Decoding the Randomness: How ARAM Picks Champions
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ARAM, or All Random All Mid, is a wildly popular game mode in League of Legends, known for its chaotic team fights and unpredictable champion compositions. But the question on every player’s mind at the start of each game is: How does ARAM pick champions? The answer, while seemingly simple, involves a few layers of mechanics designed to keep things fair (or at least, equally random) and engaging. In ARAM, each player receives a random champion from a pool of available champions. This pool isn’t just every champion in the game, though. It consists of two main categories:
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The ARAM Free Rotation Pool: A set of champions are always available in ARAM, regardless of whether a player owns them. This base pool is significantly larger than the regular free champion rotation, ensuring a decent variety of picks. While the exact list may vary slightly over time with patches, it generally hovers around 65+ champions. This list of champions is always free to play in ARAM, in addition to the current Weekly Free Rotation.
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The Player’s Owned Champions: Any champion that you personally own is also added to your personal champion pool for ARAM. The more champions you own, the more diverse your ARAM champion pool becomes.
The game selects a champion randomly from this combined pool for each player. Importantly, the system aims to prevent duplicates in the initial champion assignments. Once everyone has their initial champion, the fun (and strategy) really begins!
Rerolls and Trading: Adding Layers of Strategy
The randomness doesn’t stop there. Players are given opportunities to reroll their assigned champion, allowing them to get a new random champion from their pool.
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Rerolls: Players can acquire up to two rerolls to roll for random champions from their available champion pool. Rerolled champions are placed onto the champion bench for their team to pick from. Rerolling gives you a new random champion from your pool, and places the previously assigned champion on a team-wide “bench.” Teammates can then swap to a benched champion if they prefer.
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Trading: You can also request to trade champions with your teammates, if you’re lucky. Trading allows further strategic composition, as you might want to swap a squishy mage for a tanky bruiser that a teammate rolled.
The ultimate goal is to create a team composition that, while still random, has a reasonable chance of success on the Howling Abyss. Knowing which champions excel in ARAM, understanding team composition, and utilizing rerolls and trades are key to mastering this mode. If you want to learn more about the science of gaming, consider visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
ARAM Champion Selection: FAQs
Let’s dive deeper into some common questions about how ARAM picks champions, giving you a better understanding of the mechanics and strategy involved.
General ARAM Champion Pool Questions
1. Can you play any champ in ARAM?
No, you cannot play any champion in ARAM. You can only play champions that are part of the ARAM Free Rotation Pool or champions that you own. This limitation ensures a degree of fairness and prevents players from being forced to play champions they are completely unfamiliar with.
2. Are all champs unlocked in ARAM Clash?
No. All champions are unlocked in Clash, but not in regular ARAM.
3. How many champs are free in ARAM?
The number of champions always free in ARAM is typically around 65+. This is in addition to the regular weekly free rotation.
4. Are ARAM champions really random?
Yes, the champion selection process is random, but within the constraints of your personal pool (owned champions + ARAM free rotation). The logic for ARAM’s Champ Select is in a service called TeamBuilder. The TeamBuilder server knows what champ every player has rolled, what’s on the bench, etc., for both teams. TeamBuilder prevents any player from rolling a champion that someone else has rolled.
5. Which champions aren’t in ARAM?
While all champions are technically eligible, some players report never seeing certain champions. This could be due to:
- Personal Perception: Randomness can create streaks where you simply don’t see certain champions.
- Champion Ownership: If very few players own a particular champion, the chances of seeing them are greatly reduced.
Examples that some players have not seen are Yorick, Cho’Gath, Kayn, Malzahar, Bard, Aurelion.
Duplicate Champions and Rerolls
6. Can both teams get the same champ in ARAM?
The initial ten champions picked are all unique. The only way a mirror is possible is if someone on one team rerolls into a champ on the other team.
7. How many times can you reroll in ARAM?
You can use a maximum of two rerolls per game, combining free rerolls and any purchased with Poro Energy. You cannot use more than 2 rerolls (including free and extra) per game, and you have to use the free ones first. That means: If you entered the lobby with 2 free rerolls, you cannot purchase more for that game.
8. Do you always get 1 reroll in ARAM?
You do not get one every game but come very close to it. You get more reroll xp every time you play an aram game and you get more xp per game the more champions you own. On the champ selects that you have no rerolls, the next time you play you will get 2 rerolls(at least if you own all champs).
Champion Availability and Strategy
9. Why can you not switch to some champs in ARAM?
You can only switch to champions that are:
- On your team’s bench (rerolled champions).
- Champions your teammate owns and is willing to trade.
You cannot pick champions outside these criteria, even if they are in the ARAM free rotation, unless you or a teammate owns them and places them on the bench or trades with you.
10. Which champs are best for ARAM?
The “best” champions in ARAM are highly dependent on the current patch and meta. However, generally, champions with the following characteristics tend to perform well:
- Long-Range Poke: Champions that can safely deal damage from a distance.
- Sustain/Healing: Healing and shielding abilities are incredibly valuable in the constant team fights.
- Engage/Disengage: Abilities that can initiate or escape fights are crucial.
- Strong Team Fight Ultimates: Game-changing ultimates can swing the tide of battle.
In patch 13.21 the best ARAM champions are: Kayle, K’Sante, Tahm Kench, Skarner, Galio.
11. Can you play Viego in ARAM?
Yes, you can play Viego in ARAM, provided you own him or he’s in the ARAM free champion pool. Viego has a 49.7% win rate and 0.9% pick rate in ARAM and is currently ranked A tier.
12. Is Zeri good in ARAM?
Zeri’s performance in ARAM is currently considered below average. Zeri has a 48.0% win rate and 1.0% pick rate in ARAM and is currently ranked D tier.
13. What is Morgana Aram win rate?
Morgana is a strong pick in ARAM. Morgana has a 52.7% win rate and 2.3% pick rate in ARAM and is currently ranked A tier.
MMR and Reward Systems
14. Does MMR count in ARAM?
Yes, ARAM has its own Matchmaking Rating (MMR). This MMR is separate from your MMR in other game modes like Summoner’s Rift ranked. It is invisible, but it is the system’s approximation of your skill based on your wins and losses.
15. Does ARAM give mastery score?
Yes, you can earn Champion Mastery points in ARAM. Champion Mastery can be earned in matchmade ARAM and Twisted Treeline games, though not for Champion Mastery 6 and 7.
Understanding how ARAM picks champions, utilizing rerolls and trades effectively, and adapting to the random team compositions are essential skills for success in this fun and chaotic game mode. Good luck on the Howling Abyss!