If you have ever opened the champion select screen in League of Legends and felt a little overwhelmed, you are not alone. With well over 170 champions to choose from, even players who have been grinding ranked for years have not tried them all. This guide breaks down the full League of Legends champions list for 2026, how the roster is organized, and how to actually use this list to pick your next main.

Whether you searched “how many champions are in League of Legends” or you just want a clean, up to date reference, this blog has you covered.

How Many Champions Are in League of Legends in 2026?

As of the middle of 2026, League of Legends has 173 champions live on the servers. The most recent addition is Locke, the Ashen Exorcist, who arrived in patch 26.13 in June 2026. That number is going to hold steady for a while. Riot has confirmed that Locke is the only brand new champion planned for release in 2026. Instead of pushing out more champions this year, most of the champion design team has shifted focus to a much bigger project, a large-scale update to the game that Riot has been hinting at since the middle of the year. In the meantime, Riot has kept busy with reworks instead of new releases, including a full visual and gameplay update for Shyvana and a kit update for Mel.

For context on how we got here, League launched back in October 2009 with 40 champions available right out of the gate. Riot released champions at a rapid pace in the early years, sometimes more than 20 in a single year. That pace has slowed down a lot. In recent years, Riot has settled into releasing somewhere between one and four new champions annually, choosing to spend more time polishing each one instead of rushing out new kits.

League of Legends Champions List 2026

Here is the complete list of 173 champions as of patch 26.13, with primary class, primary lane/role, damage type, and difficulty rating. Some champions are flexible and get played in more than one role or class combo; this table lists the most common one. Damage type and difficulty can shift slightly between patches as champions get reworked or rebalanced.

