Boards›Dev Corner

Champion Subclass List

RiotStatikk·6/1/2016, 8:47:28 PM·1 votes·435,917 views

In a previous blog we introduced the many Subclasses that help structure League’s vast Champion roster. You can find that here: http://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/news/game-updates/gameplay/dev-blog-classes-subclasses

Now we’d like to share the specifics of how we currently see where each champion fits into the structure. Before we do that, here are a couple of things to take note of:

  • Just like the game itself, this list is ever-evolving - our understanding of each champion constantly changes as the game continues to grow; there may be an entire Subclass we are missing.
  • The list is not the law - these are general guidelines that help us think and talk about the game; we’re not looking to homogenize our champions, in fact this helps identify which champions need to be better differentiated from each other.
  • It’s okay to disagree with it - in fact, even internally there are many debates about which champion fits where; these are healthy discussions.
  • Some categorizations are based on the intended vision of a champion and not necessarily the current way they are optimally played in any given patch - “what a champion is” vs. “what they should be” is a great question to be constantly asking.

So now that I’ve rambled on enough, here’s the current list we’ve settled on:

Tanks

Vanguards

  • Malphite
  • Amumu
  • Leona
  • Zac
  • Gragas
  • Rammus
  • Mega Gnar
  • Sejuani
  • Rek’Sai
  • Sion
  • Nautilus
  • Skarner

Wardens

  • Braum
  • Nunu
  • Tahm Kench
  • Maokai
  • Shen
  • Thresh
  • Alistar
  • Poppy
  • Galio (hybrid Battle Mage)

Fighters

Juggernauts

  • Nasus
  • Darius
  • Mordekaiser
  • Illaoi
  • Trundle
  • Olaf
  • Garen
  • Shyvana
  • Udyr
  • Dr. Mundo
  • Volibear
  • Yorick

Divers

  • Vi
  • Xin Zhao
  • Nocturne
  • Pantheon
  • Jarvan
  • Wukong
  • Warwick
  • Renekton
  • Elise
  • Hecarim
  • Lee Sin
  • Irelia
  • Aatrox
  • Evelynn
  • Diana

Slayers

Assassins

  • Zed
  • Kha’zix
  • Fizz
  • LeBlanc
  • Akali
  • Talon
  • Katarina
  • Kassadin
  • Shaco
  • Rengar
  • Nidalee (hybrid Artillery)

Skirmishers

  • Fiora
  • Riven
  • Yasuo
  • Tryndamere
  • Master Yi
  • Jax
  • Ekko

Mages

Burst Mages

  • Syndra
  • Veigar
  • Annie
  • Twisted Fate
  • Ahri
  • Lissandra
  • Lux (hybrid Artillery)
  • Viktor
  • Brand (hybrid Battle Mage)

Battle Mages

  • Karthus
  • Vladimir
  • Ryze
  • Swain
  • Rumble
  • Cassiopeia
  • Aurelion Sol
  • Gangplank (hybrid Skirmisher)
  • Malzahar

Artillery

  • Xerath
  • Ziggs
  • Vel’Koz
  • Jayce (hybrid Skirmisher)
  • Varus (hybrid Marksman)

Controllers

Enchanters

  • Janna
  • Nami
  • Sona
  • Soraka
  • Lulu
  • Bard
  • Zilean
  • Karma (hybrid Battle Mage)
  • Taric (hybrid Warden)

Disruptors

  • Anivia
  • Zyra
  • Heimerdinger
  • Orianna
  • Morgana (hybrid Enchanter)
  • Teemo (hybrid Marksman)
  • Taliyah

Marksmen

  • Vayne
  • Caitlyn
  • Ashe
  • Corki
  • Draven
  • Jinx
  • Kalista
  • Kog’Maw
  • Lucian
  • Miss Fortune
  • Sivir
  • Tristana
  • Kindred
  • Ezreal (hybrid Artillery)
  • Twitch (hybrid Assassin)
  • Quinn (hybrid Assassin)
  • Jhin (hybrid Burst Mage)
  • Graves (hybrid Skirmisher)
  • Kayle (hybrid Enchanter)
  • Azir (hybrid Disruptor)
  • Mini Gnar

Unique Playstyles

  • Cho’Gath
  • Blitzcrank
  • Singed
  • Fiddlesticks
  • Kennen
  • Urgot

Hopefully this helps solidify some of the definitions we put out in the initial Subclass Dev Blog. Feel free to come chat with us about any thoughts you guys have on the topic.

548 Comments

Cpt Shaq Sparrow6/1/2016, 10:28:37 PM46 votes

Disagree with keeping Marksmen all in one category. You have Vayne classified the same as Caitlyn and Ashe classified the same as Miss Fortune and Lucian and it is very clear that they operate differently. Thinking about the windows of power in lane phase, ability to scale into lategame, key item/stat purchases (such as prioritizing Armor pen and CDR over AS and Crit), ability to eliminate structures (as opposed to eliminating champions), the ways they interact with or depend on teammates, and the very simple consideration of "how do I play this champion?", it is clear that needs to be more separation.

