League of Legends: Best Scaling Champions For Late Game

League of Legends offers a diverse roster of over 160 champions, each tailored to different playstyles and strategic approaches. While some champions burst onto the scene with formidable power from level one, others gradually unfold their strength, reaching peak performance only after significant farming and scaling deep into the game.

Not all champions with the potential for infinite scaling will dominate late-game; their true prowess often depends on how effectively they can leverage their levels or accumulate necessary stacks to impact team fights. In this article, we’ll explore some of the top champions known for their incredible late-game potential. These champions transform into veritable raid bosses, ideal for players who thrive in the climactic clashes of late-game scenarios.

#17: Sion

Sion stands out as one of the toughest champions to bring down in League of Legends, thanks to his infinite HP scaling. Known for being the quintessential late-game tank, Sion can accumulate more health than the entire opposing team combined, especially with items like Heartsteel enhancing his natural scaling.

A formidable force in both team fights and solo ventures, Sion excels at split pushing and demolishing towers swiftly, thanks to his passive which continues to deal significant damage to structures. While specialized tank-slaying items can mitigate his dominance, effectively countering Sion often demands the attention of multiple opponents, potentially leaving the rest of his team at a numerical advantage elsewhere on the map. Ignoring Sion in strategic calculations can easily lead to a team’s downfall, making him a pivotal presence in late-game scenarios.

#16: Jinx

Jinx epitomizes the archetype of a hyper-carry in League of Legends, with abilities that allow her to surge in power with each kill, chasing down enemies with her area-of-effect (AOE) critical rockets. As a staple in the League community and a central figure in the acclaimed animated series “Arcane,” Jinx not only captivates fans but also dominates in late-game scenarios.

When fully equipped with all her items and achieving 100% Critical Strike Chance, Jinx becomes an unstoppable force on the battlefield. She can rapidly deplete health bars with her quick-firing minigun for close targets and wreak havoc on groups with her devastating AOE rockets from a distance. Her prowess in team fights is particularly notable; gaining speed and attack buffs with each kill, she can snowball through enemy ranks, turning each takedown into a potent boost to her offensive capabilities.

However, Jinx’s formidable offensive output comes with a significant vulnerability—she remains relatively easy to take down, regardless of game duration. Thus, her effectiveness hinges on her team’s ability to shield and support her, ensuring she can unleash her full damage potential safely in the fray.

#15: Yorick

In the late game, Yorick transforms into a formidable force capable of dismantling the enemy’s base in mere moments if left unchecked. While Yorick may not enjoy widespread popularity or recognition for his scaling abilities, his capacity to decisively end games in the later stages is unmatched. His exceptional split-pushing power stems from his ability to summon the Maiden of the Mist and Mist Walkers, which together can rapidly demolish towers and accelerate a lead.

Yorick’s strategic significance is heightened by the dilemma he poses to the enemy team: they must often allocate multiple players to counteract his push, thereby thinning their presence elsewhere on the map and granting Yorick’s teammates a numerical advantage. Neglecting to address Yorick’s advances can lead to swift and devastating losses, as he methodically destroys towers and inhibitors. This makes him a pivotal champion in late-game scenarios, where his push potential can secure overwhelming victories.

#14: Ornn

Ornn, the forge master of League of Legends, significantly enhances his team’s overall power with his unique ability to upgrade their items, ensuring they scale superbly into the late game. Ornn himself becomes a bastion of defense, gaining remarkable tankiness as the game progresses.

The cornerstone of Ornn’s scaling lies in his blacksmithing prowess. Starting at level 13, Ornn can upgrade one of his items to add an additional 1000 gold worth of stats. He continues this upgrading process at levels 14, 15, 16, and 17 for his teammates’ items, cumulatively offering 5000 gold worth of stats across the team. This ability to augment gear significantly bolsters his team’s capabilities as they head into the critical late-game phase.

In addition to his item upgrades, Ornn’s skillset becomes increasingly effective in late-game scenarios. His array of area-of-effect (AOE) knockups makes him a formidable presence in team fights, disrupting enemy formations and facilitating victories in crucial battles. Despite his power in later stages, Ornn maintains a relatively safe early game, capable of weathering tough matchups by farming safely under his tower. This balance of early-game resilience and late-game impact makes Ornn a uniquely valuable champion for teams aiming for a strong finish.

