The 2022 League of Legends Champion Rollercoaster: From Joyful Optimists to Meta-Defining Titans

The introduction of new champions in League of Legends has become a cyclical phenomenon, one where the community braces for impact as each release threatens to reshape the very foundations of the game. In 2022, this tradition continued unabated as Riot Games unleashed six distinct champions onto Summoner's Rift, each arriving with the potential to become a meta-defining force. Like a series of carefully orchestrated tremors, their arrivals sent ripples through the established order, challenging players to adapt or be left behind. The year was marked by champions who ranged from joyful melee fighters to ancient spirit walkers reborn, creating a tapestry of gameplay experiences that tested both balance teams and player adaptability.

6. Nilah: The Joyful Anomaly

Anchoring the list is Nilah, the game's first dedicated melee bot lane champion. Her design philosophy was as unique as her playstyle—a character perpetually engulfed in joy, wielding a liquid whip with relentless optimism. In a meta often dominated by tankier engagements, Nilah's kit was a precision instrument focused on rapid attacks and self-sustenance, a delicate dancer in a brawler's arena. Her initial impact, however, was less like a seismic event and more like a carefully placed stone causing gentle ripples. With a pick rate that remained modest and a win rate hovering around a solid 50.6%, she failed to revolutionize the lane as some predicted. Her release was notably marred by technical issues, requiring several bug fixes—a champion broken not by power, but by code. To many players, mastering Nilah felt like trying to conduct a symphony with a single instrument; rewarding for specialists, but lacking the broad, disruptive chorus of her peers.

Key Nilah Metrics (Post-2025 Adjustments):

Metric	Value	Trend
Average Win Rate	50.6%	Stable
Pick Rate (All Ranks)	3.2%	Low
Primary Role	Bot Lane (Melee ADC)	Niche
Common Build Path	Shieldbow -> Phantom Dancer -> Infinity Edge	Sustain & Crit

5. Bel'Veth: The Void Empress Ascendant

Arriving as a answer to the community's long-standing hunger for a true monster champion, Bel'Veth, the Empress of the Void, descended not with subtlety, but with voracious intent. Her design—a deceptive manta ray that unfurls into a terrifying void-borne predator—was a masterclass in thematic execution. Her kit, however, was a labyrinthine novel of passive and active abilities that could intimidate even seasoned junglers. This complexity translated into a significantly higher pick and ban rate than Nilah, though accompanied by a less dominant win rate. Her power was a double-edged blade, sharp enough to dominate games but obvious enough to draw constant scrutiny from balance patches. Playing against a skilled Bel'Veth was akin to watching a tsunami approach from deep water; the initial movement seemed manageable, but the ensuing, overwhelming force was often inescapable.

4. Renata Glasc: The Chem-Baroness of Chaos

Proving that power comes in many forms, Renata Glasc asked a simple question: who needs brute strength when you have wealth, wit, and chemical warfare? As a support champion, her value was not in raw damage, but in her unparalleled ability to manipulate the tide of battle. Her signature ability, Bailout, could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat by reviving a fallen ally, while her ultimate, Hostile Takeover, could turn the enemy team against itself. With a win rate boasting an impressive 51.6%, Renata demonstrated that high utility could trump flashy mechanics. Her skill ceiling was a steep cliff, demanding impeccable timing and situational awareness. A well-played Renata was the puppet master of Summoner's Rift, her enemies often unaware they were dancing on strings of gold and toxic gas until the final curtain fell.

3. Zeri: The Spark of Zaun Unleashed

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Beneath a cheerful, almost storybook exterior lay a storm of electricity and motion. Zeri's gameplay was a kinetic masterpiece, a rollercoaster of parkour dashes, laser bursts, and chain-lightning discharges that made her an instant favorite for players craving high-octane action. Her popularity was matched only by the relentless attention she received from the balance team. By 2026, the list of adjustments to her kit is legendary, with nerfs, tweaks, and reworks exceeding fifty separate changes across patches. This constant tuning was a testament to her inherent power; she was a runaway reaction in Riot's chemical lab, requiring constant care to prevent an explosion. Even now, she remains a potent pick, a testament to a design that captured lightning in a bottle—a bottle that frequently threatened to shatter.

The Nerf Chronicles: Zeri's Patch Journey

• Post-Launch (2022): Immediate hotfixes to reduce early-game dominance.

• Season 2023: Major adjustments to her Ultrashock Laser (W) and mobility.

• Season 2024: Rework of her Spark Surge (E) wall-ride mechanic.

• Season 2025-2026: Continued fine-tuning of base stats and item interactions to maintain balance in the evolving meta.

2. K'Sante: The Pride of Nazumah

Emerging from a lore of loss and resilience, K'Sante arrived as a tactical paradox: a tank with the soul of a duelist. Wielding his massive weapon Ntofo, he could defend his allies with steadfast determination before abruptly isolating a key enemy, smashing them through terrain for a brutal one-on-one confrontation. His popularity soared, fueled by a striking aesthetic and a prestigious collaboration, making him the most-picked champion of the 2022 cohort. However, his win rate told a different story—often subpar, reflecting a steep learning curve and the precision required to master his stance-switching mechanics. His ban rate, however, spoke volumes about the threat he represented. Facing a masterful K'Sante was like being caught in a geological shift; the ground seemed solid until it fractured beneath you, leaving you isolated and vulnerable.

1. Udyr: The Spirit Walker Reforged

Topping the hierarchy is not a new entity, but a legend reborn. Udyr's comprehensive rework in 2022 was so transformative it essentially introduced a new champion. Shedding his old animal stances and iconic skirt, he emerged with the raw elements at his command: lightning, steel, fire, and ice, each with a powerful 'Awakened' state. This overhaul was a masterstroke, catapulting him to the apex of the jungle tier list for both casual and competitive play. By 2026, he maintains a staggering win rate and commands the highest ban rate among the 2022 champions. His rework succeeded where others have faltered, preserving his core identity while injecting modern dynamism. In the ecosystem of League, the reworked Udyr became a keystone species; his presence fundamentally altered the environment, forcing every other jungle pick to adapt or be outcompeted. He stands not just as the most successful champion of 2022, but as a benchmark for how to revitalize a legacy character, proving that sometimes the greatest force for change is a familiar spirit walking a new path.