TL;DR
- Ornn emerged as the highest priority pick due to his unparalleled utility and teamfight control
- His item upgrade passive created massive gold value advantages for multiple teammates simultaneously
- The champion’s kit provides reliable engage, disengage, and pick potential regardless of game state
- Perfect synergy with popular Worlds 2020 champions across all roles amplified his impact
- Professional players recognized Ornn’s draft dominance as nearly guaranteeing victory

During the Worlds 2020 Play-In stage, while champions like Graves and Orianna demonstrated strong performances, top lane specialist Ornn established himself as the most influential force shaping the competitive meta. His impact became so significant that Legacy Esports’ top laner Kim “Topoon” Ji-hoon made the definitive statement that securing Ornn first in draft phase virtually guaranteed victory, highlighting the champion’s perceived power level among professional competitors.
Pro Insight: Topoon’s assessment reflects the high-stakes nature of professional drafting, where single champion priorities can determine match outcomes before the game even begins.
Since his introduction in 2017, Ornn has gradually ascended into an exclusive category of champions whose complete ability sets make them exceptionally well-suited for professional play. This distinguished group includes perennial favorites like jungler Lee Sin, mid lane controller Orianna, and bot lane utility carry Ashe—all providing exceptional team utility and pick potential regardless of whether they’re ahead or behind in gold and experience.
Although these champions may periodically fall out of meta favor, they maintain consistent selection rates whenever viable because their in-game value doesn’t rely primarily on raw statistics or damage output. Examining Ornn’s comprehensive toolkit reveals exactly why he belongs among these competitively dependable picks.
Common Mistake: Many amateur players underestimate utility-focused champions, prioritizing damage dealers instead. In competitive environments, reliable crowd control and teamfight presence often outweigh pure damage metrics.
Ornn’s ultimate ability, Call of the Forge God, represents one of League of Legends’ most impactful teamfight tools when executed properly. This massive area-of-effect skill can displace entire enemy teams while simultaneously dealing percentage-based maximum health damage. Such powerful crowd control can single-handedly determine teamfight outcomes at peak performance or serve as reliable engagement or disengagement depending on strategic requirements.
Even his fundamental abilities contribute significantly to his versatility—Volcanic Rupture (Q) creates terrain and slow effects that can initiate picks or facilitate escapes, while Searing Charge (E) enables creative engages and repositioning. This comprehensive kit ensures Ornn remains relevant throughout all game phases.
Advanced Technique: Master Ornn players use Q-E combinations to create unexpected engage angles, often catching opponents off-guard with terrain manipulation they didn’t anticipate.
Ornn’s Item Upgrades Come Through at 2020 World Championship
Beyond his inherently strong abilities, Ornn’s unique passive that upgrades allied items elevates him to top-tier status when paired with champions that benefit significantly from enhanced equipment. With the meta champions prevalent during Worlds 2020, the value proposition of Ornn’s upgrades becomes immediately apparent across multiple roles.
Jungle priority pick Graves typically builds Black Cleaver, making him an ideal upgrade recipient. Close followers Lillia and Nidalee both utilize Zhonya’s Hourglass effectively. In mid lane, the most selected champions Orianna and Syndra can leverage any of Ornn’s upgradeable ability power items including Luden’s Echo, Rabadon’s Deathcap, and again, Zhonya’s Hourglass. Preferred bot lane selections Jhin and Ashe frequently build Infinity Edge, though Ashe might alternatively choose Blade of the Ruined King, while support specialist Rakan commonly builds Redemption. This comprehensive synergy across all five positions substantially contributes to Ornn’s dominant presence at the 2020 World Championship.
Strategic Consideration: Teams building compositions around Ornn should prioritize champions who utilize upgradeable items effectively, creating massive gold value advantages that compound throughout the game.
With significant tournament content remaining, observing how the Worlds meta continues evolving presents fascinating strategic developments. Annually, the competition witnesses champion preferences shifting as teams grow more comfortable with the current game patch, and this continuous adaptation process might potentially alter Ornn’s standing within the competitive hierarchy.
Meta Prediction: As teams develop counter strategies and alternative compositions, Ornn’s dominance could face challenges from champions specifically chosen to counter his strengths or from meta shifts that reduce the prevalence of his ideal synergy partners.
Practical Tip: When playing against Ornn, coordinate with your team to focus him during teamfights before he can unleash his full combo, or draft mobile champions who can easily evade his skillshots.
Action Checklist
- Prioritize Ornn in draft phase when available, especially if your team composition features multiple upgrade beneficiaries
- Practice Q-E combinations in training mode to master terrain manipulation engages
- Coordinate with teammates to ensure they build upgradeable items when you select Ornn
- Study professional VODs to learn optimal ultimate usage timing and positioning
- Develop counter-picks and strategies for when facing Ornn in enemy compositions
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » This is why Ornn is such a strong champion pick at Worlds 2020 Analyzing Ornn's competitive dominance through strategic utility and item synergy at Worlds 2020
