Best Solo Carry Champions for Patch 25.23 in League of Legends

Key Takeaways

• Nerfs to Jinx and Ashe open the ADC role for Smolder and Vayne, both of whom climb as primary carry options when paired with enchanters.
• Naafiri continues her mid-lane dominance for a second consecutive patch, with Hail of Blades and Voltaic Cyclosword remaining the optimal opener.
• Kassadin accelerates his Rod of Ages path through Cash Back and Triple Tonic inspiration runes, reducing his historically problematic early-game window.
• Patch 25.23 introduces Zaahen — a Darkin Glaive top-lane fighter — as the headline new champion release.
• Seraphine has risen into the support top tier following W heal improvements from earlier patches; her W-first skill order produces the best win rate.
• Garen, Kayle, and Malphite are the three most reliable top-lane solo-carry options this patch, each for different matchup reasons.
• Milio and Blitzcrank remain strong support picks; banning key counters before locking in either champion is critical to realizing their carry potential.

Here is the full champion-by-champion breakdown for each role in Patch 25.23.

Patch 25.23 Solo Carry Champions

With nerfs landing on Jinx and Ashe, the ADC role is set for a shift in patch 25.23. A rune setup from recent patches continues to bolster several champions as solo carry options. Here are the three top-performing champions per role, along with the builds and bans that maximize their impact.

Top Lane Champions

1. Malphite
   • Despite a buff to his W damage against monsters, Malphite's top-lane strength is largely unchanged. His core item Sunfire Aegis benefits from the increased monster damage modifier, slightly improving objective fight performance.
   • Build Path: Rush Sunfire Aegis or Hullbreaker, followed by situational tank items.
   • Consider banning Sylas — his ability to steal Malphite's ultimate can turn team fights against you at critical moments.
2. Kayle
   • Strong scaling and effective level-one dueling make Kayle excellent against popular top laners like Garen and Darius.
   • Build Path: Nashor's Tooth first, followed by Rabadon's Deathcap and Lich Bane.
   • Avoid Malphite — his tankiness and attack speed reduction significantly hinder Kayle's DPS output.
3. Garen
   • Currently one of the strongest top-lane picks, Garen's straightforward playstyle allows consistent success when matchup knowledge is applied correctly.
   • Build Path: Rush Stridebreaker, then Phantom Dancer and either Spear of Shojin or Infinity Edge.
   • Ban Kayle — she kites Garen with ranged auto attacks and neutralizes his ultimate with her own.

New to patch 25.23 is Zaahen, a Darkin Glaive top-lane fighter — the major new champion release of this patch. New champion releases typically shake up top-lane matchup tables as players probe for weaknesses, so expect Zaahen to appear frequently in draft.

Jungle Champions

1. Kha'Zix
   • Benefiting from rune changes, Kha'Zix finds new strength with First Strike as the keystone, elevating damage throughput and gold earning potential in skirmishes.
   • Build Path: Youmuu's Ghostblade, then The Collector and either Edge of Night or Serylda's Grudge.
   • Consider banning Rengar — his stealth mechanics make it difficult for Kha'Zix to capitalize on isolated targets.
2. Jax
   • Dominant as a solo-queue jungler, Jax thrives in favorable matchups against popular picks like Master Yi, Viego, and Diana.
   • Build Path: Trinity Force into Sundered Sky, maximizing dueling power and tankiness in extended fights.
   • Kha'Zix is a strong ban for Jax — his mobility and stealth create engagements where Jax cannot leverage his counter-strike effectively.

Jarvan IV has shifted toward an assassin build with lethality this patch, overperforming on Profane Hydra into Axiom Arc. The Axiom Arc reduces his ultimate cooldown, creating more frequent dive opportunities onto the enemy backline. While a ban targeting a dominant support like Lulu is advisable, players can lean into a bruiser setup against tank-heavy compositions.

Kassadin's Consistent Mid-Lane Strength

Kassadin is a powerful mid-lane choice this patch, with inspiration primary runes — Cash Back and Triple Tonic — accelerating his item path toward Rod of Ages. Cash Back's legendary item cost rebate and Triple Tonic's enhanced adaptive force combine to compress his ramp time, partially addressing the early-game weakness that defines his laning phase. Banning Zed is strategic here: AD mid laners pose the greatest risk to Kassadin before he comes online.

The rune and itemisation path is manageable with reps, but players new to Kassadin will find the early laning phase clicks fastest with a session focused on matchup-specific trades. Study Kassadin's mechanics with a ranked coach to close the early-game gap faster.

Naafiri's Dominance Among AD Assassins

Holding a top spot for the second consecutive patch, Naafiri benefits from Hail of Blades' attack speed burst. Rushing Voltaic Cyclosword enhances her engagement potential, letting her capitalize on slows and secure kills as packmates apply pressure. Taking Triple Tonic and Cash Back as secondary inspiration runes further elevates her performance. Yasuo is a recommended ban — his shield mechanics and mobility directly counter Naafiri's burst window.

Morgana's Tactical Mid-Lane Play

Morgana remains a strong mid-lane option. Her W is the primary wave control tool, ensuring lane priority for contesting objectives like the scuttle crab. Her recommended build is Blackfire Torch first, followed by Horizon Focus against squishy opponents or Liandry's Anguish against tankier enemies. Inspiration secondaries including Cash Back and Triple Tonic add unexpected early-game strength to her kit.

