League’s Original Champions: A Celebration of Gaming History
Back on October 7, 2009, something special happened in the gaming world. Riot Games released League of Legends, a free-to-play MOBA that would go on to bring millions of players together from all corners of the globe. What started with just 17 Champions has blossomed into a roster of over 150 unique characters, each with their own personality and playstyle!
League has stayed beloved all these years because Riot keeps things fresh and exciting, constantly improving gameplay and introducing new Champions that keep players coming back for more. But today, we’re taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane to celebrate the OG Champions – the originals who started it all!
Summary:
- Master Yi
- Soraka
- Ryze
- Annie
- Kayle
- Sion
- Nunu & Willump
- Twisted Fate
- Morgana
- Sivir
- Fiddlesticks
- Warwick
- Alistar
- Teemo
- Jax
- Ashe
Master Yi
Main Role: Assassin | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 52.5%
Remember when you could build Master Yi with AP and absolutely surprise everyone? Those were wild times! Yi got a thoughtful rework back in 2013, and he’s been slicing through the Rift ever since. His Q makes him untargetable (which is always satisfying), and building lethality and attack speed lets him zip around teamfights like a whirlwind.
While the removal of Duskblade means he’s playing a bit differently now, Yi mains are adapting and still finding success with this speedy swordsman!
Soraka
Main Role: Support | Difficulty: Low | Current Win Rate: 49.9%
Fun fact: According to the lore, this sweet healing Support is actually one of the most powerful beings in the entire game! Soraka got her rework in 2015, transforming her into the ultimate team healer. She sacrifices her own health to heal allies (what a hero!), but can restore herself by landing her Q on enemies.
Her Ultimate is a beautiful moment in teamfights – healing her entire team across the map, with bonus healing for anyone who really needs it. While newer Supports bring different tools to the table, Soraka’s classic healing style still has a special place in many players’ hearts.
Ryze
Main Role: Mage | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 50.0%
Ah, Ryze – the Champion who’s been reworked more than anyone else! This magical mastermind keeps finding ways to be powerful, which honestly just shows how beloved he is. His Ultimate creates amazing team moments, letting you teleport your whole squad for coordinated plays or clutch escapes.
Season 14 brought some changes to his damage output, but Ryze players are resilient and have found new ways to make him work, including some interesting tank builds!
Annie
Main Role: Mage | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 51.8%
Annie and her bear Tibbers have been melting enemies since day one! Her stun mechanic (every fourth spell) keeps opponents on their toes, and summoning Tibbers never gets old. It’s one of those iconic League moments that just feels right.
The coolest update? Annie can now shield her allies with her E, making her a surprisingly helpful Support option. Plus, she does more damage than ever thanks to modern items. Annie proves that sometimes the classics are classics for a reason!
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Kayle
Main Role: Fighter | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 52.1%
Kayle’s 2019 rework was like watching a butterfly emerge from a cocoon – she literally ascends! Her Ultimate still saves lives by making allies invulnerable (clutch plays for days), but her new Passive is where the magic happens. She evolves four times throughout the game, getting stronger with each transformation.
Late-game Kayle with the right attack speed items? Chef’s kiss – she becomes an absolute powerhouse who can carry teamfights!
Sion
Main Role: Tank | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 47.9%
Sion’s 2014 transformation is still considered one of League’s best reworks! He went from a basic Champion to an unstoppable undead warrior with one of the most fun Ultimates in the game – literally charging across the map like a runaway train!
His Passive lets him come back as an enraged zombie for a brief last stand, which creates hilarious and heroic moments. In Season 14, tank Sion with Hullbreaker is the way to go – he can practically delete turrets in the late game, which is incredibly satisfying!
Teemo
Main Role: Marksman | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 50.4%
Love him or… well, love him or find him frustrating to play against – Teemo is iconic! This adorable yordle has always been about map control with his invisible mushrooms and preventing enemies from landing attacks with his blind.
Modern items have made Teemo even more effective, and the Malignance item combo with his mushrooms creates some seriously impactful zone control. Plus, his invisible-in-bushes mechanic leads to hilarious ambush moments!
Nunu & Willump
Main Role: Tank | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 49.8%
The 2018 rework gave us Nunu AND Willump as a proper duo, and what a delightful change it was! Their snowball-rolling ability (W) is pure joy – watching it grow bigger and bigger as Willump rolls around never stops being entertaining.
Whether you build them AP or tank, this adorable pair excels in the jungle, bringing both tankiness and magic damage to their team. Plus, their Ultimate still creates those satisfying “everyone stay in the circle” moments!
Twisted Fate
Main Role: Mage | Difficulty: High | Current Win Rate: 52.5%
Some Champions are so perfectly designed that they barely need changes, and Twisted Fate is one of them! His card-throwing abilities are iconic, and his Ultimate is a game-changer – revealing every enemy on the map before teleporting to make big plays.
TF is popular in professional play because he’s so versatile and creates exciting moments. Whether he’s stunning enemies with gold cards or ganking lanes with his teleport, he’s always bringing something special to the game!
Morgana
Main Role: Mage | Difficulty: Low | Current Win Rate: 50.5%
Morgana is Kayle’s sister, and while she got a visual glow-up in 2019, her kit stayed largely the same because it’s just that good! Her shield protects allies from crowd control, her Q creates lengthy roots, and her W is perfect for zone control.
She shines as both Support and Mid, and her Ultimate creates beautiful chaos in teamfights. Items like Liandry’s Torment and Rylai’s Crystal Scepter complement her perfectly, letting her control the battlefield!
Warwick
Main Role: Fighter | Difficulty: Low | Current Win Rate: 52.3%
Warwick’s 2017 rework was fantastic! His bite-and-heal mechanic makes jungle clearing feel great, and his E provides both survivability and crowd control. His Ultimate went from point-and-click to a skillshot, making successful ults feel more rewarding.
The new Sundered Sky item has given Warwick players even more tools to work with, boosting both his damage and healing. He’s beginner-friendly but with enough depth to keep experienced players engaged!
Alistar
Main Role: Tank | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 50.4%
Alistar is the definition of a reliable tank Support! His Ultimate makes him incredibly tough, and his combo of Q (knockup) and W (knockback) creates perfect engage opportunities for his team. You can also use his W defensively to save allies, which feels heroic every time.
His Passive even heals the whole team! Alistar is one of those Champions who makes you feel like a true protector, standing between your carries and danger.
Jax
Main Role: Fighter | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 49.7%
Jax has been bonking enemies with his lamp since day one, and he’s still going strong! His kit is straightforward but effective – leap to enemies, stun them, and unleash devastating attacks with bonus speed and defenses from his Ultimate.
Thanks to items like Sundered Sky and ability haste options, Jax can jump around more frequently and sustain better than ever. He’s proof that you don’t need to be complicated to be effective!
Ashe
Main Role: Marksman | Difficulty: Moderate | Current Win Rate: 52.4%
Ashe is League’s poster Champion for good reason! She’s perfect for beginners while still being viable at the highest levels of play – that’s impressive longevity! Her 2015 rework modernized her kit beautifully, turning her Q into a satisfying frost barrage and her E into a global scouting tool.
Her Ultimate – that massive cross-map arrow – creates incredible moments whether you’re hitting game-winning stuns or making amazing saves. The new Terminus item has given her even more tools to work with, proving that the Frost Archer is still as cool as ever!
These OG champions have been with us for over 15 years, adapting and evolving while maintaining what made them special in the first place. Whether you’re a veteran player reminiscing about the old days or a newcomer curious about League’s history, these Champions represent where it all began. Here’s to many more years of exciting gameplay on the Rift! 🎮✨
