The Best Champions to Main in League of Legends Season 16

League of Legends Season 16 has introduced new balance changes, shifting the meta and creating fresh opportunities for players looking to climb the ranked ladder. While almost every champion can find success in the right hands, some champions stand out because of their consistency, carry potential, versatility, and ability to perform well across multiple patches.

Choosing a champion to main is one of the most important decisions you can make in League of Legends. A good main allows you to learn matchups faster, improve your mechanics, and focus on mastering the game rather than constantly switching between different champions. The best champions to main are usually those with strong solo carry potential, reliable laning phases, flexible build paths, and the ability to impact games regardless of rank.

In this guide, we’ll rank the 10 best champions to main in League of Legends Season 16. Whether you’re a new player searching for a reliable one-trick champion or an experienced ranked grinder looking for your next main, these picks offer some of the strongest combinations of consistency, skill expression, and climbing potential in the current meta.

#10: Bard

Bard is one of the most unique and rewarding champions to main in League of Legends Season 16. While he may not be the easiest support to learn, Bard offers incredible playmaking potential, unmatched map mobility, and the ability to influence every lane on the Rift.

What makes Bard such a strong champion to main is his flexibility. He can roam constantly, create picks with Cosmic Binding, save teammates with Tempered Fate, and completely change the outcome of teamfights through smart decision-making. Unlike many supports who are tied to their ADC throughout the laning phase, Bard thrives when moving around the map and creating advantages elsewhere.

His passive, Traveler’s Call, encourages roaming by rewarding players with Chimes that increase damage, movement speed, and utility as the game progresses. This allows skilled Bard players to impact objectives, assist solo laners, and generate pressure across the entire map without falling behind.

Another reason Bard is an excellent long-term main is his incredibly high skill ceiling. There is always something new to learn, whether it’s portal angles, ultimate combinations, roaming paths, or creative ways to use his crowd control. As you invest more time into the champion, your ability to carry games improves significantly.

While Bard requires good map awareness and game knowledge, the payoff is enormous. Few supports can match his ability to create game-changing plays, punish enemy mistakes, and influence the outcome of matches from the support role. For players who enjoy roaming, making creative plays, and having a massive impact on the game, Bard is one of the best champions to main in Season 16.

#9: Thresh

Thresh has remained one of the most iconic support champions in League of Legends for years, and Season 16 is no exception. Few champions offer the same combination of playmaking, utility, crowd control, and carry potential from the support role.

One of the biggest reasons to main Thresh is his versatility. He can engage fights, peel for teammates, create picks, protect carries, and completely control the pace of teamfights. Whether you’re playing aggressively in lane or looking to make game-winning plays later on, Thresh always has tools available to impact the match.

His signature ability, Dark Passage, is one of the strongest utility spells in the game. A well-timed lantern can save teammates from certain death, enable aggressive engages, or completely change the outcome of a skirmish. Combined with Death Sentence and Flay, Thresh has access to some of the best crowd control in the support role.

Thresh is also a champion that rewards mastery. The more games you invest into him, the more you’ll improve at landing hooks, predicting movement, controlling vision, and creating opportunities for your team. This makes him an excellent long-term main because his skill ceiling remains incredibly high even after hundreds of games.

Unlike many meta-dependent supports, Thresh rarely becomes irrelevant. His kit has remained useful through countless seasons, patches, and meta shifts, making him one of the safest champions to dedicate time to learning.

If you’re looking for a support champion with endless outplay potential, strong carry impact, and one of the highest skill ceilings in League of Legends, Thresh remains one of the best champions to main in Season 16.

#8: Jhin

Jhin is one of the best ADC champions to main in League of Legends Season 16 thanks to his consistency, strong laning phase, and ability to influence fights from a safe distance. Unlike many marksmen who rely purely on attack speed and mechanics, Jhin rewards positioning, precision, and smart decision-making.

One of Jhin’s biggest strengths is his ability to contribute throughout every stage of the game. His powerful early trading, long-range crowd control, and burst damage make him a threat during laning, while his utility and execution potential allow him to remain relevant even when playing from behind.

