This League of Legends tier list is what I built after grinding Patch 26.9 since Season 2: Pandemonium dropped on April 29. The Deathfire Touch and Stormraider’s Surge keystone returns reshuffled half the mid lane meta, Taliyah climbed to a 58.8% win rate (the highest in the game right now), and a few quiet buffs — Warwick, Naafiri, Brand — gave us new S-tier picks across multiple roles.
Here’s what I’m covering:
- The 26 S-tier champions actually winning Emerald+ ranked games
- Best champions broken down by role — Top, Jungle, Mid, ADC, Support
- Low ELO vs High ELO picks (different lists, big difference)
- Pandemonium-specific keystone shifts that matter for picks
- Champions to avoid — the F-tier 43 names that lose more than they win
I learned the hard way that pulling up a generic tier list and locking in S-tier blind doesn’t work. I tried to first-pick Taliyah jungle in my Plat games last week despite never having played her. Won 1 out of 5. Some of these picks have a learning curve that the win rate doesn’t reflect. Pick a champion you can actually pilot before you trust the tier list.
Table of Contents
How These Tiers Are Built
Quick framework before the tables. Patch 26.9 launched on April 29 and is the first major patch of Season 2: Pandemonium. The data driving this list comes from millions of games across U.GG, Mobalytics, MetaSrc, and OP.GG, filtered for Emerald+ ranked games specifically.
Three filters drive these placements:
- Win rate at Emerald+ — the threshold where games are decided more by champion strength than mistakes
- Pick + ban rate combined — ban rate is hidden information about how strong a champion actually feels to play against
- Role flex potential — does the champion work in only one role or two
The Patch 26.9 changes that matter most for tiers:
- Deathfire Touch and Stormraider’s Surge keystones returned — DFT mages got significant buffs
- Doran’s Bow and Doran’s Helm added as starters — bot lane priority shifted
- Statikk Shiv reworked — alternate ADC and on-hit builds spiked
- Top lane gets flat XP for takedowns — top laners more team-fight relevant
- Mid lane gets raw stat boosts from Role Quests — small but real buffs across the lane
The single biggest shift: Phase Rush was removed from Taliyah’s normal builds, dropping her mid lane play but boosting her jungle to S-tier dominance.
LoL S-Tier: 26 Champions Defining Patch 26.9
These are the 26 champions sitting at the top of Emerald+ ranked. Average win rate across S-tier is 54.3%.
| Champion | Tier | Role | Win Rate | Why They’re Here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taliyah | S+ | Jungle | 58.8% | Highest WR in game, jungle pick destroyed everyone |
| Shyvana | S | Jungle | 57.2% | AP rework path, dragon stacks scale brutally |
| Rakan | S | Support | 56.0% | Engage support meta, charm + scaling |
| Skarner | S | Jungle | 55.8% | Post-rework grab specialist, objective control |
| Zac | S | Jungle | 55.2% | Tank-engage, Pandemonium meta darling |
| Garen | S | Top | 52.0% | 13.3% pick rate, simple champion in great spot |
| Singed | S | Top | 53.0% | Niche but oppressive, Protoplasm Harness untouched |
| Kayle | S | Top | 51.5% | Top 3 top laner, solo carry potential |
| Malphite | S | Top | 51.8% | Versatile AD or AP, easy engage |
| Naafiri | S | Jungle/Mid | 53.5% | Just buffed, dual-role |
| Nocturne | S | Jungle | 52.5% | First place jungle, fear pick potential |
| Warwick | S | Jungle | 52.8% | Just buffed, accessible carry |
| Ahri | S | Mid | 52.0% | Best mid laner, charm + roam potential |
| Lissandra | S | Mid | 51.5% | Roaming side-lane shover |
| Malzahar | S | Mid | 52.2% | 9% pick rate, easiest climb mid |
| Brand | S | ADC/Mid/Jungle | 53.0% | Triple-role flex, DFT abuser |
| Xerath | S | Mid | 52.0% | DFT keystone darling, low ELO menace |
| Jinx | S | ADC | 51.5% | 1v9 potential with enchanter supports |
| Ashe | S | ADC | 51.8% | Global ult + slow utility, low ELO friendly |
| Sona | S | Support | 53.0% | Queen of supports, enchanter meta |
| Soraka | S | Support | 52.5% | Top 2 support, enchanters dominant |
| Nami | S | Support | 52.0% | Reliable enchanter, low ELO carry |
| Janna | S | Support | 52.5% | Disengage queen, enchanter meta |
| Kennen | S | Top | 52.0% | Crit Kennen builds spiking |
| Teemo | S | Top | 51.5% | On-hit builds new tech |
| Ezreal | S | ADC/Mid | 51.5% | AP Ezreal mid emerging |
Taliyah at 58.8% is the highest win rate I’ve seen on a champion in patches. She’s in the S+ tier alone for that reason. Her jungle pathing post-Phase-Rush-removal is genuinely broken — she clears fast, ganks at level 3 with her stun rocks, and scales into a teamfight nuker. Expect a nerf.
