In this article, we’re going to break down the best characters you can play in low ELO, whether you’re an iron, gold, diamond, or anywhere in between. These are the best agents that will give you a leg up on your competition. You can solo carry uncoordinated teams and climb to the highest ranks of play. Keep in mind that many factors make a character worse or better in lower ELO compared to higher ELO, including meta, skill floor, and ceiling concepts, which we’ll discuss soon, as well as overall teamwork and cohesion, which is less common in low ELO.

D Tier Characters

The first tier we’re going to discuss is the D Tier, featuring characters that underperform in low ELOs, either compared to similar characters or just in general. The first character we definitely have to talk about is Astra. Astra has been falling off in the highest ranks of play, but more importantly, Astra has always been very ineffective in low ranks. This character really shines only in a dual controller setup.

If you play this character in a dual or single controller setup, you need teamwork, coordination, and the ability to combine Astra’s abilities with your teammates’ actions. Unfortunately, you cannot rely on that at low ranks of play, and it’s also challenging to play Astra at a semi-decent level. In terms of the skill floor, you’re getting much less value than you would from any other controller in the game.

Discussing Deadlock and KO

The next character we’re going to talk about is Deadlock. Deadlock primarily falls here because of the overall power level of the character. Deadlock is still a character that hasn’t been capable of breaking into the pro meta, and overall, it is a character that most likely still needs buffs or further changes to make viable.

If you’re really great at this character, you might push them past the D Tier and get a lot more value, but you’re going to have to work much harder with Deadlock than with any other sentinel in the game, especially when we compare to Cipher or Killjoy. Deadlock is going to have a harder time trying to climb to the higher ranks from the lower tiers of play and is definitely not our recommendation unless you’re really keen on the character. Next up, we do have to talk about KO. KO’s ranking might shock some of you, as KO is considered one of the best characters.

ISO’s Role and Viability

The last character in the D Tier is ISO. ISO fits into the pub stomper or ranked stomper category, which are characters that excel at translating mechanical skill into rank gains. While ISO is capable of this, he is slightly less effective compared to other similar options. If you can pop off and carry hard as ISO in gold rank, you can certainly do the same with other characters as well, and it’s not unique to ISO. You can definitely climb to the highest ranks with this character, but it might not be as straightforward as with some others. ISO’s viability also tends to diminish more quickly as you move up the ranks. Now, let’s move on to the C Tier. These characters are fairly good in low ELO, but there might be certain aspects of their abilities that don’t fully connect in the chaotic nature of the rank. First, we need to discuss Harbor.

Harbor’s Strategic Use

Harbor is a character that often requires a double controller setup to be truly effective. There are some scenarios where you can utilize him as a single controller, but it can be challenging to extract his full value and to execute strategies effectively. Although integrating Clove into the gameplay has made dual controller setups slightly more feasible, coordinating specific abilities with your team’s plays remains crucial. For instance, combining Harbor with a Gecko for a spike plant could be very effective in a coordinated environment. Therefore, if you’re solo queuing in low ELO, utilizing Harbor might be tough, but with a duo partner, you could potentially derive significant value from this character.

Neon and Her Viability

Next in the C Tier, we have Neon. Like ISO, Neon excels at outmaneuvering opponents with superior mechanical skills, agile movements, and skilled gunplay. However, mastering Neon to the point of dominating a lobby requires significantly more time and effort compared to other characters. While Neon can indeed become a powerful character, especially as you advance in ranks, she demands a high level of proficiency to truly excel, making her a challenging but rewarding choice for players in lower ELOs.

Breach’s Role in Team Dynamics

Breach, from a raw power perspective, is outstanding. In duo setups like Jet-Breach or Raina-Breach, he could rank as high as A or even S tier in low ELO. However, as a solo player, Breach can be difficult to utilize effectively. The challenge lies in syncing perfectly with your team’s movements, which can often be too fast or too slow, complicating the execution of your strategies. This often leads to a scenario where you’re enabling others rather than focusing on your own impact, which can be particularly challenging in the chaotic nature of low ELO lobbies. Thus, Breach is placed in the C Tier, although his effectiveness increases significantly in coordinated team setups.

Chamber’s Underrated Potential

Finally, in the C Tier, we discuss Chamber. Chamber is often underrated in the meta, yet he is a character that can significantly impact a lobby when used effectively. Known for his economic efficiency and the ability to dominate a game in the right hands, Chamber remains a potent choice for players who can leverage his unique capabilities. Despite being less recognized, his potential in transforming gameplay and influencing matches makes him a valuable asset in any strategic lineup.