His Deadly Flourish and Curtain Call give him some of the best pick-making tools of any ADC. Jhin can start fights, follow up on allied crowd control, and help secure kills from screens away, making him valuable in both solo queue and coordinated play. Few marksmen can impact a fight from as far away as Jhin can.

Another reason Jhin is an excellent champion to main is his adaptability. He works well with a wide variety of support champions, fits into most team compositions, and rarely falls completely out of the meta. Whether paired with engage supports, enchanters, or poke champions, Jhin can usually find success.

His unique playstyle also gives him a very high skill ceiling. Managing reloads, maximizing movement speed from critical strikes, landing long-range abilities, and positioning correctly during teamfights separate great Jhin players from average ones.

For players looking for an ADC that combines damage, utility, carry potential, and long-term mastery, Jhin remains one of the strongest and most rewarding champions to main in League of Legends Season 16.

#7: Smolder

Smolder has become one of the most reliable scaling champions in League of Legends Season 16. While he may appear simple on the surface, Smolder offers incredible carry potential for players willing to invest time into mastering his farming patterns, positioning, and scaling mechanics.

The biggest reason to main Smolder is his ability to take over games as they progress. Thanks to his Dragon Practice passive, he continuously becomes stronger throughout the match, eventually transforming into one of the most dangerous late-game champions on the Rift. Once he reaches his key stack thresholds, his damage output can quickly overwhelm entire enemy teams.

Unlike many hypercarries that struggle through the early game, Smolder has a relatively safe laning phase. His ranged abilities make it easier to farm from a distance, and his mobility gives him tools to survive difficult matchups. This allows players to focus on scaling efficiently without constantly risking unnecessary deaths.

Smolder is also highly rewarding for one-tricks and dedicated mains because his success depends heavily on understanding power spikes, wave management, and teamfight positioning. Players who consistently reach their stack milestones can become the primary win condition for their team in nearly every game.

Another advantage is his flexibility. Smolder fits into a variety of team compositions and remains useful even when games become chaotic. His ability to deal consistent damage from range while scaling into a late-game monster makes him a valuable pick in both low and high ranks.

For players who enjoy scaling champions, late-game carry potential, and the satisfaction of becoming stronger as the match progresses, Smolder is one of the best champions to main in League of Legends Season 16.

#6: Jax

Jax has been one of the most feared solo queue champions for years, and Season 16 continues to showcase why he remains such a popular pick. With his combination of strong dueling, split-pushing power, scaling, and carry potential, Jax is one of the best champions to main for players who want to take over games from the top lane.

One of Jax’s greatest strengths is his ability to win side lanes. As the game progresses, he becomes increasingly difficult to duel, allowing him to pressure towers, force multiple enemies to respond, and create advantages for his team across the map. Few champions can match his split-pushing threat in the late game.

His kit is also deceptively simple while offering plenty of room for mastery. Counter Strike gives Jax powerful defensive and offensive options, allowing him to outplay many champions in one-on-one fights. Combined with his mobility and scaling damage, he can quickly punish mistakes and snowball leads into victories.

Unlike many niche top laners, Jax performs well in a wide variety of situations. He can function as a side-lane threat, a frontline bruiser, or even a backline diver depending on the game state. This flexibility makes him a reliable champion to blind pick and a strong choice for players looking to climb ranked consistently.

Another major advantage of maining Jax is his long-term value. He rarely stays weak for long and has remained relevant through countless meta shifts. Because his core strengths revolve around fundamentals such as farming, wave management, and side-lane pressure, the skills you learn on Jax translate well to many other champions.

For players who enjoy carrying games through smart macro play, strong dueling, and devastating late-game scaling, Jax remains one of the best champions to main in League of Legends Season 16.

#5: Darius

Darius remains one of the most dominant top lane champions in League of Legends Season 16. Known for his lane pressure, snowball potential, and ability to completely take over teamfights, Darius is an excellent champion to main for players who enjoy aggressive gameplay and carrying through brute force.

What makes Darius so effective is his ability to punish mistakes harder than almost any other top laner. A single misstep from an opponent can quickly turn into a kill thanks to his powerful early-game damage, crowd control, and passive bleed stacks. Once Darius gains a lead, he becomes incredibly difficult to stop.

