Best Champions to Climb League of Legends Ranked in Patch 25.17

Best Champions to Climb League of Legends Ranked in Patch 25.17

Martin Arévalo-Östberg

1 Sep, 2025, 21:49

|

Last updated: 11 May, 2026, 14:37

With Patch 25.17 shaking up the meta, players looking to climb the ranked ladder are searching for the most effective champions in League of Legends to secure consistent wins. Following on recent trends, Riot’s latest round of balance changes has pushed certain picks further into the spotlight, making them prime choices in Solo Queue.

If your goal is to make it up the ladder, knowing which champions thrive in the current patch can give you the edge you need. Here's a look at the best champions to climb LoL ranked in Patch 25.17.

Best champions to climb ranked lol patch 25.17
Image exclusive to Strafe Esports

Best Top Lane Champions

Sett

Sett remains one of the strongest champions in the Top Lane due to his strong laning and his ability to disrupt team fights with a nicely aimed [R] The Show Stopper.

Despite his ridiculously high pick rate (9.3%), Sett continues to hold one of the best win rates in the game (52.40%).

Mordekaiser

If you're looking to take over games from the Top Lane, then Mordekaiser is the pick for you. Despite the new AD scalings on his [Q] Obliterate, continue building items like Rylai's Crystal Scepter and Riftmaker for your best chance at climbing ranked in Patch 25.17.

Singed

The newest patch delivered nerfs to Singed's signature ability, [Q] Poison Trail. Clearly, these were not enough. Singed currently has the highest win rate in the Top Lane in Patch 25.17 at nearly 53%.

Though his playstyle may take some getting used to, players who take the time to master Singed soon find themselves rewarded with some juicy LP.

Singed is one of the best champions to climb lol ranked in patch 25.17
Credit: Riot Games

Best Jungle Champions

Volibear

Volibear stands out in the Jungle due to his strong early game fueled by great ganks and powerful dueling. Once your level 6 gives you access to [R] Stormbringer, however, that's when you really become a problem.

Players will benefit from Volibear's simple kit and straightforward playstyle, making him one of the best champions in League of Legends to climb ranked in Patch 25.17.

 Warwick

A fast jungler from the get-go, Warwick's [W] Blood Hunt can help you secure easy kills from very early on. Later into the game, the champion's [R] Infinite Duress allows you to lock an enemy carry down, potentially winning your team the game on the spot.

Briar

Put simply, Briar is simply out of control right now. Like Volibear, Briar's kit is simple and easy to use, making her one of the best picks in Solo Queue. The recent buffs to Blade of the Ruined King have served to see Briar's power skyrocket, making her the champion with the highest win rate (53.71%) in the Jungle in LoL Patch 25.17.

briar is one of the best junglers to climb league of legends ranked in patch 25.17
Credit: Riot Games

Best Mid Lane Champions

Malzahar

Yet again, Malzahar stands tall thanks to his invaluable ultimate, [R] Nether Grasp, which allows the champion to nullify an enemy carry on the spot. Looking past this, though, Malzahar has a safe laning phase and some great scaling, making him a perfect pick for Solo Queue.

Lux

Lux excels thanks to her range and high burst. A single well-timed [Q] Light Binding in the mid-to-late game will almost certainly spell doom for an enemy champion, often giving you the ability to decide the outcome of your Solo Queue games.

Diana

If you're looking for a flashier, more aggressive pick in the Mid Lane, then Diana is the champion for you. Currently, Diana is the AP assassin with the highest win rate (51.40%) in the Mid Lane in Patch 25.17, demonstrating just how strong she can be in the right hands.

Want to push your limits while you climb the ranked ladder? Then look no further.

Diana is one of the best mid laners to climb lol ranked in patch 25.17
Credit: Riot Games

Best Bottom Lane Champions

Nilah

A prime pick in Solo Queue nearly all-year long, Patch 25.17 is proving to be no different for Nilah. The unorthodox AD carry is currently the champion with the highest win rate in the Bottom Lane at 52.52%, thanks in no small part to her game-changing [R] Apotheosis.

Smolder

Unlike Nilah, Smolder will favor more patient players who prefer to keep their distance and farm for the late game. Once you have enough stacks of [P] Dragon Practice, though, the dragon can let loose and take over the game.

Sivir

Sivir has one of the highest pick rates in the Bottom Lane (9.4%) for a reason. Easy to pick up and quite oppressive in lane, Sivir is all about keeping the pressure up on your lane opponents from early on, making her a favorite among ADC players.

With the right Support by her side, Sivir can begin to take over the game just a couple of items in, shredding through team fights with ease.

