Top League Of Legends Champions Of 2022: Meta Picks

Hey guys! Welcome to the ultimate rundown of the top League of Legends champions that dominated the rift in 2022! If you're looking to climb the ranks, understand the meta, or just want to reminisce about the champions that defined the year, you're in the right place. Let's dive into the best champions that made a significant impact in 2022. This article will explore which champions rose to prominence, why they were so effective, and how they shaped the meta. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, understanding these champions will give you a solid edge in your games. So, grab your summoner spell of choice, and let's get started!

Marksman/ADC Champions

1. Aphelios, the Weapon of the Faithful

Aphelios stood out as a complex yet highly rewarding marksman, demanding precise execution and a deep understanding of his weapon rotations. Mastering Aphelios meant mastering five different weapons, each with its unique basic attack and ability. This complexity allowed skilled players to adapt to almost any situation, making him a consistent threat in both solo queue and professional play. The key to Aphelios' strength was his versatility. With weapons like Calibrum for long-range poke, Severum for sustain, Gravitum for crowd control, Infernum for wave clear, and Crescendum for close-quarters combat, Aphelios could tailor his approach to any team composition or enemy strategy. His adaptability made him a top pick for players who could handle his learning curve. Aphelios also excelled in coordinated team fights, where his ability to switch weapons on the fly allowed him to maximize his damage output and control the battlefield. However, Aphelios also had clear weaknesses. He was highly reliant on his support in the early game and vulnerable to targeted crowd control. Teams that could shut him down early often found success. Despite these weaknesses, Aphelios remained a top-tier pick for those willing to invest the time to master his unique mechanics. Ultimately, Aphelios' success in 2022 underscored the importance of versatility and adaptability in the ever-evolving landscape of League of Legends.

2. Zeri, the Lightning Carries

Zeri zoomed her way into the meta with her unique auto-attack style and incredible mobility, quickly becoming a favorite pick for aggressive players. What set Zeri apart was her ability to kite and reposition in fights while dealing consistent damage. Her ultimate ability, Lightning Crash, amplified her damage output and gave her even more movement speed, making her a nightmare for opponents to catch. Zeri's kit allowed her to thrive in extended engagements, where she could weave in and out of fights, dealing damage while staying relatively safe. Her synergy with enchanter supports like Lulu and Yuumi further enhanced her survivability and damage potential. This made her a formidable force in the bot lane. However, Zeri was not without her vulnerabilities. She was relatively weak in the early game and required time to scale into her full potential. Teams that could apply early pressure and deny her farm often found success in neutralizing her impact. Despite these weaknesses, Zeri's hyper-carry potential and unique playstyle made her a consistently popular and effective pick in 2022. Her success highlighted the value of mobility and sustained damage in the current meta.

Mid Lane Champions

1. Azir, the Emperor of the Sands

Azir reigned supreme in the mid lane, known for his incredible scaling and ability to control team fights with his sand soldiers. Azir's range and sustained damage made him a lane bully, capable of poking down opponents and controlling the wave. His ultimate, Emperor's Divide, was a game-changing ability that could protect his team, engage on the enemy, or zone off key targets. Azir's strength lied in his ability to scale into the late game, where his damage output became truly terrifying. His sand soldiers allowed him to deal damage from a safe distance, making him difficult to catch and kill. He excelled in coordinated team fights, where he could use his ultimate to control the flow of battle. However, Azir was a difficult champion to master. He required precise positioning and a deep understanding of his soldier mechanics. He was also vulnerable to early game ganks and pressure. Teams that could exploit these weaknesses often found success in shutting him down. Despite these challenges, Azir remained a top-tier pick for skilled players who could unlock his full potential. His dominance in 2022 underscored the importance of scaling and team fight control in the mid lane.

2. Viktor, the Machine Herald

Viktor emerged as a dominant force in the mid lane, thanks to his exceptional wave clear, burst damage, and ability to scale into the late game. Viktor's Chaos Storm was a potent tool for controlling waves and harassing opponents, while his Death Ray provided reliable burst damage. His ability to upgrade his abilities with Hex Core items allowed him to customize his build to suit any situation. Viktor excelled at controlling the pace of the game, pushing waves to create pressure, and roaming to help his teammates. His late-game scaling made him a constant threat, capable of carrying games with his high damage output. However, Viktor was vulnerable in the early game and required careful positioning to avoid ganks. He was also relatively immobile, making him an easy target for assassins. Despite these weaknesses, Viktor's strengths far outweighed his drawbacks, making him a consistently popular and effective pick in 2022. His success highlighted the importance of wave clear, burst damage, and scaling in the mid lane.