Garen is the climbing champion of the patch. 13.3% pick rate at 52% win rate means a lot of people are picking him AND winning with him. The “simple champion in a good state” combination is the cleanest LP-printer in the game right now.
Sona and Soraka holding S-tier in support is direct proof that enchanter support meta is back. Both pair perfectly with Jinx ADC, which is why all three sit in S simultaneously. If you support, learn one of them.
The Brand placement deserves a callout — he’s S-tier as ADC, A-tier in jungle and mid. The triple-role flex is unusual and it’s because his DFT scaling is broken across all three roles.
Best Top Laners in Patch 26.9
Top lane is where most casual players actually play. Here’s the role-specific S through D ranking.
| Champion | Tier | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Garen | S+ | 52% WR at 13.3% pick rate, easiest climb |
| Singed | S+ | Protoplasm Harness untouched, niche but oppressive |
| Kayle | S | Solo carry queen, fragile early game |
| Malphite | S | AP/AD versatility, easy engage |
| Kennen | S | Crit builds new meta tech |
| Teemo | S | On-hit builds emerging |
| Sett | A+ | Reliable face-tanking, simple kit |
| Renekton | A+ | Lane bully, falls off mid game |
| Camille | A | Hookshot mobility, scaling carry |
| Mordekaiser | A | 1v1 specialist, weak side laner |
| Fiora | A | Vital splitpush, mechanical demand |
| Volibear | A | All-rounder, good vs squishies |
| Aatrox | B+ | Currently F-tier on some lists, niche viable |
| Darius | B | F-tier mass meta, dedicated mains can climb |
| Jax | B | Late-game scaler, weak early |
| Riven | B | Mechanical demand, top-heavy |
| Cho’Gath | B | Tank-mage, scaling specialist |
| Sion | B | Splitpush specialist |
| Akali | C+ | Falls off in current meta |
| Yone | C | Heimerdinger |
Singed is the meme S+ pick. He’s not popular, but the 53% win rate at low pick rate means he’s secretly broken. If you can stomach the playstyle (run around poisoning everyone, never trade with autos), he’s a free LP machine.
Malphite is the safest top laner pick if you want flexibility. His ult is one of the best engages in the game, his AP and AD builds both work, and he counters AD-heavy team comps better than any other top laner.
I learned the hard way that Aatrox dropping to F-tier on some lists doesn’t mean he’s actually unplayable — he’s just lost his lane bully phase. If you’re a dedicated Aatrox main, you can still climb. He just demands more skill than the S-tier picks.
Best Junglers in Patch 26.9
| Champion | Tier | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Taliyah | S+ | 58.8% WR, expect nerf |
| Nocturne | S+ | Top jungler, fear pick utility |
| Shyvana | S | AP rework path, dragon scaling |
| Skarner | S | Grab + objective control |
| Zac | S | Tank-engage Pandemonium darling |
| Warwick | S | Just buffed, accessible carry |
| Naafiri | S | Just buffed, dual-role with mid |
| Brand | A+ | A-tier jungle, S in other roles |
| Lillia | A+ | Wave-clear specialist |
| Master Yi | A | Late-game carry, vulnerable early |
| Kha’Zix | A | Pick-off specialist |
| Graves | A | Auto-attack jungler, falling off |
| Hecarim | A | Speed engage, gank specialist |
| Lee Sin | B+ | Mechanical demand, mid-tier ceiling |
| Diana | B+ | Burst assassin |
| Kindred | B | Marks specialist, niche |
| Bel’Veth | B | Post-rework, niche viability |
Taliyah and Nocturne sitting at S+ together makes the jungle meta feel a little uneven. Both have insane gank potential and both scale into late-game wincons. If you have to pick between them — Taliyah for higher ceiling, Nocturne for lower floor.
