Welcome! Strap in, summoners — Patch 25.9 is one of the most META-SHAKING updates League has seen in months! From explosive champion buffs to brutal nerfs that send former powerhouses crashing down the ranks, everything you thought you knew about solo queue is changing. Whether you’re grinding for your next rank or just trying to dodge inting teammates, knowing which champs are climbing the ladder (and which are getting stomped) is the only edge that matters.
We’ve dug through the data, tested the picks from this amazing LoL Boost Tier List, and assembled the definitive tier list update for solo queue — and trust us, you don’t want to sleep on these patch changes.
Contents
- 1 Top Lane Tier List Breakdown
- 2 Patch 25.9 Recap: Biggest Winners and Losers
Top Lane Tier List Breakdown
The top lane battlefield has seen major shake-ups, with tanky juggernauts returning to dominance and former solo-lane nightmares dropping off hard.
OP Tier: Shen and Sett Dominate
Shen is back with a vengeance. Thanks to a brutal Q buff, he’s gone from decent to absolutely oppressive in extended trades. What pushed him over the edge is his new go-to build: Titanic Hydra first, followed by Dead Man’s Plate or Hollow Radiance, depending on damage type. Combine that with a new inspiration rune setup (grab Biscuits and Approach Velocity), and he’s a menace you can’t ignore.
Joining him at the top is Sett, who continues to be one of the most reliable blind picks thanks to his tank shredding and early game control.
S Tier: Kayle and Urgot Fall, But Remain Viable
Kayle and Urgot slide down from OP into S-tier. They’re still strong, but the dominance of Shen and Sett means these picks are slightly less consistent.
Bottoming Out: Gwen Falls Hard
Gwen took a hit this patch — and it hurts. Her Q’s AP ratio nerf seems small, but because she casts it so frequently in teamfights, her damage output tanks. She drops to B tier, now outclassed by almost every top lane pick in higher elos.
Stay Away From This: Neeko Top
Despite looking spicy in pro play, Neeko top has the lowest solo queue win rate among high-playrate champions — a tragic 43%. Avoid this trap unless you want to donate LP.
Jungle Tier List: Status Quo, With One Major Fall
Patch 25.9 didn’t quite shake up the jungle meta the way some expected. Grub spawn timer changes hinted at a shift toward level-six power spikes — but that shift never materialized.
Still Kings: Top Picks Remain on Top
The strongest junglers from previous patches — think champs with strong early clears and fast gank windows — continue to dominate. This means if you’ve already been playing meta jungle, you’re good to go.
Gwen Jungle Is Officially Dead
Just like top lane, Gwen’s jungle version took a massive hit. Her win rate dropped over 2% due to the Q nerf and armor scaling loss. She no longer competes with A or S-tier picks and is simply not worth locking in this patch.
York Nerfs: Still a Solid Pick in Lower ELOs
York got knocked out of OP tier but holds steady in S-tier, especially effective in low-to-mid ELOs where players struggle to deal with split push pressure.
Mid Lane Tier List: Annie Breaks the Game
Few mid lane stories have been as dramatic as what we’re seeing with Annie right now. She’s experienced the largest single-patch win rate increase we’ve seen in a long time.
OP Tier Surprise: Annie Soars
From a 47% win rate in patch 25.8 to 53% in 25.9, Annie rockets from C-tier into OP. Buffs to her Q damage, W mana cost, and R magic penetration have turned her into a must-pick mid for solo queue climbers. She’s bursty, simple to play, and incredibly effective right now.
Rod of Ages? Not Anymore
The nerf to Rod of Ages hit hard. Orianna, Ahri, and Viktor now perform significantly better with Archangel’s Staff as their rush item. Rod’s durability is still situationally useful, but it’s no longer a default pick.
Other Mid Lane Movers
Zed and Fizz benefit from the Ignite buff, now stronger post-level 6. Both are climbing in win rate thanks to their burst potential.
- Oriana buffs did little due to Rod of Ages being simultaneously nerfed.
- Nafiri, despite nerfs, holds up in A-tier. The W cooldown nerf didn’t gut her as expected.
ADC Tier List: No Big Shifts, Meta Remains Stable
While dragon and grub spawn timers hinted at an early skirmish ADC meta, those expectations didn’t pan out. The core ADC lineup remains strong and unchanged.
OP Tier: Lucian, Jinx, Tristana
These three continue to dominate. Whether it’s Lucian’s lane control, Jinx’s scaling, or Tristana’s kill pressure, they each provide unique and reliable win conditions.
Kalista and Ashe: Balanced Post-Buffs
Their recent tweaks landed well, causing no major tier list shifts. Both remain viable picks but don’t break into the top tier.
Support Tier List: Leona Rises, Niti Emerges
Support mains have a lot to be excited about. Patch 25.9 offered some real shifts here, especially with Leona and an emerging off-meta threat.
OP Tier: Fiddlesticks
Fiddlesticks continues to defy expectations. The current optimal build is all-in utility: Trailblazer rush, Q max first for fear duration, and heal instead of ignite, which is winning games more often by a 5% margin.
S Tier: Leona is BACK
Leona buffs turned out far more impactful than anticipated. Her passive’s duration boost to 2.5 seconds makes follow-up trades much easier, and her Q/E mana cost reductions let her stay aggressive longer. Combine this with the Ignite buff and Unflinching rune buff, and she’s now one of the best engage supports in the game.
Niti Support: Off-Meta No More
Niti is carving out a niche — and if you’re playing her right, she’s shockingly strong. Her E max gives a 70% attack speed buff for 7 seconds, a staggering support stat boost.
Best Builds for Niti:
- Into double range: Aery Keystone, Echoes of Helia, Moonstone Renewer.
- Into melee: Grasp Keystone, tankier build with Dream Maker.
Ideal ADC Pairings:
Tristana, Jinx, Vayne, Varus — ADCs who scale or benefit massively from attack speed. Avoid pairing her with Smolder, Ezreal, or Jhin.
Morgana: Slight Buffs, No Tier Movement
Morgana’s buffs weren’t enough to change her tier standing. She’s still viable, but doesn’t threaten the top supports.
Annie Support: Viable Offmeta
With Annie buffs being so impactful, her support play rate has doubled, and she’s surprisingly decent with high burst ADCs like Misfortune, Caitlyn, and Tristana. While not meta-defining, she’s better than expected.
Boots of Swiftness Update: Slight Nerf, Still Meta
Swiftness Boots took a minor hit. The base movement speed drop hurts a bit if you don’t get the Swift March passive — but the adaptive stat buff offsets this for many champions. Overall, the boots remain very playable.
Patch 25.9 Recap: Biggest Winners and Losers
Biggest Winners:
- Annie (Mid and Support) — massive win rate spike, great buffs.
- Shen (Top) — OP pick, new build path, dominant presence.
- Leona (Support) — buffs landed hard, now top-tier engage.
Hardest Hit:
- Gwen (Top and Jungle) — nerfs crushed her, now low-tier.
- Rod of Ages Users — item is now niche and situational.
- Neeko (Top) — pro favorite, but a disaster in solo queue.
Final Thoughts: Meta is Shifting — Are You Ready?
Patch 25.9 proves just how quickly the League meta can turn on its head. Thanks for reading this very best LoL Boost Tier List. Champs like Annie and Shen have skyrocketed in power, while once-reliable picks like Gwen are left behind. If you’re serious about climbing, adapting to these shifts isn’t optional — it’s essential.
Stay on top of your role’s strongest picks. Watch the itemization trends. And above all, avoid autopiloting into outdated builds or comfort picks that no longer hold up.
