Who Scales the Hardest in League of Legends?
The champion who scales the hardest in League of Legends is, without a doubt, Kayle, the Judicator. While several champions become incredibly powerful as the game progresses, Kayle’s unique kit and scaling mechanics catapult her into a god-like state in the late game. She transitions from a vulnerable early-game champion to a hyper-carry capable of shredding entire teams with her ranged auto-attacks, AoE damage, and protective ultimate.
Understanding Scaling in League of Legends
Before diving deeper into Kayle and other scaling powerhouses, it’s crucial to understand what “scaling” truly means in League of Legends. Scaling refers to a champion’s ability to become significantly stronger as the game progresses, primarily through:
- Item acquisition: As the game progresses, players accumulate gold and purchase items that drastically enhance their champion’s stats, abilities, and overall power.
- Leveling up: Each level gained grants champions increased base stats, ability points, and access to more powerful skills. Some champions’ abilities scale exceptionally well with level.
- Stacking mechanics: Certain champions have abilities or passives that allow them to accumulate stacks of a particular stat or effect over time, leading to exponential growth in power.
Champions who scale well excel in the late game, where these factors become most impactful. They are often weak in the early game, requiring a defensive playstyle and careful farming to reach their full potential.
Why Kayle Reigns Supreme
Several factors contribute to Kayle’s unparalleled late-game scaling:
- Ascension (Passive): Kayle’s passive is the cornerstone of her scaling. At levels 1, 6, 11, and 16, she undergoes transformations that grant her increased attack range, attack speed, and, ultimately, true damage on her auto-attacks. At level 16, she becomes fully ranged and deals true damage on every auto, bypassing armor and magic resistance.
- Divine Judgment (Ultimate): Kayle’s ultimate provides invulnerability to herself or an ally for a short duration. This allows her to dive into teamfights, protect valuable carries, and survive otherwise fatal situations. In the late game, this brief period of invincibility can be the difference between victory and defeat.
- Flexible Build Path: While primarily built as an attack-damage carry (ADC) with items that scale well, Kayle has the option of going with an ability-power carry (APC) build, which is able to easily scale in the late game, depending on the situation.
Other Notable Scaling Champions
While Kayle is arguably the best, several other champions are renowned for their scaling prowess:
- Veigar: As the article mentioned, Veigar’s passive allows him to stack ability power (AP) infinitely by hitting enemy champions with his abilities or scoring takedowns. This makes him an incredibly potent late-game mage capable of one-shotting even the tankiest opponents.
- Kassadin: Kassadin’s ultimate, Riftwalk, grants him unparalleled mobility. While his mobility costs extra mana each time Riftwalk is used, Kassadin is able to use his ultimate more often as the game goes on due to the mana cost of the ability decreasing. This is great for avoiding or chasing enemies to eliminate them.
- Kog’Maw: Kog’Maw is a hyper-carry ADC whose W ability grants him increased attack range and deals percent health damage on his auto-attacks. Combined with items like Guinsoo’s Rageblade and Runaan’s Hurricane, he can shred entire teams in seconds.
- Vayne: Vayne is another hyper-carry ADC known for her true damage and mobility. Her W ability, Silver Bolts, deals true damage based on the target’s maximum health, making her incredibly effective against tanks. Her ultimate grants her bonus attack damage, attack speed, and invisibility after using Tumble (Q).
The Trade-Off: Early Game Weakness
It’s important to note that scaling champions often have significant weaknesses in the early game. They typically lack the burst damage, crowd control, or sustain to compete with early-game focused champions. Therefore, playing scaling champions requires patience, good farming skills, and a deep understanding of wave management and positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What makes a champion a “scaling” champion?
A scaling champion is a champion who becomes significantly stronger as the game progresses, primarily through item acquisition, leveling up, and stacking mechanics. Their power increases exponentially, making them formidable in the late game.
2. Are scaling champions always weak in the early game?
Generally, yes. Scaling champions often lack the early-game tools (burst damage, sustain, CC) needed to compete effectively with early-game champions. They require a more passive and farm-focused playstyle.
3. How do you counter a scaling champion in lane?
The key is to exploit their early-game weaknesses. Aggressively harass them, deny them farm, and coordinate ganks with your jungler. Preventing them from reaching their power spikes will significantly hinder their ability to carry in the late game.
4. What role is best for scaling champions?
While scaling champions can be found in various roles, they are most commonly played in the ADC, mid lane, and top lane roles. These lanes provide the farm and experience needed to reach their late-game potential.
5. Is it always better to pick a scaling champion?
No. Picking a scaling champion is a strategic choice that depends on your team composition and the enemy team composition. If your team lacks early-game pressure, picking too many scaling champions can lead to an early snowball for the enemy team.
6. What items are good for scaling champions?
Items that provide multiplicative stat boosts, such as critical strike chance, attack speed, and ability power, are generally excellent for scaling champions. Items that provide utility, such as movement speed or crowd control immunity, can also be valuable.
7. How important is farming for scaling champions?
Farming is absolutely crucial for scaling champions. They need gold to purchase the items that fuel their late-game power. Prioritize last-hitting minions and optimizing your farm throughout the game.
8. Can a scaling champion still be effective if they fall behind?
It depends on the champion and the severity of being behind. Some scaling champions, like Veigar, can still be effective even if they fall behind, thanks to their stacking mechanics. However, most scaling champions will struggle to make an impact if they are significantly behind in gold and experience.
9. What are some common mistakes players make when playing scaling champions?
Common mistakes include playing too aggressively in the early game, neglecting farm, and failing to position safely in teamfights. Remember to prioritize survival and farm until you reach your power spikes.
10. Are there any runes that are particularly good for scaling champions?
Yes. Runes that provide bonus stats or enhance farming, such as Gathering Storm and Inspiration runes, can be very effective for scaling champions.
11. Which is more important for scaling champions: levels or items?
Both are important, but items generally have a more significant impact on a champion’s scaling potential. Items provide massive stat boosts and unique effects that can dramatically increase a champion’s damage output, survivability, or utility.
12. How does Kayle’s rework affect her scaling?
Kayle’s rework made her scaling even more pronounced. Her passive transformations are more impactful, and her level 16 form is incredibly powerful.
13. Are there any scaling supports?
Yes, champions like Senna and Bard can scale effectively into the late game. Senna accumulates souls that grant her bonus attack damage and range, while Bard collects chimes that enhance his abilities.
14. Who is the easiest scaling champion to play?
Nasus is relatively easy to pick up. Stacking with his Q, Siphoning Strike, is a simple mechanic, and he becomes a formidable duelist and split-pusher in the late game.
15. Are there real-world applications to understanding scaling mechanics in games?
Absolutely! Understanding scaling and progression systems is crucial in game design and development. Knowing how players engage with these systems can inform the creation of more compelling and rewarding gameplay experiences. This is something explored in the Games Learning Society. You can learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Ultimately, mastering scaling champions requires patience, practice, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. While Kayle may be the queen of scaling, many other champions can reach incredible heights in the late game. Choosing the right scaling champion for your playstyle and team composition can be the key to victory in League of Legends.