Easiest Champions to Climb with in Season 15
In Season 15, climbing the ranks doesn't have to be complicated or require over-the-top mechanics. This guide focuses on champions that are not only strong, or "S tier," but also easy and practical for climbing. You'll find champions that many might not expect, starting with a top lane surprise.
Top Lane Picks
- Singed
Singed has seen a resurgence due to significant buffs, making him easier to play and incredibly effective in low elo. His poison trail now automatically last hits minions, allowing him to clear waves efficiently. Once notorious for his proxy tactics, Singed now excels as a lane-focused champion. His strengths include:
- Fast wave clear: Easily clears waves by running in front of them with poison.
- Safe laning: Hard for opponents to all-in as he can flip them away.
- Effective AP tank: In mid to late game, he transitions into an AP tank that excels in team fights.
Recommended Build:
- Start with Doran's Ring
- Core items: Liandry’s Anguish and Rylai's Crystal Scepter
- Choose between Riftmaker for sustain, or defensive options like Dead Man’s Plate
- Consider Bloodletter’s Curse if your team is heavily AP
Rune Setup:
- Conqueror with Nimbus Cloak and Scorch
- Summoner Spells: Flash and Ghost
- Garen
Another powerful top lane option, Garen has recently benefitted from substantial buffs to his E ability damage. This has improved his win rate significantly, making him one of the easiest champions to play with zero complex mechanics. Key benefits include:
- Priority in lane: Maxing E guarantees wave push.
- Simple yet effective trades: Utilize Q to initiate with speed and silence.
- Sustainable in lane: His passive lets him heal up easily after trades.
- Start with Stridebreaker
- Second item: Phantom Dancer
- Third item: Spear of Shojin
- Finish with items like Infinity Edge for damage or Dead Man's Plate for defense
- Use Conqueror with Conditioning and Overgrowth in melee matchups
- Switch to Phase Rush with Second Wind for ranged matchups
Jungle Picks
- Diana
As an AP jungler, Diana is both easy to pick up and incredibly powerful. She offers one of the fastest clears with clear strengths across all stages of the game.
- Strong early dueling: Excellent in early skirmishes and scuttle fights.
- Versatile playstyle: Can gank frequently or focus on farming.
- Late-game powerhouse: Capable of carrying team fights with her ultimate.
Recommended Build:
- Rush Nashor's Tooth followed by Rabadon’s Deathcap for burst.
- Flex items: Zhonya's Hourglass, Riftmaker, or Lich Bane
Rune Setup:
- Take Conqueror with Free Boots and Cosmic Insight
- Jax
Given recent changes to his ultimate, Jax has become a formidable jungler. The buff has improved his team fight survivability significantly, addressing previous vulnerabilities.
- Enhanced resistances make him tankier during engagements.
- Capable of winning 1v1s and remaining effective in team fights.
The carefully selected champions above not only simplify the complexity of climbing but also enhance your effectiveness in various matches. Adjust your tactics according to the champion's strengths and capitalize on these adjustments for a successful climb.
Jungle Performance and Ganking Strength
Jax's jungle performance is highlighted by his impressive clear times, making him a strong contender against meta AD junglers. His E ability allows him to dominate 1v1 situations, providing a considerable edge. Moreover, Jax's ganking prowess is noteworthy; as long as you can get in range with your Q, the follow-up stun from E is easy to execute. Unlike in lane, where the stun requires more precise timing, Jax's stun in the jungle becomes an essential tool for successful ganks.
Versatility in Gameplay
The true strength of Jax lies in his adaptability throughout the game. He excels in both early aggression and late-game dominance, allowing different playstyles. Whether focusing on ganking to get lanes ahead or opting to power farm and scale, Jax is effective. In team fights, he can adapt his role—either initiating by jumping onto clustered enemies or playing defensively by using E to negate incoming damage.
Recommended Item Build
Here’s a suggested item path to maximize Jax’s potential:
- Trinity Force: Capitalizes on Jax's kit by offering valuable stats and leveraging the spellblade effect for increased damage.
- Divine Sunderer: Complements Trinity Force by providing extra damage and health, enhancing both offensive and defensive capabilities.
- Choice Item:
- Zhonya's Hourglass: Ideal against high DPS teams for added survivability.
- Sterak’s Gage: Best against brawler compositions to sustain longer in fights.
Rune Setup
- Use Lethal Tempo for increased attack speed.
- Complement with Free Boots and Cosmic Insight as secondary options.
