Patch 25.24 Tier List for League of Legends
Patch 25.24 closes LoL Season 15 with buffs to Nasus, Sejuani, and Braum, nerfs to Mel and Zed, and Zaahen topping every role's tier list.
By:
John Langan
Patch 25.24: Season 15's Final Champion Changes
Patch 25.24 closes out Season 15 for League of Legends with targeted adjustments across every role. Five champions received buffs, seven face nerfs, and a follow-up 25.24B hotfix added further tweaks: nerfs to Zaahen, Aatrox, Miss Fortune, Qiyana, Sylas, and Ambessa. The ranked season ends January 7, 2026. Patch 25.24 is the final window to hit your target division before the reset.
Below is a role-by-role breakdown of how these changes shift the tier list for the final ranked weeks of Season 15.
Key Takeaways
- Zaahen (released in 25.23) dominates the top-lane OP tier and was subsequently nerfed in the 25.24B hotfix, confirming his pre-nerf strength.
- Sejuani receives the patch's largest buff package: Q cooldown reduction, AP ratio increases, but her jungle impact stays modest without an AP-focused build.
- Mel is the headline nerf of 25.24: E damage reduced and mana costs increased, pushing her out of the OP tier she occupied since her release.
- Braum and Swain benefit most among supports: Braum via base health + passive damage, Swain via flat 6% passive healing at all levels.
- Miss Fortune retains her ADC throne despite a 25.24B base-health trim; her overall win-rate holds in the OP tier through the patch cycle.
- The Legend: Bloodline rune received a quality-of-life buff (max life steal 6% → 6.75%), benefiting ADC champions who run it.
- Season 15 ends January 7, 2026. Your final ranked games count double toward end-of-season rewards.
With those headlines in mind, here is the full role-by-role breakdown.
Top Lane
Zaahen, the Glaive Darkin released in Patch 25.23, sits alone in the OP tier at the top of the role. His AD-stacking passive synergises with the Black Cleaver rush that most top-lane players now default to. The 25.24B hotfix landed nerfs on him, so his ceiling may drop slightly in future patches, but for this patch window he is the answer if you want free LP. Malphite joins him in the OP tier as an ever-reliable teamfight pick that benefits from a crowded top-lane meta.
- Nasus (Buffed): Base health and Q damage increased. Keeps him in A-tier — enough to make him threatening in long games, not enough to elevate him beyond it.
- Swain (Buffed): Passive healing flat-fixed to 6% at all levels (was scaling). A mid-to-late sustain improvement that edges him into S-tier for players comfortable on the champion.
- Viktor (Buffed): Q shield increased significantly (scaling up to 140). Opting for Q-max in the top lane extracts real value from this buff; mid-lane Viktor stays B-tier.
Heading into the jungle: the meta there is slightly more volatile this patch.
Jungle
Sejuani is the most-buffed jungler of the patch. Riot reduced her Q cooldown and pushed AP ratios across her kit — but most jungle players run her tank build, limiting how much those AP buffs translate into clear speed or gank damage. She remains viable and climbing, though S-tier is realistic only with a dedicated AP build that few jungler mains adopt. Diana and Jax hold the top of the jungle tier unchanged.
Each jungle champion's ranking reflects how the nerfs and buffs play out across the 25.24 patch window.
| Champion | Tier | Patch 25.24 Status |
|---|---|---|
| Diana | OP | Unchanged — consistent carry threat |
| Jax | OP | Unchanged — bruiser jungle dominance |
| Sejuani | A–S | Buffed (Q CD + AP ratios) — tank build stays A-tier |
| Dr. Mundo | A | Q monster damage nerfed — clear speed slightly slower |
| Master Yi | A | Base health + AD growth nerfed — still viable, negligible overall impact |
| Blue Kayn | B | Shadow Assassin passive damage nerfed |
| Kha'Zix | B | Void Spike (W) base damage reduced — drops from S to B |
| Zed | B | Contempt for the Weak monster damage 200% → 180% |
Moving to mid lane, the landscape there has fewer shakeups but a meaningful power shift at the top.