#13: Twitch

Twitch transforms into a devastating force in late-game scenarios when equipped with sufficient Attack Damage (AD), Attack Speed, and Critical Strike Chance. His ultimate, which allows his attacks to pass through and hit multiple enemies, makes him particularly lethal in team fights where opponents are closely positioned.

While most ADCs (Attack Damage Carriers) excel in the late game, Twitch stands out as a top-tier hyper-carry. His ultimate not only extends his attack range but also ensures that his bolts pierce through all enemies in line, making him extraordinarily effective against clustered foes. However, Twitch’s potential is heavily item-dependent; without early itemization towards AD, Attack Speed, and Critical Strike, his damage output remains modest throughout much of the game.

Once Twitch acquires key items like the Infinity Edge, his damage capability skyrockets, allowing him to mow down entire teams rapidly—a true “machine gun” in the fray. For optimal late-game performance, pairing Twitch with an enchanter support, such as Lulu, can further amplify his lethality, positioning him as a formidable adversary in the final stages of a match.

#12: Senna

Senna stands out in League of Legends as a unique hybrid champion, blending the roles of a marksman and support while harboring the potential to become a formidable late-game powerhouse due to her infinite scaling. She collects Mist from fallen minions and enemy champions, which grants her progressively increasing Attack Damage (AD), critical strike chance, and attack range.

As a support marksman, Senna’s ability to farm Mist from non-farming activities allows her to scale effectively even without actively last-hitting minions. Every time Senna attacks an enemy champion twice in quick succession or when minions die near her, she gathers Mist that enhances her combat capabilities. For every 20 stacks of Mist, Senna gains a significant boost in attack range and critical strike chance. Once her critical strike chance reaches 100%, any additional crit chance is converted into life steal, further augmenting her sustainability in skirmishes and team fights.

Senna’s increasing range is perhaps her most formidable attribute; in prolonged games, she can reach a point where she can safely damage enemies from afar, well outside their ability to retaliate. This unique trait makes her particularly dangerous in the late game, where she can dominate team fights and pick off opponents from a distance, making her truly untouchable as the match progresses.

#11: Sona

Sona is renowned for her formidable presence in late-game team fights, where her array of area-of-effect (AOE) heals, shields, speed boosts, and damage buffs can decisively turn the tide of battle. Often considered the quintessential late-game support, Sona’s strengths fully manifest once she’s had time to scale, despite facing significant challenges during the early game.

To compensate for her vulnerabilities early on, Sona is best picked into matchups that ensure her safety, allowing her to reach her late-game potential without heavy setbacks. Once she scales, Sona transforms her team into a nearly invincible force—her AOE abilities not only sustain allies but also enhance their mobility and offensive output. Her passive plays a critical role in this transformation, progressively reducing her ability cooldowns and allowing her to cast spells more frequently.

As Sona levels up and acquires key items, her heals and shields grow stronger, and she provides even greater movement speed boosts. Additionally, her potential for damage should not be underestimated, particularly if she opts for items like Lich Bane, which significantly enhances her burst capability. In the late game, Sona’s ability to support her team while dealing substantial damage makes her an invaluable asset in any lineup.

#10: Veigar

Veigar is a legendary figure in League of Legends, known for his infinite scaling ability that allows him to accumulate vast amounts of Ability Power (AP) and become a late-game powerhouse capable of one-shotting nearly any opponent. His straightforward kit enables even novice players to effectively gather stacks, which convert directly into increased AP, making Veigar one of the most formidable champions in prolonged matches.

Despite his tremendous potential, Veigar’s placement on this list is tempered by his susceptibility to being outmaneuvered by teams that can engage him from beyond his effective range. In scenarios where he’s outranged, Veigar struggles to apply his devastating power, as his abilities have limited range and can be dodged by nimble adversaries. However, in the later stages of the game, any slight mistake by an opponent can lead to their swift demise under Veigar’s heavy burst damage, reinforcing his status as a critical threat in any team composition focused on reaching the late game.

#9: Master Yi

Master Yi, known for his devastating late-game capabilities, is a terror for the enemy team when equipped with critical strike chance, Attack Damage (AD), and attack speed. Renowned as a fearsome champion in lower elo brackets, Yi has the potential to single-handedly turn the tide of battle and dominate team fights after the 30-minute mark.

