Riot released champion 100, Jayce, in 2012. In the 11 years since, we’ve only received a further 66 (as of Hwei). Meaning since then, the champions released year-by-year have become a lot more more reflective of their time of release, and came out to perhaps a tad more fanfare (sometimes).

So which year’s “Class of” champions is the best, considering how they were then, how they are now, their designs, teasers, kits, or any other metric you can think of? (This list doesn’t include VGUs, simply new champions)

  • Class of 2013: Thresh, Quinn, Zac, Lissandra, Lucian, Jinx, Yasuo
  • Class of 2014: Braum, Gnar, Azir, Kalista, Rek’sai
  • Class of 2015: Bard, Ekko, Tahm Kench, Kindred, Illaoi
  • Class of 2016: Jhin, Aurelion Sol, Taliyah, Kled, Ivern, Camille
  • Class of 2017: Xayah, Rakan, Kayn, Ornn, Zoe
  • Class of 2018: Kai’sa, Pyke, Neeko
  • Class of 2019: Sylas, Yuumi, Qiyana, Senna, Aphelios
  • Class of 2020: Sett, Lillia, Yone, Samira, Seraphine, Rell
  • Class of 2021: Viego, Gwen, Akshan, Vex
  • Class of 2022: Zeri, Renata, Bel’veth, Nilah, K’Sante
  • Class of 2023: Milio, Naafiri, Briar, Hwei (upcoming)
  • Rathalos143B
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    1 year ago

    Im torn bettween 2013, 2015 and 2016.

    If im being extremely objective i’d say 2013 had the most iconical releases together in the same year.

    2015 had the original and interesting kits.

    But 2016 had the absolute most fleshed out characters, all of them had like 30 minutes voice overs, tons of build up, lore, and details.

  • KatyaBelliB
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    1 year ago

    2016 is probably the winner, but 2020 has my personal favorite lineup

  • shedinja292B
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    1 year ago

    I like a lot of the earlier champs but 2015 - 2016 are pretty special to me in terms of kits and design. I always try every champ when they come out but there haven’t been many I’ve liked since then. Looking forward to Hwei though, hope his kit is as fun to play as it looks

  • Omigle_B
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    1 year ago

    zamn, didn’t know how the 2019-2020 champs, aside from Yuumi and Seraphome, are my fave champs to play.

  • PorkyMan12B
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    1 year ago

    Every year up until 2019 had pretty interesting and overall good designed champs.

    After that the game just feel off in terms of new champs. Especially 2022, that was probably the year with the worst champion designs in league’s whole history.

  • LyotaB
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    1 year ago

    simple, creative champs thats fun to play

  • NumquidB
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    1 year ago

    2015 & 2016 riot peaked in creativity and champion kits.

  • grongneliusB
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    1 year ago

    2013 takes it for me, 2021 and 2015 as my runners up.

  • SolubilityRulesB
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    1 year ago

    2022 made Showmaker hate League of Legends HAHAHA

    I would say 2022, because it gave Ruler (and thus Faker) a gold medal, and I like seeing them continue their career.

  • jakin89B
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    1 year ago

    Huh… here I thought I started playing around 2016. But remembering the release of Kalista and Rek’sai says It’s almost a decade now.

  • F0RGERYB
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    1 year ago

    2014 was the year of proplay huh?

    Every single champ released was pro-meta defining for years (barring maybe Braum) and most are still picked to this day.

  • DiscipleOfAnikiB
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    1 year ago

    2013 and it’s not close at all. Back when Riot understood how to make champs by starting with a simple premise and developing it to add depth. Aatrox and Quinn are the only champs from 2013 that have been reworked, and Quinn was a champ that Riot admitted was rushed, while Aatrox’s previous kit was still better than his current one.

    After 2013 is when we start seeing all the overdesigned 200 years champs more interested in breaking the rules of the game.

  • Outrageous-Elk-5392B
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    1 year ago

    2014 had the most projailed champs ever , would be surprised if their combined soloQ playrate equaled just yasuo or kaisa

    2013 and 17 are really good

    19 and 20 had a ton of staples of soloQ today

    22 they just lost their minds when it came to design lol, no wonder they slammed the breaks this year