Most regions are ending their respective 2023 Spring Splits, and it’s time to take a look at some of the best-performing LoL players thus far.
We are aware ten players might be too few to list the best LoL players in 2023 considering the sheer talent and veterancy of rosters this season. While are trying to separate the wheat from the chaff, our selection might not list the players with the best stats overall. Yet, their value is crucial to the overall team performance and they are instrumental in their team’s success.
Keep in mind that our list is fluid and will be updated at each stage of the season.
Without further ado, let’s just dive right into it!
Best LoL players in 2023
10. Bo
Starting off with our list, we will find the only LEC player and that is Vitality’s Chinese jungler. After leaving the LPL, Bo flew over to Europe last year with the hopes of returning to professional play. Despite not playing in 2022, he proved his worth by stomping solo queue thanks to his insane mechanics.
This year, he has the opportunity to show himself to the world once again in a new environment. While he may not be the best right away, he has the key individual skills to become the new superstar. If he manages to stomp the feisty competition he has in the jungle role, there is nothing else to prove that Bo will be one of the best League of Legends players this year.
9. Zeka
Next up we have Zeka, the most recent World champion and the best rising player of 2022. While he wasn’t necessarily the best overall, his Worlds run was extremely impressive, beating other top-tiers mid laners. Despite changing the team, he’s still one of the ones to look out for this season.
Most people might put him even higher on the rankings list but there is a reason why Zeka is only ninth. We saw him dominate in a meta where the top picks were his most comfortable and most played champions. Now that the meta has shifted, his peak performance might not be as high. That said, we are confident that Zeka is still one of the best League players in the world and that he’ll keep performing well in 2023.
READ ALSO: Best mid laners in League leading into 2023
8. Keria
Keria used to be our number one on the list last year, so seeing him drop down to eighth may look like a major downgrade. That being said, he’s the only support player on the list and we still reckon him as the best support in the world.
He was the main reason why T1 was able to have a strong bot lane despite Gumayusi having weird moments toward the second part of the season. Knowing that he’s the voice of the team and the shotcalling mainly goes through him, it’s inevitable that Keria has immense value for his team overall.
7. Showmaker
Showmaker has gone under the radar compared to previous years as he wasn’t able to make a big enough difference to fight with T1 and Gen.G in the LCK. At Worlds he had a really solid run but it wasn’t enough to qualify for the top four and were eliminated by Gen.G.
While results do matter, the general impression is that he’s always one of the best-performing members on the team, regardless of the meta or roster. Now that mages are coming back and he has stronger members, we might see Showmaker coming back to claim the crown as the king of the mid lane…
6. TheShy
Speaking of players making a difference, someone who’s certainly managing to do that is TheShy. There is no other top laner in the world currently that can absorb that much pressure alone and that’s why he’s the n°1 in his role.
Whatever roster he ends up in, TheShy is able to raise the team’s potential on his own. A true mechanical god with insane game knowledge makes him one of the scariest players to face against. Not to mention that he has his own “pocket” picks to make his enemy laner suffer.
Now that Weibo Gaming has a strong roster on their hands, this might be the year TheShy returns to the top of the world and fight for both the LPL title and Worlds.
5. Ruler
Number 5 on our list is one of the greatest ADCs of all time, Ruler. The 2017 world champion was hard carrying Gen.G last year and it shouldn’t be much different now that he’s on JDG. He’s the type of reliable mechanical carry that can win you games on his own and have the X factor during the crucial moments.
It takes a lot of guts to leave the team you have played with for years, but Ruler did that, showing how much he’s willing to give up in order to get a second championship.
He’s able to pilot many different champions, including the less popular ones like Poppy. Not to mention that the guy has an insane Lee Sin and Viego. What’s really impressive about Oner, however, is how he has reacted to the pressure of being a T1 starter. This is only the beginning for one of the biggest prospects of the new era in League, but we can be sure that Oner will achieve something in the near future.
4. Chovy
Despite being one of the best individual and mechanically gifted players, Chovy still hasn’t managed to win the world title. That said, he managed to get his hands on an LCK title in 2022, winning the Summer Split. He’s still arguably the best Korean player when it comes to the laning phase and micro play but it’s not enough anymore in the current League meta.
