Wild Rift Counters: Top Champions For 2022

Hey guys, let's talk about Wild Rift counters in 2022! If you're looking to climb those ranked ladders and dominate your opponents, understanding which champions can shut down others is absolutely crucial. It's not just about picking your favorite champ; it's about smart picks and counter-picks that give you a real edge. In this article, we're diving deep into the meta of 2022 and highlighting some of the best counter-picks across different roles. We'll break down why these champions are so effective and how you can leverage them to secure more wins. So, buckle up, and let's get into the nitty-gritty of outsmarting your rivals in the Rift!

Understanding the Counter Pick Meta

Alright team, let's get into the nitty-gritty of the Wild Rift counter pick meta for 2022. This year has seen some wild shifts, with new champions shaking things up and item reworks changing the game. What does this mean for you? It means that simply picking the flavor-of-the-month champion isn't always the best strategy. Smart players know that the real power lies in understanding matchups. A champion that seems unstoppable on paper can be completely neutralized by the right counter. We're talking about champions who can exploit a specific weakness, disrupt a key ability, or simply out-stat their lane opponent in critical moments. The 2022 meta has emphasized synergy and adaptability. This means picking champions that not only counter the enemy but also fit well with your team composition. Are you facing a dive comp? You might want to consider champions with strong crowd control or disengage. Is the enemy team reliant on a single fed carry? Then picking an assassin or a bruiser who can lock them down is paramount. We've seen a rise in champions who offer utility beyond just damage, like strong peeling supports or engage tanks that can dictate the pace of teamfights. The key takeaway here is that knowledge is power. The more you understand the strengths and weaknesses of popular champions, the better equipped you'll be to make those game-winning counter picks. Don't just blindly follow tier lists; learn the matchups. Watch pro players, analyze your own games, and experiment. Understanding the ebb and flow of the meta, and how champions interact, is what separates the good from the great in Wild Rift. Remember, guys, it's all about making informed decisions that snowball your advantage and deny your opponents theirs. This isn't just about winning lane; it's about winning the entire game through strategic drafting and intelligent play. So, keep your eyes peeled, stay updated, and always be ready to pivot your strategy based on what the enemy team throws at you. The 2022 meta rewards those who are adaptable and well-informed.

Top Lane Counters

Let's kick things off with the top lane counters in Wild Rift 2022, a role often known for its bruisers and tanks duking it out. If you're looking to shut down a strong early-game duelist or a scaling behemoth, you've got options. One of the standout picks for countering aggressive laners is Garen. Why Garen, you ask? Well, his passive regeneration makes him incredibly durable in extended trades, and his Villain mechanic (when an enemy champion gets a kill streak, they become the Villain, and Garen deals bonus damage to them) can absolutely ruin the day of an overconfident carry. His Q silences, preventing key abilities, and his E provides consistent damage and wave clear. He’s straightforward but incredibly effective against champions who rely on mobility or spell-casting to win trades. Another fantastic counter, particularly against champions who love to poke and kite, is Malphite. While he's often seen as a pure tank, Malphite's ability to build armor makes him incredibly resistant to physical damage. His W grants him bonus armor and an attack-damaging aura, making him a threat in melee. The real kicker, though, is his ultimate, Unstoppable Force. It's a massive engage tool with a huge knock-up, perfect for disrupting backlines or turning the tide of a skirmish. Against AD-heavy comps, Malphite becomes an unkillable wall. For those who prefer a more aggressive playstyle and want to counter dive-heavy compositions or champions who struggle against sustained damage, Sett is your guy. His The Show Stopper ultimate can isolate a key target and slam them down, completely changing the dynamic of a fight. His W provides a shield and a devastating burst of damage, and his passive allows him to heal up significantly during fights. He excels in extended brawls and can often bully champions out of lane through sheer pressure and well-timed ability usage. Finally, if you're facing champions who have a lot of crowd control or rely on burst damage that you need to mitigate, Dr. Mundo is a phenomenal choice. His Maximum Dosage ultimate makes him incredibly tanky and provides massive health regeneration, allowing him to ignore many forms of CC and poke. He's a true unkillable monster late game, capable of soaking up damage and dishing it back out. Remember, guys, the goal in top lane is often to either starve your opponent of resources or to become a major threat yourself. These champions offer different ways to achieve that, whether through sheer tankiness, disruptive crowd control, or sustained pressure. Choosing the right one based on the enemy team's composition can give you a significant advantage right from the start of the game. Don't underestimate the power of a well-timed counter pick in the top lane; it can set the tone for the entire match.

