Best Champions to Climb League of Legends Ranked in Patch 26.06

Best Champions to Climb League of Legends Ranked in Patch 26.06

11 May, 2026, 14:34

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Last updated: 11 May, 2026, 14:34

League of Legends Patch 26.06 continues the early-season trend of small but meaningful balance tweaks. With First Stand out of the way, the new patch was able to leave pro play aside and focus on Solo Queue, introducing targeted champion adjustments and ongoing meta refinement rather than sweeping changes.

If you’re looking to gain LP efficiently, these are the best champions to climb ranked in League of Legends Patch 26.06.

Best champions to climb league of legends ranked in patch 26.06

Top Lane

Garen

Ever since he received buffs in Patch 26.05, Garen has been tearing through Solo Queue. His sustain, simple trading with [E] Judgment, and execute pressure with [R] Demacian Justice make him extremely reliable in lane, and a serious menace all throughout the game.

Sett

Sett thrives as a lane bully who transitions well into teamfights. His [W] Haymaker can turn fights instantly, while his [E] Facebreaker and [R] The Show Stopper allow him to wreak havoc on the enemy backline during later fights.

Singed

Singed's playstyle may not be the easiest to master, but doing so can be well worth the effort. His ability to proxy, roam, and disrupt fights with [E] Fling makes him especially strong in chaotic ranked settings, where his unique playstyle can easily catch opponents off-guard.

Currently, Singed is the champion with the highest win rate in the Top Lane (52.88%), demonstrating why he's one of the best champions to climb ranked in League of Legends.

Singed league of legends

Jungle

Briar

Briar remains a top-tier jungler due to her aggressive playstyle and dueling power. Her clear speed and early aggression allow to her to build leads from early on easily make Briar one of the best Junglers to climb ranked in LoL Patch 26.06.

Dr. Mundo

As far as a low-risk, high-reward Jungle picks go, Dr. Mundo is one of the best out there. His sustain, fast clears, and scaling tankiness often allow him to become a near-unkillable threat who packs a surprising punch by the time the mid-game comes around.

Nocturne

When it comes to Nocturne, it's all about punishing poor positioning and catching opponents off-guard. His [R] Paranoia gives him global pressure and pick potential, allowing him to consistently influence fights and objectives. This lets Nocturne be a perfect pick for anyone looking to Jungle in ranked, even if you're not a total master of the role. 

nocturne is one of the best champions to climb league of legends ranked in patch 26.06

Mid Lane

Veigar

Veigar continues to dominate as a scaling Mid Laner. His infinite AP stacking and burst damage make him a late-game powerhouse capable of deleting carries with [R] Primordial Burst. Perhaps more, importantly, though, Veigar has a solid laning phase, and one of the best zoning tools for teamfights in his [E] Event Horizon.

Malzahar

Malzahar is about as reliable a pick as they come. His waveclear and spell shield give him a free pass in the laning phase. Later on, Malzahar's [R] Nether Grasp let you lock down an enemy carry with a single button, ensuring your team is never out of the race no matter how fed an enemy champion is.

Ahri

With a 12.5% pick rate across all ranks in Patch 26.06, Ahri is currently the most picked Mid Laner in Solo Queue. Despite minor nerfs this patch, her ability to roam, pick targets, and reposition with [R] Spirit Rush keeps her highly effective. To make the most out of Ahri's toolset, however, players need to be willing to take risks.

ahri is one of the best champions to climb ranked in league of legends patch 26.06

Bot Lane

Nilah

Nilah's mobility and early burst make her surprisingly scary in lane. Later on, a well-timed [R] Apotheosis has the ability to turn teamfights around on the spot.

Though Nilah may not be the most orthodox of AD carry champions, she remains one of the strongest champions to climb in League of Legends. As of Patch 26.06, she is the ADC with the highest win rate in the game at an amazing 52.71%.

Miss Fortune

Like Nilah, Miss Fortune offers strong laning and massive teamfight impact. A well-placed [R] Bullet Time can instantly swing fights, making her a reliable and easy-to-execute pick. 

Moreover, Miss Fortune's simple kit and straightforward playstyle make her a great pick for just about anyone looking to climb LoL ranked.

Smolder

If you're all about farming for the late-game, then look no further than Smolder. His stacking mechanic and safe playstyle make him a consistent damage dealer. And the longer a game goes, the easier it will become for you to take over the Rift.

Smolder is one of the best champions to climb ranked in league of legends patch 26.06

Support

Sona

Sona is proving to be one of the strongest scaling Supports in Patch 26.06. Her healing, shielding, and teamfight utility, combined with ever-growing cooldown reduction, make her incredibly valuable as games progress.

Suffice it to know that, right now, Sona is the Support champion with the highest win rate in the entire game (52.40%).

Nami

As of Patch 26.06, there's simply no enchanter stronger than Nami in League of Legends. Her mix of sustain, buffs, and crowd control — especially [R] Tidal Wave as a powerful tool for both disengage and engage — makes her a dependable pick in any composition.

To get the most out of Nami, though, ideally pair her with an ADC with a strong laning phase who is willing to push the envelope by the mid-game.

Leona

If engaging is more your cup of tea, then Leona is the pick for you. Her reliable and near-endless forms of crowd control allow her to create early leads, start fights on her terms, peel for her carries, and even create picks out of thin air.

As far as engage Support champions go, Leona is second to none when it comes to climbing League of Legends ranked in Patch 26.06.

leona is one of the best solo queue champions in lol patch 26.06

Time to Climb!

LoL Patch 26.06 reinforces a familiar Solo Queue pattern: champions with simple execution, strong scaling, and reliable teamfight impact are often the best tools for climbing. With only minor balance adjustments this patch, consistency matters more than ever. 

Whether you prefer scaling picks like Veigar and Smolder, aggressive playmakers like Briar and Leona, or stable options like Garen and Malzahar, mastering these champions can give you a clear edge in ranked. Hopefully our list of the best champions to climb LoL ranked will help you get the rank you desire in Patch 26.06!

Follow Strafe Esports for the latest League of Legends news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe's channel on YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credit: Riot Games


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