Arena is a chaotic game mode forLeague of Legendsin which eight teams of two battle it out in rounds, with defeated teams losing health until they are eventually knocked out. With every fight being a 2v2, Arena is all about how well two champions work together, but if the champions are weak in the current meta, they won’t be able to get much done.
Therefore, players must have thebest Arena champs inLoLat the ready, to either pick or ban. Based on first-place finishes, top-two placement consistency, and pick rate stats fromMETAsrc, the following list has been compiled for the best Arena champions for Patch 14.9.
Updated on July 26, 2025, by Joe Grantham:League of Legends is a constantly evolving game with patches released every two weeks that are capable of reshaping the meta or at least reigning in champions who are a tad too strong. On top of this, Arena has its own meta with some champions performing better in 2v2 fights, while large changes to the game mode benefit some champs more than others. For example, champions who can be more flexible with their builds benefit from the new Anvil system which sees players choose between three randomly presented items or stats.
10Gwen
Top 2: 29.7% - Pick: 11.2%
Gwen is one ofthe best scaling champions inLeague of Legends, and in Arena, the early game is practically skipped, allowing Gwen to come online much sooner. Gwen is also great at snipping through tanks, a rarity among magic damage dealers, making her a great pickup.
In Arena’s 2v2 fights, Gwen is comfortable taking isolated duels with her attack speed, or she can cut through both targets at once with her charged-up Q and the needles from her ultimate.
9Vayne
Top 2: 29.2% - Pick: 21.5%
With lots of high-health targets strutting around in Arena, Vayne is one of the best champions for taking them down with her true damage based on max HP. Unlike otherbot laners and marksmen, Vayne also has a better chance of surviving the heavy skirmishes in Arena thanks to her mobility and invisibility when she ults.
As Vayne will nevertheless be targeted by almost all opponents, she is best picked alongside a supportive champion who can keep her alive with shields and heals. Alternatively, tanks with lots of CC can also do a great job interrupting her preemptive demise.
8Kayn
Top 2: 31.3% - Pick: 23.1%
As a slippery assassin, Blue Kayn is capable of finding plenty of success inLeague’smost chaotic mode, where he only has to focus on two targets rather than five. While he doesn’t have as much upfront damage as the likes of Zed, he does have unmatched mobility, which allows him to slip away to the heals or reposition to help his ally out, making it a 2v1.
If players find themselves in a game full of tanks, they could also consider going Red Kayn for the sustain, max health damage, and crowd control. Adapting builds and playstyles based on the remaining opponents is one ofthe simplest tips to follow for Arena.
7Gragas
Top 2: 31.4% - Pick: 24.4%
After buffs to his passive, Gragas now has greater sustain, making him ideal for Arena. On top of being able to heal every few seconds at later levels, Gragas has good magic damage that can be combined with the other best Arena champions, who often deal physical damage.
Moreover, withhis burst ultimate, Gragas is capable of knocking enemies out of the Ring of Fire and then can place his Q down to slow their re-entry while he watches them burn to death.
6Trundle
Top 2: 31.1% - Pick: 22.6%
One of the best ways towin more games in Arenais to pick easy champions with great sustain, and currently, no one fits the glove quite as well as Trundle. With how prevalent tanks and other beefy boys are in Arena, Trundle’s ult is the perfect tool to even the playing field as he steals their resistances.
With certain Augments and items, his damage is also nothing to be quaffed at, especially as single-target damage is much more useful when only fighting against a maximum of two targets, rather than five. Therefore, it is no surprise that Trundle is currently one of the most consistent champions for high finishes in Arena.
5Darius
Top 2: 30.5% - Pick: 30.6
In a game mode where melee champions tend to be the best, Darius naturally excels as he can’t be kited or avoided. Instead, he cuts through enemy health bars with his axe, and once his Hemorrhage passive has stacked up, any enemy hit will soon bleed to death.
With a good mix of damage, sustain, and tankiness, Darius is a highly dangerous threat in 1v1 or 2v2 fights. With his ult resets, he is in fact able to turn around a 1v2 with surprising speed. However, champions whom Darius may struggle against are those with high mobility or ways to block him such as Veigar’s cage.
4Swain
Top 2: 28.9% - Pick: 28%
With his AOE damage and sustain, which are both perfect when the Ring of Fire shrinks, it is of little surprise that Swain is one of the best Arena champs. As long as Swain players can keep their foes within their ult, perhaps with the help of a slowing item such as Rylai’s Crystal Scepter, it is practically impossible to lose a fight.
Compared with some of the other champions, Swain is also relatively easy, making himan ideal beginner championfor finding success in Arena.
3Brand
Top 2: 33.7% - Pick: 27.2%
Brand is one ofthe best Mid Laners inLeagueat the moment, and his strength translates into the 2v2 fights of Arena. In an ideal fight, Brand’s ult will bounce between the two opponents, while his other AOE damage literally burns them.
While mages aren’t normally that good in Arena due to their inability to take down bruisers and other beefy champions who sustain, Brand is better at dealing with large healthbars. This is especially true after he has built items such as Liandry’s and Morellonomicon. The only thing to consider when picking Brand is that he needs someone to protect him, ideally a tanky AD champion with CC.
2Zed
Top 2: 34.6% - Pick: 26%
Thanks to some sizable buffs for Arena specifically in the last iteration of this mode, Zed is easily one ofLeague’sbest Arena champs. Not only does he offer incredible damage, but he also has fantastic mobility, which is often overlooked in Arena, as players can briefly disengage from combat and heal up on the plants.
With the previous addition of the revive mechanic, if Zed’s ally goes down first in the fight he can skirt around the edges of the map and then sneak back when they are ready to be revived. As strong as Zed is, he is still one ofthe hardestLeaguechampions to master, so players unfamiliar with him might be better off picking up easier options.
1Galio
Top 2: 34.8% - Pick: 26.3%
Arena often comes down to all-out 2v2 brawls, and with his AOE damage and CC, Galio is more than capable of hitting both opponents at once with everything he’s got. His taunt in particular is highly useful, as he draws the aggression of both enemies, leaving his ally free to dish out damage, while he as a tank takes little damage.
In terms of build, Galio can be fairly flexible with tank or AP items both viable options for him. This comes in useful with the Anvil system, where players are presented with random items or stats to choose from. Galio also happens to be very easy to play.
