Champions tagged with Difficult to Master share a similar playstyle.
Use this list to discover new picks that fit how you like to play and expand your champion pool around this tag.
Best Difficult to Master Champions – Recommended Picks by Role
Akali
MID
#1
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Hextech Gunblade
Increases Attack Damage and Ability Power, activate to slow a target
Sorcerer's Shoes
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
Shadowflame
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Runes
Electrocute
Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.
Sudden Impact
Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal bonus true damage to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Ultimate Hunter
Unique takedowns grant permanent cooldown reduction on your Ultimate.
Second Wind
After taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time.
Overgrowth
Gain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you.
Anivia
MID
#2
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
E ➜ Q ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Rod of Ages
Sorcerer's Shoes
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
Archangel's Staff
Increases Ability Power based on maximum Mana
Liandry's Torment
Charge up in combat to deal high damage over time, especially against durable enemies
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Runes
Electrocute
Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.
Cheap Shot
Deal bonus true damage to enemy champions with impaired movement or actions.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Relentless Hunter
Unique takedowns grant permanent out of combat MS.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Coup de Grace
Deal more damage to low health enemy champions.
Azir
MID
#3
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
W ➜ Q ➜ E ➜ R
Items
Nashor's Tooth
Increases Attack Speed, Ability Power, and Cooldown Reduction
Sorcerer's Shoes
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
Shadowflame
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Runes
Lethal Tempo
Attacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Legend: Alacrity
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed.
Cut Down
Deal more damage to high health enemy champions.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
Gathering Storm
Gain increasing amounts of AD or AP, adaptive over the course of the game.
Cassiopeia
MID
#4
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
E ➜ Q ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Rod of Ages
Boots of Swiftness
Enhances Move Speed and reduces the effect of slows
Archangel's Staff
Increases Ability Power based on maximum Mana
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Abilities slow enemies
Liandry's Torment
Charge up in combat to deal high damage over time, especially against durable enemies
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Runes
Conqueror
Gain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Legend: Haste
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Basic Ability Haste.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.
Hwei
MID
#5
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Blackfire Torch
Sorcerer's Shoes
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
Liandry's Torment
Charge up in combat to deal high damage over time, especially against durable enemies
Shadowflame
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Runes
Arcane Comet
Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.
Scorch
Your first damaging ability hit every 10s burns champions.
Legend: Haste
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Basic Ability Haste.
Cut Down
Deal more damage to high health enemy champions.
Irelia
MID
#6
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ W ➜ E ➜ R
Items
Blade of The Ruined King
Deals damage based on target's Health, can steal Move Speed
Mercury's Treads
Increases Move Speed and reduces duration of disabling effects
Wit's End
Resist magic damage and claw your way back to life.
Hullbreaker
Death's Dance
Guardian Angel
Periodically revives champion upon death
Runes
Conqueror
Gain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions.
Triumph
Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold.
Legend: Alacrity
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Biscuit Delivery
Gain a free Biscuit every 2 min, until 6 min. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health and restores health.
Jack Of All Trades
For each different stat gained from items, gain one Jack stack. Each stack grants you 1 Ability Haste.Gain bonus Adaptive Force at 5 and 10 stacks.
Jayce
MID
#7
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ W ➜ E
Items
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Activate to greatly increase Move Speed
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Increases Move Speed and Cooldown Reduction
Manamune
Increases Attack Damage based on maximum Mana
Serylda's Grudge
Edge of Night
Periodically blocks enemy abilities
Guardian Angel
Periodically revives champion upon death
Runes
Conqueror
Gain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Legend: Alacrity
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Magical Footwear
You get free boots at 12 min but you cannot buy boots before then. Each takedown you get makes your boots come 45s sooner.
Biscuit Delivery
Gain a free Biscuit every 2 min, until 6 min. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health and restores health.
Katarina
MID
#8
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Lich Bane
Grants a bonus to next attack after spell cast
Sorcerer's Shoes
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
Shadowflame
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Runes
Electrocute
Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.
Sudden Impact
Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal bonus true damage to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Relentless Hunter
Unique takedowns grant permanent out of combat MS.
Triumph
Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold.
Coup de Grace
Deal more damage to low health enemy champions.