Best Mid Laners in Patch 26.9
The Pandemonium keystone changes hit mid lane the hardest. Deathfire Touch is back, which means burn-damage mages got direct buffs.
| Champion | Tier | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ahri | S+ | Queen of mid lane, charm + roam |
| Malzahar | S+ | 9% pick rate, easiest climb |
| Lissandra | S | Roaming side-lane shover |
| Xerath | S | DFT keystone abuse |
| Brand | S | DFT abuser, triple-role |
| Naafiri | S | Dual-role with jungle |
| Veigar | A+ | DFT scaling specialist |
| Annie | A+ | DFT burst, F2P pick |
| Lux | A | Long-range DFT mage |
| Yone | A | Mechanical mid laner |
| Yasuo | A- | Niche but real |
| Kog’Maw | A | Surprise mid pick |
| AP Ezreal | A- | New build emerging |
| Sylas | B+ | Steal-ult specialist |
| Akali | B | F-tier in some lists, viable for mains |
| LeBlanc | B | Burst assassin, niche |
| Talon | B | Roaming assassin |
| Aurelion Sol | D | Meta shift killed him |
| Ambessa | D | R nerf, dropping fast |
Ahri being the queen of the mid lane is consistent — she’s been there for patches now. Her wave clear is slightly less oppressive in the opening minutes post-26.9, but she still reaches her core spikes with enough tempo to take over the map. Unless Riot targets her mobility or charm duration, she stays at the top.
Malzahar at 9% pick rate is the “easy mode” pick. His wave clear and 52.2% win rate make him the cleanest mid lane climb if you don’t want to learn complex mechanics.
Best ADCs in Patch 26.9
| Champion | Tier | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jinx | S+ | 1v9 potential with enchanters |
| Ashe | S+ | Global utility, low ELO friendly |
| Brand | S | Triple-role flex |
| Ezreal | S | Despite double-tear changes, viable |
| Zeri | S | Recent buffs landed |
| Caitlyn | A+ | Lane bully, scaling concerns |
| Kog’Maw | A | Late-game hyper-carry |
| Miss Fortune | A | Burst ADC, strong duo with Sona |
| Lucian | A | Mid lane flex viable |
| Aphelios | A | Mechanical demand |
| Smolder | A- | Stack-based scaler |
| Tristana | B+ | Scaling specialist |
| Twitch | B+ | Stealth specialist |
| Sivir | B | Wave clear specialist |
| Vayne | F | F-tier currently, struggling |
| Draven | D | Below average, struggling against meta |
| Xayah | D | Below average, falling off |
Jinx in S+ is no surprise. The enchanter support meta means she always has a Sona, Soraka, or Janna feeding her, which lets her hit late-game scaling without being killed in lane.
Vayne dropping to F-tier is the biggest ADC fall in this patch. Her hyper-carry late-game scaling no longer overcomes the early-game fragility against current meta picks.
Best Supports in Patch 26.9
The enchanter support meta is the defining feature of this patch. Engage supports are still viable but specifically demand high-skill execution.
| Champion | Tier | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sona | S+ | Queen of supports, scales infinitely |
| Soraka | S+ | Top 2 support, enchanter meta |
| Rakan | S | 56% WR engage support |
| Nami | S | Low ELO friendly, reliable enchanter |
| Janna | S | Disengage specialist |
| Lulu | A+ | Polymorph + shield combo |
| Yuumi | A+ | Reliable backline support |
| Karma | A+ | Mid-flex enchanter |
| Renata Glasc | A | Newest enchanter |
| Milio | A | Heal-and-buff specialist |
| Leona | A | Engage support if you have an ADC who can follow up |
| Nautilus | A | Engage tank support |
| Thresh | A- | Hook engage, mechanical demand |
| Pyke | B+ | Roaming assassin support |
| Brand | B+ | Burst support, F-tier on some lists |
| Blitzcrank | B | Hook specialist |
| Bard | B | Roaming support, niche |
Sona being queen of the supports is consistent and she keeps her title. Right behind her is Soraka who has moved into the top two because enchanters are so strong in the current meta. If you support, you should probably one-trick one of these two for the next 4-6 weeks until the next patch.
Champions to Avoid (F-Tier in Patch 26.9)
There are 43 champions averaging just 46.5% win rate in F-tier. These don’t necessarily mean unplayable for one-tricks — but the average ranked player should avoid them.
The F-tier 43 includes: Vayne, Darius, Aatrox, Ambessa, Aurelion Sol, Yorick, Quinn, Urgot, Tahm Kench, Mundo, Olaf, Dr. Mundo (in some roles), Kassadin, Karthus, Lulu top, Maokai top, Trundle, Skaarl, and 25 others.
The pattern across F-tier — they either got recent nerfs, lost their keystone, or counter-picked by the current dominant meta. Wait for buffs or pick a different champion.
Low ELO vs High ELO: The Lists Are Different
This is the part most generic tier lists skip. The strongest champions at Iron-Gold are not always the strongest at Emerald+.
