LoL Patch 26.13 Tier List: Best Champions to Climb
Other Games
Adam HayesAdam Hayes

LoL Patch 26.13 Tier List: Best Champions to Climb

6 min read24 June 202676

LoL Patch 26.13 Tier List: Best Champions to Climb

Patch 26.13 dropped alongside Act 2 of the Pandemonium season, and Riot decided this was the perfect time to finally release the year's only new champion: because one patch of chaos wasn't enough. The League of Legends patch 26.13 tier list looks like this: enchanters still holding your hand in support, AP bruisers taking over top lane, and at least three champions you're playing being statistically suboptimal. Congratulations.

The ranked meta in 26.13 rewards players who pick best champions for ranked in 2026 and punishes those who don't. It's almost as if the game is designed to make you feel bad about your champion pool. Spoiler: it is.

Full Tier List: All Roles

Based on win rate data, PBI index, and the collective suffering of ranked solo queue. The LoL solo queue tier list changes every patch; this one is no exception.

Tier

Champions

Verdict

S+

Garen, Seraphine, Master Yi, Caitlyn, Viktor, Sylas (Jungle), Malphite

Pick or ban. Or lose slowly and blame your support.

S

Senna, Kog'Maw, Rammus, Sona, Ahri, Syndra, Zed, Akali, Katarina, Jinx, Miss Fortune

Reliably strong. No excuses if you lose on these.

A

Taric, Morgana, Warwick, Braum, Tryndamere, Gangplank, Galio, Veigar, Aphelios, Tristana

Solid. Outclassed by S tier if you're equally bad.

B

Trundle, Zeri, Vex, Lux, Renekton, Lillia, Nasus, Talon, Zoe, Ekko

Viable. Not optimal. Pick anyway if you must.

C

Lissandra, Shen, Shaco, Vladimir, Aurelion Sol, Ryze, Heimerdinger

Situational. You'll justify it. You're wrong.

D

Aatrox, Jhin, Annie, Ashe, Jayce, Ornn, Nunu, Caitlyn (without setup)

Actively feeding the enemy's win condition.

LoL Patch 26.13 Tier List: Best Champions to Climb

Best Champions by Role

Your definitive best champion picks by role for patch 26.13. Bookmark this. Lose anyway.

Role

Top Champions

Meta Context & Notes

Top Lane

Garen / Malphite / Mordekaiser

AP bruisers own this lane now. Fighters got nerfed. Doran's Helm changed everything.

Jungle

Sylas / Briar / Master Yi

Sylas buffed this patch. Fast clear, strong skirmish, steals ults. Ekko fell off. Adjust your picks accordingly.

Mid Lane

Viktor / Ahri / Syndra

Syndra's Q got buffed alongside HP buffs. Lissandra is back situationally. Locke is a wildcard.

ADC / Bot

Caitlyn / Senna / Jhin

Senna has the complete package. Caitlyn remains statistical top of the bracket. Miss Fortune is always safe.

Support

Seraphine / Sona / Milio

Enchanters running the meta. Milio returned to OP tier. Engage supports still work if your ADC can click things.

Stop Playing These

The following picks carry a statistically measurable chance of ruining your LP and, presumably, your evening. This is your champion tier list warning label.

  • Kai'Sa: 48.5% win rate. The skin collection is not a personality or a strategy.
  • Graves: 48.5% win rate. The jungle is not kind to him right now. He has not received the memo.
  • Gwen: 48.6%. Nerfed into irrelevance. Scissors and all.
  • Pyke: 48.5% support. Your one-trick is now a two-trick: feed and die.
  • Bel'Veth: Bottom of F-tier. She's taking over the Void in lore, not in your games.
  • Xin Zhao: 48.6%. The entry-level jungle pick that teaches you why entry-level picks lose.

Hidden Value: Underrated Picks

Nilah is pulling S-tier results at a 0.8% pick rate. If you're looking for hidden LoL meta picks 2026, this is as close as it gets to a free climb. Most players are feeding their LP into Ezreal at 5.4% pick rate and F-tier performance, because habits are hard to kill.

Ivern in the jungle holds solid B-tier at 0.8% pick rate. Uncontested. Invisible. Quietly effective. Much like players who actually read patch notes.

Top Lane: AP Takeover

The top lane meta shift 2026 is real and it's here. Riot nerfed bruisers and fighters into B-tier mediocrity. AP champions filled the vacuum with minimal hesitation. Mordekaiser, Teemo, and Malphite now form the unholy trinity of people who don't want to interact with you melee. Doran's Helm changed itemization paths, Ambessa got gutted in the role, and Ornn quietly climbed back into relevance before anyone noticed.

Top Lane Tier Snapshot

Tier

Champions

S+

Garen, Teemo, Darius, Sett

S

Malphite, Jax, Yorick, Aatrox

A

Tryndamere, Gangplank, Irelia, Volibear

B

Tahm Kench, Urgot, Gnar, Gwen

C

Kled, Kennen, Quinn, Vladimir

Skip the Boring Grind

Get boosts, currency, and everything you need for your next big push.

Meet your booster
Related posts
Wild Rift Patch 7.2: Yunara, New Items & Ranked Guide
Other Games

Wild Rift Patch 7.2: Yunara, New Items & Ranked Guide

Patch 26.13 is live. Locke hits the Rift, Sylas gets buffed, and the top lane is all AP now. Read the full tier list before you queue into another...

24 Jun 2026, 18:06
LoL Patch 26.13: Locke, MSI 2026 Meta & Balance
Other Games

LoL Patch 26.13: Locke, MSI 2026 Meta & Balance

Patch 26.13 is live. Locke hits the Rift, Sylas gets buffed, and the top lane is all AP now. Read the full tier list before you queue into another...

24 Jun 2026, 18:07
LoL Arena Patch 26.13 Guide: Augments, Buffs & Nerfs
Other Games

LoL Arena Patch 26.13 Guide: Augments, Buffs & Nerfs

Patch 26.13 is live. Locke hits the Rift, Sylas gets buffed, and the top lane is all AP now. Read the full tier list before you queue into another...

24 Jun 2026, 18:19

Follow us

Guides · Sales · Upcoming games

banner-horizontal-m

Be Crazy Like Rockstar

GTA 6, new seasons, major updates — get ready to dominate from day one.

Get Started

LoL Patch 26.13 Tier List: Best Champions to Climb FAQ

Who is the best champion to climb ranked in Patch 26.13?

Malphite for low Elo, Viktor or Sylas for higher brackets. Simple, effective, and requires you to actually press R.

Is Locke broken on release?

Unknown. New champions always feel broken because nobody knows the kit yet. Give it 72 hours and calm down.

Why did Sylas get buffed when he already has a 53%+ win rate in some brackets?

Riot balances for professional play, not your ranked anxiety. The answer has always been: no reason you'd accept.

Are enchanters still the best support picks in 26.13?

Yes. Seraphine, Sona, Milio dominate. Engage supports still work, provided your ADC cooperates. They won't.

Should I buy the High Noon Locke skin?

The skin looks good. The champion is new. Both facts are independent of whether you'll win games on him.

banner-horizontal-m

Be Crazy Like Rockstar

GTA 6, new seasons, major updates — get ready to dominate from day one.

Get Started
banner-horizontal-mobile

Be Crazy Like Rockstar

GTA 6, new seasons, major updates — get ready to dominate from day one.

Get Started