Leblanc
MID
#9
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
W ➜ Q ➜ E ➜ R
Items
Luden's Echo
High burst damage, good against fragile foes
Sorcerer's Shoes
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
Shadowflame
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Runes
Electrocute
Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.
Sudden Impact
Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal bonus true damage to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Relentless Hunter
Unique takedowns grant permanent out of combat MS.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.
Gathering Storm
Gain increasing amounts of AD or AP, adaptive over the course of the game.
Qiyana
MID
#10
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ W ➜ E ➜ R
Items
Hubris
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Increases Move Speed and Cooldown Reduction
Profane Hydra
Serylda's Grudge
Edge of Night
Periodically blocks enemy abilities
Serpent's Fang
Runes
Electrocute
Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.
Sudden Impact
Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal bonus true damage to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Treasure Hunter
Unique takedowns grant additional gold the first time they are collected.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Ryze
MID
#11
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ghost
Gain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Rod of Ages
Mercury's Treads
Increases Move Speed and reduces duration of disabling effects
Archangel's Staff
Increases Ability Power based on maximum Mana
Actualizer
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Runes
Stormraider's Surge
Dealing 25% of a champion's maximum health grants a burst of MS and Slow Resist.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.
Gathering Storm
Gain increasing amounts of AD or AP, adaptive over the course of the game.
Bone Plating
After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage.Duration: 1.5sCooldown: 55s
Overgrowth
Gain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you.
Sylas
MID
#12
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
W ➜ E ➜ Q ➜ R
Items
Hextech Rocketbelt
Activate to dash forward and unleash a fiery explosion
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Increases Move Speed and Cooldown Reduction
Riftmaker
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Shadowflame
Runes
Conqueror
Gain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Legend: Haste
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Basic Ability Haste.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Second Wind
After taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time.
Unflinching
Gain Armor and Magic Resist when receiving crowd control.
Viktor
MID
#13
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
E ➜ Q ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Blackfire Torch
Sorcerer's Shoes
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
Liandry's Torment
Charge up in combat to deal high damage over time, especially against durable enemies
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Runes
Summon Aery
Your attacks and abilities send Aery to a target, damaging enemies or shielding allies.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.
Scorch
Your first damaging ability hit every 10s burns champions.
Shield Bash
Whenever you gain a shield, your next basic attack against a champion deals bonus adaptive damage.
Bone Plating
After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage.Duration: 1.5sCooldown: 55s
Yasuo
MID
#14
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Blade of The Ruined King
Deals damage based on target's Health, can steal Move Speed
Berserker's Greaves
Enhances Move Speed and Attack Speed
Immortal Shieldbow
Infinity Edge
Massively enhances critical strikes
Death's Dance
Guardian Angel
Periodically revives champion upon death
Runes
Lethal Tempo
Attacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack.
Absorb Life
Killing a target heals you.
Legend: Alacrity
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Second Wind
After taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time.
Overgrowth
Gain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you.
Yone
MID
#15
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Blade of The Ruined King
Deals damage based on target's Health, can steal Move Speed
Berserker's Greaves
Enhances Move Speed and Attack Speed
Immortal Shieldbow
Infinity Edge
Massively enhances critical strikes
Death's Dance
Guardian Angel
Periodically revives champion upon death
Runes
Lethal Tempo
Attacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack.
Absorb Life
Killing a target heals you.
Legend: Alacrity
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Second Wind
After taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time.
Overgrowth
Gain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you.
Zed
MID
#16
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Eclipse
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Increases Move Speed and Cooldown Reduction
Voltaic Cyclosword
Serylda's Grudge
Edge of Night
Periodically blocks enemy abilities
Serpent's Fang
Runes
Electrocute
Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.
Taste of Blood
Heal when you damage an enemy champion.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Ultimate Hunter
Unique takedowns grant permanent cooldown reduction on your Ultimate.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.
Scorch
Your first damaging ability hit every 10s burns champions.
Zoe
MID
#17
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W ➜ R
Items
Luden's Echo
High burst damage, good against fragile foes
Sorcerer's Shoes
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
Shadowflame
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Runes
Electrocute
Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.
Sudden Impact
Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal bonus true damage to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Relentless Hunter
Unique takedowns grant permanent out of combat MS.
Nimbus Cloak
After casting a Summoner Spell, gain a short Move Speed increase that allows you to pass through units.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.