ADC Shifts: Smolder and Vayne Rise

With nerfs to Jinx and Ashe, Smolder and Vayne are emerging as strong picks. Smolder thrives alongside enchanters like Milio and Nami, preferring Teleport for better map presence in specific matchups. His goal is stacking his Q as efficiently as possible — Essence Reaver into either Spear of Shojin or Infinity Edge is the standard path.

Vayne finds power in a three-item core that converts her into a formidable DPS tank, accessible even for less mechanically experienced players. Blade of the Ruin King, Rageblade, and Experimental Hexplate synergize around her W true damage and the Overdrive passive burst after ultimate.

Players who want to carry these ADC results through the patch without grinding the matchup knowledge themselves can earn ranked wins with the patch's best solo carries while the window is open.

• Top ADC Bans to Consider: Ashe (still powerful despite nerfs), Karma (strong utility pairing), Yasuo (specific unfavorable interactions with Vayne)

With those ADC options covered, the support role offers its own strong solo-carry picks this patch.

Strong Support Champions in Patch 25.23

Miss Fortune's current meta build for the support role takes a crit-carry approach, maximizing her R utility when paired with engage supports. She gains an additional edge with the Elixir of Force at level six. Her optimal item path runs Bloodthirster, The Collector, and Infinity Edge. Miss Fortune struggles against heavy dive compositions due to her lack of mobility — banning Zed or Jarvan when playing her is strongly advised.

Blitzcrank remains a formidable support pick with a reduced E cooldown from previous patches. For optimal gameplay: max W second and E last for improved win rates; build toward Locket of the Iron Solari and Redemption, with Celestial Opposition as an upgrade; run Glacial Augment as the keystone with Sorcery secondary runes. Blitzcrank is particularly strong against enchanters — banning Braum maximizes his hook-and-burst potential.

Milio remains a dominant versatile enchanter. His knockback controls melee threats effectively, and his ultimate cleanses critical crowd control in team fights. The recommended build runs Echoes of Helia as the core rush item, Moonstone Renewer for survivability against dive compositions, and Ardent Censer for increased damage in tank-heavy matchups. Blitzcrank is Milio's most dangerous support matchup — prioritize banning him when locking in Milio.

Seraphine's Rise in the Support Tier

Seraphine has moved into the top support ranks following significant W heal improvements from earlier in the season. The most effective strategy runs Redemption into Moonstone Renewer. Maxing W first, then E, and Q last produces the highest win rate — particularly in higher-elo play. Avoid hook champions like Pyke or Blitzcrank by banning one of them when playing Seraphine. Seraphine offers a strong alternative to the long-dominant Milio, Lulu, and Nami at the top of the support tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best solo carry champions in Patch 25.23?

Top lane: Garen, Kayle, Malphite. Jungle: Kha'Zix, Jax, Jarvan IV (assassin build). Mid lane: Kassadin, Naafiri, Morgana. ADC: Smolder, Vayne. Support: Seraphine, Milio, Blitzcrank. Each role has at least two reliable solo-carry options following the Jinx and Ashe nerfs that shifted the ADC meta.

Is Naafiri still good in Patch 25.23?

Yes. Naafiri holds her S-tier mid-lane position for the second consecutive patch. Hail of Blades into Voltaic Cyclosword remains the optimal opener, letting her proc multiple energized attacks during skirmishes through her dashing kit. Triple Tonic and Cash Back as secondary inspiration runes further accelerate her build path.

What is the best ADC to play in Patch 25.23?

Smolder and Vayne are the strongest rising ADCs after nerfs to Jinx and Ashe. Smolder pairs best with enchanter supports (Milio, Nami) and focuses on Essence Reaver into Spear of Shojin. Vayne runs Blade of the Ruin King, Rageblade, and Experimental Hexplate for a durable DPS build that functions well even at lower mechanical proficiency.

Is Kassadin a good pick in Patch 25.23?

Yes. Kassadin benefits from Cash Back and Triple Tonic inspiration runes that speed up his Rod of Ages acquisition, partially offsetting his early-game weakness. He scales into a dominant force mid-to-late game. Banning Zed is recommended — AD mid laners are the primary risk to Kassadin during his vulnerable early laning phase.

What are the best support picks in Patch 25.23?

Seraphine, Milio, and Blitzcrank lead the support tier. Seraphine is particularly strong after earlier W heal improvements — max W first for the best win rate. Milio provides reliable peel and team-fight utility. Blitzcrank is dominant against enchanter compositions with his hook potential and shield-breaking passive.

What new champion was released in Patch 25.23?

Zaahen — a Darkin Glaive top-lane fighter — releases in Patch 25.23. As with any new champion release, expect a higher play rate during the novelty window and ban him if you want to avoid unpredictable interactions in ranked play until the community establishes his counter-play patterns.

What happened to Jinx and Ashe in Patch 25.23?

Both Jinx and Ashe received nerfs this patch, reducing their dominance at the top of the ADC tier list. The exact adjustments make them slightly less consistent as primary picks, opening the window for Smolder and Vayne to emerge as the top ADC options for players looking to solo carry through the bot lane.