League of Legends is a constantly evolving game, and the new patches that Riot Games releases every other week impact their best and worst champions in LoL. As champions move in and out of the meta, players adapt to buffs and nerfs and find what’s good to play in a patch cycle.
To ensure you never miss out on a strong champion in the current meta, we will list the best champions in each role based on stats from Emerald ranks and higher. We will update this article on every patch—currently on Patch 25.23.
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The names up there for this patch aren’t the ones we’re used to seeing. Though this time like many others, it’s more of a tell of unpopularity than weakness. Quinn received a nerf two patches ago, but that isn’t stopping her from being this lane bully that terrorizes her lane opponent before moving onto the rest of the map and scaring them alike.
Next up is Malphite, who did receive buffs three patches ago. Malphite is the best answer to many of this patch’s best top laners (Quinn, Irelia, Kayle, Zaahen, Riven, and more), so it’s no surprise to see him there. You normally wouldn’t want to blind pick him as he falters to every AP champion. Malphite is a safe pick that can still crush his lane, and his engage button drastically facilitates game plans.
Afterwards comes Singed, a fine answer to the rock. Since his long-awaited bugfixes, Singed has been a very decent pick, one that works great against tanks and bruisers alike.
Lastly, Zaahen deserves his mention. Despite having a lower win rate, the champion’s mains are tied with Quinn for highest win rate, and we can conclude that his stats are brought down by everyone trying him out. Even after a hotfix nerf, Zaahen is a deadly, unkillable skirmisher.
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Patch 25.23 features two very strange champions. As the jungler-enchanter, Ivern does a lot without it being as noticeable. Being an enchanter with more money than supports, he can fiercely empower carries and bruisers while still packing a punch himself. While odd, Ivern is an easy champion to pick up, with a high skill ceiling afterwards. The tree is a great pick to round out a composition that already has enough threats.
The next best jungle options are Briar and Rek’Sai, closely followed by more similar picks: Warwick, Jax, and Bel’Veth. All of them have their own specialties, but they’re all about fast basic attacks and simple ganks with a dash and a stun. Briar stands out with her self-taunt mechanics. Calculate wrong, and you’re suddenly deep into enemy territory but still forced to attack. Meaning that this champion requires a bit of learning to not go terribly poorly. Calculate right, however, and you’re piloting a killing machine.
Rek’Sai is the lowest on the damage charts among these champions, having been turned into more of an initiating bruiser. However, unlike its top lane counterpart, jungle Rek’Sai likes going more into damage. With long dashes and the ability to move fast around the map, Rek’Sai is a great option for creative gankers.
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Mid lane is a very evenly mixed bag in patch 25.23, with plenty of champions on equal footing. Mages and assassins alike make up the top of the ladder for mid lane, and it’s often a game of counter-picks.
Vex shows up first. As the answer of choice against assassins and low-range mages, champions like Yone, Smolder, Irelia, or Akali give her a place of choice in mid. Vex is a lane bully that easily shuts down all who try to reach her, while packing enough burst to one-shot in return. Should that sound like your champion of choice, go ahead!
Below her comes Xerath, who would actually enjoy facing Vex. As an artillery mage, Xerath will always be a decent pick. The Magus Ascendent can fire for hefty damage from a long distance, and while all his spells are skillshots, you can try again three seconds later if you miss them. Vel’Koz and Anivia are similarly-performing picks!
Katarina rounds out the trio. Weak against Vex, better against artillery mages, she’s the pick you want if you’re looking for an assassin.
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Nilah is a champion that you will almost never see since she’s different, but you’re always rightfully scared when facing it. In order to make up for her lack of range, she has a kit with mobility, resilience, and no shortage of damage, and gets extra experience.
Nilah is a risky pick, as she’s melee and bot laners aren’t used to piloting that. However, neither are her opponents, and she’s often able to win lane off the back of that. A fed Nilah will then be able to win fights against marksmen and bruisers alike, and only has to be afraid of overextending.
Vayne and Miss Fortune are the more classic choices. With Vayne as the late game splitpushing basic attacker and Miss Fortune as the early-oriented teamfighter banking it all on her ultimate, they’re polar opposites, but good choices either way.
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Enchanters often top the win rates for supports, and patch 25.23 is no exception. Easier to have an impact with, harder to make mistakes on, they’re always good. Enchanters are for those who don’t care about showing off and just want to contribute and to win.
At this point, all three supports are very close in strength. You can’t go wrong by picking any of them, so it’s about player preference and matchup specifics. Sona has the weakest early with incredible scaling, Janna is the safest among them, and Nami is the more offensive option.
Patch updates got you curious? Discover all champions divided into roles to adjust your strategy.
Featured image credit: Riot Games
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