Now that it’s his fourth year in the LCK, it’s time that he steps up more and carries the team to the top. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done…
READ ALSO: LEC 2023 Power Rankings
3. Faker
It’s insane and at the same time unthinkable how Faker still manages to be among the top 10 players in League 10 years after his debut. The GOAT never stops to impress and going into 2023, he’s still one of the most important members in T1. Not only does he bring mechanics and knowledge, but most importantly, he brings with him the experience to help the T1 youngsters grow and improve. It’s a pity that he couldn’t win his fourth title, but T1 has serious chances to redeem themselves this year under his guidance
2. Viper
In the last two years of League, there’s only one ADC player that can beat Ruler, and that’s Viper. The Korean ADC is the only player that brings consistently the same impact Ruler has in teams. The main difference, though, is that Viper has done it without having a super team around him. Yes, EDG was a strong team, but no one aside from Scout was considered top-tier last year. When it comes to hard-carrying the fights, Viper is your man.
Now that he returns to Korea, Viper will have to put everything on the line to win with Hanwha Life Esports. If he manages to hard carry this team as well, then it might be time we put him among the elite group of the best ADC League players in esports history.
1. Canyon
While Canyon and DK might not have achieved great results last year, the Korean jungler is the undisputed number one in the world. Not only because he’s strong and talented, but because of how he’s been so consistently at the top of his game in the last three years. Even when DK didn’t have enough good players in 2022, he was trying to compensate for the gap with the top teams on his own.
There aren’t many big jungle gaps nowadays, yet Canyon has those magic moments where he completely demolishes the rest of the junglers: go ask Peanut when the two clashed at the Worlds quarterfinals. Despite losing the series, Canyon made Peanut look invisible.
For these reasons, Canyon is the best current League of Legends player in the world. Will he be able to defend the crown? Only time will tell… but for now, he and DK are a team to fear for 2023.
Quick List
PlayerCurrent Team
KeriaT1
GumayusiT1
FakerT1
ChovyGen.G
OnerT1
KnightTop Esports
CanyonDK
RookieVictory Five
KarsaVictory Five
MalrangRogue
Best LoL Players Archive
10. Malrang
Starting off with our list, we will find the only LEC player and that is Rogue’s Korean jungler Malrang. After leaving DWG Kia during the off-season, he joined Rogue to fill the shoes of arguably the best European jungler in 2021, Inspired. Contrary to expectations, Malrang actually delivered an insane level of consistency, helping RGE find a new dimension. With a much more supportive playstyle, Malrang is the “bridge” for his team, finding opportunities and helping his laners to reach their win condition. He might not be a super carry jungler like others, but you can clearly see his impact on the game every time he plays. For this reason, Malrang manages to get into our top 10 list.
9. Karsa
Next up we have yet another jungler, this time from the LPL. Despite being one of the biggest veterans in the competitive scene, Karsa showed that he’s still hungry to win and is in for his redemption arc. Following his departure from Top Esports, Karsa joined Victory Five who until this year used to be a bottom-tier team. Surprisingly, the team is performing extremely well and Karsa is one of the main elements of their success, thanks to his super flexible champion pool as well as his mechanics. While it is only spring, Karsa is proving that TOP made the wrong decision to let him go.
8. Rookie
If Victory Five is currently considered one of the best teams in the LPL right now, the other key player on the roster is Rookie. Leaving IG during the offseason, Victory Five convinced him to join the organization. While his past two seasons have not been great, the one-time World Champion is still one of the best mid laners in the world. What’s really special about Rookie is that he doesn’t really die often, making him a consistent threat to enemies in any fight he’s in. Rookie might not be a super carry anymore, but he has been so consistent on control mages throughout the season that you can still feel his impact.
7. Canyon
While DK is not the top dog in the LCK anymore, Canyon is still one of the best junglers in the world. World Champion and World Finalist are achievements that only the elite deserve, as Canyon should be in talks with the legendary status of other Korean players.
His mechanics and in-game knowledge are way above the rest, as he and ShowMaker are the two cores that make DK a top-tier team in the LCK. If you watch one of DK’s games, you’ll easily see how influential Canyon’s contribution is to the matches. He might not have a super roster this season, but you can be sure Canyon will give his best to prove he’s one of the best LoL players in 2022.
6. Knight
Knight is probably the best Chinese mechanical mid laner in recent history. He’s still very young, yet people have been regarding him as top tier for years. Despite only a decent 5th place finish in Spring, Knight and TES have really stepped up during playoffs.
When it comes to playing mechanical mid laners that require the best executions, Knight is always one of the first you think of. He’s had insane win rates on Ahri, Ryze and Vex, with even more astonishing KDAs (11.5 on Ahri and 14.0 on Ryze). Now that Viktor has fallen off in priority, Knight can fully unleash his proactive playstyle and lead his team to victory.