His laning phase is one of the strongest in the game. Darius can dominate many melee matchups, control waves effectively, and force enemies to play cautiously whenever they enter his range. This makes him a consistent pick for players looking to climb through strong individual performances.

Darius also scales surprisingly well into the mid and late game. His Noxian Guillotine ultimate allows him to reset repeatedly during teamfights, often turning a single kill into a devastating multi-kill. When combined with his durability and sustained damage, he can become a nightmare for enemy teams to deal with.

Another reason to main Darius is that he teaches important top-lane fundamentals. Learning trading patterns, wave control, spacing, and matchup knowledge becomes extremely rewarding because Darius can capitalize on these skills better than most champions.

While he may lack mobility compared to some modern champions, his raw power, reliability, and ability to dominate games make him one of the best top lane champions to main in Season 16. For players who enjoy winning lanes, snowballing advantages, and carrying teamfights, Darius remains a top-tier choice.

#4: Shyvana

Shyvana has emerged as one of the strongest jungle champions to main in League of Legends Season 16. Thanks to her excellent farming speed, powerful objective control, and incredible scaling, Shyvana offers a perfect mix of consistency and carry potential for players looking to climb the ranked ladder.

One of Shyvana’s biggest strengths is her ability to generate advantages without relying heavily on early-game ganks. Her fast jungle clear allows her to accumulate gold and experience quickly, often reaching important item spikes before other junglers. This makes her a reliable pick in solo queue, where consistent performance is often more valuable than risky early plays.

Once she gains access to her Dragon’s Descent ultimate, Shyvana becomes a completely different champion. Her dragon form provides massive teamfight presence, increased survivability, and devastating area-of-effect damage capable of melting multiple enemies at once. A well-timed engage can instantly change the outcome of a fight.

Shyvana is also one of the best objective-focused champions in the game. Her ability to secure Dragons, Void objectives, and neutral camps efficiently makes her an excellent choice for players who prefer winning through macro advantages rather than constant skirmishing.

Another reason to main Shyvana is her versatility. Depending on the patch and item meta, she can adapt her build path to fit different playstyles, allowing players to remain effective across a variety of team compositions and matchups.

While her mechanics are relatively straightforward compared to some jungle champions, mastering pathing, objective timing, and teamfight positioning can make Shyvana an incredibly rewarding long-term main. For players seeking a powerful scaling jungler with strong carry potential and consistent impact, Shyvana is one of the best champions to main in League of Legends Season 16.

#3: Lee Sin

Lee Sin has been one of the most iconic jungle champions in League of Legends history, and Season 16 proves that he is still one of the best champions to main if you’re willing to invest the time to master him. Few champions offer the same level of playmaking potential, mechanical expression, and ability to carry games from the jungle.

Lee Sin excels at controlling the pace of a match. His strong early-game dueling, mobility, and gank pressure allow him to influence lanes from the very beginning, creating advantages that can snowball into victories. A skilled Lee Sin player can completely take over a game before many scaling champions even have a chance to come online.

What makes Lee Sin such a rewarding main is his incredibly high skill ceiling. Ward hops, insecs, flash kicks, combo optimization, and advanced pathing all provide endless opportunities for improvement. Even after hundreds of games, there is always something new to learn, making him one of the most satisfying champions to master.

Unlike many mechanically demanding champions, Lee Sin remains relevant throughout every stage of the game. He can secure objectives, create picks, peel for teammates, engage fights, or assassinate priority targets depending on what his team needs. This flexibility allows experienced players to adapt their playstyle to almost any situation.

Another major advantage is that Lee Sin rarely falls completely out of the meta. His kit is simply too versatile and impactful to become irrelevant for long, which makes him a safe long-term investment for players looking to dedicate themselves to a single champion.

For players who enjoy aggressive gameplay, flashy outplays, and having complete control over the flow of the game, Lee Sin remains one of the best champions to main in League of Legends Season 16. Few champions can match his ability to single-handedly influence the outcome of a match when played at a high level.

