The LCK and OGN leagues have turned South Korea into the Mecca of League of Legends esports in the past decade: the skill and patience that Korean players showed over the years is reflected in the most picked champions in the region’s history.
Since 2012, the Korean region has consistently produced the best players and assembled the best teams globally. Korean influence on the meta was unparalleled for years. LCK teams were the best at reading and understanding the game, so it’s no surprise that the entire world always tried to copy their strategies, including Champion picks.
| Champion | Games Played |
|---|---|
| Ezreal | 1347 |
| Lee Sin | 1218 |
| Azir | 1179 |
| Alistar | 1109 |
| Gragas | 979 |
| Varus | 973 |
| Lucian | 964 |
| Gnar | 950 |
| Sejuani | 943 |
Azir and Gnar are particularly noteworthy on that list, as they made their LCK debut in 2015. The other seven champions started seeing play in 2012 or 2013.
Interestingly, Faker has more games played in the LCK than all but 4 of these champions, at 1,092.
Image: Riot Games
In first place of the all-time list of most picked Champions in LCK history, Ezreal scaled his way to 1347 picks. Using his sustainable kit, he safely scales in the bottom lane and frees his support to impact the map. That ability is precious in a region that emphasizes the macro aspect of the game above all else. Additionally, while the Ezreal players of other regions can struggle to find an impact, this does not apply to Korean players who always turn him into a deadly carry.
Since his release, Ezreal has been pillaging items from other classes the same way he would loot precious artefacts. This build diversity has allowed him to always find his place through the seasons.
DanDy, inSec, KaKAO, Score, bengi, Canyon… The list of mechanical gods that played the jungle role in the history of LCK goes on and on. And Lee Sin is the perfect Champion for junglers to showcase their skills.
The Blind Monk is the second most picked Champions in LCK history with 1218 appearances. His incredible design and balanced kit allowed him to stay relevant throughout the years and various metas.
Furthermore, there are a few plays in League of Legends more satisfying than a clean ward-jump into Kick-Flash combo to knock enemy ADC into your team.
Image: Riot Games
Closely behind him comes Azir, reaching 1179 games in the LCK in only 10 years. This champion is currently mostly associated with Faker, who wears the Emperor’s cape in every Esports cinematic. Azir has consistently been one of the most contested champions in the LCK in recent years, so he’s certain to overtake Lee Sin for second place in 2026.
Two more playmaking Champions round out the top five: Alistar and Gragas sit in fourth and fifth with 1109 and 979 games.
The most-picked champions in LCK history demonstrate the importance of mastering all champions in League of Legends divided into roles.
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