Jungle Champions

1. Vi, the Piltover Enforcer

Vi punched her way to the top of the jungle meta with her powerful ganks, reliable crowd control, and ability to lock down key targets. Vi's Vault Breaker provided excellent mobility and engage potential, while her Assault and Battery guaranteed a kill on a priority target. Her tankiness and damage output made her a formidable force in both the early and late game. Vi excelled at applying early pressure, disrupting the enemy jungle, and snowballing leads for her team. Her ability to single out and eliminate high-value targets made her a nightmare for opposing carries. However, Vi was vulnerable to counter-jungling and required careful pathing to avoid being caught out. She also struggled against teams with multiple layers of peel. Despite these weaknesses, Vi's strengths made her a consistently popular and effective pick in 2022. Her success highlighted the importance of ganking, crowd control, and target selection in the jungle.

2. Wukong, the Monkey King

Wukong swung into the jungle meta as a versatile and impactful pick, capable of dealing significant damage while remaining deceptively tanky. Wukong's Warrior Trickster allowed him to deceive opponents and escape dangerous situations, while his Cyclone provided devastating AoE damage in team fights. His ability to build both damage and tank items made him adaptable to different team compositions and game states. Wukong excelled at skirmishing, ganking, and providing engage for his team. His ultimate was a potent tool for disrupting enemy formations and dealing massive damage. However, Wukong was vulnerable in the early game and required careful farming to reach his power spikes. He also struggled against teams with strong vision control. Despite these weaknesses, Wukong's versatility and impact made him a consistently popular and effective pick in 2022. His success highlighted the importance of deception, AoE damage, and adaptability in the jungle.

Top Lane Champions

1. Ornn, the Fire Below the Mountain

Ornn forged his place as a top-tier top laner with his incredible tankiness, utility, and ability to upgrade his teammates' items. Ornn's passive allowed him to purchase items from anywhere on the map, while his Call of the Forge God provided valuable crowd control and engage potential. His tankiness made him difficult to kill, while his item upgrades provided a significant advantage for his team. Ornn excelled at providing peel for his carries, engaging in team fights, and scaling into the late game. His ability to upgrade items made him a valuable asset in any team composition. However, Ornn was vulnerable to early game aggression and required careful farming to reach his power spikes. He also struggled against teams with high mobility. Despite these weaknesses, Ornn's strengths made him a consistently popular and effective pick in 2022. His success highlighted the importance of tankiness, utility, and itemization in the top lane.

2. Camille, the Steel Shadow

Camille sliced her way into the top lane meta with her exceptional mobility, dueling potential, and ability to isolate key targets. Camille's Hookshot provided unparalleled mobility and engage potential, while her Precision Protocol dealt massive true damage. Her ability to split push, duel, and assassinate made her a formidable threat in any game. Camille excelled at applying pressure to side lanes, picking off isolated targets, and scaling into the late game. Her ultimate was a potent tool for locking down enemy carries and securing kills. However, Camille was vulnerable to early game ganks and required careful positioning to avoid being caught out. She also struggled against teams with multiple layers of peel. Despite these weaknesses, Camille's strengths made her a consistently popular and effective pick in 2022. Her success highlighted the importance of mobility, dueling, and target isolation in the top lane.

Support Champions

1. Yuumi, the Magical Cat

Yuumi attached herself to the meta, becoming a staple pick for her unparalleled healing, shielding, and utility. Yuumi's ability to attach to allies made her difficult to kill, while her Zoomies and Final Chapter provided valuable healing, shielding, and crowd control. Her ability to enhance her teammates' strengths made her a valuable asset in any team composition. Yuumi excelled at keeping her carries alive, providing engage and disengage, and scaling into the late game. Her ultimate was a potent tool for disrupting enemy formations and securing kills. However, Yuumi was vulnerable to early game aggression and required careful positioning to avoid being caught out. She also struggled against teams with strong AoE damage. Despite these weaknesses, Yuumi's strengths made her a consistently popular and effective pick in 2022. Her success highlighted the importance of healing, shielding, and utility in the support role.

2. Thresh, the Chain Warden

Thresh hooked his way into the support meta as a versatile and impactful pick, capable of providing engage, peel, and utility. Thresh's Death Sentence provided excellent engage potential, while his Dark Passage allowed him to rescue teammates from danger. His ability to control the battlefield with his crowd control made him a formidable force in both the early and late game. Thresh excelled at protecting his carries, setting up ganks, and disrupting enemy formations. His ultimate was a potent tool for zoning off key targets and securing kills. However, Thresh was vulnerable to early game aggression and required careful positioning to avoid being caught out. He also struggled against teams with high mobility. Despite these weaknesses, Thresh's strengths made him a consistently popular and effective pick in 2022. His success highlighted the importance of engage, peel, and utility in the support role.

Conclusion

So there you have it, folks! The top League of Legends champions that defined the meta in 2022. From the weapon-wielding Aphelios to the cat-on-the-loose Yuumi, these champions left their mark on the rift. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, understanding these picks will help you dominate your games and climb the ranks. Keep experimenting, stay adaptable, and who knows, maybe you'll discover the next meta-defining champion! Good luck, and have fun on the rift!