Sivir is one of the best champions to climb lol ranked in patch 25.17
Credit: Riot Games

Best Support Champions

Milio

Milio is one of the best Supports to climb the ranked ladder thanks to his ability to empower allies and keep his carries safe. Moreover, a well-timed [R] Breath of Life will often prove to be the difference between life and death for your team.

Zyra

After her most recent buffs, Zyra continues to rise in Solo Queue. In Patch 25.17, Zyra's 52.32% win rate is explained by her oppressive laning phase, and her ability to take out enemies all by herself once you have access to her [R] Stranglethorns.

If you're looking to carry games from the Support Role, then Zyra might just be the pick for you.

Taric

Whenever you're planning to Duo Queue with a friend, consider giving Taric a try. With enough synergy, the pick will allow you to make the most of the [W] Bastion [E] Dazzle combination to set up easy kills for your team.

This, plus the undeniable strength of his [R] Cosmic Radiance, make Taric one of the best champions for climbing ranked in LoL Patch 25.17, as he currently holds the highest win rate in the role at 53.07%.

Taric is one of the best champions to climb ranked in lol patch 25.17
Credit: Riot Games

Time to Climb!

Climbing the ranked ladder in League of Legends is never just about mechanics, it’s about playing smart, adapting to the meta, and capitalizing on champions that give you the best shot at winning, and Patch 25.17 is no different.

While no champion guarantees victory, choosing the right ones can tilt the odds in your favor. So whether you’re grinding through mid-tier ranks or pushing for the very top, these champions are your best tools to rise in the new patch.

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest League news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credit: Riot Games


Read more:

Worlds on the Line: The 2025 LEC Summer Playoffs Are Coming!

Los Ratones Dominate: How Caedrel's Team Managed to Lift Three Consecutive Trophies in the NLC

Kassadin Rises! Winners and Losers of League of Legends Patch 25.17

Latest news

Peyz Sets New Pentakill Record in Tier 1 League of Legends

Peyz Sets New Pentakill Record in Tier 1 League of Legends

T1’s newest addition, Kim “Peyz” Su-hwan continues to turn heads with his League of Legends prowess. At just 20-years-old, the South Korean AD Carry has become the first player ever in Tier 1 competitive League of Legends to reach 13 Pentakills, surpassing the previous record holder Chen “GALA” Wei once again.
13 May
Foo Zen-Wen

Lamborghini to Sponsor DreamHack Events

An unlikely partnership, but one that is as real as anything else; ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has announced a long-term deal with none other than Italian luxury car brand Automobili Lamborghini. This means that Lamborghini will be the Official Automotive Partner for DreamHack events moving forward, starting with DreamHack Atlanta (May 15-17) in the US.
12 May
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Jynxzi Streamer Tournament Peaks at 4th Most Viewed League of Legends Tournament of 2026

Jynxzi’s ongoing Streamer Tournament is turning heads and drawing eyeballs to his stream. Currently one of the most followed content creators on the planet, Jynxzi has turned his attention and effort to League of Legends, now hosting a ‘streamer tournament’ to the tune of over 800,000 peak viewers.
12 May
Foo Zen-Wen

New Pandemonium Theme Arrives for League of Legends 2026 Season 2

The theme for League of Legends 2026 Season 2 has just been announced – Pandemonium. In accompaniment with the theme announcement, there are new skins to look forward to as well as a new map for the Arena game mode. In the trailer, Riot Games showcases the upcoming updates for Season 2 Act 1, featuring a frightful assembly of skins battling on Arena’s newest battleground.
11 May
Foo Zen-Wen

League of Legends Season 2 Update Teases WASD to Ranked, Role Quest Changes, Arena Updates and More

The League of Legends Season 2 brings updates to Role Quests, items, runes, battlepass and introduces WASD to ranked and new skins.
11 May
Ganesh Jadhav

League of Legends Patch 26.09 Preview: Massive Changes to Shyvana & Zeri, New Items, and More

League of Legends Patch 26.09 is right around the corner, and it's going to be a big one. The coming update will not only deliver the new Pandemonium-themed Season 2 to LoL, but will also make sweeping changes to a large number of champions, introduce new items, new runes, and a whole lot more.
11 May
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Best Champions to Climb League of Legends Ranked in Patch 26.03

With Patch 26.03 now live, the Solo Queue meta in League of Legends continues to evolve. This early-season update brought a large number of changes that shifted champion power levels across all roles, rewarding picks that can consistently pressure opponents, scale effectively, and snowball advantages into wins. Without further ado, here's our look at the best champions to climb ranked in LoL Patch 26.03 in every role.
11 May
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match