Master Yi’s unique combination of high movement speed, untargetability through his Q ability, and significant damage output allows him to close gaps and eliminate targets before they have a chance to respond. His kit makes him exceptionally difficult to counter once he’s in close range, especially if he’s gained an early lead.

With items like Duskblade, Yi’s ability to burst down opponents becomes even more pronounced, often resulting in instant eliminations that can swing fights in his favor. Beyond his prowess in combat, Master Yi is also an excellent split-pusher, capable of quickly taking down towers and securing objectives. As the game progresses, his ability to exert pressure across the map only increases, making him a formidable opponent in the late stages of the game.

#8: Azir

Azir, known for his high skill ceiling and staple presence in professional play, thrives once he acquires the necessary Ability Power (AP) and attack speed. This combination unlocks his full potential, transforming him into one of the most formidable damage dealers in the late game.

As a champion favored by pro players, Azir’s complex mechanics and strategic depth make him a powerhouse in skilled hands. Once he secures essential items and levels, he can decimate enemy teams and objectives with ease, outpacing nearly any other mid-laner in terms of raw output in the later phases of the game.

While Azir does not benefit from infinite scaling, his ability to reach a critical power spike aligns well with the increasingly shorter durations of modern games, often making him the decisive factor in climactic battles. His kit not only allows for impressive mobility and disengage but also makes it challenging for opponents to effectively counter him, enhancing his capacity to dominate during crucial late-game encounters.

#7: Vladimir

Vladimir, known for his potent sustain and damage capabilities, becomes increasingly formidable as he accumulates Ability Power (AP) and cooldown reduction. As Vladimir levels up and invests in Ability Haste, his abilities benefit from significantly reduced cooldowns, enabling him to continuously cast spells that damage enemies and heal himself.

The unique synergy in Vladimir’s kit allows him to gain maximum health from purchasing AP, enhancing both his survivability and offensive output with each item acquisition. This dual scaling from AP to health makes his item power spikes particularly impactful, transforming him into a near-unstoppable force in the late stages of the game.

While Vladimir’s early game might be characterized by lower damage output, his Sanguine Pool (W) provides a crucial defensive tool to evade ganks and early aggression. However, this ability does have a long cooldown in the early game, leaving windows for potential punishment. Yet, if Vladimir is allowed the time and space to scale into the late game, he can dominate the battlefield, leveraging his powerful healing and damage to control the game’s outcome.

#6: Smolder

Smolder, the fiery newcomer among ADCs, adopts a strategy of playing it safe early on to unleash his formidable late-game potential. Unlike traditional ADCs who rely predominantly on their auto-attacks, Smolder’s prowess stems from his abilities and their infinite scaling potential.

Smolder’s unique mechanic, Dragon Practice, allows him to accumulate stacks by hitting enemies with abilities or last-hitting minions with his Q. These stacks enhance the magic damage of all his basic abilities. While the damage can scale infinitely, significant milestones occur at 25, 125, and 225 stacks, at which points Smolder’s Q ability evolves to incorporate new effects and area-of-effect damage. The pinnacle of his power is the final upgrade to his Q, which includes an elder dragon-like execute ability, transforming Smolder into a formidable adversary in the late game, capable of turning the tides of battle with devastating executions.

#5: Vayne

Vayne, known as one of the most formidable tank-killers in League of Legends, reaches her peak once she maxes out her Q and W abilities and secures sufficient attack speed. Renowned for her late-game prowess, particularly with three core items, Vayne transcends other marksmen in terms of threat level once fully equipped. Her exceptional scaling with attack speed, combined with her invisibility from her ultimate and the consistent true damage output, makes her a daunting adversary to confront in any matchup.

Vayne’s kit allows her to effectively counter a wide range of champions, including those considered tanky, thanks to the true damage incorporated into her attacks. This ability not only makes her a versatile threat but also complicates counterplay options, as few items can effectively mitigate the damage she inflicts. Failing to control Vayne’s progression through the mid-game, allowing her to build a significant lead, often results in overwhelming consequences for the opposing team. Her ability to decimate targets quickly and from relative safety, especially when supported by a solid frontline, renders her nearly unstoppable in the later stages of a game.

#4: Nasus

Nasus epitomizes the concept of a “raid boss” in League of Legends if he’s given the freedom to farm his Q stacks in the laning phase. Renowned for his infinite scaling potential, Nasus focuses on accumulating as many stacks as possible during the early to mid-game, setting the stage for dominant performances in team fights.