#	Champion	Class	Role	Damage Type	Difficulty
1	Aatrox	Fighter	Top	Physical	Moderate
2	Ahri	Mage/Assassin	Mid	Magic	Moderate
3	Akali	Assassin	Mid	Magic	High
4	Akshan	Marksman/Assassin	Mid	Physical	Moderate
5	Alistar	Tank/Support	Support	Magic	Moderate
6	Ambessa	Fighter/Assassin	Top	Physical	High
7	Amumu	Tank/Mage	Jungle	Magic	Low
8	Anivia	Mage	Mid	Magic	High
9	Annie	Mage	Mid	Magic	Low
10	Aphelios	Marksman	Bot	Physical	High
11	Ashe	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Low
12	Aurelion Sol	Mage	Mid	Magic	High
13	Aurora	Mage	Top/Mid	Magic	Moderate
14	Azir	Mage	Mid	Magic	High
15	Bard	Support/Mage	Support	Magic	High
16	Bel’Veth	Fighter	Jungle	Physical	High
17	Blitzcrank	Tank/Support	Support	Magic	Low
18	Brand	Mage	Support/Mid	Magic	Moderate
19	Braum	Tank/Support	Support	Magic	Low
20	Briar	Fighter	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
21	Caitlyn	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Moderate
22	Camille	Fighter	Top	Physical	High
23	Cassiopeia	Mage	Mid	Magic	High
24	Cho’Gath	Tank/Mage	Top	Magic	Moderate
25	Corki	Marksman/Mage	Mid	Mixed	Moderate
26	Darius	Fighter	Top	Physical	Low
27	Diana	Fighter/Mage	Jungle/Mid	Magic	Moderate
28	Dr. Mundo	Tank/Fighter	Top	Physical	Low
29	Draven	Marksman	Bot	Physical	High
30	Ekko	Assassin/Fighter	Jungle/Mid	Magic	High
31	Elise	Mage/Fighter	Jungle	Magic	High
32	Evelynn	Assassin	Jungle	Magic	High
33	Ezreal	Marksman/Mage	Bot	Mixed	Moderate
34	Fiddlesticks	Mage/Support	Jungle	Magic	Moderate
35	Fiora	Fighter	Top	Physical	High
36	Fizz	Assassin	Mid	Magic	Moderate
37	Galio	Tank/Mage	Mid/Support	Magic	Moderate
38	Gangplank	Fighter	Top	Physical	High
39	Garen	Fighter/Tank	Top	Physical	Low
40	Gnar	Fighter/Tank	Top	Mixed	High
41	Gragas	Fighter/Mage	Jungle	Magic	Moderate
42	Graves	Marksman/Fighter	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
43	Gwen	Fighter/Assassin	Top	Magic	Moderate
44	Hecarim	Fighter/Tank	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
45	Heimerdinger	Mage	Mid/Support	Magic	High
46	Hwei	Mage	Mid/Support	Magic	High
47	Illaoi	Fighter/Tank	Top	Physical	Moderate
48	Irelia	Fighter/Assassin	Top/Mid	Physical	High
49	Ivern	Support/Mage	Jungle	Magic	Moderate
50	Janna	Support/Mage	Support	Magic	Low
51	Jarvan IV	Fighter/Tank	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
52	Jax	Fighter/Assassin	Top	Physical	Moderate
53	Jayce	Fighter/Marksman	Top	Physical	High
54	Jhin	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Moderate
55	Jinx	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Moderate
56	K’Sante	Tank/Fighter	Top	Physical	High
57	Kai’Sa	Marksman	Bot	Mixed	Moderate
58	Kalista	Marksman	Bot	Physical	High
59	Karma	Mage/Support	Support	Magic	Moderate
60	Karthus	Mage	Jungle	Magic	Moderate
61	Kassadin	Assassin/Mage	Mid	Magic	Moderate
62	Katarina	Assassin	Mid	Magic	High
63	Kayle	Fighter/Marksman	Top	Mixed	Moderate
64	Kayn	Assassin/Fighter	Jungle	Physical	High
65	Kennen	Mage/Marksman	Top	Magic	Moderate
66	Kha’Zix	Assassin	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
67	Kindred	Marksman	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
68	Kled	Fighter/Tank	Top	Physical	High
69	Kog’Maw	Marksman/Mage	Bot	Mixed	Moderate
70	LeBlanc	Assassin/Mage	Mid	Magic	High
71	Lee Sin	Fighter/Assassin	Jungle	Physical	High
72	Leona	Tank/Support	Support	Magic	Moderate
73	Lillia	Mage/Fighter	Jungle	Magic	Moderate
74	Lissandra	Mage	Mid	Magic	Moderate
75	Locke	Assassin	Mid	Magic	High
76	Lucian	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Moderate
77	Lulu	Support/Mage	Support	Magic	Moderate
78	Lux	Mage	Support/Mid	Magic	Low
79	Malphite	Tank/Fighter	Top	Magic	Low
80	Malzahar	Mage	Mid	Magic	Low
81	Maokai	Tank/Mage	Jungle/Support	Magic	Low
82	Master Yi	Fighter/Assassin	Jungle	Physical	Low
83	Mel	Mage	Mid	Magic	Moderate
84	Milio	Support	Support	Magic	Low
85	Miss Fortune	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Low
86	Mordekaiser	Fighter/Mage	Top	Magic	Moderate
87	Morgana	Mage/Support	Support	Magic	Low
