LoL Arena champion tier list: The best champs for the mode

League Arena made its glorious, much-anticipated return to League of Legends in Patch 14.9. With almost 170 champions, it can be difficult to know which are worth your time in the mode.

The latest release of Arena has transformed the way it’s played. Most importantly, it introduced dozens of items, while also tweaking a number of exisiting ones. With that in mind, Arena in current Patch 14.14 is a dynamic ride, with tons of assassins and mages taking over the leaderboards of best champions.

These champions have different roles in the Rift but have one thing in common: They each scale well. Once mastered, they’re a great addition to your Arena duo.

Why you should play each S-tier champion in LoL Arena

Veigar, the Tiny Master of Evil

• Best duo: Yorick, Nilah, Orianna
• Prismatic: Everfrost, Detonation Orb
• Core items: Rabadon’s Deathcap, Zhonya’s Hourglass, Luden’s Tempest
• Strongest Augments: Big Brain, Witchful Thinking, Eureka

Contrary to Brand, Veigar is a master at single-target AP damage due to his all-powerful AP ultimate. If he lands a stun with his E and is supported by a beefy frontline or another damage dealer, you should come out victorious in most duels.

Tryndamere, the Barbarian King

• Best duo: Corki, Nunu & Willump, Rell
• Prismatic: Hamstringer, Prowler’s Claw
• Core items: Guardian Angel, Guinsoo’s Rageblade, Bloodthirster
• Strongest Augments: Lightning Strikes, Scopier Weapons, Symphony of War

I don’t know about you, but sometimes the most fun I get out of League is by winning games with simple yet dangerous champions, like Tryndamere. The Barbarian King is a perfect pick for the mode due to his unique ultimate and straightforward yet strong gameplay.

Vi, the Piltover Enforcer

• Best duo: Sivir, Taliyah, Vex
• Prismatic: Prowler’s Claw
• Core items: Guardian Angel, Sterak’s Gage, Lord Dominik’s Regards
• Strongest Augments: The Brutalizer, Outlaw’s Grit, Thread the Needle

Vi is a master at locking down single targets in the Arena due to her ultimate. When paired up with a champ like Sivir or Vex, who can easily add damage to already CCed opponents, she places herself among the best champions in the mode.

Yorick, the Shepherd of Souls

• Best duo: Xerath, Zeri, Anivia
• Prismatic: Dragonheart
• Core items: Sterak’s Gage, Death’s Dance, Guardian Angel
• Strongest Augments: Goliath, Minionmancer, The Brutalizer

With his ghouls and annoying abilities, Yorick makes a very strong case to be the most successful frontliner in League Arena Just make sure you have a damage dealer by your side and you should be more than fine.

Kha’Zix, the Voidreaver

• Best duo: Ziggs, Ivern, Tristana
• Prismatic: Duskblade of Draktharr
• Core items: Guardian Angel, Serylda’s Grudge, Edge of Night
• Strongest Augments: The Brutalizer, Thread the Needle, It’s Killing Time

Kha’Zix is yet another strong assassin in the League Arena metagame. Like other champions from the same role, he doesn’t really need a front partner to soak damage. Instead, pick someone like Ziggs to finish off enemies even quicker. However, a few tanks like Ivern can do wonders with Kha’Zix by their side.

Swain, the Noxian Grand General

• Best duo: Kog’Maw, Rell, Pyke
• Prismatic: Everfrost
• Core items: Void Staff, Spirit Visage, Shadowflame
• Strongest Augments: Magic Missile, Rabble Rousing, Infernal Conduit

With a lot of damage and crowd control under his belt, Swain remains as one of the greatest Arena picks of all time. The only catch is you need to know how to properly use his kit, otherwise you may find yourself losing most of your duels.

Talon, the Blade’s Shadow

• Best duo: Orianna, Renata Glasc, Braum
• Prismatic: Dragonheart, Duskblade of Draktharr
• Core items: Maw of Malmortius, Guardian Angel, Hellfire Hatchet
• Strongest Augments: The Brutalizer, It’s Killing Time, Thread the Needle

Go in, kill an enemy, exit unnoticed. This would be a perfect description for Talon’s gameplay on Summoner’s Rift, and it’s really similar to the Arena one as well. His mobility and damage are a perfect combination for skilled players.