Jungle Counters

Moving onto the jungle counters, this role is all about map pressure, objective control, and ganking. Picking the right jungler can dictate the flow of the early and mid-game. If the enemy jungler is a strong early-game duelist or a power farmer who wants to scale, Lee Sin is a fantastic counter. His high mobility, early game damage, and ability to invade make him a constant threat. His Safeguard/Iron Will allows him to dash to allies or wards, giving him incredible maneuverability, and his ultimate, Dragon's Rage, can kick key targets out of fights or reposition them. Lee Sin excels at disrupting the enemy jungler's game plan, punishing them for farming too safely, and securing objectives with his Q and smite combos. For countering champions who rely on setting up ganks or have low mobility, Shyvana can be a surprisingly strong pick. Once she transforms into her dragon form, her damage output and area-of-effect abilities become devastating. She farms incredibly fast, allowing her to hit her power spikes quicker than many other junglers. Her tankiness in dragon form, combined with her sustained damage, makes her a menace to deal with, especially when she can freely dive onto squishy targets. She's great at punishing teams that lack disengage or good peel. If you're facing a team that's all about diving your backline or has a jungler who struggles against high burst damage, Evelynn is your go-to assassin. Her passive, Hate Spike, allows her to proc multiple times, and her ultimate, Last Caress, offers an execute and an invulnerability phase, making her perfect for dodging crucial abilities or escaping after a kill. She excels at picking off isolated targets and punishing poor positioning. The key is to use her stealth effectively to get the drop on unsuspecting enemies. For countering champions that are very squishy and mobile but lack CC, Xin Zhao can be a dominant force. His early game is incredibly strong, and his Three Talon Strike combo allows him to quickly close gaps and deal significant damage. His ultimate, Crest of the Conqueror, provides him with a knock-up and makes him untargetable briefly, allowing him to survive burst damage and lock down a target. He's excellent at diving the backline and disrupting enemy formations. Guys, remember that jungling is a constant cat-and-mouse game. Your job is to outsmart, out-farm, and out-pressure the enemy jungler. These champions offer unique ways to achieve that, whether it's through aggressive invading, powerful ganks, or objective control. Picking the right one can cripple the enemy team's jungle presence and set your team up for success.

Mid Lane Counters

Now, let's talk about the mid lane counters, the heart of the map where mages and assassins often clash. If you're facing a mage who relies on zoning and wave control, Yasuo can be a fantastic counter. While he's often banned, if he's available, his mobility, wind wall, and ability to dash through minions make him a nightmare for many immobile casters. His ultimate, Last Breath, allows him to dive onto targets and knock them up, completely disrupting their setup. He thrives in chaotic fights and can often snowball hard if he gets an early lead. For countering assassins or champions who are squishy and lack sustained damage, Orianna is a superb choice. Her utility is off the charts. Her Command: Protect ability can shield an ally and deal damage, her Command: Shockwave provides area-of-effect damage and a knock-up, and her ultimate, Command: Shockwave, is one of the best teamfight ultimates in the game, capable of pulling enemies together and dealing massive damage. She can poke from a safe distance and then lock down targets with her control. If you're up against champions who have a lot of skill shots or rely on diving you, Ahri is a great pick. Her Charm can CC and disorient enemies, setting them up for kills. Her Spirit Rush ultimate gives her three dashes, allowing her to reposition, dodge abilities, or chase down targets with incredible agility. She's a safe pick that offers both burst and mobility, making her hard to pin down. For countering champions who are very tanky or have a lot of sustained damage, Veigar can be a terror. Once he starts stacking his passive, Phenomenal Evil, his AP output becomes immense, allowing him to one-shot squishy targets. His Event Horizon cage can trap enemies, making them vulnerable to his stun and high burst damage. His ultimate, The Final Spark, is a massive point-and-click execute that can finish off even the tankiest of opponents if they're low enough. Remember, guys, mid lane is about controlling the tempo and influencing the rest of the map. These counter picks offer ways to either shut down the enemy mid laner's game plan or to become a dominant force yourself. Whether you're dodging skill shots, setting up devastating combos, or stacking infinite AP, these champions provide the tools you need to succeed.

