Throughout the history since its official launch to the current League of Legends community, this game has provided players with an immense number of champions, approximately 159 champions to date (including newly launched champions like Renata Glasc and Zeri). These champions have mostly gone through ups and downs, sometimes being hot picks or bans but at times becoming… “the neglected ones” of Riot.
However, there are champions that, despite experiencing many ups and downs, getting nerfed and buffed, almost never go out of meta. The only question is whether they are effective in professional matches or not; in ranked games or casual matches, these champions are always the top choice for players.
Lee Sin
The name that is always considered suitable for every meta, and also the first skill matchup on this list, is Blind Monk Lee Sin. Looking for a champion with multi-target damage skills, crowd control, initiation capabilities, mobility, and good burst damage? Look no further than Lee Sin. Especially, this champion is also associated with the names of many top junglers in the world such as SofM, Tian, Canyon… and notably InSec with the legendary combo.
League of Legends has changed many metas and playstyles, gone through numerous updates, but it can be said that when mentioning the jungle role, out of 10 League of Legends players, perhaps 9 think of Lee Sin first. Later on, this champion also appeared in both top lane, mid lane, or even support. Even in the current 2022 season, Lee Sin remains the top choice for both casual players and professional players, with the ability to turn the tide of battle.
Thresh
Another name associated with highly skilled players, one of whom has been canonized by LPL fans. This champion is Thresh, and the legend known worldwide for mastering this champion is none other than “The Great Hook” MadLife. Currently, another player is proving himself to be extremely skillful with Thresh, namely T1’s “Super Support” Keria.
Thresh is also considered a perfect champion as he possesses a complete skill set, including crowd control, knock-ups, damage burst, and team support. It can be said that Thresh is the best support champion that players and pro players who prefer the Support position must practice to master. Even for players like Keria or MadLife, Thresh is still a top initiation champion with a well-executed Death Sentence.
Ezreal
If Lux is considered Riot’s “darling,” then Ezreal is Riot’s “firstborn” as this champion possesses a number of skins that rival the female champion from Demacia. Notably, Ezreal is also one of the first champions with a skill set that is always quite suitable for every meta. Additionally, Ezreal is one of the first ADCs in League of Legends to have an extremely mobile skill set with good burst damage.
However, currently, Ezreal is used less as this champion doesn’t scale very well into the late game. Ezreal’s mobility skills are great, but with ADCs today also being equally mobile and having high burst damage, and being easier to use, it has made Ezreal somewhat fall out of favor, especially in the professional League of Legends arena.
Kai’Sa
And when talking about champions that are quite strong and have almost never gone out of meta since their launch, with a perfect skill set for an ADC, one cannot forget Kai’Sa. This champion, in Spring 2022, was even played mid lane by the legend Faker and managed to create some certain surprises.
Nevertheless, Kai’Sa is also a skill matchup as she possesses skills that are not always easy to aim accurately. Not to mention, like any ADC, Kai’Sa is quite weak in the early game and has almost no impact in fights due to insufficient damage. But if this champion can reach the late game smoothly, just one combo with Killer Instinct, Kai’Sa can completely shut down any “squishy” target.
Yasuo
And the final name is the “National Champion” Yasuo – the champion who is both the most loved and the most hated in League of Legends. In particular, Yasuo possesses a skill set that no novice player can master. But once one can achieve Yasuo mastery level 7, with just one combo of Steel Tempest – Last Breath, and then using Sweeping Blade if the opponent has not been taken down, a Yasuo can completely solo kill any opponent at any time.
But because of such a powerful skill set, Yasuo is very difficult to play. However, playing Yasuo always gives players a sense of joy, exhilaration, or being completely “crushed” if they encounter a Yasuo on their team who feeds or an opponent’s Yasuo who is too skilled. It can be said that perhaps even Riot did not expect one of the first champions created in League of Legends to become a true legend like the case of The Unforgiven.