Leading Mid Lane Picks: Vex and Morgana
Vex
Vex has evolved from a one-dimensional burst mage into a more versatile control mage. With a build focused on cooldown reduction—featuring Blackfire Torch, Lucidity Boots, and Cosmic Drive—Vex excels in team fights by frequently using Qs and utilizing ult resets to clean up. This shift allows her to counter popular mid-lane picks like Yasuo, Sylas, and LeBlanc with her crowd-control abilities.
Recommended Runes:- Opt for Phase Rush to enable quick repositioning in fights.
- Maximizing ability haste through runes increases spell cast frequency.
Morgana
Morgana stands out due to her excellent push ability and strong team fight control. Her W ability’s cooldown reduction on hitting champions and large monsters makes her particularly effective at securing objectives like Void Grubs. In fights, her ultimate can immobilize multiple enemies, while her E provides crucial protection and counters potential threats.
Standard Build:- Arcane Comet and Scorch: Enhance lane poke.
- Core items include Blackfire Torch, Haste Boots, transitioning into Horizon Focus or Rylais for increased crowd-control potential.
ADC Spotlight: Jinx
Jinx’s steady dominance owes much to her robust early game, bolstered by recent range buffs to Fishbones. Her gameplay focuses on using her twin weapons to excel in lane, maintaining minigun stacks for attack speed and leveraging Fishbones for extra range and harass. Jinx's capacity to influence team fights later makes her a formidable ADC.
Critical Items:- Galeforce leading into Infinity Edge for significant power spikes.
- Post-core build flexibility allows for situational choice, such as opting for Hurricane for enhanced area damage during team fights.
The champions outlined here each offer unique strengths that can be leveraged for a successful climb in competitive play. Adjust strategies and builds as needed to navigate various match-ups and team compositions effectively.
Jinx and Smolder Strategies
For players looking to maximize their gameplay with Jinx, it’s essential to understand item priorities. Against teams with melee-heavy compositions that tend to clump, opting for the Phantom Dancer as your third item is advantageous. The recent buff providing 10% movement speed makes it a particularly potent choice, surpassing Hurricane in many scenarios. After building Phantom Dancer, Jinx should transition to a Last Whisper item, followed by selecting a utility item tailored to the needs of the match.
In contrast, Smolder’s gameplay approach has evolved. Traditionally known as a late-game powerhouse, recent adjustments have shifted some of his strengths to an earlier point in the game. Here are key strategies for playing Smolder effectively:
- Aggressive Early Game: Engage more aggressively, focusing on acquiring stacks quickly rather than passively farming.
- Optimal Stack Usage: Reach the 225-stack threshold swiftly to unlock his Q’s full potential as an execute.
- Flexible Playstyle: Adapt playstyle based on lane matchups—utilize a more aggressive rune setup in high-trading lanes, and a defensive setup in slower-paced matchups.
Smolder's Itemization:
- Early Core: Start with Essence Reaver to address mana concerns.
- Mid Core: Transition into Infinity Edge and Rapid Firecannon for enhanced critical hit damage.
- Late Game: Finish with a Last Whisper item and an adaptable utility item based on team needs.
Support Picks: Milio and Brand
Support roles can dramatically influence the game's outcome. This patch offers two diverse support picks: Milio and Brand.
Milio: The All-Rounder SupportMilio stands out for his comprehensive support kit, perfect for players who enjoy providing varied aid to their team:
- Lane Phase: Use shields for trades and W for extended skirmishes or sustained healing.
- Mid to Late Game: Shield key allies and save ultimate for crucial CC cleanses.
- Itemization: Upgrade to Dream Maker, rush Echoes of Helia, and choose between Moonstone or Ardent Censer based on team needs.
Milio’s kit offers both offensive and defensive capabilities, allowing for flexible and influential play.
Brand: The Offensive SupportBrand excels in providing immense damage and poke potential, perfect for aggressive engages:
- Lane Phase Tactics: Constantly poke with abilities and use passive to spread damage.
- Ultimate: Utilize his ultimate in 2v2 situations for increased bounce potential.
- Itemization: Start with Ryze for slowing effects and follow with Liandry’s Anguish and additional damage items like Blackfire Torch or Void Staff.
Brand provides a unique blend of damage and control, turning him into a persistent threat throughout the game.
Both support choices bring diverse strategies to the table, allowing players to adapt based on personal preference and team composition.
Both support champions discussed offer versatility and can significantly impact the outcome of a game with their distinctive play styles. Whether you prefer the strategic positioning of a Healer Support or the aggressive engagement of an Offensive Support like Brand, these roles cater to different team needs and player preferences. Leveraging these supports effectively can make a notable difference in climbing the ranks, enhancing your gameplay experience with coordinated team dynamics and optimized item builds. As the season progresses, continue refining these strategies to advance efficiently in your climb.
