If you’ve ever sat in the League of Legends client scrolling through the champion select screen for 10 minutes because you can’t pick who to play, you’ve probably wondered how many heroes in League of Legends there actually are. The roster has grown a lot since the game first launched back in 2009, and Riot Games adds new champions every few months to keep the meta fresh. This guide breaks down the current total, plus useful context about different champion types, release trends, and how to narrow down your options when you’re overwhelmed by choice.
How Many Heroes in League of Legends Are There Right Now?
As of the most recent champion release, there are 166 playable heroes in League of Legends. That count doesn’t include retired champions like Aatrox’s old rework version or legacy skins that change a champion’s appearance but not their core kit. Riot typically releases 4 to 5 new champions each year, so this number will go up every few months as new characters join the roster. When you’re trying to keep track of how many heroes in League of Legends you’ve unlocked, you can check your collection tab in the client to see a full list of owned and unowned characters. New players get access to a rotating pool of 16 free champions each week, so you can test out different playstyles before you spend your blue essence on a permanent unlock.
Breakdown of LoL Heroes by Class and Role
Every hero in League of Legends is designed to fit one of five core roles on the rift, and each role has specific jobs that help your team win games. If you’re new to the game, picking a role first and then exploring champions that fit that role is the easiest way to avoid being overwhelmed by the 160+ options. If you’re filtering the champion select screen to count how many heroes in League of Legends fit your main role, you can use the class and role filters to narrow down the list instantly. The core roles are:
- Top Lane: Usually tanky or duelist champions that hold the top side of the map, split push, and start team fights for their team.
- Jungle: Champions that clear neutral monster camps between lanes, gank overextended enemies, and secure important objectives like dragons and Baron Nashor.
- Mid Lane: Burst mages or assassins that deal high magic damage, roam to help side lanes, and control the center of the map.
- ADC (Attack Damage Carry): Ranged physical damage dealers that farm gold for the first 15 minutes of the game, then become the team’s main damage source in late-game team fights.
- Support: Champions that protect their ADC, set up kills for their team, place vision wards, and peel for high-value teammates during fights.
Why Riot Keeps Adding New Heroes to LoL
A lot of long-time players complain that the roster is already too big, but Riot has a clear set of reasons for adding new champions every few months. First, new characters bring fresh gameplay loops that keep the meta from getting stale. For example, the recent champion Naafiri introduced a pack-based playstyle that no other assassin in the game had before, giving players who love high-mobility picks a whole new way to play. New champions also draw lapsed players back to the game, and give content creators new material to make guides, highlight reels, and meme content that keeps the community active. If you’re someone who likes to keep track of how many heroes in League of Legends have been released each year, you can find a full release timeline on the official League of Legends fandom site. That said, Riot does slow down new releases occasionally to rework old, outdated champions that don’t fit the current game balance. Reworks update a champion’s kit, visuals, and lore without adding to the total hero count, so they’re a great middle ground for players who don’t want even more characters to learn. For example, the 2023 rework of Sion completely changed his playstyle to make him a more viable tank pick in both casual and ranked play, without adding a new champion to the roster.
Tips for Picking the Right LoL Hero for You
With 166 heroes to choose from, picking a main can feel impossible when you’re first starting out. The good news is you don’t have to stick to one champion forever, but picking 2 to 3 mains to learn first will help you climb ranks faster than bouncing between random picks every game. First, figure out what kind of playstyle you enjoy most. If you like being the front line and protecting your team, tank or support champions are a great fit. If you prefer getting high kill counts and outplaying enemies one on one, assassins or duelist fighters are probably better for you. Always test a champion in a normal blind pick game before you take them into ranked, even if you’ve watched 10 guide videos about them. Playstyles feel very different when you’re actually controlling the character, versus watching someone else play them well. It’s also a good idea to pick at least one champion from two different roles, so you have a backup if your main role gets taken in champion select. No matter how many heroes in League of Legends get added in the future, the best pick for you will always be the one that fits your playstyle, not the one that’s at the top of the tier list. Don’t feel pressured to pick “meta” champions either, because you’ll always perform better on a champion you enjoy playing, even if they’re not considered top tier that patch.
At the end of the day, the total number of heroes in League of Legends will keep growing as long as the game remains popular. Whether you’re a new player just figuring out the basics or a long-time player who’s been around since the roster had less than 50 characters, there’s always a new champion to try that fits your preferred playstyle. Next time you’re stuck scrolling through champion select wondering how many heroes in League of Legends there are, you’ll know the answer is 166, and you’ll have a better idea of how to narrow down your picks to find the right one for you. If you’re still unsure, try playing a few ARAM games, where you get assigned a random champion every match – it’s a fun way to test out characters you’d never pick on your own.