legend: Bloodline
- Coup de Grace
Sorcery
The most popular build path for Jhin is:
Core items
- Stormrazor
- Boots of Swiftness
- Galeforce
Additional Items
- Rapid Firecannon
- Lord Dominik’s Regards
- Guardian Angel
Ashe
One of the most oppressive ADCs, Ashe has a passive that slows her enemies whenever they are hit with her attacks. Not only can she deal an impressive amount of damage on her own, but her slowing ability coupled with the CC of her ult means that Ashe can also enable her team to capitalize on the now immobile enemy.
The most popular runes for Ashe are:
Precision
- Lethal Tempo
- Presence of Mind
- Legend: Bloodline
- Coup de Grace
Inspiration
- Biscuit Delivery
- Approach Velocity
The most popular build path for Ashe is:
Core items
- Kraken Slayer
- Berserker’s Greaves
- Trinity Force
Additional items
- Blade of The Ruined King
- Lord Dominik’s Regards
- Guardian Angel
Other S-tier ADC champions: Ezreal & Vayne.
Best support champions in LoL
The support role is the glue that holds your team together; they can heal, shield, block, engage, and even chip in with damage if the need arises. This role can vary depending on the player and the team, but the best supports in our opinion are those that enable the rest of the team to do what they do best. The best support champions in League of Legends are:
Soraka
Soraka is the ultimate support – her kit revolves around keeping her teammates healthy, sacrificing her own health as a result. Soraka’s ult is a global heal that affects every member of her team, so if you do opt to play as the healer, make sure you keep an eye on the map at all times, as you could be the key to winning that difficult top lane fight, all without moving a muscle.
The most popular runes for Soraka are:
Sorcery
- Summon Aery
- Manaflow Band
- Transcendence
- Scorch
Resolve
The most popular build path for Soraka is:
Core items
- Shard of True Ice
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Moonstone Renewer
Additional Items
- Warmong’s Armor
- Redemption
- Chemtech Putrifier
Rakan
A true engage champion and an absolute pest for the opposition, Rakan has a dash, a knock-up, and can charm entire teams with his ultimate ability. Building a lot of health means that Rakan can also act as a frontline champion if need be, allowing the rest of his team to deal damage.
The most popular runes for Rakan are:
Resolve
- Guardian
- Font of Life
- Bone Plating
- Unflinching
Domination
- Zombie Ward
- Ultimate Hunter
The most popular build path for Rakan is:
Core items
- Bulwark of the Mountain
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Shurelya’s Blessing
Additional items
- Zeke’s Convergence
- Chemtech Putrifyer
- Imperial Mandate
Other S-tier support champions: Blitzcrank, Senna & Thresh.
Now you have the LoL tier list and know the most overpowered champions in the current patch, it’s time to get out there and start raking in the LP. It’s worth checking out our beginners guide on playing League of Legends if you’re only just getting started, and if you’re a stalwart of Summoner’s Rift, it’s probably time to find out how much you’ve spent so far – hopefully, you won’t be too shocked.
This story originally appeared on PC Gamesn
