Should You One Trick in LoL? Pros & Cons Explained

Should You One Trick a Champion in LoL? (Season 16 Guide)

If you've watched high-ELO streamers or searched for climbing advice, you've probably heard the same recommendation:

"Just one trick a champion."

Many Challenger players reached the top of the ladder by mastering a single champion.

But does that mean it's the best strategy for everyone?

Not necessarily.

One-tricking can dramatically improve your consistency, but it also comes with drawbacks that every ranked player should understand.

Let's look at the pros, cons, and whether becoming a one-trick is the right choice for your climb.

What Is a One Trick?

A one trick (often called an OTP) is a player who primarily plays one champion in ranked.

Instead of switching champions every game, they dedicate hundreds—or even thousands—of games to mastering a single pick.

Popular one-trick champions include:

• Riven
• Yasuo
• Katarina
• Draven
• Singed

However, almost any champion can be one-tricked successfully.

Why One-Tricking Helps You Climb

One-tricking removes many variables from ranked.

Instead of constantly learning new mechanics, you become an expert on one champion.

Benefits include:

• Better mechanics
• Faster decision-making
• More matchup knowledge
• Higher consistency

This allows you to focus on macro rather than remembering champion abilities.

Champion Mastery Wins Games

Every game teaches you something new.

After 300 games on the same champion, you'll naturally learn:

• Trading patterns
• Damage limits
• Power spikes
• Matchups
• Team fighting

That experience is difficult to replicate by constantly switching champions.

You Spend Less Time Learning

Many players lose games because they're learning a new champion in ranked.

A one-trick avoids this problem.

Instead of practicing mechanics every match, they can focus on:

• Wave management
• Vision
• Objectives
• Rotations

These skills carry over into every game.

The Downsides of One-Tricking

One-tricking is not perfect.

Some challenges include:

Bans

Your favorite champion may be banned.

Counter Picks

Certain matchups can become difficult.

Meta Changes

Balance patches may weaken your champion.

Learning at least one backup pick is highly recommended.

Should You Have a Backup Champion?

Yes.

Most successful one-tricks actually maintain:

• One primary champion
• One secondary champion
• One emergency pick

This protects you from bans and unfavorable drafts without sacrificing consistency.

Is One-Tricking Good in Low ELO?

For most players, yes.

Silver and Gold players often benefit the most because:

• Champion mastery matters
• Opponents make frequent mistakes
• Consistency is rewarded

Rather than trying to master ten champions, mastering one usually produces better results.

If you're still deciding who to main, check out our guide to the Best Solo Queue Champions in LoL.

Is One-Tricking Good in High ELO?

It depends.

Higher-ranked players understand matchups better and punish predictable play.

While many Challenger players remain successful one-tricks, others expand their champion pool to adapt to drafts.

Flexibility becomes more valuable as competition increases.

How to Choose Your One-Trick Champion

The best champion is one you'll enjoy playing for hundreds of games.

Ask yourself:

• Do I enjoy this champion?
• Can I play them even after losing?
• Do they fit my preferred role?
• Am I willing to learn every matchup?

If the answer is yes, you've likely found a good candidate.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls:

• Picking difficult champions only because they're popular
• Swapping champions after every loss
• Ignoring macro while focusing only on mechanics
• Playing too many roles

Consistency beats variety in most ranked environments.

One Trick vs Small Champion Pool

You don't have to choose between one and ten champions.

A balanced approach often works best:

• Main one champion
• Learn two backups
• Stay in one primary role

This gives you consistency while remaining flexible.

Final Thoughts

One-tricking is one of the most effective ways to improve in League of Legends.

Champion mastery reduces mistakes, increases confidence, and allows you to focus on the fundamentals that actually win games.

However, remember that no champion alone will carry you to Diamond.

Strong macro, good decision-making, and consistency remain the biggest factors in long-term improvement.

To improve even faster, pair champion mastery with our guides on The Fastest Way to Rank Up in LoL, Why Players Get Hardstuck, and MMR vs Rank.