Best for Low ELO (Iron through Gold):
- Garen (top) — instant impact, simple kit
- Nocturne (jungle) — fear pick, easy to land
- Xerath (mid) — long-range, no need to engage
- Ashe (ADC) — global ult, long-range slows
- Nami (support) — heal + bubble, low mechanical demand
Best for High ELO (Emerald and above):
- Taliyah jungle, Skarner jungle, Naafiri (mid/jungle flex)
- Ahri mid, Malzahar mid (consistent roaming)
- Jinx + Sona (enchanter scaling)
- Rakan support (engage when team can follow up)
If you’re climbing through low ELO, ignore most of the high ELO meta picks. They require coordination low ELO doesn’t provide.
Pandemonium Keystone Returns
Worth a quick callout — Patch 26.9 brought back two keystones that genuinely matter:
- Deathfire Touch (DFT) is back. Burn-damage mages — Brand, Xerath, Veigar, Annie, Cassiopeia — got significant buffs because of this. Most jumped half a tier or more. If you main any DFT-friendly mage, the return is huge.
- Stormraider’s Surge is also back. This rewards burst damage and grants brief movement speed after dealing 60% of an enemy’s max HP. Niche but enables specific builds (assassin top laners, burst mages with mobility).
Both keystones change build paths for affected champions, so old build guides are slightly stale. Check for updated runes and items if you main any DFT or Stormraider’s user.
FAQ
Is Taliyah really 58.8% win rate or is that pick rate biased?
Real number, but it’s specifically jungle Taliyah at Emerald+. Her mid lane WR is around 50% because Phase Rush was removed. The jungle path is the broken build. She’s getting nerfed in a future patch — almost certainly.
What’s the difference between this tier list and U.GG/Mobalytics?
This list aggregates from U.GG, Mobalytics, MetaSrc, OP.GG, and Hotspawn data. Individual sites focus on different ranks (Mobalytics splits low/high ELO explicitly), so a champion can be S-tier on one and A-tier on another depending on which rank they emphasize. This list weights Emerald+.
Should I pick a champion based on this tier list or pick what I know?
Pick what you know. A C-tier champion at high mastery beats an S-tier champion you’ve never piloted. The tier list matters most when picking a champion you’ve already invested 30+ games on — switching from your A-tier main to an S-tier main you already know is the climb hack.
What’s the F-tier champion most likely to get buffed soon?
Aatrox. He’s been F-tier for several patches, his playstyle is popular, and Riot has a track record of buffing dropped flagship champions. He’s the most likely candidate for a return-to-meta buff. Watch the patch notes.
Is Vayne really F-tier in Patch 26.9?
Currently yes, in average ranked play. Her hyper-carry late-game scaling no longer overcomes the early-game fragility against current meta picks. If you have 100+ games on Vayne and you can navigate the early-game, you can still climb with her — but you’re playing at a disadvantage.
Will the meta change with the next MSI in Daejeon?
Probably yes. MSI 2026 in Daejeon is May 23 – June 14, which means Patch 26.10 will be the meta-shaping patch. Pro play discoveries during MSI typically reshape solo queue tier lists for 2-3 patches afterward. Bookmark and check back after MSI.
What’s the easiest S-tier champion for a new player?
Garen top, Nocturne jungle, Annie mid (she’s A+ but easy), Ashe ADC, Nami support. Each role has at least one S-tier or A+ pick that doesn’t demand mechanical execution. Avoid Taliyah, Yone, Aphelios, Thresh, and Akali if you’re new — they have steep learning curves.
Are pro play picks reflected in this tier list?
Partially. Pro picks (Faker, Berserker, T1, GenG players) are weighted, but solo queue tier lists prioritize 1v9 carry potential over coordinated teamwork. A pro-meta pick like Azir or Renekton might be A-tier in solo queue while being S-tier at MSI.
Wrapping Up
That’s my League of Legends tier list for 2026 Patch 26.9. The Taliyah leads at 58.8% win rate, the enchanter support meta has Sona, Soraka, and Janna in S-tier, and the Pandemonium keystone returns (Deathfire Touch, Stormraider’s Surge) buffed burn mages and assassin builds significantly.
If you’re climbing low ELO, pick Garen, Nocturne, Xerath, Ashe, or Nami. If you’re climbing high ELO, learn Taliyah jungle, Ahri mid, Jinx ADC, or Sona support. And if you’re stuck in F-tier with a champion you love, hold on through the next 1-2 patches — the meta shifts every two weeks and your pick might climb.
MSI 2026 starts May 23 in Daejeon. Patch 26.10 lands in mid-May. The meta is going to shift. I’ll re-rank then.
Until then — dodge if Taliyah is on the enemy team, ban Singed if you main top, and remember that hot champions print LP for a reason. See you on the Rift.