LoL: Top 5 Champions to One-Trick

1. Pantheon

Recommended Roles: Top, Middle

You know a champion’s in a decent spot when he’s sitting at a 54.54% win rate. But it’s not just about the numbers here. Pantheon is one of the most punishing laners in the game and his cross-map play potential is through the roof. Of course, picking Pantheon puts you on a clock but if you play your cards right, you’ll be at their Nexus long before late game hits.

Playstyle: Get Ignite and start with a Corrupting Potion. Poke your opponent down with Spear Shots [Q] and look for a level 2 all-in. Once you get a few kills, look to snowball other lanes with Grand Skyfall [R] since it will be hard for you to carry on your own. If your team is ahead, you can use your Panthdrop to start team fights but in general, it’s best to avoid 5v5s and focus on smaller skirmishes. Go for one or two damage items (usually Youmuu’s Ghostblade and Black Cleaver) and then aim for more defensive options like Guardian Angel, Dead Man’s Plate, or Maw of Malmortius.

2. Aurelion Sol

Recommended Role: Middle

Aurelion Sol is a tricky one. Due to his distinct playstyles, many mid laners struggle to master him. However, once you get used to his kit, you’ll realize that you always have options to influence the game one way or another.

Playstyle: Again, Corrupting Potion is your friend, although this time you want to combo it with Exhaust. Your early levels are surprisingly potent and you can often get first blood by running people down with Celestial Expansion [W]. However, your true power spike is at level 3 when you can really break open the game by roaming and picking up kills with Comet of Legend [E]. In team fights, use your stars and ultimate to zone enemies from your teammates, and let your backline do the rest.  As for itemization, you will always want Hextech GLP-800 and Rylai’s Scepter to make it easier to land your passive.  

3. Shaco

Recommended Role: Jungle

Few champions are as menacing and tilt-inducing as a well-played Demon Jester. Of course, the drawback is that if you don’t get a snowball going, you’ll feel useless in the late game. But fear not for a good Shaco will always find kill opportunities in Solo Queue.

Playstyle: Drop Flash and get Ignite. Your kit already has a lot of mobility and an offensive summoner will be paramount in securing those early kills. Thanks to Jack in the Box [W], it will be easy to clear your first few camps but keep in mind that Shaco isn’t a farm-oriented jungler. Instead, look for ganks and aggressive invades. Take advantage of your Deceive [Q] to dodge common warding spots and blindside your opponents. Once you get to level 6, you can sneak in a Dragon with your ultimate—just make sure that it isn’t warded first. Much like Pantheon, Shaco doesn’t want to take part in actual full-blown team fights, although he’s more than capable of deleting a squishy carry. Instead, focus on splitpushing and picking off vulnerable targets. Your itemization will be geared towards offense (including a Hydra item for better jungle clear) but it’s a good idea to mix in a Guardian Angel to make you that much harder to kill.

4. Draven

Recommended Role: AD carry

Ah, Draven. The very definition of a glass cannon. Dying on him feels ten times worse than on any other champion since you also lose your stacks. On the other hand, if you’re the first one to get a kill, there’s no one that can snowball this advantage as hard as the Glorious Executioner.

Playstyle: Your laning phase will be built around all-ins. Few AD carries can outdamage a Draven in a straight up 1v1, so use this to your advantage in trades. Your level 2 powerspike is especially important since both Blood Rush [W] and Stand Aside [E] can catch your opponents off guard and make for an easy first blood. In team fights, focus on catching axes and keeping your attack speed buff up. Most Draven players look into building Blade of the Ruined King and Bloodthirster to become a sustain tank that can run people down, although it’s always a good idea to add a Rapidfire Cannon and Infinity Edge later on.

5. Vel’Koz

Recommended Roles: Middle, Support

People always tend to sleep on Vel’Koz. Yet when played right, this champion has some of the best poke and burst in the game. Of course, it will take some time to get used to his abilities but the payoff is worth it. After all, it’s just simple geometry.

Playstyle: Your first two levels aren’t that strong so make sure to keep your farm up and poke enemies down from afar. Level three is when Vel’Koz can start striking back with well-placed knock-ups and passive procs. Still, it’s only when you get your ultimate that you come into full force and get the ability to 100-0 most targets with insane amounts of true damage. In team fights, you should focus on staying out of harm’s way and softening enemies up with your Plasma Fissions [Q] before bursting them down with a devastating combo. A usual mid lane build would include items like Morellonomicon, Luden’s Echo, Void Staff, and Rabadon’s Deathcap, while support Vel’Kozes aim for Liandry’s Torment and Rylai’s Scepter.

Do you know any other champions that’d make for great One Tricks? Share your opinion in the comments.