The 7 Best Mid Laners in League of Legends

In the strategic world of League of Legends, the mid-lane sits at the core of the battlefield, offering pivotal map control and the potential to influence all corners of the game. This central role hosts champions that not only bring high damage to the table but also possess the agility to roam effectively, thereby impacting other lanes and tipping the scales in their team’s favor. Here, we’ll delve into the top mid-lane champions who excel at controlling the pace of the game and turning engagements to their advantage. Let’s explore these key players in the mid-lane arena.

#7: Aurelion Sol

Aurelion Sol continues to dominate the mid-lane despite recent nerfs aimed at his overwhelming late-game strength. Riot’s adjustments primarily focused on reducing the damage of his Q, but his innate scaling remains formidable. By incorporating Rylai’s Crystal Scepter early in his build, Aurelion Sol compensates for the nerfs effectively. This item not only enhances his ability damage but also applies a persistent slow, ensuring that enemies remain within his destructive reach. Coupled with his Astral Flight for superior positioning, Aurelion Sol maintains his status as a formidable mid-lane champion, adept at controlling team fights and securing victories with celestial precision.

#6: Askhan

Akshan remains a powerhouse in the mid-lane, consistently outperforming other champions in versatility and impact. Despite multiple patches coming and going, Riot’s balancing team has yet to curb his influence in the game, allowing him to remain a strong choice for those looking to control the mid-lane. His kit offers a potent mix of mobility, offensive burst, and unique utility—his ability to revive teammates with his W, Going Rogue, can turn the tide of battles. Akshan’s Heroic Swing provides exceptional escape and engage opportunities, making him elusive to gank and formidable in pursuit. His ability to vanish from lane and apply pressure elsewhere makes him either a formidable opponent or a game-changing ally, depending on which side of the rift you’re on.

#5: LeBlanc

Season 13 placed LeBlanc in a tumultuous position with Riot’s balancing team, as unconventional builds like Attack Damage LeBlanc dominated the mid-lane. Despite multiple nerfs aimed at curbing her unconventional item paths, including a heavy reliance on Statikk Shiv and Trinity Force, these attempts only pushed her further down the viability ladder. Recently, however, LeBlanc received some attention that may herald her comeback. Enhancements to her W, Distortion, and E, Ethereal Chains, both receiving a 10% boost in Ability Power scaling, aim to recenter her as a formidable Ability Power assassin. These adjustments could revitalize her presence in the mid-lane and alleviate the balancing team’s ongoing struggle to stabilize her gameplay.

#4: Naafiri

Introduced in patch 13.14, Naafiri quickly clawed her way to a staple mid-lane assassin status alongside her fearsome hounds. Despite successive nerfs aimed at tempering her excessive damage output, Naafiri continues to terrorize Summoner’s Rift. Her core build, which often includes Eclipse, Black Cleaver, and Serylda’s Grudge, makes her a daunting opponent for both squishy ADCs and resilient tanks.

Known as The Hound of a Hundred Bites, Naafiri faces challenges during the early game, especially against prevalent lane bullies like Vex and Orianna. Nonetheless, she compensates by using her Darkin Daggers to maintain a safe farming distance, biding her time until she can secure the necessary items to shift her presence from passive to predatory, unleashing her full potential to reshape the battlefield.

#3: Vex

Vex, dubbed The Gloomist, thrives in the mid lane as a formidable mage who specializes in countering high-mobility champions. Her passive, Doom ‘n Gloom, uniquely positions her to capitalize on nearby enemy dashes or blinks by marking them. This mark enhances Vex’s next basic attack, inflicting bonus damage and proving particularly effective against popular agile champions like LeBlanc and Naafiri.

Beyond her passive, Vex’s ultimate, Shadow Surge, turns her into a formidable force in team fights. A successful hit on a vulnerable target not only secures a kill but also refreshes the cooldown, enabling her to leap from one enemy to another in rapid succession. Even when her ultimate doesn’t strike a key target, its combination with her fear-inducing abilities creates perfect openings for her team, cementing her role as a versatile and dangerous opponent in any skirmish.

#2: Kassadin

Kassadin remains a perennial favorite in the mid-lane, renowned for his late-game dominance and remarkable scaling. Known as the Void Walker, he builds a combination of health and mana items that transform him into a formidable force as the game progresses.

Unlike typical assassins who trade durability for damage, Kassadin’s itemization grants him substantial tankiness, enabling prolonged engagements in team fights. His passive, Void Stone, and his Q ability, Null Sphere, provide significant reductions in incoming magic damage, positioning him as a formidable adversary against AP-centric mid-laners. Once Kassadin reaches level 16 and hits his major power spike, his ability to rapidly traverse the battlefield and decimate opponents becomes nearly unmatched, solidifying his status as a relentless and devastating presence in any match.

#1: Sylas

Sylas consistently finds himself oscillating between being underpowered and overpowered in the mid-lane, thanks to his complex kit that combines the burst of an assassin with the sustain of a skirmisher. His Kingslayer ability is central to his gameplay, enabling him to heal significantly during fights, which makes him formidable in prolonged engagements.

However, what truly sets Sylas apart is his ultimate, Hijack, which allows him to steal and use an enemy’s ultimate against them. This ability not only showcases Sylas’ adaptability but also amplifies the power dynamics on the field, as many champions are designed with ultimate abilities that are pivotal to their overall kit. For instance, a champion like Neeko, who trades off mobility for a powerful ultimate, can see her own game-changing ability turned against her team with devastating effect when hijacked by Sylas. This unique mechanic of turning an opponent’s strength into their vulnerability makes Sylas a top-tier pick in the mid-lane, capable of altering the course of team fights and the game at large.

Conclusion

Navigating the mid-lane in League of Legends requires not only skill but also a deep understanding of which champions can best leverage the dynamics of this central battleground. The champions highlighted in this article offer a range of strategies from devastating burst damage to exceptional control and mobility, making them standout choices for anyone looking to dominate the mid-lane. Whether you’re looking to burst down opponents with precision, control the map, or disrupt enemy plans, these champions are equipped to elevate your mid-lane gameplay and potentially turn the tide of any match. Choosing any of these top-tier mid-laners is a solid strategy for gaining an edge in your climb up the ranked ladder.