League of Legends analysis: how helpful is it to one-trick?

One-tricks by champion

Before I dive into the champion-specific data, I want to make the caveat very clear that if you are one-tricking a champion and are having a high win-rate on it, do not change that just because your champion doesn’t have a lot of one-tricks in Diamond or higher. Play what is working for you. These stats and recommendations are more geared towards those wondering whether to one-trick their champ or find a new one.

There are 10 champions – Azir, Singed, Bard, Nunu & Willump, Darius, Elise, Illaoi, Orianna, Nami, Rengar – that have an average rank of Diamond or higher among their top ten players. All of them but one (Orianna) have at least one main in Grandmaster or Challenger, but half of them have at least one main that is in Silver (though none have a main in Bronze) – Singed, Bard, Elise, Nami, and Rengar.

Of the top 25 champions in terms of highest average elo of their one-tricks, there are six (6) top laners, 12 junglers, five (5) mid laners, two (2) supports, and no AD Carries. In terms of the bottom 25 champions when it comes to average elo, there are six (6) top laners, two (2) junglers, four (4) mids, nine (9) ADCs, and four (4) supports.

This seems to lead to the conclusion that it is much better to one-trick if you are a jungler than if you are an AD Carry. In fact, the first ADC with the highest average elo of its one-tricks, Ezreal, is 33rd.

Only one single champion – Malphite – has an average one-trick rank of Silver. There are 10 champions – Morgana, Malphite, Kog’Maw, Malzahar, Warwick, Maokai, Yorick, Xayah, Lucian, and Ziggs – that have at least half of their one tricks in a rank that is lower than Gold. On average, a champion will have two of its one-tricks ranked in Silver or lower.

Therefore, in terms of recommending which champions are the best to one trick, we will recommend those that not only have shown that their players are able to climb high, but also show that they have a good amount of consistency in whether their players can climb. Here are all the champions that have 1) an average rank of their one-tricks in Platinum, 2) at least one main in Masters or higher, and 3) have fewer than two of their mains in Silver or lower (listed from highest average rank to lowest).

Top lane: Singed, Darius, Illaoi, Rumble, Yasuo, Sion, Gangplank, Camille, Ornn, Riven, Kennen
Jungle: Nunu & Willump, Elise, Karthus, Lee Sin, Jarvan IV, Gragas, Kha’Zix, Nidalee, Graves, Vi, Rek’Sai, Volibear, Shaco, Amumu
Mid lane: Azir, Fizz, Aurelion Sol
ADC: Ezreal, Twitch, Draven,
Support: Bard, Nami, Janna, Brand, Sona

Based on this data, do you think you’re going to start one-tricking a champion to climb in League of Legends? Which one? Let us know in the comments!