These are the best League of Legends champion picks in 9.23

The League of Legends preseason update arrived on November 19, introducing patch 9.23 with transformative modifications to Summoner’s Rift. These comprehensive adjustments encompassed itemization systems, rune configurations, jungle objective mechanics, and additional gameplay elements that fundamentally altered strategic approaches.

While this update didn’t primarily focus on champion balancing, the newly implemented features significantly influenced gameplay dynamics and began shaping the emerging preseason meta landscape. The champions currently asserting dominance across the Rift include Darius controlling top lane, Ekko commanding the jungle, Katarina dominating mid lane, and the bot lane duo of Caitlyn and Nautilus establishing control.

Strategic Insight: The elemental rift transformations create unpredictable terrain that rewards flexible champions who can adapt their strategies mid-game. Players should prioritize picks with multiple engagement options rather than one-dimensional champions.

Darius top lane strikes back

Darius consistently ranks among the most effective top lane performers in League of Legends. The adjustment that accelerated Rift Herald’s initial spawn timing has increased early-game skirmish frequency in top lane beyond typical patterns, compelling players to gravitate toward champions possessing formidable trading capabilities.

This combat style perfectly aligns with Darius’s strengths. His skill set delivers substantial damage output while his inherent healing mechanics provide trading advantages, maintaining his superiority even when opposing junglers intervene in lane dynamics. The juggernaut’s truly remarkable quality stems from his capacity to adjust to game progression, securing eliminations during teamfights effortlessly or applying pressure through side lane split pushing.

Common Mistake: Many Darius players overly commit to extended trades without proper vision, making them vulnerable to ganks during his lengthy trade animations.

Advanced Technique: Master the animation cancel between your W (Crippling Strike) and Q (Decimate) to maximize damage output while minimizing vulnerability windows.

Ekko shatters time in the jungle

Initial impressions might not reveal it, but Ekko represents an ideal jungler who simplifies adaptation to the revised jungle routing necessitated by the Rift’s elemental transformations.

Successful junglers require mobility combined with reliable opponent lockdown capabilities during gank attempts—attributes Ekko possesses alongside impressive burst damage potential and potent pursuit options.

Consequently, he has emerged as a preferred selection for jungle roles this preseason. Ekko adopts highly aggressive play patterns, rapidly clearing jungle camps while seeking elimination opportunities to accumulate advantages and escalate into late-game dominance. His Phase Rush ability enables instantaneous repositioning through blinking mechanics, granting players substantial outplay potential within a jungle environment that continuously evolves based on which elemental influence becomes predominant across the rift.

Pathing Optimization: Adjust your clear pattern based on the emerging elemental dragon—prioritize ocean side for sustain or mountain side for objective control.

Strategic Warning: Avoid overcommitting your ultimate early in fights; its cooldown is substantial and proper timing can reverse entire engagements.

Katarina throws her blades mid

Throughout League of Legends’ competitive history, Katarina earned recognition as the champion virtually any player could achieve pentakills with. Although her 2016 rework altered this dynamic, the lethal assassin has reclaimed mid lane supremacy owing to her extraordinary burst potential within a meta featuring increased squishy champion prevalence.

Katarina’s abilities operate without mana constraints, and despite her vulnerability to well-executed crowd control, skilled Katarina practitioners will evade incoming skillshots directed toward their position. She exhibits exceptional mobility while delivering powerful area-of-effect damage, capable of carrying teams to victory through relentless offensive pressure.

Positioning Mastery: Utilize your Shunpo resets intelligently—target daggers or minions for escape routes rather than solely for aggressive engages.

Counterplay Awareness: Recognize that champions with instant crowd control (like Lissandra or Malzahar) can completely shut down your mobility if you misposition.

Caitlyn, the sheriff of Piltover, plays strong in bot

Extending the pattern of veteran champions controlling the meta, Caitlyn stands as the favored bot lane selection in patch 9.23. With the early damage enhancement to Rapid Firecannon, the lawkeeper possessing the lengthiest auto-attack range in bottom lane has returned to competitive prominence.

Caitlyn represents the most straightforward ADC for positioning relative to enemy backlines while dealing significant damage from distance. Her 90 Caliber Net assists in evading numerous crowd control attempts and maintains safety, while tactically positioned Yordle Snap Traps simplify zoning maneuvers and her Ace in the Hole ultimate ensures opponents cannot escape after suffering Caitlyn’s critical strikes.

Trap Placement Strategy: Position traps at choke points and during objective contests rather than randomly in lane, maximizing their strategic impact.

Item Synergy: Combine Rapid Firecannon with Stormrazor for maximum range poke potential before committing to full engagements.

Nautilus, the titan of supports

Support champions capable of displacing and drawing enemies closer have emerged as the most appreciated selections during this preseason period. Among these options, Nautilus provides the greatest number of crowd control and lockdown opportunities, explaining his popularity across all competitive tiers.

Nautilus possesses exceptional durability that facilitates straightforward peeling operations. Simultaneously, he encounters no difficulties initiating engagements through multiple abilities that capture opposing players alongside a targeted ultimate ability. While not consistently the most mobile support available, he represents an intimidating presence adaptable to nearly any matchup scenario. Given Nautilus’s relative simplicity to master, he serves as a default selection for nearly every autofill situation.

Engagement Timing: Coordinate your hook with your ADC’s positioning and cooldowns—premature engages waste your substantial lockdown potential.

Matchup Flexibility: Understand that while Nautilus excels against immobile carries, he struggles against cleanse-heavy compositions or Morgana’s spell shield.

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