What Is the Hardest Role in League of Legends? Role Rankings
By Charlene on Nov 4th, 2023, 07:29
In the competitive gaming scene, League of Legends stands out as a game where players are thoroughly tested by the roles they pick and the skills they bring to the summoner's rift.
These roles are the pillars of the game, and each carries its weight and challenges. LoL players often heatedly debate which role carries the heaviest burden, which demands the most skill, and which can turn the tides of battle with a single well-timed action.
This conversation isn't just for kicks—it's fundamental to understanding the game and excelling within it.
Ranking the roles in League of Legends is a challenging task. It's subjective opinion vs. objective data. We're looking at a blend of mechanical requirements, decision-making burdens, strategic importance, and versatility. To give our ratings gravity, we've poured over stats like win rates and pick/ban rates. We've also listened to the voices of pro players and seasoned coaches. Without further ado, let's rank the League of Legends roles from the easiest to the hardest.
Starting with the ADC role, or AD Carries, we place it at the fifth rung on our ladder. ADCs are the cornerstone of a team's sustained damage output, operating as a crucial component in taking down objectives and enemy champions in the later phases of the game. The role's fundamental challenge lies in positioning—a nuanced skill, but one with a narrower focus compared to other roles, which lands the ADC as the easiest role in League.
Support takes the fourth spot on our list. It's the role that sets the stage for the team's success. Support players need to keep track of the whole game, not just what's happening in bot lane. They must spot risks and chances to win all over the map before they occur. Supports do a bit of everything: they keep teammates healthy, guard them from attacks, start team fights, or help everyone escape if things go south.
And support role does all this often with fewer resources than everyone else. They don't get as much gold or get to deliver those game-winning power plays as often. But even though they might not rack up big numbers on the scoreboard, their role is crucial. Supports are like the team's watchful protectors, always there to back up their teammates and make the moves that, while they might not get noticed, help the team win. Their wins are measured not in points but in the assists that help their team dominate and the crucial moments they create to lead the team to victory.
The top laner role grabs third place. It's for players who are tough and can stand their ground. During the laning phase, top laner shows what they're made of, one-on-one. They must be mechanically good and sharp enough to know when to go all-in for a fight and when to hang back and focus on defeating minions near their tower for safety. But playing top means more than just handling what's in front of you; you have to have a good grasp of the game's bigger picture. A top-notch top laner knows the right moments to use their teleport ability to dive into team battles or when to stay put and split push their lane, applying pressure on the map. It's a role where patience is key, but so is recognizing the perfect moment to jump into action and turn the game around.
The mid lane claims our second spot. Here lies the heart of the map, where players face off in high-stakes 1v1s, balancing aggression, farm efficiency, and roaming. A good mid laner must have sufficient game knowledge and a keen sense of their surroundings, which goes beyond just mastering their champions. They must roam, control vision, and respond to the real-time dynamics of the game.
The title of the hardest and strongest role goes to the jungler, and for good reasons. They must quickly make game-altering decisions and master complex tasks, from ganking lanes and predicting enemy jungle pathing, to denying enemy resources and securing objectives under constant pressure. Their ability to think ahead and support their team across the map sets them apart in skill and difficulty.
Good junglers usually draft jungle clearing path and game plans before the match starts. Throughout the game, they must watch every part of the map, deciding where to apply pressure by supporting their teammates in the lane through ganks. A successful gank can give a teammate an edge, while a failed one can waste precious time and resources.
Junglers are the main players in securing major objectives like dragons, Rift Heralds, and Baron Nashor. Controlling these objectives can give their team powerful buffs that can lead to a victory. But it's not just about fighting camps—Junglers need to be smart about when to go for these objectives, considering the position of the enemy team and the risk involved.
Another part of the jungle role is denying resources to the enemy team. It can mean stealing away the enemy's jungle camps, which reduces the enemy jungler's power, or placing wards in key locations to reveal the enemy's movements. A jungler has to be sneaky and strategic, keeping one step ahead of the opposition.
To ace the jungle role, you need to listen to your instincts. You've got to outthink the enemy jungler, spot opportunities to counter gank and help your mates, and be in the right place at the right time. Doing this well means you need to get the game, knowing all the ins and outs of the champions you're playing with and against.
On top of this, pressure is a constant companion for a jungler. The early game to mid game often hinges on their ability to make things happen around the map. If a jungler falls behind, it can be tough to catch up, and the entire team might feel the squeeze. It's a role where you're expected to be everywhere, supporting your team, securing kills, and grabbing objectives, all while maintaining your growth in terms of levels and equipment.
Finally, the importance of game sense and macro also makes jungler the hardest role to play. This role isn't just about individual skill—it's about reading the game, understanding team compositions, and executing strategies that capitalize on timing and positioning.
Getting to grips with the tricky bits of each League of Legends role is just the warm-up. The real challenge is pushing past these and honing your skills in the role you love. To truly excel in the game, it's all about understanding the game and practicing under the correct guidance.
Remember, there's a secret weapon in your arsenal: coaching. A coach doesn't just show you the ropes; they help sharpen your instincts, perfect your playstyle, and spot the details that can turn a game around. They're your personal guide to the ins and outs of your role, from timing your attacks to controlling the map.
So, if you're ready to move from just knowing the game to dominating your lane, consider getting a coach. They can lift you from understanding the challenging parts of your role to outright mastering them, which makes you a true League legend.