#2: Naafiri

Naafiri has become one of the most reliable solo queue assassins in League of Legends Season 16. Unlike many high-skill assassins that require near-perfect mechanics, Naafiri offers a more accessible playstyle while still providing exceptional carry potential, roaming power, and kill pressure.

One of the biggest reasons to main Naafiri is her consistency. Her straightforward kit allows players to focus on macro, positioning, and decision-making rather than complicated combos. This makes her an excellent champion for climbing ranked, as she can reliably punish mistakes and snowball leads without requiring extreme mechanical precision.

Naafiri thrives at picking off isolated targets and creating pressure around the map. Her mobility, burst damage, and Packmate companions make her a constant threat to enemy carries, especially during the mid game when assassins are at their strongest. A single successful roam can quickly turn into multiple kills and objectives for her team.

Another major strength is her ability to carry games in solo queue environments. Because coordination is often limited, Naafiri can take advantage of poor positioning and punish overextended opponents more easily than many other champions. Her straightforward engage tools also make it easier to find opportunities compared to more difficult assassins like Zed or Qiyana.

Despite being easier to learn, Naafiri still offers plenty of depth for dedicated players. Understanding roaming timers, flank angles, target prioritization, and map control can dramatically increase her effectiveness and help players consistently dominate games.

For players looking for an assassin that combines strong carry potential, reliable execution, and excellent solo queue performance, Naafiri is one of the best champions to main in League of Legends Season 16. She delivers everything an assassin player wants without the steep learning curve that often comes with the role.

#1: Ahri

Ahri takes the number one spot as the best champion to main in League of Legends Season 16. Few champions offer the same balance of safety, carry potential, mobility, consistency, and versatility that Ahri brings to the Rift. Whether you’re a new player looking for a reliable main or a veteran aiming to climb ranked, Ahri is a champion that can succeed in virtually every elo.

One of Ahri’s greatest strengths is her flexibility. She can function as a burst mage, a pick-focused playmaker, or a mobile assassin depending on the matchup and team composition. This adaptability allows Ahri players to remain effective across different metas, making her one of the safest long-term champions to invest time into mastering.

Her laning phase is also extremely reliable. Ahri has strong wave clear, solid trading tools, and enough mobility to avoid many dangerous situations. Unlike some mid laners who struggle when falling behind, Ahri can still contribute through crowd control, picks, and map pressure even if she doesn’t secure an early lead.

Once she unlocks Spirit Rush, Ahri becomes one of the most mobile champions in the game. Her ability to reposition during fights, chase down targets, and escape dangerous situations gives her incredible playmaking potential. Combined with Charm, she can create picks that instantly win objectives, skirmishes, and teamfights.

Another reason Ahri is such a strong champion to main is her high skill ceiling. While her basics are easy to learn, mastering positioning, combo execution, roaming, and teamfight decision-making can take hundreds of games. This makes her rewarding for both beginners and experienced players alike.

Most importantly, Ahri is almost always relevant. She rarely becomes completely unplayable after balance changes and consistently finds a place in solo queue, professional play, and high-ELO environments. For players seeking a champion that offers consistency, versatility, and long-term value, Ahri stands as one of the best champions to main in League of Legends Season 16.

Conclusion

Finding the right champion to main can make a massive difference in your League of Legends experience. While meta picks come and go, the best champions to main are usually those that offer a strong combination of consistency, carry potential, versatility, and long-term mastery. Whether you prefer dominating teamfights as Ahri, outplaying opponents with Lee Sin, scaling into a late-game monster with Smolder, or taking over the map as Bard, each champion on this list has the tools needed to help you climb in Season 16.

Remember that success in ranked isn’t about constantly switching to the newest overpowered pick. In most cases, mastering one or two champions will lead to better results than chasing every meta trend. The more games you invest into a champion, the better you’ll understand their matchups, power spikes, and win conditions.

Ultimately, the best champion to main in League of Legends Season 16 is the one that matches your preferred playstyle and keeps you motivated to improve. Pick a champion you genuinely enjoy, dedicate time to mastering them, and you’ll give yourself the best possible chance of climbing the ranked ladder this season.