The Play-In stage at the Mid-Season Invitational 2025 has concluded, and we can take a look at the champions who appeared most frequently on stage. The top ten includes both versatile mages and aggressive junglers, showcasing a variety of styles and strategies in the meta.

Twisted Fate: the absolute leader in picks
Twisted Fate emerged as the champion with the highest overall presence — 86%, thanks to 15 bans and just 3 picks. However, all three games with him ended in defeat — a win rate of 0%. Despite his high priority in drafts, his real impact in matches was minimal, casting doubt on his relevance in the current meta.

Nocturne and Maokai: the most frequent junglers
Nocturne took second place in popularity (67% presence), but was banned 13 times and picked only once. The single game resulted in a victory, giving him a win rate of 100%. He also showcased an impressive KDA of 10.5, averaging 10.5 kills per game and 915 damage per minute, making him the most effective jungler in the Play-In stage.

Maokai shares the second spot in popularity (also 67%), but his stats are more modest: picked 2 times, with 1 win and 1 loss (win rate — 50%). Nonetheless, Maokai remains a reliable choice for control and frontline.

Other champions in the top 10:
Gwen — 67% presence (13 bans, 1 pick), 0% win rate
Miss Fortune — 57% presence (9 bans, 3 picks), 33% win rate
Varus — 52% presence (7 bans, 4 picks), 75% win rate
Azir — 52% presence (10 bans, 1 pick), 0% win rate
Rumble — 48% presence (6 bans, 4 picks), 50% win rate
Pantheon — 48% presence (6 bans, 4 picks), 25% win rate
Kalista — 48% presence (3 bans, 7 picks), 0% win rate

The analysis showed that a champion's popularity does not always equate to their strength. Twisted Fate, Gwen, Kalista, and Azir did not win a single game despite their high priority. Meanwhile, Nocturne and Varus demonstrated excellent performance. Teams advancing to the main stage should draw conclusions based not only on the meta but also on actual results.

The Mid-Season Invitational 2025 runs from June 27 to July 12 in Canada, with a prize pool of $2,000,000. You can follow the news, schedule, and results of the tournament via the link.