Chamber’s High Skill Demand

Chamber requires a high level of mechanical skill. In gameplay, you cannot afford to miss your shots or lose rounds, especially when you have invested heavily in equipment like pistols, spending a significant amount of money and resources. Although Chamber can be a costly character if not utilized effectively, he can feel oppressively powerful when mastered. Despite his potential, comparing him to other characters in similar roles—such as other duelists or sentinels like Cipher and Killjoy—who often provide easier value makes it hard to recommend Chamber, even if he is inherently a strong character.

Yoru’s Performance Across Ranks

Yoru presents a unique challenge, especially in low ELO, where he exhibits some of the worst win rates, which only worsen the lower you go. This might raise the question: why recommend Yoru at all? The answer lies in the progression of his performance; as you ascend into higher ELOs, his win rate improves significantly, reaching some of the highest levels at the top ranks of play. Yoru requires a substantial time investment to master, making him an ideal main for those willing to embrace the grind. Though not the easiest path, mastering Yoru can be a rewarding and fun experience, offering a deep dive into both the game’s mechanics and strategic play.

Introduction to B Tier Characters

Next, we discuss the B tier, which includes characters that significantly enhance gameplay. These characters either demonstrate high win rates or possess the potential to greatly impact matches, even within the varied nature of ELO and the ranks below the ascendant level. First, we need to discuss Gecko. Recently, Gecko has emerged as a strong contender, especially noted for his impressive flash abilities, which are difficult for opponents to counter effectively.

Gecko’s Advantage

Gecko is a character that often secures free kills due to his ability to extract significant value against opponents who cannot react swiftly or adequately to his maneuvers. You will find yourself able to rotate and regain your abilities frequently, as many players struggle to track them effectively. With a potent ultimate and impressive abilities, Gecko stands out as a comprehensive choice in the current meta. I strongly recommend him across all ELOs, as he offers a full package that can dominate matches.

Sage’s High Win Rate

Sage is notably positioned in the B tier, which might be surprising to some. Recent insights from Riot reveal that Sage boasts one of the highest win rates among the top 5% of all characters, particularly in lower ELOs. The reasoning becomes clear when considering gameplay strategy at these levels: strategies tend to simplify.

There’s less baiting and rotating, and more straightforward actions like direct rushes. In such environments, Sage excels at disrupting these simplified plans. Her ability to slow and wall off pushes can halt enemy advances effectively. Additionally, her resurrect ultimate and healing abilities provide consistent value, making her a strong, safe choice for impacting games significantly. Despite not being the meta, Sage is a viable option for winning numerous matches.

Assessing Clove’s Position

Clove is another strong character who might not rank as high as some might expect. The primary reason for this is not a reflection of Clove’s inherent capabilities but rather how those abilities translate into the dynamic of the current game environment. As strategies evolve, so does the effectiveness of each character’s skill set, and Clove’s placement reflects a careful consideration of these factors.

Clove’s Dual Role

Clove stands out among controllers for their flexibility and ability to execute high-impact, aggressive plays with a reduced risk of dying. This makes Clove a unique choice for players who want the functionality of a controller with the high-impact potential of a duelist. However, to effectively play Clove in low ELO, it’s crucial to adhere to proper controller fundamentals: thorough smoking of areas without leaving gaps, preventing opponents from taking space through your smokes, and understanding the character’s dual nature. Mastering these aspects can help you excel and climb the ranks.

Reyna’s Mechanical Advantage

Reyna is exceptional at converting mechanical skill into victories, more so than almost any other character in the game. Her ability to win eco rounds and snowball kills after the first engagement makes her particularly potent. If you’re a player with strong mechanical skills and are committed to improving, Reyna offers the quickest route from low to higher ELO. Her capabilities allow for taking multiple engagements and clutching rounds, which is invaluable for ascending through the ranks.

Brimstone’s Strategic Impact

Brimstone is often underrated but possesses a high win rate and consistent performance across various game scenarios. He excels at controlling enemy movements and disrupting pushes, particularly with his orbital strike, which can be used strategically to deny diffuses and plants. Brimstone’s ability to influence rounds without direct gunfights adds to his value as a consistent and versatile character, making him a great choice for players looking to learn a reliable and effective agent.

Introduction to A Tier Characters

In this discussion about the A tier, we start with Fade, a character who is notably more effective in low ELO compared to high ELO. Despite a drop in prominence in professional play, Fade excels in lower tiers primarily due to her Prowler’s ability to force opponents off angles and punish close-range advancements. Her ultimate is reliable, and her scouting abilities, resembling a dart, make her a strong and underestimated choice in gameplay. I highly recommend utilizing Fade in your matches, as she brings substantial strength to any team composition.

