Every League of Legends season brings a new set of champions that dominate ranked play. Some are banned because they’re overpowered in the current meta, while others are so frustrating to play against that players would rather remove them from the game entirely.
In Season 15 (2025), ban rates have skyrocketed for certain champions across all ranks, from Iron to Challenger. This article will break down the most banned champions in ranked 2025, explain why they’re so oppressive, and give you tips on how to deal with them—whether they’re banned away or slip through picks.
Why Do Champions Get Banned?
Before diving into the list, it’s important to understand why some champions dominate the ban phase:
- Overpowered in the Meta – Buffs or item synergies make them statistically too strong.
- High Snowball Potential – Once ahead, they can carry a game with little counterplay.
- Annoying Kits – Champions with stealth, mobility, or crowd-control are often banned for being frustrating.
- Difficult to Counter in Solo Queue – Unlike pro play, most solo queue teams don’t coordinate well, so certain champs are far deadlier.
🔝 The Most Banned Champions in Ranked 2025
1. Yasuo – The Perpetual Ban
- Role: Mid / Top
- Why Banned: High mobility, crit synergy, and game-changing ultimates.
- Ban Rate: ~45% in mid-ELO.
Yasuo has been one of the most banned champions for years, and 2025 is no different. Players hate dealing with his infinite dashes, Wind Wall blocking crucial abilities, and his ability to take over a game if he gets fed.
Even though Yasuo’s win rate isn’t always the highest, his carry potential makes him a common ban, especially in lower to mid ranks.
2. Zed – The Shadow Assassin
- Role: Mid Lane
- Why Banned: Lethal burst, slippery escapes, outplays.
- Ban Rate: ~52% in Platinum+.
Zed remains one of the most feared assassins in solo queue. His Living Shadow and Death Mark allow him to delete squishy targets instantly and escape with ease. Many players simply don’t want to risk being one-shot in a fraction of a second, so he continues to hold a high ban rate.
3. Yone – The Ban Magnet
- Role: Mid / Top
- Why Banned: Safe laning, insane scaling, teamfight impact.
- Ban Rate: ~48% across all ranks.
If Yasuo is on the ban list, Yone isn’t far behind. His spammable poke, lifesteal sustain, and unmissable engage ultimate make him a nightmare in solo queue. Since he scales so well with crit items, a Yone left unchecked can dominate teamfights.
4. Akali – The Untouchable
- Role: Mid / Top
- Why Banned: Stealth, mobility, insane burst.
- Ban Rate: ~55% in high-ELO.
Akali’s design makes her one of the most frustrating champions in League. Her ability to dash in, go invisible, and burst targets makes her nearly impossible to punish without coordinated play. She’s banned often in high ranks where players know how deadly a skilled Akali can be.
5. Master Yi – The Solo Queue Terror
- Role: Jungle
- Why Banned: Low skill floor, hyper carry potential.
- Ban Rate: ~40% in low to mid ranks.
Master Yi is a classic low-ELO stomper. His kit is straightforward, but devastating—high damage, resets, and the ability to clean up fights with Alpha Strike and Highlander. While not as dangerous in pro play, he’s banned heavily in ranked queues where players struggle to coordinate crowd control against him.
6. Evelynn – The Stealth Nightmare
- Role: Jungle
- Why Banned: Invisible ganks, one-shot potential.
- Ban Rate: ~44% mid ranks and above.
Few things are scarier than a fed Evelynn. Her permanent stealth post-level 6 makes her a constant threat to every lane. Once she appears, it’s usually already too late. This oppressive playstyle makes her one of the most hated jungle champions in solo queue.
7. Katarina – The Pentakill Machine
- Role: Mid Lane
- Why Banned: AoE resets, snowball potential.
- Ban Rate: ~49% across ranks.
Katarina thrives in chaos, and solo queue is the perfect environment for her. With one good Shunpo + ultimate reset combo, she can wipe entire teams. Since she doesn’t rely heavily on items to snowball, she’s often banned to prevent early-game disasters.
8. Blitzcrank – The Hook Menace
- Role: Support
- Why Banned: Game-changing hooks, snowball support.
- Ban Rate: ~37% in low to mid ranks.
Blitzcrank is banned less for being overpowered and more for being game-warping. A single hook can instantly change a fight, and many players prefer to avoid the stress of dodging hooks every laning phase.
9. Rengar – The Bush Assassin
- Role: Jungle / Top
- Why Banned: One-shot burst, stealth engages.
- Ban Rate: ~41% in mid-high ELO.
Rengar’s jump from bushes + ultimate stealth playstyle makes him one of the most terrifying junglers to play against. He punishes poor vision and thrives on deleting squishy champions. His unpredictability often leads to him being banned out.
10. Teemo – The Most Hated Champion
- Role: Top Lane
- Why Banned: Toxic shrooms, blind mechanic, tilt factor.
- Ban Rate: ~35% across all ranks.
Teemo may not be the strongest champion in terms of raw stats, but his poison shrooms and blind make him one of the most hated champions in the game. Players ban him simply to avoid the frustration of laning against him.
Honorable Mentions
Other champions with consistently high ban rates in 2025 include:
- Fiora – Dominant duelist top lane.
- Vayne – Slippery hypercarry ADC.
- Morgana – Annoying bindings and Black Shield.
- Draven – Snowball ADC who punishes weak laners.
How to Adapt to Ban Meta
If your main champion is on the ban list, here are strategies to stay competitive:
- Have 2–3 backup champions in your role.
- Learn safe, blind-pick champions like Orianna mid or Garen top.
- Pay attention to patch notes to see which champions may rise or fall in ban priority.
- Play flex champions (like Gragas or Sett) who can be used in multiple roles.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 ranked season has once again highlighted which champions are simply too strong—or too frustrating—to leave unbanned. From assassins like Zed and Akali to tilt-inducing champs like Teemo and Blitzcrank, the ban phase is shaping games before they even begin.
Whether you’re a top-tier player climbing to Challenger or a casual trying to avoid frustration, understanding ban priorities will help you make smarter picks and adapt to the ever-changing meta.
✅ Key Takeaways:
- Akali, Zed, Yone, and Yasuo remain ban magnets across ranks.
- Master Yi and Teemo thrive in low-ELO bans.
- Evelynn, Rengar, and Katarina dominate mid-high ELO bans.
- Always keep backup champions ready when your main gets banned.