The danger of leaving Nasus unchallenged in lane cannot be overstated. Even during the early game, his natural sustain and effective disengage make it difficult for opponents to prevent him from stacking. Once Nasus reaches a critical threshold, such as 1000 stacks, he gains the ability to virtually one-shot any less durable champions caught out of position, with each kill further augmenting his formidable stack count and overall threat level.

Beyond his stacking prowess, Nasus also excels at split-pushing and can out-duel nearly any champion in a one-on-one scenario by the late game. This combination of stacking, dueling strength, and split-pushing capability makes Nasus a formidable force that can dictate the pace and outcome of the game’s later stages.

#3: Kassadin

Kassadin is widely regarded as a ticking time bomb in League of Legends, especially notorious for his explosive power post-level 16. If Kassadin can navigate through his vulnerable early game, he becomes a colossal threat with unparalleled mobility and damage output.

Known for his dramatic level 16 power spike, Kassadin at this stage is a terror in the late game. His fully-leveled ultimate drastically reduces cooldowns while increasing damage, allowing him to swiftly dismantle enemy teams. This high mobility makes him nearly impossible to pin down, enabling him to dive deep into enemy lines to target vulnerable backliners or make a quick escape if threatened.

While Kassadin is a dominant late-game force, he also starts to become significantly powerful at level 11, making him effective in mid-game skirmishes around objectives. This dual-phase threat capacity places him as a top contender not only for late-game dominance but also for impactful mid-game engagements, solidifying his position as one of the most formidable champions in the game.

#2: Aurelion Sol

In the late game, Aurelion Sol becomes a cosmic force to be reckoned with, fully embodying his grand stature from the lore with increasingly formidable abilities. The Season 13 rework has elevated Aurelion Sol from an underplayed character to the pinnacle of infinite scaling champions in League of Legends.

Aurelion Sol’s transformation centers around his ability to accumulate stardust, which continually enhances the scale and impact of his Ultimate. This ability can stun vast areas or, when empowered, knock up enemies, disrupting entire teams during critical late-game engagements. By the 30-minute mark, a well-farmed Aurelion Sol can expand his Ultimate’s area of effect to monumental proportions, making it nearly impossible for enemies to avoid his devastating attacks.

His unparalleled zone control, especially around key objectives, combined with the massive area of disruption caused by his ultimate, positions Aurelion Sol as a formidable presence in late-game scenarios. His capacity to dominate team fights and secure objectives with his infinitely scaling powers makes him a top-tier threat in any match.

#1: Kayle

Kayle epitomizes the archetype of a late bloomer in League of Legends, evolving from a fragile melee fighter into a formidable ranged powerhouse with devastating area-of-effect (AoE) capabilities. Renowned for her dramatic transformation, Kayle becomes perhaps the most potent late-game champion in the game.

Initially starting as a melee character, Kayle gradually gains range on her auto-attacks at key levels—6, 11, and 16. Each upgrade significantly bolsters her ability to influence fights from a safer distance. Her laning phase may present challenges due to her initial vulnerabilities, but reaching her level 16 transformation allows Kayle to unleash her full potential. At this stage, her auto-attacks deal extensive AoE damage, both physical and magical, and her ultimate expands in size and impact, making her a nightmarish presence for any foe within reach.

By the time Kayle reaches her peak at level 16, she not only turns into a “raid boss” in her own right but also stands as one of the most formidable back-line threats in League of Legends. Her ability to output massive damage while being relatively safe from counterattacks makes her a top-tier pick for players aiming to dominate the late stages of the game.

Conclusion

Mastering the late game in League of Legends often hinges on selecting champions with significant scaling potential. From the relentless split-pushing power of Nasus to the transformational might of Kayle, the champions highlighted in this blog excel at turning the tide of battle as the game progresses. These champions start with modest beginnings but grow exponentially stronger with each level and item, eventually dominating the battlefield when fully realized. Understanding the strengths and optimal playstyles of these scaling giants can give players a strategic advantage, allowing them to outmaneuver and overpower opponents in critical late-game scenarios. Whether you’re looking to control the game as a formidable raid boss or decimate teams with powerful AoE attacks, these champions offer the tools needed to clinch victory from the jaws of defeat.