Galio, the Colossus

• Best duo: Janna, Ziggs, Talon
• Prismatic: Cruelty
• Core items: Randuin’s Omen, Frozen Heart, Void Staff
• Strongest Augments: Guilty Pleasure, Courage of the Colossus, Impassable

If you want to play a tank too big and bolstered to ignore, go for Galio. He’s not only tanky, but has a lot of crowd control that turns the battlefield into hell for other duos.

Nami, the Tidecaller

• Best duo: Gwen, Talon, Shyvana
• Prismatic: Eleisa’s Miracle
• Core items: Rabadon’s Deathcap, Morellonomicon, Chemtech Purifier
• Strongest Augments: Sonic Boom, First-Aid Kit, All for You

It’s tough to get a good support in Arena nowadays, but Nami is one of the few exceptions. Her versatile kit is a perfect addition for fighters like Gwen, Talon, or Shyvana, who can deal damage while holding their own.

Singed, the Mad Chemist

• Best duo: Xerath, Pyke, Rek’Sai
• Prismatic: Dragonheart
• Core items: Spirit Visage, Jak’Sho The Protean, Cosmic Drive
• Strongest Augments: Magic Missile, Infernal Conduit, Persevarance

Be honest, is there ever a more annoying champion you played against than Singed? Well, he’s even more irritating in Arena. His abilities turn each duel into a bloodbath, while his tankiness is what allows him to stay alive and win a lot of the fights.

Ryze, the Rune Mage

• Best duo: Karthus, Shyvana, Taric
• Prismatic: Night Harvester
• Core items: Banshee’s Veil, Void Staff, Cosmic Drive
• Strongest Augments: Magic Missile, Big Brain, Mind to Matter

Ryze has it all in Arena—mobility, damage and sustain. To maximize your win rate with the Rune Mage, you need how to use him properly, and often it helps to have a specific champion by your side like Taric or Karthus.

Ziggs, the Hexplosives Expert

• Best duo: Rumble, Lissandra, Fiddlesticks
• Prismatic: Demonic Embrace
• Core items: Zhonya’s Hourglass, Banshee’s Veil, Void Staff
• Strongest Augments: Magic Missile, Witchful Thinking, Big Brain

There’s not much to be said about Ziggs. His AoE abilities speak for themselves. It’s tough to survive his burst, especially if he’s picked alongside another perilous champ like Lissandra.

Naafiri, the Hound of a Hundred Bites

• Best duo: Xerath, Karthus, Azir
• Prismatic: Duskblade of Draktharr
• Core items: Maw of Malmortius, Guardian Angel, Youmuu’s Ghostblade
• Strongest Augments: The Brutalizer, Outlaw’s Grit, Thread the Needle

In a metagame filled with League assassins, Naafiri is one of the newest ones, and one that offers a truly iconic gameplay. Her kit revolves around attacking opponents alongside your Packmates, which often turns duels into messy bloodbaths. Still, if you go for proper targets and get along well with your duo partner, which should be playing a Mage of some kind, your chances to win the game are admirably high.

Elise, the Spider Queen

• Best duo: Sivir, Quinn, Jayce
• Prismatic: Night Harvester
• Core items: Zhonya’s Hourglass, Void Staff, Shadowflame
• Strongest Augments: Marksmage, Big Brain, Magic Missile

Elise is a stellar pick for the Arena mode due to her perfect silver lining between damage, crowd control, and mobility. With a few AP-based items under her belt, she becomes a deadly foe that can easily stun and tear trough every squishy target.

Udyr, the Spirit Walker

• Best duo: Rek’Sai, Kog’Maw, Nidalee
• Prismatic: Duskblade of Draktharr
• Core items: Lord Dominik’s Regards, Guardian Angel, Thornmail
• Strongest Augments: Scopier Weapons, Thread the Needle, Goliath

Taking on Udyr is a challenging task on its own, especially in League Arena. If he’s teamed up with a damage-dealing champ like Kog’Maw or another bruiser like Rek’Sai, it’s even harder. His ability to change his Stance every few seconds and adjust his strategy is what makes him unique and powerful in the recent meta.