88	Naafiri	Assassin	Jungle/Mid	Physical	Moderate
89	Nami	Support/Mage	Support	Magic	Low
90	Nasus	Fighter/Tank	Top	Physical	Low
91	Nautilus	Tank/Support	Support	Magic	Low
92	Neeko	Mage	Support/Mid	Magic	Moderate
93	Nidalee	Assassin/Mage	Jungle	Mixed	High
94	Nilah	Fighter/Assassin	Bot	Physical	Moderate
95	Nocturne	Assassin/Fighter	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
96	Nunu & Willump	Tank/Fighter	Jungle	Magic	Low
97	Olaf	Fighter/Tank	Jungle/Top	Physical	Low
98	Orianna	Mage	Mid	Magic	Moderate
99	Ornn	Tank/Fighter	Top	Magic	Low
100	Pantheon	Fighter/Assassin	Support/Top	Physical	Moderate
101	Poppy	Tank/Fighter	Top/Jungle	Physical	Low
102	Pyke	Assassin/Support	Support	Physical	High
103	Qiyana	Assassin/Fighter	Mid	Physical	High
104	Quinn	Marksman/Assassin	Top	Physical	Moderate
105	Rakan	Support/Fighter	Support	Magic	Moderate
106	Rammus	Tank	Jungle	Magic	Low
107	Rek’Sai	Fighter	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
108	Rell	Tank/Support	Support	Magic	Moderate
109	Renata Glasc	Support/Mage	Support	Magic	Moderate
110	Renekton	Fighter/Tank	Top	Physical	Moderate
111	Rengar	Assassin/Fighter	Jungle	Physical	High
112	Riven	Fighter/Assassin	Top	Physical	High
113	Rumble	Fighter/Mage	Top	Magic	High
114	Ryze	Mage/Fighter	Mid	Magic	High
115	Samira	Marksman/Assassin	Bot	Physical	High
116	Sejuani	Tank	Jungle	Magic	Moderate
117	Senna	Marksman/Support	Support/Bot	Physical	Moderate
118	Seraphine	Mage/Support	Support/Bot	Magic	Low
119	Sett	Fighter/Tank	Top	Physical	Low
120	Shaco	Assassin	Jungle	Mixed	High
121	Shen	Tank/Fighter	Top	Physical	Moderate
122	Shyvana	Fighter/Tank	Jungle	Mixed	Moderate
123	Singed	Tank/Fighter	Top	Magic	Moderate
124	Sion	Tank/Fighter	Top	Physical	Low
125	Sivir	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Low
126	Skarner	Fighter/Tank	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
127	Smolder	Marksman/Mage	Bot	Mixed	Moderate
128	Sona	Support/Mage	Support	Magic	Low
129	Soraka	Support	Support	Magic	Low
130	Swain	Mage/Fighter	Support/Mid	Magic	Moderate
131	Sylas	Assassin/Fighter	Mid/Jungle	Magic	High
132	Syndra	Mage	Mid	Magic	Moderate
133	Tahm Kench	Tank/Support	Top/Support	Magic	Moderate
134	Taliyah	Mage	Jungle/Mid	Magic	Moderate
135	Talon	Assassin	Mid	Physical	Moderate
136	Taric	Tank/Support	Support	Magic	Low
137	Teemo	Marksman/Mage	Top	Mixed	Low
138	Thresh	Tank/Support	Support	Magic	High
139	Tristana	Marksman/Assassin	Bot	Physical	Low
140	Trundle	Fighter/Tank	Jungle/Top	Physical	Low
141	Tryndamere	Fighter	Top	Physical	Low
142	Twisted Fate	Mage	Mid	Magic	Moderate
143	Twitch	Marksman/Assassin	Bot	Physical	Moderate
144	Udyr	Fighter	Jungle	Mixed	Moderate
145	Urgot	Fighter/Marksman	Top	Physical	Moderate
146	Varus	Marksman/Mage	Bot	Mixed	Moderate
147	Vayne	Marksman/Assassin	Top/Bot	Physical	High
148	Veigar	Mage	Mid	Magic	Low
149	Vel’Koz	Mage	Support/Mid	Magic	Moderate
150	Vex	Mage	Mid	Magic	Low
151	Vi	Fighter/Assassin	Jungle	Physical	Moderate
152	Viego	Assassin/Fighter	Jungle	Physical	High
153	Viktor	Mage	Mid	Magic	High
154	Vladimir	Mage	Mid/Top	Magic	Moderate
155	Volibear	Fighter/Tank	Jungle/Top	Physical	Moderate
156	Warwick	Fighter/Tank	Jungle	Physical	Low
157	Wukong	Fighter/Tank	Top/Jungle	Physical	Low
158	Xayah	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Moderate
159	Xerath	Mage	Mid/Support	Magic	Moderate
160	Xin Zhao	Fighter	Jungle	Physical	Low
161	Yasuo	Fighter/Assassin	Mid	Physical	High
162	Yone	Fighter/Assassin	Mid/Top	Physical	High
163	Yorick	Fighter/Tank	Top	Physical	Moderate
164	Yunara	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Moderate
165	Yuumi	Support/Mage	Support	Magic	Low
166	Zaahen	Fighter	Top/Jungle	Physical	Moderate
167	Zac	Tank/Fighter	Jungle	Magic	Moderate
168	Zed	Assassin	Mid	Physical	High
169	Zeri	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Moderate
170	Ziggs	Mage	Mid	Magic	Low
171	Zilean	Support/Mage	Support	Magic	Moderate
172	Zoe	Mage	Mid	Magic	High
173	Zyra	Mage/Support	Support	Magic	Moderate