Bot Lane (ADC) Counters

Let's move down to the bot lane counters, focusing on the AD Carries who are often the primary damage dealers. If the enemy ADC is a hyper-scaling champion who needs time to come online, Caitlyn can be a great counter. Her incredible range allows her to poke and zone enemies from a distance, making it difficult for them to farm or engage. Her Piltover Peacemaker Q has a long range, and her Yordle Snap Trap and 90 Caliber ultimate provide additional utility and burst damage. She excels at controlling the pace of the lane and punishing aggression. For countering immobile ADCs or champions who struggle against sustained damage and kiting, Jinx is a top-tier choice. Her minigun provides rapid attacks for dueling, while her rocket launcher offers area-of-effect damage and long-range poke. Her passive, Get Excited!, gives her a massive boost in movement and attack speed after getting a kill or assist, allowing her to snowball through teamfights. Her ultimate, Super Mega Death Rocket!, can pick off fleeing enemies or provide global pressure. If you're facing a lot of engage or poke that you need to mitigate, Ezreal is a safe and effective pick. His passive increases his attack speed, and his abilities allow him to poke from safety while still being able to deal significant damage. His Arcane Shift provides him with a dash, making him incredibly elusive and hard to catch. He's great at surviving lane and scaling into the late game, making him a strong counter to more vulnerable ADCs. Finally, for countering champions who are very squishy and immobile or who have little self-peel, Miss Fortune can be a devastating pick. Her passive grants her bonus movement speed after not taking damage, helping her reposition. Her Bullet Time ultimate is a cone of pure damage that can shred through entire teams, especially when combined with her Q, Double Up, which can bounce for extra damage. She excels at punishing poor positioning and can often secure kills with her ultimate. Guys, the bot lane is all about securing farm, surviving the laning phase, and becoming a consistent damage threat. These champions offer different ways to achieve that, from out-ranging your opponents to out-skirmishing them. Choosing the right ADC can make or break your team's late-game potential, so always consider what the enemy team is bringing to the lane.

Support Counters

Lastly, let's cover the support counters, arguably the most crucial role for enabling your team and disrupting the enemy. If the enemy team has a lot of engage or dive compositions, Janna is an excellent counter. Her Howling Gale ultimate can push enemies away and heal allies, effectively stopping dives in their tracks. Her Zephyr ability provides movement speed and slow immunity, allowing her to peel for her carries, while her Eye of the Storm shields allies and deals damage to enemies. She's the queen of disengage. For countering poke-heavy lanes or champions who rely on single-target damage, Soraka is a fantastic choice. Her Wish ultimate provides global healing, allowing her to save allies from afar. Her Astral Infusion ability allows her to heal allies at the cost of her own health, and her Infuse silences enemies, disrupting their combo. She excels at keeping her team alive through sustained fights. If you're facing champions with a lot of crowd control or need to lock down key enemy targets, Thresh is your man. His Death Sentence hook is iconic for catching out opponents, and his Dark Passage lantern can save allies from dangerous situations. His The Box ultimate provides an area-of-effect slow and damage, controlling enemy movement. He offers incredible utility and pick potential. For countering champions who tend to overextend or need to be peeled off your carries, Braum is a solid pick. His Unbreakable shield can block all incoming projectiles, making him a mobile wall against ranged attackers. His passive allows him to stack stun on enemies, and his ultimate, Glacial Fissure, knocks up enemies and slows them. He's excellent at protecting his allies and disrupting enemy engages. Remember, guys, supports are the unsung heroes. Your ability to provide vision, peel for your carries, or set up plays can completely change the outcome of a game. These counter picks offer different ways to impact the game, from saving your team from disaster to initiating game-winning plays. Always think about what your team needs and what the enemy team is vulnerable to when picking your support.

Conclusion: Master the Draft, Master the Rift

So there you have it, guys! We've covered a ton of Wild Rift counters for 2022 across every role. Remember, the meta is always shifting, and new champions or item changes can shake things up. The key to consistent success isn't just about knowing these counters, but understanding why they work. It's about recognizing patterns, predicting enemy movements, and making those crucial draft decisions. Practice these matchups, learn the intricacies of each champion, and don't be afraid to experiment. A well-timed counter pick can give you a significant advantage, but it's your skill and game knowledge that will ultimately secure the win. Keep practicing, keep learning, and I'll see you on the Rift!