Jayce, the Defender of Tomorrow

• Best duo: Elise, Zyra, Gangplank
• Prismatic: Duskblade of Draktharr
• Core items: Maw of Malmortius, Guardian Angel, Infinity Edge
• Strongest Augments: The Brutalizer, Skilled Sniper, Thread the Needle

We also have one of Arcane’s main characters and League’s oldest champions, Jayce. His biggest pro is he can stay in combat longer than most of the ability-based picks, since his hammer has two modes—melee and ranged. With his versatile kit under his disposal, Jayce can easily navigate a lot of fights in his favor, especially if he has an ally that can lend some crowd control, like Elise, Zyra, or Gangplank.

Nunu & Willump, the Boy and his Yeti

• Best duo: Sejuani, Zyra, Ziggs
• Prismatic: Everfrost
• Core items: Morellonomicon, Frozen Heart, Rabadon’s Deathcap
• Strongest Augments: Critical Healing, Goliath, Witchful Thinking

Nunu & Willump may be cute, but don’t be fooled—this duo is more than likely to kill you if you don’t pay attention. The champion’s prowess comes from their sustain on the battlefield and massive damage from a few of their abilities, most notably the ultimate. There are two routes you may take when playing Nunu & Willump; either go for outlasting the enemy duo with another tank or have a damage dealer next to you like Zyra or Ziggs.

Pantheon, the Unbreakable Spear

• Best duo: Skarner, Nidalee, Braum
• Prismatic: Duskblade of Draktharr
• Core items: Infinity Edge, Youmuu’s Ghostblade, Sterak’s Gage
• Strongest Augments: The Brutalizer, Bread And Jam, Thread the Needle

He always wanted to be a baker. While that dream has been always repeated by Pantheon in the game, currently he’s “only” one of the strongest picks in Arena. His skirmish potential is unmatched, especially alongside another tanky champion like Skarner or Braum, who can assist with some crowd control.

Nasus, the Curator of the Sands

• Best duo: Karthus, Rell, Ivern
• Prismatic: Cloak of Starry Night
• Core items: Frozen Heart, Sterak’s Gage, Sundered Sky
• Strongest Augments: Goliath, Rabble Rousing, Bread And Butter

We know it’s a surprising one; we also had a tough time picking Nasus on top of the list. But facts speak for themselves: Renekton’s brother is currently exceptionally powerful if he goes for a bruiser build and has someone like Karthus or Rell to back him up.

Graves, the Outlaw

• Best duo: Ziggs, Draven, Shen
• Prismatic: Divine Sunderer
• Core items: Guardian Angel, Lord Dominik’s Regards, Bloodthirster
• Strongest Augments: The Brutalizer, Outlaw’s Grit, Draw Your Sword

Graves has always been a strong pick on Summoner’s Rift, especially when it came to close quarter combat. Therefore, it’s hardly a surprise for us to see him excel in the Arena. His full AD build with aggressive outlets can quickly turn the Outlaw into a perilous champion that’s almost too strong to be true.

Vel’Koz, the Eye of the Void

• Best duo: Shyvana, Kayle, Shaco
• Prismatic: Runecarver
• Core items: Shadowflame, Liandry’s Torment, Rabadon’s Deathcap
• Strongest Augments: Magic Missile, Big Brain, Witchful Thinking

If you’re looking for a champ that’s easy-to-play and immensely fun, Vel’Koz is a perfect pick for you. The Void’s monster has massive burst due to his all-in build. He lacks mobility or any sufficient crowd control, but what he misses in that regard, he makes up for in damage. Undeniably one of the strongest picks in the current meta that can shut down any enemy if given the chance, therefore, it’s best to pick a tank or someone protective alongside Vel’Koz.