I think that by not separating Marksmen more thoroughly, this is leading to poor balance decisions being brought to the live server. The lack of separation in the Marksman class is leading to less focus on the itemization, playstyles, windows of power and overall team functionality of different kinds of Marksmen. Instead, I see that the balance team is focusing on champions uniquely in a vacuum - this type of focus is what leads to over/underpowering champions through balance changes once their ecosystem is disturbed. I think that the problem with Lucian on live right now isn't just a Lucian problem, but a problem with the entire "subclass" that can use Ghostblade and Black Cleaver - Lucian synergizes the best with the build, yes, but the problem is that the marksmen that can use those items are rising in power (MF, Draven and Twitch) and they are essentially using items that were not designed for their class. Save for Caitlyn and Ezreal, many marksmen cannot compete in botlane with the raw power of the Ghost-Cleaver champions. While I encourage using unique builds and using champions in unique ways, I think it's very telling if lots of champions in one subclass begin using items targeted at a different subclass and begin trending higher than they should be (think Spirit of the Elder Lizard Ezreal). However, this analysis is muddied when there is not enough separation between subclasses of Marksmen.

By separating Marksmen more thoroughly, more analysis can be done towards how subclasses interact with the game, how problems form and how they can be solved, but as long as Lucian and Ezreal are considered entirely on par with Kog'Maw and Vayne, there will be missteps in balancing the entire class (and honestly, the entire Botlane).

thoughts?

RiotAD Yuumi6/1/2016, 11:47:50 PM39 votes

Jhin the burst mage. Muahahaehaah

Malicious Metal6/1/2016, 9:16:57 PM35 votes

You've classified Mordekaiser wrong.

He ain't simply a Juggernaut.

He's a Raidboss.

Windows OS6/1/2016, 9:25:19 PM32 votes

Remember when the term mage was used for people who used magic?

Stellafreyja6/1/2016, 9:13:34 PM29 votes

I definitely would not consider Lissandra a Burst Mage. She fits far more as a Disruptor imo.

Solari Fortune6/1/2016, 9:10:07 PM21 votes

Unique Playstyles AKA: We don't really know what to do with them

Sahn Uzal6/1/2016, 8:52:04 PM16 votes

Gangplank's a battlemage? Interesting... A skirmisher + disruptor hybrid would've made more sense to me :p but I can see where you're coming from though, taking a second look at it.

TheSlogs6/1/2016, 8:58:28 PM13 votes

I challenge Riot to make a champion that doesn't fit any of these subclasses.

RiotZenonTheStoic6/2/2016, 4:00:32 PM9 votes

Do you think Taliyah might be a hybrid burst mage with her EW combo?

SilverSquid6/1/2016, 11:16:43 PM8 votes

Karma Karma Karma seems to lack the damage for being a battlemage, while having the playstyle of an artillery mage in lane. Karma's short burst of speed barely qualifies her for "directly augmenting" others and her protection is weak, without hard/instant CC and only shields. In addition her RQ **burst ** can be brutal.

But then again, her playstyle in teamfights fits the **battlemage **archetype, she doesn't really have the range for being an artillery, her RE does protect your allies a lot and the potentially longest root in the game helps too. And if you compare her RQ burst to other champions 2-spell-combos, it feels rather average.

While my POLL seems to mirror your definition of enchanter/battlemage.... only 11 (enchanter) and 6 (battlemage) voters,out of 83, agreed she would fit those roles. Compare this to the 59 people who agreed that she would fit all/none roles, I am stuck with the following question:

Karma seems to fit at least slightly into most of her possible roles (Enchanter-Battlemage-Burstmage-Artillery-Disruptor), but also at least one part of her kit contradicts with any given role. While this might not be a problem per se,** do you think this reflects on Karma's lack of direction** (no clear strong/weak-points)? And if so, should it be kept or could Karma need more refining?

SaltyKracka6/1/2016, 8:56:43 PM7 votes

Cancer

Kennen Gnar

Felvyne6/1/2016, 9:28:22 PM4 votes

...Rek'sai as a tank, when originaly was some kind of fighter? Why? Her only CC is the knock up and she isn't durable without items

The Queen Viper6/1/2016, 9:41:16 PM3 votes

{quoted}

Battle Mages

  • Gangplank (hybrid Skirmisher)

AP GP confirmed? He deals magic dmg now? He's a Fighter, not a Mage.

[zombie-brand-mindblown]

Swampert6/1/2016, 9:46:17 PM2 votes

I thought shyvana was a diver not a juggernaut, weren't juggernauts meant to have 0 mobility. Shyvana uses here ultimate to dive into the enemy team ....

Shadowkirby146/1/2016, 9:34:35 PM1 votes

Urgot's more of a Marksman/Artillery hybrid, if you think about it, and like everyone else, Kennen's more of a Disruptor.