LoL Patch 14.5 Meta Report: The Best Champions to Climb With

League of Legends Patch 14.5 has been a doozy for the current meta, propelling some surprising champions to the forefront in Emerald elo. While the top lane is dominated by powerful bruisers, assassins reign supreme in the jungle, and mages hold sway in mid lane. Bot lane offers a mix of scaling carries, both old and new, while utility picks shine in the support role. Let's dive in and analyze the current patch's biggest winners!

TOP LANE

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Gragas: The Rabble Rouser, dominates top lane with his staggering 52.85% win rate, and his best players achieve an incredible 59.27%. His core build of Rod of Ages, Boots of Lucidity, and Lich Bane transforms him into an unkillable tank with surprising damage. Rod of Ages scales exceptionally with Gragas, granting both health and mana, empowering him to constantly bully opponents. Lich Bane further amplifies this power, turning his spells into destructive forces, creating a versatile threat nobody can afford to ignore in the top lane

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Fiora: The Grand Duelist, also excels this patch, boasting a 52.13% win rate and a staggering 58.28% for top Fiora players. LoLalytics gives her an S tier rating, due to her potent mix of damage and outplay potential. She builds Ravenous Hydra, Mercury's Treads, and Trinity Force as her core, with Sterak's Gage as a strong late-game option (with a 65.15% win rate!), making her a menace to even the tankiest champions.

JUNGLE

Kayn Splash Art / League of Legends / Riot Games

Kayn: The Shadow Reaper Kayn, the Shadow Reaper, is a force in the jungle with a 51.80% win rate. His best players take this even further, reaching a 59.2% win rate. He currently possesses an S+ rating on LoLalytics. Blue Kayn reigns supreme, with a build focused on Prowler's Claw, Manamune, and Boots of Lucidity. Axiom Arc provides extra burst potential, sitting at a fantastic 63.38% win rate. Recommended you swap that Flash for Ghost. This allows Kayn to take advantage of his incredible roaming abilities for map-wide dominance.

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Kha'Zix: The Voidreaver Kha'zix, the Voidreaver, stalks the jungle with a 52.52% win rate which jumps up to 58.44% with experienced players. LoLalytics also gives him an S+ rating. Building Youmuu's Ghostblade, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, and then Serylda's Grudge gives Kha'Zix amazing early power. This paired with an evolved W creates a potent slow, perfect for setting up team fights and pokes. (Perhaps some of Kha'Zix's recent dominance can be attributed to a certain talented main? *wink wink*)

MID LANE

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Karma: The Enlightened One, shines brightly in mid lane with a stellar 54.11% win rate, reaching 57.97% for her best players. Karma's power comes from her core build: Shurelya's Battlesong, Sorcerer's Shoes, and Cosmic Drive. The cooldown reduction is fantastic, and Shurelya's mythic passive provides her spells with extra damage, especially her powerful Ultimate. Rabadon's Deathcap only amplifies this damage for a truly fearsome Karma.

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Aurelion Sol: The Star Forger, makes a surprising comeback with a 53.70% win rate that reaches 58.08% for dedicated players. His core build of Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Liandry's Anguish, and Sorcerer's Shoes creates a late-game monster. Aurelion Sol counters champions who rely on staying in one place, such as Malzahar, Orianna, and Lux, making him a valuable pocket pick.

BOT LANE

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Smolder: The Young Firebrand, the newest addition to the Rift, is already taking flight with a respectable 53.32% win rate that soars to 58.66% for his most skilled pilots. This young dragon boasts excellent terrain traversal, top-notch wave clear, a handy slow, and impressive scaling potential. His core build of Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin, and Boots of Lucidity provides a solid foundation for his fiery dominance. Navori Quickblades as a fourth item is a popular choice, boasting a fiery 60.13% win rate. Being the new kid on the block has its perks, as opponents might still be underestimating Smolder's explosive power!

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Twitch: The Plague Rat, one of League's oldest champions, resurfaces with a 53.65% win rate and an awesome 57.86% win rate for players who have him mastered. His core build prioritizes on-hit damage: Blade of the Ruined King, Berserker's Greaves, and Runaan's Hurricane. Don't underestimate this wily rat's ability to scale into a late-game carry. Wit's End and Guardian Angel provide excellent survivability.

SUPPORT

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Maokai: The Twisted Treant, stands tall as a dominant support with a 53.29% win rate. And his win rate for the best players is a super close 56.91%. All of this completely despite his recent nerfs as for the support role. This shows how easy Maokai is for most players to succeed on. His Imperial Mandate, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, and Knight's Vow make him a tank with great utility for his team. Depending on the enemy team composition, Locket of the Iron Solari or Radiant Virtue can be strong alternatives!

Pyke Splash Art / League of Legends / Riot Games

Pyke: The Bloodharbor Ripper, lurks as a potent support option. Boasting a 52.22% win rate that reaches a dangerous 58.48% in the hands of his mains. His core build – Umbral Glaive, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Youmuu's Ghostblade, and Axiom Arc. This grants him deadly assassin tools and swiftness. Pyke's ability to scout for his team, roam the map, and pick off squishy targets like Yuumi, Nami, and Lux gives him a unique and powerful place in the support role.

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