Morgana, the Fallen

• Best duo: Galio, Fiora, Viktor
• Prismatic: Runecarver
• Core items: Void Staff, Rabadon’s Deathcap, Shadowflame
• Strongest Augments: Magic Missile, Witchful Thinking, Spellwake

Another fun champion in the Arena is Morgana. She’s way more versatile than Vel’Koz due to her two powerful crowd control tools (Q and ultimate) and her Black Shield (E). Arguably, it makes her a better pick in handful of situations. In the end, it’s always worth to have a bit of crowd control under your belt, especially one that is as powerful as Morgana’s.

Sona, Maven of the Strings

• Best duo: Shyvana, Sivir, Heimerdinger
• Prismatic: Everfrost
• Core items: Redemption, Seraphin’s Embrace, Chemtech’s Purifier
• Strongest Augments: Sonic Boom, First-Aid Kit, All For You

Like we mentioned during Nami’s segment, getting a fantastic enchanter support in the Arena is getting tougher with every meta. Sona’s another exception. Her utility would be handful in any duo combination, though, in order to get some wins, it’s best to have a tanky bruiser alongside her. If not, tricky carries like Sivir or Heimerdinger will also work.

Cho’Gath, the Terror of the Void

• Best duo: Nocturne, Rengar, Ivern
• Prismatic: Dragonheart
• Core items: Randuin’s Omen, Frozen Heart, Knight’s Vow
• Strongest Augments: Goliath, Perseverance, Celestial Body

Getting large at eating your enemies. That’s Cho’Gath’s gameplay. What’s not to like here? The Terror of the Void is a perfect combo between simple tank and deadly AP caster that also happens to be dominating the mode, at the time of writing.

Xin Zhao, the Seneschal of Demacia

• Best duo: Irelia, Ziggs, Yorick
• Prismatic: Hamstringer
• Core items: Sterak’s Gage, Trinity Force, Infinity Edge
• Strongest Augments: Lightning Strikes, Deft, Mystic Punch

In case you want to showcase skills and have fun with flashy combat, Xin Zhao is your guy. His straightforward, pushy gameplay is perfect for the Arena, especially once you get items like Trinity Force and Sterak’s Gage under your belt. Due to his adaptive gameplay, a lot of different champions will often work with Xin Zhao.

Nidalee, the Bestial Huntress

• Best duo: Udyr, Ashe, Malzahar
• Prismatic: Night Harvester
• Core items: Shadowflame, Morellonomicon, Void Staff
• Strongest Augments: Marksmage, Skilled Sniper, Witchful Thinking

If you want to showcase your abilities of landing skill shots, look no more. Nidalee is perfect for such occasions, and she’s currently one of the best AP champs in the mode. Once you get Shadowflame and Morellonomicon under your belt, each of your spears will hurt a lot. When you round up the build with something like Void Staff or Rabadon’s Deathcap, it will be even more scary.

Lucian, the Purifier

• Best duo: Orianna, Akshan, Ryze
• Prismatic: Hamstringer or Galeforce
• Core items: Guardian’s Angel, The Collector, Infinity Edge
• Strongest Augments: Scopier Weapons, The Brutalizer, Lightning Strikes

Lucian’s arguably the most mobile ADC in Arena, which is why he’s one of the stronger picks in the mode. His kit was made for skirmishes like the one in the mode. It’s best to pair him with another strong carry like Orianna or Akshan. It won’t grant you a lot of survivability, but if you eliminate your opponents first, there should be nothing else left to survive.

Kennen, the Heart of the Tempest

• Best duo: Kai’Sa, Karma, Graves
• Prismatic: Runecarver
• Core items: Void Staff, Rabadon’s Deathcap, Cosmic Drive
• Strongest Augments: Spellwake, Jeweled Gauntlet, Witchful Thinking

Kennen has been one of my favorite champions ever since I started playing League, and in Arena he’s stronger than ever. Once you start completing your core items and manage to get a few of the better AP Augments, there’s no stopping you and your buddy. Especially if you’re paired with another mobile and deadly champion, like Graves or Kai’Sa.