5. Oner
Number 5 on our list is yet another jungler, but this will be the last one as well. Oner, just like almost every player on the T1 roster, has had a stellar start to their 2022 season. Despite having very little competitive experience in the LCK, Oner has already established himself as a top tier jungler.
He’s able to pilot many different champions, including the less popular ones like Poppy. Not to mention that the guy has an insane Lee Sin and Viego. What’s really impressive about Oner, however, is how he has reacted to the pressure of being a T1 starter. This is only the beginning for one of the biggest prospects of the new era in League, but we can be sure that Oner will achieve something in the near future.
4. Chovy
Now that Chovy has left Hanwha Life Esports, he has finally found a team worthy of his level. He has no longer the need to 1v9, although Chovy will always put his mark in every match he plays. Gen.G Esports welcomed him with open hands, adding him to a roster that is good enough to constantly fight for the top of the LCK: Peanut and Ruler are players you can consistently rely on.
The Korean prodigy can now fully focus on being the dominant carry he used to be back in the Griffin days, showcasing his insane laning and skirmishing capabilities. If we’re talking about talent, he should’ve been the number 1, but we all know that talent is not enough to be the best in LoL…
3. Faker
Almost 10 years have passed since Faker’s debut and almost a decade later, he’s still here showing the world how good he is. He could’ve retired like many other players of his era, but his passion is what drives him forward, as well as the hunger for that 4th World title.
Now that T1 actually has put together a formidable roster this season, Faker will be the veteran and the leader to guide the new generation of players. He and his low-tempered behavior is the type of presence any organization would die to want.
While Faker might not be the very best, you can be sure that his attitude and leadership can elevate any team to a much higher level.
2. Gumayusi
For people who might not know, Gumayusi is cousins with Faker. Despite having family connections with the GOAT of LoL, Gumayusi earned his spot on the starting roster with his own strength. His mechanics are inhuman: you should probably consider watching his streams or pro view. There are many instances where you can’t understand how he manages to do certain stuff.
Gumayusi has reached such high potential in such a short amount of time that people wonder whether he still has room for improvement. He has won basically against all the Korean ADCs in the League. Only the international stage might give him more challenging goals. With T1 going to MSI, Gumayusi will be put to the test to see whether if he’s World Champion material.
1. Keria
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see so many T1 players on the list after their perfect spring split. No one has ever achieved such a feat in the LCK, and the record might not be broken for many years to come. Out of all the players in that roster, however, Keria is head and shoulders above everyone else. Faker mentioned how most of the time Keria is the shotcaller on the team, constantly telling everyone what they should be doing. He’s the voice that’s guiding T1.
Aside from his shotcalling role, he’s also impeccable when it comes to execution. Keria has been impersonating MadLife with his Thresh hooks throughout the split and has been responsible for the playmaking. For this reason, Keria is not only the best support in the world but is currently the best player in LoL so far. Will he continue to shine? Only time will tell… but for now, Keria and T1 are without a doubt the team to fear the most for the upcoming MSI.
Most consistent – G2 Rekkles
Martin “Rekkles” Larsson arrival to G2 made the European organization even stronger than last year. One of the best LoL players of all time, he continues shining even more in his new team. His presence grants G2 the consistent player that they needed: he’s able to carry his team over the finish line even when his teammates have a few rough games. The is definitely going for that Worlds title this year, and with Rekkles on board they have all the best LEC players to do so.
With almost a decade under his belt, Martin has remained one of the top ADCs globally for the his entire career span. His latest results showcase he is far from being done with League any time soon.
Most Talented – G2 Caps
Alongside Rekkles, Rasmus “Caps” Winther is establishing himself as the most talented European player that ever played. Despite not having the best stats overall, his value to the team is visible to anyone watching G2’s games. He is the core & the backbone of the team, showing up whenever it’s time to shine. Caps has his eyes set on Worlds for his fourth consecutive year, after 3 years of almost making it, will this finally be the year he becomes the very best player of LoL, and surpass his “baby Faker” moniker.
Perfect Fit – RGE Odoamne
Odoamne showed that LEC veterans still have the level of play to continue dominating Europe. After last year’s performance on Schalke 04, his recent transfer to Rogue has made him stand out even more. He’s surely in talks to become one of the best league of legends players. An extremely flexible & consistent player, who can be aggressive or passive depending on what the team needs. This is what Odoamne is all about. RGE nailed the off-season by buying him, and the results have come in already. This year’s goal, however, is even higher: if they manage to go to Worlds, how will he & his team fare off against the best lol players in the world?
