Despite Riot’s best attempts, there are always champions that tend to perform significantly better than others in any given season. So, if you’re looking to give yourself the best shot at climbing up the Ranked ladder? You’ll probably want to avoid champions who currently have the lowest win rates — read on to discover who these pool souls are.
League of Legends has an ever-expanding roster of over 170 Champions… And while we would like to claim that Riot has done a fantastic job at balancing Champions and ensuring an even playing field (or we should say Rift), as any veteran LoL player will tell you, the reality is quite different.
Despite Riot’s best attempts, there are always Champions that tend to perform significantly better than others in any given season. Of course, there are also Champions that seriously underperform, whether because they’ve been butchered by Riot’s nerfs or they simply lack the playstyle needed to keep up with the current meta.
So, if you’re looking to give yourself the best shot at climbing up the Ranked ladder? You’ll probably want to avoid Champions who currently have the lowest win rates. Below, we’ll break down who these poor souls are. We’ll discuss why they're performing so poorly, and crucially, whether or not you should still consider playing them in your games.
Kalista is one of the most unique ADC Champions out there in terms of mechanics. However, while this makes her insanely fun to play (and potentially deadly in the right hands), it also makes her incredibly hard to master. You really need to commit to learning the ins and outs of her kit to see any payoff. Otherwise, you’ll be looking at the gray screen of death for the majority of your games (*cue the 48% win rate*).
However, this isn’t the only reason she has a low win rate. She’s more reliant on her support due to her Oathsworn mechanic, which makes her much harder to carry with. This is especially the case in low elo games, where players aren’t quite aware of how to use her ultimate effectively. Her kit also makes her vulnerable against hard CC — something which many of the latest Champions are packed full of.
Still, Kalista does perform exceptionally well in pro play, where she has a team that can coordinate with her and unleash her full potential. However, this in itself is her downfall. Since she’s such a strong candidate in the pro scene, Riot is rarely ever tempted to give her any significant buffs. In fact, they actually often nerf her just before large, competitive esports events like Worlds.
Azir doesn’t just have one of the lowest win rates; he’s also one of the least played Champions in the game. Just like Kalista, Azir fits into the category of “hard to master and rarely ever rewarding in Solo Queue, yet powerful in pro play,” meaning Riot tends to keep him in a nerfed spot.
His situation hasn’t improved much this year, either. Azir shines in the late game after he has some farm under his belt. However, the current meta is heavily focused on the early game.
Still, Azir does have plenty of qualities that draw in players to this day. His mechanics (particularly the Sand Soldiers) offer plenty of skill expression. He also excels at applying lane pressure and taking down towers. He can be a great fit for a team that needs that additional pressure in the side lanes. Plus, his low pick and win rate also means he’s virtually never banned out in champ select (making him a good candidate for one tricking).
Of course, as we touched on earlier, Azir is extremely hard to play, so he isn’t a Champion for the faint-hearted. We wouldn’t recommend him unless you’re willing to put plenty of time and energy into mastering him.
Riot did recently rework Skarner in an attempt to shake off his decades-old dust and transform him into a viable Champion… And while it’s certainly an improvement, Skarner hasn’t quite made the impact Riot hoped he would. He currently has a pick rate of 0.77% and a measly win rate of 47%.
This is mainly a result of the recent round of nerfs, as well as his kit generally clashing against the current meta. He struggles against mobile, CC-heavy Champions — who are the top performers this season — and his early game is relatively weak and easily outperformed by aggressive (commonly-picked) Junglers like Viego and Jarvan. Skarner is also harder to carry on than other Champions, as his ult stun’s effectiveness is often reliant on his teammates following up.
Still, Skarner isn’t irredeemable. He’s able to take objectives with relative ease, including those early Voidgrubs, and he’s also tanky enough to serve his team even if he falls behind. He also has strong pick potential when played right.
Aah… Long gone are the days when seeing a Yuumi in your games felt like an immediate death sentence. While she may have been overpowered on her release, Yuumi has gone through buffs, nerfs, and reworks, to end up in a pretty sorry state. Her early game harass, while still useful, now lacks the damage needed to make a meaningful impact. Her low mobility and reliance on her team’s positioning also mean she has incredibly low carry potential, even if she does manage to get ahead herself.
In the past, her main strength (and what allowed her to climb the ranks) was her ultimate’s CC. This allowed her to control teamfights and secure picks effortlessly for her team. However, Riot adjusted this to a simple, significantly less impactful healing and damaging AoE attack.
Yuumi might work well if you have a reliable duo partner or are learning the ropes of the game and want a safer support pick. But in general? You’ll want to give this not-so-purrfect feline a miss.
While it’s true that the Champions above aren’t exactly in the best spot right now, that doesn’t mean you should disregard them entirely. Each Champion can be viable under the right player or in certain team comps. Yuumi, for instance, can be a good pick for a player looking for a safer, more beginner-friendly support Champion.
Many of these Champions are also insanely fun to play, with flashy combos and unique mechanics. They’re great choices for players who prioritize casual, fun play over grinding it out in Ranked.
Still, there’s no denying that these Champions aren't exactly going to make your climb up the Ranked ladder any easier. If you’re looking to give yourself the best possible chance at promotion before the end of the season? You’ll want to check out our guide on the best Champions to play.
