With more than 160 unique champions, League of Legends has one of the largest rosters of any MOBA game. Since its release in 2009, Riot Games has designed new champions with exciting kits and unseen mechanics or playstyles every year.
While this is great for stimulating players and adding even more depth to League, the constant addition of new characters has inevitably made others obsolete. Here’s a look at the 10 least-played champions in League.
Least-played League champions in all ranks
Each of the champions listed below isnow rarely seen in League. Some of them are simply outmatched in their respective roles by other champions. Others have been recently nerfed and are also inferior to their counter-picks. We’ll go through the list one by one and take a closer look at why these champions are currently lackluster in the meta.
| Champion | Pick rate | Win rate | Ban rate | Lane | Counter Picks | Pros | Cons |
| Corki | 0.56 percent | 41.03 percent | 0.17 percent | Mid | Ekko, Akshan, Irelia, Zed, Taliyah | – Mobile – Easy skill rotation – Mid game power spike | – Inferior to other mid laners after nerfs – Easy to shut down – Risky gameplay |
| Ivern | 0.74 percent | 49.06 percent | 0.34 percent | Jungle | Graves, Nidalee, Fiddlesticks, Amumu, Jarvan IV | – Easy jungle clear – Fantastic utility – Quite tanky | – Tricky gameplay – Learning how to navigate Daisy takes time – Vulnerable to invades |
| Rek’Sai | 0.83 percent | 49.08 percent | 0.42 percent | Jungle | Ivern, Volibear, Master Yi, Karthus, Hecarim | – Mobile – Strong mid game – Great at invading | – Takes time to master – Not ideal jungler in the current meta |
| Renata Glasc | 1.09 percent | 48.79 percent | 0.27 percent | Support | Morgana, Neeko, Zyra, Senna, Pyke | – Powerful crowd control – Unique gameplay | – Can be outmatched by many matchups in the bot lane – Requires proper teamplay |
| Taliyah | 1.11 percent | 49.25 percent | 0.6 percent | Jungle | Rek’Sai, Kha’Zix, Karthus, Skarner, Rammus | – Able to gank creatively – Mobile – Great at separating teams | – Low damage – Squishy and easy to shut down |
| Quinn | 1.12 percent | 48.59 percent | 1.04 percent | Top | Zac, Ornn, Aurora, Illaoi, Irelia | – Ranged and powerful – Mobile – One of the best split pusher | – Weak in teamfights – Has to flank to have actual impact in fights |
| Akshan | 1.13 percent | 47.53 percent | 1.4 percent | Mid | Zoe, Vex, Galio, Aurelion Sol, Jayce | – Versatile in lane and in builds – Bulky early and mid game | – Also inferior in teamfights – Doesn’t go along current meta |
| Kled | 1.20 percent | 50.22 percent | 0.73 percent | Top | Kayle, Singed, Aurora, Darius, Fiora | – Unique gameplay – Superb when ahead | – Needs to hit his tough ultimate to make impact – Tricky for many players |
| Qiyana | 1.27 percent | 45.95 percent | 0.31 percent | Mid | Vex, Zoe, LeBlanc, Annie, Diana | – Can wipe enemies if she lands abilities – Versatile gameplay | – Players know how to counter her – She’s almost always a priority target |
| Olaf | 1.36 percent | 48.10 percent | 0.92 percent | Top | Camille, Akali, Jax, K’Sante, Renekton | – Fun, straightforward gameplay – Can easily snowball to a mid game monster | – Easily outmatched by a bunch of other bruisers – Falls off in the late game |
10) Olaf
Out of all the 10 champions listed above, Olaf is arguably the most classic one. The axe-swinging champion hasn’t seen direct changes to his kit for years, and that was for a specific reason—he was doing just fine. However, with the shifts in the League landscape in the past couple of months, other top lane bruisers have started to outmatch Olaf, who’s now the 10th least-picked champion in all ranks with only a 1.36 percent pick rate.
How to play Olaf in the current meta: The top lane meta is currently dominated by bruisers and tanks who can stand on their own in the lane and bring a lot to the table in teamfights. While Olaf is brilliant in the former department, his teamfight prowess leaves a lot to be desired. With that in mind, when picking the Barbarian, it’s best to look for some advantages early on, ideally by picking up a few kills with the help of your jungler. With that under your belt, your mid game should be strong enough to shut down the majority of the opposition, allowing you to grab the win.
9) Qiyana
Throughout the years, Qiyana has been picked in both jungle and mid lane, but her latest pick rate in the former is awful, to say the least. With just 1.27 percent pick rate, she’s barely considered by the junglers in all ranks, making her one of the least-played LoL champions in 2024, and it’s hardly surprising. Junglers nowadays tend to have a great ganking ability while also front-lining for their teams in fights. Qiyana isn’t powerful in either of these areas.
How to play Qiyana in the current meta: When picking Qiyana, try flanking enemy laners and using your high damage to pick early kills. Getting ahead of the enemy jungler should make it easier to hold your own in teamfights. Try to also make sure you’re always fighting around neutral objectives since the jungle is the best place to use your ultimate and make the most of it.
