LoL Class & Subclass Breakdown Overview
Explore every League of Legends champion class and subclass, from Fighters to Supports. Understand their unique roles, strengths, and strategic implications on the Rift.
Fighters
Melee champions excelling at sustained damage and moderate durability.
Subclasses:
- Diver: Engages deep into enemy lines (e.g., Irelia, Vi)
- Juggernaut: Immovable, high damage, low mobility (e.g., Darius, Garen)
Mages
Ranged spellcasters providing high burst damage or sustained magical output.
Subclasses:
- Burst Mage: High damage combos (e.g., Syndra, Annie)
- Battlemage: Sustained damage in close range (e.g., Ryze, Cassiopeia)
- Artillery Mage: Long-range poke (e.g., Lux, Ziggs)
Tanks
Highly durable champions excelling at absorbing damage and controlling fights.
Subclasses:
- Vanguard: Initiates fights, locks down enemies (e.g., Leona, Malphite)
- Protector: Defends allies, peels for carries (e.g., Braum, Tahm Kench)
Marksmen
Ranged champions specializing in sustained physical damage output.
Subclasses:
- Artillery Marksman: Long-range poke (e.g., Caitlyn, Jhin)
- Hypercarry: Scales extremely well into late game (e.g., Jinx, Vayne)
Assassins
Melee or short-range champions focused on high burst damage to single targets.
Subclasses:
- Ambusher: Excels at surprise attacks (e.g., Kha’Zix, Shaco)
- Duelist: Excels in 1v1 fights (e.g., Fiora, Master Yi)
Controllers
Champions focused on utility, protection, and crowd control for their team.
Subclasses:
- Enchanter: Heals, shields, buffs allies (e.g., Janna, Lulu)
- Catcher: Locks down single targets (e.g., Blitzcrank, Thresh)
Champion Class Distribution (Primary Roles)
Understanding Champion Classes: The Foundation of Strategy
In League of Legends, champions are broadly categorized into classes and further refined into subclasses. These classifications help define a champion’s primary playstyle, strengths, weaknesses, and their general role within a team composition. Understanding these fundamental distinctions is key to effective champion selection and strategic gameplay.
Classes vs. Subclasses: What’s the Difference?
Classes represent broad archetypes (e.g., Fighters are melee damage dealers). Subclasses narrow down this role, highlighting specific playstyles within that archetype (e.g., Divers are Fighters that specialize in deep engages).
The Core Champion Classes in League of Legends
- Fighters: Melee champions combining sustained damage with moderate durability. They thrive in extended skirmishes.
- Mages: Ranged spellcasters who excel at dealing magic damage, often through powerful burst combos or sustained area-of-effect abilities.
- Tanks: Highly durable champions designed to absorb massive amounts of damage and control enemy engagements through crowd control.
- Marksmen: Ranged champions focused on consistent physical damage output, especially strong in the late game. They are crucial for taking down objectives.
- Assassins: Champions specializing in quickly eliminating high-priority squishy targets, often with high burst damage and mobility.
- Controllers: Champions providing utility to their team through healing, shielding, buffs, or various forms of crowd control. This class broadly covers what is often referred to as ‘Support’.
Fighters & Mages: A Closer Look at Subclass Specializations
While main classes provide a broad understanding, it’s the subclasses that truly define a champion’s nuanced playstyle and strategic niche. Let’s delve into two core classes – Fighters and Mages – to highlight how their subclasses dictate their roles in combat.
Fighters: Brawlers of the Rift
Fighters are versatile melee champions, but their subclasses determine whether they plunge into the enemy backline or stand as an unmovable force.
| Subclass | Description | Key Champions | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divers | Champions designed to bypass the enemy frontline and engage high-priority targets in the backline. They often have high mobility and burst. |
Irelia, Vi, Camille |
 
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| Juggernauts | Immovable forces that thrive in sustained combat at close range. They possess high damage and significant durability but often lack mobility. |
Darius, Garen, Mordekaiser |
|
Mages: Masters of Arcane Power
Mages wield magical power, but their approach to combat varies wildly, from long-range bombardments to close-quarters magical duels.
| Subclass | Description | Key Champions | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burst Mages | Focused on unleashing devastating combos to quickly eliminate a single target or small group. High damage, often with setup abilities. |
Syndra, Annie, Veigar |
 
|
| Battlemages | Excel in sustained damage within close to medium range. They often have defensive tools or health-gating to survive prolonged fights. |
Ryze, Cassiopeia, Vladimir |
 
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| Artillery Mages | Specialists in long-range poke and zone control. They can deal significant damage from a safe distance but are often vulnerable up close. |
Lux, Ziggs, Xerath |
 
|
Itemization & Playstyle: Adapting to Your Champion’s Archetype
Understanding a champion’s class and subclass isn’t just for drafting; it profoundly influences how you build your items and approach the game. Your item choices should amplify your champion’s inherent strengths and compensate for their weaknesses, as dictated by their class.
Synergy is Key: Items are designed to synergize with specific champion kits and class identities. A Marksman benefits greatly from Attack Damage and Critical Strike, while a Tank prioritizes Health, Armor, and Magic Resist.
Building Smart: Class-Specific Item Goals
| Champion Class | Primary Item Stats | Core Item Examples | Icons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fighters | Attack Damage, Ability Haste, Health, Resistances |
Black Cleaver, Sterak’s Gage |
 
|
| Mages | Ability Power, Mana, Ability Haste, Magic Penetration |
Luden’s Companion, Rabadon’s Deathcap |
 
|
| Tanks | Health, Armor, Magic Resist, Ability Haste, Crowd Control Amplification |
Thornmail, Spirit Visage |
 
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| Marksmen | Attack Damage, Attack Speed, Critical Strike, Life Steal |
Infinity Edge, Rapid Firecannon |
 
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| Assassins | Attack Damage, Lethality, Mobility, Cooldown Reduction |
Duskblade of Draktharr, Edge of Night |
 
|
| Controllers | Ability Haste, Utility, Mana Regeneration, Health/Resistances |
Redemption, Ardent Censer |
 
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Mastering the Playstyle: Class-Defined Approaches
Beyond items, your approach to laning, teamfighting, and objectives is heavily influenced by your champion’s class and subclass. Play to your strengths!
- As a Diver: Look for opportunities to flank or dive the enemy backline to eliminate key threats. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks.
- As a Juggernaut: Aim for extended fights where your sustained damage and durability can shine. Engage in the frontline and soak damage for your team.
- As a Burst Mage: Identify squishy targets and coordinate with your team to unleash your full combo. Positioning is crucial to avoid being caught.
- As a Marksman: Focus on farming in the early game to reach your power spikes. In teamfights, prioritize safe positioning to deal continuous damage.
- As an Assassin: Seek out isolated targets or vulnerable carries. Utilize fog of war and mobility to surprise enemies and secure quick kills.
- As a Controller: Prioritize vision control and protecting your carries. Provide utility, healing, and crowd control to enable your team’s success.
Step 1: Analyze Champion Kit
Understand the core abilities and scaling of a champion to identify their primary class and subclass.
Step 2: Adapt to Team Composition
Align your champion choice and playstyle with your team’s needs and the enemy’s strengths/weaknesses.
Step 3: Master the Meta & Matchups
Continuously learn how different classes interact in the current meta and specific champion matchups.