TL;DR
- Worlds 2022 achieved historic champion diversity with 100 unique picks/bans
- Jayce became the milestone 100th champion selected by DWG KIA’s Nuguri
- Aatrox maintains 100% presence in Main Event as premier blind pick
- Maokai’s flex potential across three roles demonstrates meta complexity
- Tournament’s healthy champion pool indicates balanced competitive environment
The 2022 League of Legends World Championship has shattered previous diversity records by featuring an unprecedented 100 distinct champions across both selection and ban phases. This landmark achievement demonstrates the evolving strategic depth in professional play, where teams are increasingly willing to explore unconventional options to gain competitive advantages.
During DWG KIA’s group stage confrontation against Evil Geniuses, top laner Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon selected Jayce, officially marking the centennial champion appearance in the tournament. What makes this milestone particularly remarkable is its timing—occurring before the group stage even reached its midpoint, suggesting even greater diversity potential remains untapped. With elimination rounds still ahead, analysts project the final count could climb significantly higher as teams deploy specialized pocket picks.
In an intriguing coincidence, the 99th champion emerged in the very same draft session when Evil Geniuses secured Bard for support player Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme. Broadcast talent including Max “Atlus” Anderson, Marc Robert “Caedrel” Lamont, and Sam “Kobe” Hartman-Kenzler immediately recognized Bard’s significance but initially missed Jayce’s simultaneous record-breaking status. The commentary team later celebrated this historic moment during the early game phases.
The century mark establishes a new benchmark for champion representation at World Championships, signaling exceptionally healthy meta diversity during the competitive season’s climax. This achievement becomes even more noteworthy when considering that several champions were completely unavailable due to technical issues or balance concerns. As the competition advances through knockout stages, the roster of contested heroes may expand further, potentially reaching numbers previously unimaginable in professional League of Legends.
Strategic Implications: This level of champion diversity forces teams to prepare for countless matchups and compositions, testing their strategic flexibility and champion pool depth. Teams that adapt quickly to emerging trends gain significant advantages in draft phases.
Common Draft Mistakes: Many squads falter by over-prioritizing comfort picks rather than adapting to meta shifts. Successful teams typically maintain balanced champion pools that can counter emerging strategies while preserving their signature styles.
With 100 champions picked at Worlds 2022, which are the most popular?
Several champions have dominated the competitive landscape throughout the tournament, with Aatrox establishing himself as the premier top lane choice. The darkin blade wielder maintained an astonishing 96% presence during Play-Ins and achieved perfect 100% representation in the Main Event thus far. Professional analysts consider Aatrox the ultimate safe blind pick for blue side teams, offering reliability across numerous matchups.
Maokai has surged in priority as teams recognize his versatile kit, with his tournament presence escalating dramatically from Play-Ins to group stages. This increased priority stems largely from his exceptional flex potential across three distinct roles: top lane, jungle, and surprisingly, support. The support role experimentation has been pioneered exclusively by Fnatic’s Zdravets “Hylissang” Iliev Galabov, demonstrating how innovative play can redefine champion roles.
Additional consistently prioritized champions include Sylas for his ultimate-stealing capabilities, Kalista for her objective control, Sejuani as a durable engage tank, Azir for late-game scaling, and Yuumi, whose presence frequently frustrates both professional players and viewing audiences alike.
Optimization Tips: Advanced players should study how pros utilize these champions’ specific power spikes and itemization timing. For example, Aatrox reaches critical power at level 9 with maxed Q, while Maokai’s support potential peaks after completing his core itemization around minute 12-15.
Action Checklist
- Analyze Aatrox’s blue side blind pick dominance in your own games
- Experiment with Maokai flex picks across multiple roles to understand his versatility
- Study the 100 champion pool to identify underutilized counters to meta picks
- Track how professional teams adapt their drafts throughout tournament progression
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