8) Kled
If there was ever a champion as a top lane main I never liked to play too much, it’s Kled. His tricky gameplay was too complicated to be fun and bear fruit in terms of win rate. It seems like I’m not the only one, with the Yordle recording a weak 1.20 percent pick rate.
How to play Kled in the current meta: While Kled might not be the easiest champion to master, he certainly isn’t the worst top lane to pick currently, with his win rate reaching 50.22 percent at the time of writing. When playing as Kled, make sure to make it to the mid game unscratched. Once there, try always placing your ultimate on top of the enemy team at the start of each fight to disrupt their ranks and possibly claim some easy kills and advantages for your side.
7) Akshan
Akshan is excellent at swinging on the Summoner’s Rift but not so great at swinging into many games at the moment since his pick rate has plummeted to 1.13 percent. He’s a great asset to outplay your mid lane opponent, but unfortunately, as the game goes on, Akshan often falls off.
How to play Akshan in the current meta: With Akshan teamfight prowess being not so great in the current meta, staying even with the rest of your teammates and enemies in the early game is pivotal. Falling behind will often be the end of you. Once you reach mid game, you should look for split push opportunities and for flanks. Both of these areas should be easy to navigate thanks to your mobility, wave clear, and single-target damage. However, make sure you’re never the one to initiate fights: you might be dead before they even begin.
6) Quinn
When it came to low-pick-rate champions in League of Legends, Quinn was often found on these types of lists. That is due to her unique gameplay. While it allows for some domination of the laning phase, it’s easy to counter and often useless in the late game. Her latest atrocious pick rate of only 1.12 percent is living proof of that.
How to play Quinn in the current meta: With Quinn’s single-target damage and mobility, Quinn should always be looking to make trouble on the side lanes. Taking a tower or two in exchange for a neutral objective or a few teammates could always end up being valuable for you and your team. However, make sure to aid your teammates once the fight is around pivotal structures or monsters like Inhibitor or Baron Nashor.
5) Taliyah
Similarly to Qiyana, Taliyah has been utilized in both mid lane and jungle in her long League history. In the last couple of months, though, her pick rate in both has downgraded massively, with the champion having a poor 1.11 percent score in the jungle.
How to play Taliyah in the current meta: While Taliyah might not be the strongest pick, her abilities allow for creativity, and that might be your key to success when playing her. Taliyah’s ultimate is her greatest ace in the hole. Try dividing enemy teams around objectives so that squishy targets are vulnerable and die or are forced to Flash. On top of that, always try poking the enemy team with your ranged abilities. They have a low cooldown and don’t burn much mana, making them the perfect way to weaken the other team.
4) Renata Glasc
Pro players are fond of Renata Glasc, with the support champion sometimes appearing in the Worlds 2024 matches, but she’s almost nowhere to be seen, with a mere 1.09 percent pick rate in all ranks.
How to play Renata Glasc in the current meta: Renata is a champion that rewards patience. Play the early game safely so you can maximize the impact of your ultimate in the later stages of the game. It’s best if you combine it with another ability from your team that brings enemies together, like Orianna’s Shockwave. Besides that, stick behind your tanks and use your other abilities to aid your teammates.
3) Rek’Sai
Once a queen of the jungle, now nowhere to be seen—that’s a perfect description of the current third lowest-picked champion in League, Rek’Sai. Constant nerfs and jungle changes kicked the Void Queen from her throne. Luckily, she’s all but unplayable.
How to play Rek’Sai in the current meta: As Rek’Sai, your goals are ganking as much as possible and then keeping guard of the neutral objectives. Her unique Burrow/Unburrow ability makes it easy to gank squishy targets while also aiding in monitoring the jungle as a whole. Rek’Sai isn’t as powerful in skirmishes and teamfights anymore, so try gaining as much impact in the early game as possible to make up for your cons later on.
2) Ivern
If we had to name the most original champion in League, the Green Father of the Jungle would take the cake. Unfortunately, being unique doesn’t always come with popularity, and that is the case with Ivern, who’s currently sitting on an abysmal 0.74 percent pick rate.
How to play Ivern in the current meta: As Ivern, your goal until you reach level six is to…chill and clear the jungle. You can’t do much without Daisy, who becomes available after you unlock your ultimate ability. Once that is done, you can look for open skirmishes in any lane. With Daisy to your aid, you’ll often outmatch the enemy team. There is a catch, though. Using your ultimate too early might allow the opponents to quickly shut down Daisy, leaving you useless for the rest of the fight. Navigating her is also tricky, so keep that in mind.
1) Corki
Last but not least, we have a champion who’s been the king of the meta in the summer and is now abysmal, frankly speaking. Corki used to wreak havoc in the mid lane, but after recent nerfs, it’s all history, and the Yordle is sitting on a horrendous 0.56 percent pick rate.
How to play Corki in the current meta: Corki relies on firing abilities upon the enemy team. However, with his latest nerfs, these simply don’t deal enough damage. Therefore, try poking them down with your Q and ultimate as much as possible. Pick up The Package at your base whenever you can and use it at a decisive point of each teamfight to finish off any low-health enemy. Getting ahead early with the help of your jungler will make your life way easier.
Published: Oct 10, 2024 03:07 pm