Arena is a deathmatch-esque game mode where 16 players duo up and face off against each other across multiple maps over a series of rounds. Read on to learn the best champions to play in Arena this Season!
From the introduction of thematic seasons to new jungle objectives like Atakhan, Riot has released a whole wealth of new and exciting content these past few years.
Of course, they also dropped Arena — a deathmatch-esque game mode where 16 players duo up and face off against each other across multiple maps over a series of rounds. The game mode is packed full of action, bloodshed, and chaos, and its release was met with overwhelmingly positive reception.
Whether Arena is live to play in the client, or you simply want to prepare for the next time it’s in rotation, you’re probably wondering which champions are best to play in this game mode.
While the “best” champion will ultimately be the one that’s most compatible with your duo partner’s pick, there are a few champions who consistently thrive in this game mode. These champions have a high damage output, can synergize well with a range of different champions, and can have their full potential unlocked through the unique Augment system.
Read on to learn more about these champions and, more crucially, why they dominate the Arena meta.
If you’re a dedicated support main, you’ll be pleased to know that Rell can be a fantastic pick for Arena. The same qualities that allow her to help her ADC partner reach their full potential in competitive ranked play — think her strong engage, high sustain, CC-overloaded kit, and her shield-destroying Q — also allow her to thrive in Arena.
Her CC becomes particularly overpowered in Arena, with many augments in the mode, like Accelerating Sorcery and Bread and Butter, granting ability haste or cooldown resets.
Her AOE ultimate, which allows her to pull her enemies close into her own personal ring of fire, can also serve as a great playmaking tool. She can use it to break her opponents’ positioning in a fight, allowing her carry partner to all-in safely, or even use it to put them into a vulnerable position on the map.
Just be mindful that Rell is extremely immobile when she’s in her dismounted state. Make sure to time your abilities carefully, particularly in those early rounds where cool downs are still lengthy.
Ryze is definitely not a champion for everyone. His kit is challenging to master, and unleashing his full potential also requires a high level of macro. However, for those who are dedicated to the mage? He can be a phenomenal pick in Arena.
His ultimate allows him to play around the map (and his opponents) with ease, he can dish out burst damage while staying mobile, and he synergizes with an array of comps. His W ability is even a point-and-click that grants a highly effective single-target CC.
To top it off? His weak early game, which is one of his main drawbacks as a champion in traditional Solo/Duo, is also heavily negated in Arena thanks to the Augment system and the faster game pace.
Cho’Gath — aka the ever-growing beast who strikes fear into low-elo players’ hearts — is one of the best tanks to play this Arena season. While he can be a little weak in the first few rounds, by the time it hits the later stages, he benefits significantly from the combo of his scaling passive and the Augment upgrades. His sustain is upped tenfold, meaning he can serve as a fantastic frontline for his carry duo partner.
Even if his duo gets caught out, he can still stay relevant and turn the tide of a round: He can dish out true damage with his ultimate and his kit is packed with useful (and reliable) CC. His Q knock up is especially strong in Arena, as its long range means he can apply it from a safe distance (and prevent his enemy from re-entering the shrinking ring).
The best part is that Cho’Gath is relatively easy to pick up. He’s also adaptable, with a range of possible effective build paths, and can be played with practically any duo.
Arena is overloaded with fantastic on-hit Augments, so it should come as no surprise that Bel’Veth, whose main damage source comes from her on-hit attacks, truly thrives in this game mode. She can scale and reach her soul-destroying late game god mode a whole lot faster than in the typical Summoner’s Rift.
Not only that, but Bel’Veth’s kit is packed with everything a player could need to succeed in Arena combat. She has high mobility, reliable CC, and true damage, all of which will allow her to effortlessly play around her opponents. She also particularly excels in extended fights — something Arena is particularly renowned for.
Although Bel’Veth has a lot to offer in Arena, keep in mind that she is very dependent on her passive and auto attacks for her damage. This does make her vulnerable against hard CC champions.
Yep, believe it not, the champion damned to be “forever alone” actually shines in Arena duo play! While there is an element of luck involved in Arena, due to the sheer amount of Augments Amumu can utilize effectively (especially Infernal Conduit), he’s able to consistently thrive in games.
He’s also tanky enough to withstand the deadly burn and those long, drawn-out fights — in fact, he enjoys it — and his build versatility even means he can serve as a supportive tank, AP carry, or whatever role his duo partner needs to survive through the rounds.
Amumu offers a consistent source of damage thanks to his AoE abilities, and he can effortlessly stifle his opponents’ movements with his CC. His bandage toss also allows him to engage on low-health carries (and stop them from reaching those game-changing power flowers or blast cones).
While Amumu has a lot of tools at his disposal to lock enemies down, be aware that he is very reliant on his bandage toss skillshot. You’ll need to master this mechanic to unleash his full potential in Arena.
Arena is by far one of the most entertaining game modes around, and its unique Fame progression system gives it a competitive flair too. If you’re truly determined to conquer the ring, it’s important to pick the right champions — Rell, Ryze, Bel’Veth, Cho’Gath, and Amumu are all great picks in 2025.
Once you’ve narrowed down your roster, take the time to master their mechanics, learn about their strengths (and optimal Augment paths), and familiarize yourself with their weaknesses too.
You should also make it a habit to check the patch notes for any Arena updates. Riot releases adjustments pretty regularly to tweak gameplay elements, balance champions, and change up the meta.
Ready to dive into Arena? Connect with other Arena LoL players (and find your perfect duo partner) through our Discord community group!