Mid Lane
Naafiri, Diana, and Ahri hold the OP tier in mid with no changes in this patch. Viktor stands out as the main riser — the Q shield buff rewards aggressive mid-lane trades when playing Q-max. He sits at S-tier after the patch, up from a borderline A/S position.
Mel is the headline story in mid this patch. Her E damage was cut and mana costs increased — a direct response to her dominance since release. She drops to B-tier, though players who climbed on her should note that her kit fundamentals remain strong. The nerfs curb oppressive trading patterns, not her overall identity. If her play rate stays low after this adjustment, expect further patches to revisit her numbers.
Fizz and Riven both received buffs but have not found strong mid-lane positions; both trend toward B-tier or lower and are better suited to their primary roles.
ADC and Support
Miss Fortune remains the dominant ADC in Patch 25.24. Riot left the main ADC pool untouched in the 25.24 patch notes — the 25.24B hotfix trimmed her base health (640 → 625), a minor adjustment that does not dislodge her from the OP tier. Kalista stays at the bottom of the role without targeted buffs.
The Legend: Bloodline rune received a buff this patch: life steal per stack increased from 0.4% to 0.45%, pushing the maximum life steal cap from 6% to 6.75%. This benefits any ADC who runs it — particularly sustained-damage carries like Miss Fortune, Draven, and Jinx.
Support saw two notable moves. Braum climbs to S-tier on the strength of two targeted buffs: base health increased and passive post-stun bonus damage improved. He is the clearest winner in the support role this patch. Swain in support is viable and benefits from his passive healing buff, though his optimal home remains solo lanes. Mel support falls further after her nerfs — C-tier at best.
For players targeting their final season placements before the January 7 reset, Miss Fortune, Braum, and Naafiri are the safest ladder-stable picks. If you need to secure ranked wins in Patch 25.24 before the season closes, prioritise the OP-tier selections from each role over stylistic champion choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best top laners in Patch 25.24?
Zaahen and Malphite hold the OP tier. Swain and Viktor are strong secondary picks for players who invest in those matchups. Nasus received a buff but stays A-tier — reliable for farm-heavy styles.
Is Zaahen the strongest champion in 25.24?
Yes, for the top lane specifically. Zaahen was released in Patch 25.23 and the 25.24 patch left his core numbers intact — the 25.24B hotfix applied nerfs that take effect later. For the main 25.24 window he is the top-lane pick-to-win choice.
What happened to Mel in Patch 25.24?
Mel received the headline nerf of the patch. Her E (Rebuttal) damage was reduced and mana costs were increased across her abilities. She drops from OP-tier to B-tier. Players who built into her early-game trading windows will feel the most impact.
Did Sejuani get buffed in Patch 25.24?
Yes — Sejuani received one of the larger buff packages in the patch, covering Q cooldown reduction and multiple AP ratio improvements. However, her jungle application favours tank builds with little AP, limiting how much those buffs translate in the role. She is strong but not tier-breaking.
Is Miss Fortune still OP in Patch 25.24?
Yes. The main 25.24 patch left the ADC pool untouched. The 25.24B hotfix trimmed Miss Fortune's base health slightly but did not change her position as the premier ADC pick in solo queue. She stays OP-tier through the patch cycle.
What rune changed in Patch 25.24?
Legend: Bloodline received a quality-of-life improvement. Life steal per stack increased from 0.4% to 0.45%, and the maximum life steal cap went from 6% to 6.75%. This benefits sustained ADC carries and any champion running the rune.
Which junglers dropped the most in Patch 25.24?
Kha'Zix dropped from S-tier to B-tier following a Void Spike base-damage reduction. Zed also lost jungle viability through a Contempt for the Weak monster-damage nerf (200% → 180%), slowing his clear speed notably.
When does Season 15 end?
The League of Legends 2025 ranked season closes January 7, 2026. Patch 25.24 is the final patch you can use to push your division before end-of-season rewards are locked. The 25.24B hotfix remains active through the end of the season.