Updated Patch 25.22 Tier List - League of Legends

Key Takeaways

Triple Tonic's Elixir of Force buff (20 to 30 adaptive force) makes it a must-slot Inspiration secondary for level-6 burst mages like Syndra, Vel'Koz, and Kassadin.
Malphite holds S+-tier top lane dominance; Sion climbs to A-tier as Cash Back (now 8% legendary rebate) accelerates his tank build.
Volibear actually received base stat buffs in Patch 25.22 — his D-tier standing reflects accumulated earlier nerfs, not a new hit this patch.
Kha'Zix rises to A-tier jungle on Triple Tonic's early-skirmish power; true S-tier jungle belongs to Warwick, Diana, and Kayn.
Morgana and Diana lock in S+-tier mid — the midlane pecking order stays stable midway through the patch.
Naafiri continues to thrive in mid thanks to the Hail of Blades buff (melee bonus attack speed 140% to 160%).
Blitzcrank is a patch winner from his E cooldown reduction but sits at B-tier support, trending upward.

With those headline changes locked in, here is how the full tier picture breaks down across every role in Patch 25.22.

Patch 25.22 Meta Overview

The recent buffs to Triple Tonic have made it a strong Inspiration secondary across several champions. Volibear's tier-list struggles continue, though Patch 25.22 actually buffed his base stats rather than cutting them. Here's how these updates shape the tier list by role.

Top Lane Dynamics

In the top lane, Malphite continues to dominate as an S+-tier choice. Sion is emerging as a formidable A-tier contender following the buff to Cash Back (gold refund per legendary item rising from 6% to 8%). Sion's resilience and crowd-control capabilities make him a solid pick for tank players: even after a rough early lane, his roaming capability and teamfight impact remain significant.

Top Lane Tier List Highlights:
- Malphite: S+ Tier
- Sion: A Tier
- Yone: A Tier
- Volibear: D Tier (pre-existing from earlier nerfs)

Volibear's D-tier standing predates Patch 25.22: this patch actually gave him base armor (31 to 35) and base AD (60 to 62) buffs in an effort to shore up his numbers. He remains in a rough spot despite the boost.

Jungle Tier Analysis

Kha'Zix rises in prominence this patch. Triple Tonic provides enhanced early-skirmish power with additional adaptive force at level 6 — right when Kha'Zix wants to snowball through early picks. As a result, Kha'Zix climbs to A-tier as a top assassin choice in the jungle.

Key Jungle Tier Movements:
Kha'Zix: A Tier (up from B; indirect Triple Tonic benefit)
Ivern: benefiting from Inspiration rune changes
AD Shaco: A Tier with Hail of Blades buff
Skarner: reworked for AD-juggernaut builds in 25.22; tier settling

With the jungle meta sorted, the mid lane offers its own set of opportunities this patch.

Mid Lane Opportunities

Triple Tonic is particularly potent for midlaners with strong level-6 all-ins. Champions like Syndra, Vel'Koz, Annie, and Zed can capitalize on this power spike. The elixir provides additional adaptive force right when these champions are most capable of securing solo kills.

Noteworthy Mid Lane Champions with Triple Tonic:
Syndra
Vel'Koz
Annie
Zed

These midlaners benefit from the combination of Inspiration secondary flexibility and the buffed elixir, opening early-game power spikes that define the mid lane in Patch 25.22.

Rune Setups for Midlane Champions

When configuring rune setups for midlane champions in Patch 25.22, certain choices stand out. For Syndra, consider skipping Biscuit Delivery and opting for Triple Tonic instead. Meanwhile, Vel'Koz benefits from Triple Tonic combined with Cosmic Insight as secondaries. Annie and Zed can both excel with First Strike as their keystone, enhancing their all-in potential with complementary secondary runes like Scorch.

Syndra: Triple Tonic replaces Biscuit Delivery.
Vel'Koz: Combine Triple Tonic with Cosmic Insight.
Annie: Use First Strike with strong secondary runes.
Zed: First Strike to maximize early damage output.

Kassadin is a unique case, leveraging the Inspiration tree to accelerate his midgame spike. First Strike provides enhanced gold generation, crucial for progressing to his core build swiftly. This approach benefits significantly from the Cash Back buff and Triple Tonic, making it a powerful setup for this patch.

Midlane Tier List Observations

The midlane tier list remains stable midway through Patch 25.22, with Morgana and Diana holding S+-tier status. Changes implemented pre-patch have yielded expected results, such as LeBlanc's slight decline following her health growth nerf. Naafiri continues to thrive thanks to the Hail of Blades buff, justifying her place in the upper midlane tier. Other champions like Akshan and Aurelion Sol see minor net shifts — Aurelion Sol picks up a movement speed and Q damage buff, while Akshan absorbs a base health cut and Q cooldown increase.

ADC and Support Adjustments

For ADCs, no direct changes occurred in Patch 25.22, resulting in consistency at the top with Jinx and Ashe holding S+-tier. Ashe players find value in opting for free boots when additional sustain isn't required. The Biscuit Delivery nerf (minimum health regen scaling dropping from 2% to 1.5%) is a real change, though its per-game impact is small.

In the support role, Blitzcrank stands out as a patch winner due to his E (Power Fist) cooldown reduction (9/8/7/6/5 to 7/6.5/6/5.5/5 seconds). He settles at B-tier with an upward trend. Enchanters like Milio and Nami remain strong picks. Players looking to climb in any role can explore WowCarry's League of Legends coaching and boosting options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Triple Tonic worth running in Patch 25.22?

Yes, especially on midlaners with strong level-6 all-ins. Triple Tonic's Elixir of Force now grants 30 adaptive force (up from 20), giving champions like Syndra, Vel'Koz, and Kassadin an extra damage spike exactly when they want to convert solo kills.

Was Volibear nerfed in Patch 25.22?

No. Volibear received base stat buffs this patch: base armor 31 to 35 and base AD 60 to 62. His continued D-tier placement reflects nerfs from earlier patches, not Patch 25.22. His Q movement speed was reduced and E damage cap restructured, but raw base stats got a boost.

What tier is Malphite in the top lane for Patch 25.22?

Malphite holds S+-tier in the top lane. His reliable engage, tankiness, and value in mixed-damage team compositions keep him at the peak of the top lane meta through this patch.

Did Kha'Zix get direct buffs in Patch 25.22?

No direct Kha'Zix changes appeared in the patch notes. His tier rise is an indirect benefit from Triple Tonic's adaptive force buff, which powers up his early skirmishes right when he wants to snowball. True S-tier jungle in 25.22 includes Warwick, Diana, and Kayn.

What happened to Naafiri in Patch 25.22?

Naafiri benefits from the Hail of Blades buff (melee bonus attack speed 140% to 160%), keeping her in a strong mid position. No direct Naafiri nerfs or buffs appeared in the 25.22 notes.

Is Cash Back a strong rune after Patch 25.22?

Yes. Cash Back now refunds 8% of legendary item purchase cost (up from 6%), making it especially powerful on Sion, Ivern, Twisted Fate, and Miss Fortune — champions who build two or more legendaries and close out games quickly.