Note on accuracy: Please note that class, role, and difficulty labels are based on how each champion is most commonly played and Riot’s general classification system, but some champions are genuinely flexible across roles (Pyke as support or assassin mid, Vayne as top or bot, Sylas anywhere with a kit to steal). Difficulty ratings can also shift slightly after reworks or balance patches. For the exact current numbers Riot assigns in the client, check the champion select screen, since those are the live, official ratings.

League of Legends Champion Classes Explained

Every champion in League of Legends belongs to one of six broad classes. Understanding these classes is the fastest way to make sense of the full roster, especially if you are new and the champions list feels like too much to take in at once.

• Assassin Built to burst down a single target quickly, then get out before anyone can punish them. Think Zed, Katarina, and Akali. High risk, high reward, and usually not very tanky.
• Fighter The bread and butter of the top lane and jungle. Fighters mix damage and durability so they can stay in a fight and win it through sustained combat. Darius, Garen, and Jax fall into this group.
• Mage Champions who rely on their abilities rather than basic attacks to deal damage. Mages can be burst focused, like Syndra, or built around sustained damage over time, like Cassiopeia.
• Marksman Also called ADCs, these champions deal consistent damage through basic attacks and usually need items and levels to reach their full power. Jinx, Caitlyn, and Ashe are classic examples.
• Support Champions built to protect and empower their team rather than carry games on their own. This includes enchanters who shield and heal, like Soraka and Lulu, and engage supports who start fights, like Leona and Nautilus.
• Tank Durable champions who soak up damage, control the front line, and set up plays for their team. Malphite, Ornn, and Sejuani are staples of this class.

Most champions have a primary class and often a secondary one, which is why you will see some champions listed as Fighter/Tank or Mage/Support depending on how they are built.

League of Legends Best Champions List

Here is a snapshot of some of the most recognizable champions across each role, useful if you are trying to figure out what to play in a specific lane.

Champion	Class	Primary Role	Damage Type	Difficulty
Darius	Fighter	Top	Physical	Low
Lee Sin	Fighter	Jungle	Physical	High
Zed	Assassin	Mid	Physical	High
Jinx	Marksman	Bot	Physical	Moderate
Thresh	Support	Support	Magic	High
Malphite	Tank	Top	Magic	Low
Ahri	Mage	Mid	Magic	Moderate
Kai’Sa	Marksman	Bot	Mixed	Moderate
Yasuo	Fighter	Mid	Physical	High
Soraka	Support	Support	Magic	Low

What Changed for Champions in 2026

Season 16 has been more about refinement than expansion. A few things worth knowing if you have been away from the game for a bit:

• Fewer new champions: As mentioned above, Locke is the only new release planned for 2026. This is the first year in League’s history where the roster has grown by just one champion.
• Major reworks instead: Shyvana received her first full visual and gameplay overhaul in around 15 years in patch 26.06. Mel, who was one of the newest champions before Locke, also received a gameplay update earlier in the year to bring her kit in line with the rest of the roster.
• Riot Games is planning something bigger: According to statements from Riot’s League Studio leadership, the slowdown in new champion releases is intentional. The team pulled resources to work on a large-scale update expected to land in 2027, sometimes referred to informally as League Next.

If you are trying to keep your champion pool current for ranked, this is actually good news. With fewer new releases, there is less pressure to keep learning brand new kits every few weeks.

How Many Champions Do You Need to Play Ranked?

One of the most searched questions around the champions list is how many champions you actually need to own before you can queue for ranked. The answer is 20 champions. This requirement exists because a standard draft involves 10 bans and 9 other player picks across both teams, so you need enough champions unlocked to guarantee you always have something available to lock in.

You can unlock champions using Blue Essence, which you earn simply by playing games and leveling up, or with Riot Points, which are purchased directly. Most newer champions cost 6300 Blue Essence or 975 RP, though older champions in the roster are priced lower.

Do You Need to Know Every Champion?

Honestly, no. Even high-ranked players will tell you that climbing has more to do with mastering a small pool of five or so champions than knowing all 173 inside and out. That said, having a general sense of what every champion in the game does is genuinely useful. It helps you read the enemy team draft, anticipate what an opponent’s abilities can do to you, and make smarter decisions in champion select when you are picking bans.

A good approach for newer players is to pick one or two champions per role you enjoy, learn their combos and matchups well, and slowly build outward from there. Use the champions list as a reference, not a checklist you need to complete overnight.

Final Thoughts

The League of Legends champions list is huge, and in 2026 it has basically stopped growing while Riot focuses on something bigger behind the scenes. Whether you are a new player trying to figure out where to start or a returning one catching up on reworks, the roster is easier to navigate once you break it down by class and role instead of trying to memorize all 173 names at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1. How many champions are in League of Legends right now? 

Ans: There are 173 champions as of mid 2026, with Locke, the Ashen Exorcist, as the most recent release.

Q.2. Who was the first champion in League of Legends? 

Ans: League launched with 40 champions in October 2009, so there is no single first champion from a player-facing standpoint. Internally, Singed is often cited as the first champion Riot designed during development, while Udyr was the first champion added after launch.

Q.3. How many new champions is Riot releasing in 2026?

Ans:  Just one. Locke is confirmed as the only new champion for the year, as Riot shifts focus toward a larger, unannounced update planned for 2027.

Q.3. How many champions do I need for ranked? 

Ans: You need to own at least 20 champions before you can queue for ranked play.

Q.4. What are the six champion classes in League of Legends?

Ans:  Assassin, Fighter, Mage, Marksman, Support, and Tank. Many champions blend two of these classes depending on their kit and build path.