Rell, the Iron Maiden

• Best duo: Zed, Graves, Shyvana
• Prismatic: Cruelty
• Core items: Heartsteel, Thornmail, Zeke’s Convergence
• Strongest Augments: Impassable, Perserverance, Courage of the Colossus

If you’re in need of a tanky champion who has a lot of crowd control in disposal, Rell should be your primary choice. She has always been a top Arena pick.

Amumu, the Sad Mummy

• Best duo: Naafiri, Wukong, Olaf
• Prismatic: Cruelty
• Core items: Heartsteel, Rabadon’s Deathcap, Jak’Sho, the Protean
• Strongest Augments: Guilty Pleasure, Impassable, Goliath

Last but not least we have the Sad Mummy, who should be happy instead. Amumu is wreaking havoc in the Arena as we speak, mostly due to his CC prowess and impressive damage. He’s also one of the easiest champs to play, so if you’re a newcomer, this one’s for you.

A-tier champions in LoL Arena

• Briar
• Lux
• Illaoi
• Darius
• Gragas
• Trundle
• Lillia
• Vladimir
• Poppy
• Shyvana
• Kog’Maw
• Garen
• Hwei
• Jhin
• Aatrox
• Sylas
• Anivia
• Xerath
• Evelynn
• Shen
• Brand
• Zed
• Kayn
• Sivir
• Lulu
• Pyke
• Taliyah
• Senna
• Gwen
• Zyra
• Mordekaiser
• Olaf

These champions are still incredible in teamfights and can greatly benefit from plenty of Augments in Arena. Besides that, you’ll find tons of versatility among these champions, from squishy yet powerful AD carries, mages, and supports to beefy and tanky bruisers and tanks, which combined can create some powerful combos.

By picking one of these champs, you have a guaranteed head start in Arena, especially since they mostly don’t require much knowledge and mechanical ability. They’re just not as successful as our S-tier champs.

B-tier champions in LoL Arena

• Malzahar
• Zac
• Lee Sin
• Wukong
• Hecarim
• Jarvan IV
• Fizz
• Riven
• Ahri
• Ashe
• Fiora
• Vayne
• Renekton
• Volibear
• Yasuo
• Rammus
• Cassiopeia
• Master Yi
• Samira
• Fiddlesticks
• Rumble
• Karma
• Ezreal
• Zeri
• Yone
• Nilah
• Azir
• Sett
• Kayle
• Alistar

Most of these champions have powerful kits Arena. But they often just fall behind in the end. Nevertheless, if one of these champions is your main and you can’t imagine climbing the ladder without them, we’re sure you’ll find ways to win them. You just need to know your limits, find a proper duo partner, and hope for some beneficial Augments.

C-tier champions in LoL Arena

• Viego
• Tristana
• Sion
• Caitlyn
• Lissandra
• K’Sante
• Maokai
• Leona
• Dr. Mundo
• Camille
• Teemo
• Katarina
• Jinx
• Malphite
• Draven
• Annie
• Gangplank
• Qiyana
• Warwick
• Urgot
• Rengar
• Irelia
• Bel’Veth

These champions are often still formidable in many key aspects of Arena, like teamfighting, tanking damage, being the main damage source, or providing utility and crowd control. But they’ll get outclassed by other champions unless you got lucky when choosing your Augments.

D-tier champions in LoL Arena

• Jax
• Sejuani
• Kai’Sa
• Soraka
• Shaco
• Miss Fortune
• LeBlanc
• Nautilus
• Diana
• Smolder

We’re off to the penultimate section of our tier list. Champions in this category might be fun to play, especially once you land an Augment or two, but they often fail to produce results. They’re usually tough to use in most duos and don’t have enough tools to climb the ranks efficiently.

E-tier champions in LoL Arena

• Aurelion Sol
• Yuumi
• Tahm Kench
• Ekko
• Neeko
• Braum
• Blitzcrank
• Thresh
• Heimerdinger
• Ornn
• Akali
• Taric
• Skarner
• Bard
• Twitch
• Twisted Fate

Last but not least, we have the list of champions who are barely playable in the Arena. They require a lot of game knowledge and proper combination with your duo to come out on top while playing them.

All images via Riot Games.