Best NA Player – TL Alphari
After a disappointing performance from LCS teams in last year’s Worlds, people realized that NA had serious problems. After joining Team Liquid during the off-season, Alphari showed that North America must catch up on a lot of things. The British top laner is smashing everyone else: 28.6% Damage output, 8 solo-kills, and positive stats is basically every single metric possible. No one has been as dominant as him: he’s the best player of LoL in North America and the LCS right now. The only other player who can match that is probably CoreJJ, making TL the best chance NA has on the international stage. Will they deliver at MSI?
Best KDA – DK ShowMaker
After reigning supreme in last year’s Worlds, the newly-named DK (DAMWON Kia Gaming) continues dominating the LCK in 2021. With such a stacked roster, Heo “ShowMaker“ Su is still able to shine through, with insanely consistent play. Throughout spring, he had the highest KDA out of all the mid laners (which played for most of the split), further showing that he’s one of the best League of Legends players of the recent era. There’s only one big problem: ShowMaker recently stated some health issues that might hinder his performance this season.
If all is well and he retains his form, he might beat the KDA record for both the LCK and Worlds this year.
Best Mechanical player – HLE Chovy
Next on the list is Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon. A truly mechanical god, arguably the best player of LoL in the world in terms of pure individual skills. Last year he carried DRX throughout the whole season; this year, he’s doing that once again on Hanwha Life Esports.
While not having the best stats due to his aggressive playstyle, he is the pure essence of lane kingdom: 18 solo kills! No mid laner has such an insane stat or even comes close. While HLE is surely a Playoffs team, Chovy’s presence grants them the chance to directly go for the championship. And that says a lot about the player’s value…
Best weakside player – DK Khan
Kim “Khan” Dong-ha can be probably a questionable pick for this list. Adding him to the list was mainly based on the fact that he came in to fill in Nuguri’s spot, who recently joined FunPlus Phoenix. Once considered one of the best League of Legends players in LCK, his last few splits were pretty rough.
This split, however, his form has been very stable. While he’s not as flashy and aggressive as Nuguri was, he’s the perfect weakside player that DK needed. Khan allows his teammates to make plays whilst absorbing as much pressure as possible. If Nuguri were there, he would probably die and bleed advantage to the enemies. Khan, instead, doesn’t. And that’s part of what is making DK so consistent, fully deserving to be first in the LCK.
Best Role Swap – RNG Xiaohu
Xiaohu’s main strength comes from his willingness of changing his role, from mid to top. Just like Perkz, he role-swapped to help his team succeed. Result: it’s working wonderfully! He’s able to utilize mid-lane champs in the top lane to demolish his enemies, while also playing tanks, making him an extremely flexible player. And just like other players, having the flexibility can be a game-changer.
Li “Xiaohu” Yuan-Hao is a name that you should definitely keep a track of, especially if RNG makes it out of the hell hole that is the LPL this season.
Best Explosive Performance – WE Beishang
Jiang “beishang“ Zhi-Peng has made a name for himself this split. A 9-time MVP, with an insane early game presence. Thanks to him, WE are able to gain big leads, eventually snowballing the game. Now that the split is ending, the big test left is against the top teams. Will WE surprise us during the playoffs and win the LPL?
Beishang will surely be an important key for victory… and a strong performance will help him establish himself as one of the best LoL players in 2021. With LoL odds not on Team WE’s side, it might be a time to invest a buck, if you share the same faith in Beishang that we do.
Strongest Laning – TES Knight
Last but not the least, Zhuo “Knight” Ding is back to his form after the big slump at Worlds 2020. Similar to Chovy, Knight excels at laning: +13 CS Diff@15 as well as +384 XP Diff@15. His individual advantages always transition into something else, making him one of, if not, the best mid laner in the LPL.
If TES is able to go to MSI, then the international stage will be Knight’s time to redeem himself.
GOAT – T1 Faker
After an extremely up & down split by T1, Faker has finally come back to take the lead. His return in the last few games showed why he still deserves it: his contribution to the win against Gen.G showed that T1 still has the potential to be the number 1 of the LCK, and that he personally wants to be the best player of lol ever existed. As long as Faker is playing, odds for T1 in LoL betting will always be favorable.
As long as Faker remains active on the scene, he will always be considered the greatest player that ever moved a mouse on the Summoner’s Rift.