Assessing Sky’s Capabilities

Sky, despite recent nerfs that significantly reduced her power, remains an exceptionally versatile all-rounder. She excels at gathering intelligence, flashing enemies, setting up team plays, and healing teammates. Her ultimate further enhances her utility, making her an invaluable asset regardless of team composition. The benefits of mastering Sky can elevate the overall level of your team significantly, making her a worthy investment of your time and effort.

Jet’s Dominance with the Operator

Jet is a well-known figure in the game, particularly formidable in eco rounds with her ability to use knives effectively and any eco weapon due to her dash ability. Most notably, Jet excels with the operator—a weapon that often guarantees wins. Many players fail to play effectively against an operator, and mastering this can allow you to dominate entire lobbies. Jet’s proficiency with the operator sets her apart, making her a key character for climbing the ranks.

Further Discussion on Cipher

Next, we must discuss Cipher, another A-tier character known for his surveillance capabilities and ability to secure perimeters effectively. His tools provide significant intelligence and control, making him a go-to choice for players who prefer a strategic approach to securing victories. Cipher’s ability to gather critical information and disrupt enemy strategies makes him a formidable character in any competitive setting.

Cipher’s Strategic Value

Cipher is outstanding across virtually all ranks due to his strategic capabilities. Although not the easiest character for beginners, mastering Cipher requires advanced knowledge, particularly in executing retakes. His ability to quickly adapt, using cages, tripwires, and cameras effectively, can greatly enhance your impact in matches. Even with minimal skill, Cipher can provide significant value, as less disciplined opponents often fail to counteract his utilities, walking right into traps and granting free advantages.

Viper’s Essential Role

Viper is indispensable on many maps, making her a must-have for gaining a strategic edge. Her ability to control areas with her toxic screen and pits is unmatched, and mastering her lineups can provide immense intrinsic value. Viper excels in any rank, from low to high, by significantly altering the dynamics of map control. Her proficiency in area denial and utility deployment makes her a formidable opponent and a valuable team asset.

Phoenix’s Unique Flexibility

Phoenix might come as a surprise in this tier, but his versatility makes him exceptionally powerful, especially in low ELO. As a jack-of-all-trades, Phoenix does not rely on his team to deny line of sight, clear angles, or take space on site. He can independently clear cubbies with his Molotov, wall off sections, and flash to isolate and dominate angles. This independence allows him to brute force his way onto sites, performing roles typically distributed among several characters. Furthermore, his ability to farm ultimate orbs enhances his capabilities as an information gatherer and entry fragger, pushing his utility and impact even higher.

Phoenix’s Aggressive Playstyle

Phoenix is an exceptional character for players who prefer an aggressive approach without relying heavily on their team. His ability to independently control the game’s pace and space makes him an invaluable asset in any match. I strongly recommend Phoenix for any player looking to take an assertive role in their gameplay, as his kit provides significant advantages in solo engagements.

Sila’s Reliable Performance

Sila stands out as a reliable character across all ELOs. Even without exceptional skill, players can derive substantial value from his abilities, which scale with the player’s knowledge and skill level. As you learn and improve, Sila’s impact in games increases, making him a rewarding character to master and capable of carrying games on his own.

Killjoy’s Low ELO Effectiveness

Killjoy is particularly effective in low ELO due to opponents often not playing correctly around her abilities. Her setup can effortlessly secure rounds as enemies mistakenly rush into her defenses without considering the implications of her turret and other gadgets. This lack of awareness grants Killjoy intrinsic value, possibly the highest among all characters, making her highly recommended for gaining automatic advantages in your games.

Raze’s Unmatched Pressure

Raze remains one of the best characters for ranked play, due to her exceptional ability to apply pressure and disrupt enemy lines with her utility. Her mobility allows for significant outplays, and while she may not provide automatic value, the potential impact she can have as you improve is immense. I continuously recommend Raze as a character that can significantly influence the game’s outcome, especially as you refine your skills with her.

Raze’s S Tier Ranking

I would unequivocally place Raze in the S tier. Her dynamic playstyle and ability to control the battlefield make her an undeniable choice for top-tier ranking, especially for players who leverage her full potential to disrupt and dominate matches.

Omen’s Unmatched Control

Omen remains the definitive figure in the controller role, surpassing Clove in terms of consistency and effectiveness. While Clove offers flexibility, Omen’s tried-and-true approach and superior lurking capabilities make him the best lurker in the game. His impact is particularly pronounced in low ELO, where strategic lurking—waiting in a concealed position to cut off unsuspecting rotations—can decisively influence the game’s outcome. Omen’s ability to ambush opponents who are not prepared to counter his position is invaluable, making him a formidable choice for any strategic player looking to dominate in low ELO.

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