The Mid Lane is arguably the most demanding and skill-intensive role in League of Legends. With changes to nostalgic mid laners like Kennen and Malzahar and the MSI patch rolling out a while back, the meta has shifted quite a bit in this May 2024 patch.
So, without further ado, we’re going to go over the best Mid Lane champions on Patch 14.9, including what you should build on them, recommended runes, and what champions to ban when you play these midlaners.
3. Kennen
Kennen has surged in popularity in Patch 14.9. With range indicators now present for his Slicing Maelstrom (R) and Lightning Rush (E), he can now cast his Ultimate while moving. Plus, the champion’s core focus has always been on delivering burst damage, and with recent patches favoring shorter trades over long-winded clashes, his kit has gotten that much more lethal.
Core Build 1: Hextech Rocketbelt, Zhonya’s Hourglass, Sorcerer’s Shoes
Core Build 2: Night Harvester, Cosmic Drive, Sorcerer’s Shoes
Core Build 3: Everfrost, Morellonomicon, Sorcerer’s Shoes
We’ve already talked about Kennen’s burst, and all of these core builds go on to amplify his damage while giving him a little bit of sustain, depending on which build you go for. Hextech Rocketbelt and Night Harvester help you flank the backline, while your Zhonya’s Hourglass, Cosmic Drive, and Everfrost help your durability.
Runes
Electrocute is optimal for Kennen’s burst combos, with Sudden Impact, Eyeball Collection, and Ultimate Hunter as his primary rune path. Nimbus Cloak and Celerity or Absolute Focus and Gathering Storm offer increased mobility and damage scaling for secondary runes.
Recommended Ban: Braum, Zilean, Sivir
Kennen’s engage is his true bread-and-butter. So, any champion that can disrupt his initial burst can be extremely difficult for him to deal with. Since Braum, Zilean, and Sivir all fit this profile, they are prime candidates for the ban slot.
2. Sylas
Sylas has been a comfort pick for most midlaners many patches in a row now. And, Patch 14.9 seems to be no different. With no real buff or nerf to his relatively balanced kit, he’s going to be making more than a few appearances in your matches this patch too.
The champions plays really well into melee-intensive combinations, and the fact that he can turn the enemy’s broken Ultimate against them adds a lot of utility to his otherwise straightforward kit.
Core Build 1: Everfrost, Cosmic Drive, Zhonya’s Hourglass
Core Build 2: Night Harvester, Cosmic Drive, Zhonya’s Hourglass
Core Build 3: Liandry’s Anguish, Cosmic Drive, Morellonomicon
Sylas builds primarily focus on survivability, with secondary emphasis placed on Magic Penetration so that your spells actually come through. More often than not, Everfrost will be your go-to item of choice. However, depending on the game, you can always pivot toward more nuanced anti-tank items like Liandry’s Anguish.
Almost all the other items in the builds besides these are just meant for raw stats and utility, which makes them quite interchangeable.
Runes
Conqueror remains the top choice for Sylas, with Presence of Mind, Tenacity, and Last Stand synergizing well with his extended fights. Secondary choices between Resolve (for survivability) or Inspiration (for utility and CDR) are equally viable.
If you are up against a squishier composition, think Ahri in the mid lane, then you are better off with Electrocute as your rune of choice. However, if you are more likely to be prey rather than predator, then Resolve keeps its relevance.
Recommended Ban: Morgana, Fizz, or Lissandra
Pretty similar to Kennen in terms of ban principle, all of these champions impact Sylas’s engage and offer more mobility than him. Since Sylas can’t get up close and personal with these champions, throwing them in the ban pool will keep your game more even.
Coupled with the right Support, Sylas can absolutely through the entire enemy comp thanks to his insane scaling.
1. Ahri
Ahri retains her position as the best mid laner in Patch 14.9 There’s a few reasons why we rank her as the best on our list. Firstly, she has a very easy learning curve but a high skill floor. This means that she retains her versatility on all Elos and isn’t necessarily a champion that’s reserved for higher ranks.
The Mid Lane is extremely dynamic. You might face off against a Tristana mid who thinks she’s too good for her Elo or a tryhard Vex who’s rushing a Mejai’s Soulstealer that she probably doesn’t even know how to stack. In any case, thanks to Ahri’s charm and inherent mobility, she tends to fare well against almost all other champions.
Core Build 1: Everfrost, Zhonya’s Hourglass, Shadowflame
Core Build 2: Liandry’s Anguish, Cosmic Drive, Morellonomicon
Core Build 3: Luden’s Tempest, Cosmic Drive, Rabadon’s Deathcap
Ahri’s builds can cater to different needs. Everfrost offers utility and pick potential, while Liandry’s Anguish works well against tankier teams.
Luden’s Tempest provides more up-front burst potential. Zhonya’s Hourglass, Cosmic Drive, Shadowflame, Morellonomicon, and Rabadon’s Deathcap provide consistent power spikes in her build path.
Runes
Electrocute is a common choice for Ahri, providing her with burst damage to secure kills. With Taste of Blood and Eyeball Collection, you are able to gain a bit of sustain from landing your combos. Plus, since Ahri isn’t an early-game champion, Inspiration just helps you stay on-par with a more aggressive opposing Mid Laner.
Recommended Ban: Viktor, Tristana, LeBlanc
Viktor excels at poking from a distance and pushing Ahri under the turret with abilities like his Death Ray (E). This disrupts her ability to farm effectively and roam. Tristana’s range advantage grows throughout the game and makes it very difficult for Ahri to land her Charm (E) or find good engages. Plus, her Rocket Jump (W) is an excellent escape against Ahri.
LeBlanc can easily punish Ahri’s attempts at engaging, using her Distortion (W) to dodge or return aggression. Plus, his early-game damage easily exceeds Ahri’s. She can threaten solo kills and force Ahri to play passively in the lane.
