All 2XKO champions, ranked

We’re already a week into early access with 2XKO, Riot Games’ free-to-play 2v2 tag-team fighter. The reception remains positive among players, with many commenting how it’s a mix of Street Fighter and the classic Marvel vs. Capcom games. Early access also marks the start of the title’s season pass, with cosmetics and more to be released soon.

However, with 11 champions ready to play, 2XKO already offers plenty of depth for old and new players to the fighting game genre, each offering their own special attacks and more. But it may be a challenge to rate and rank them all. With this in mind, we’re listing all 11 champions from worst to best.

At the time of writing, 11 2XKO characters, known as champions, can be played. The ranked list below will list these from worst to best, highlighting their abilities, special attacks, and more, in order to judge where they stand in the list.

Braum is a heavyweight in 2XKO, which means he can be big on defence when an opponent is dealing heavy damage or perform assists for others to protect them. Known as the ‘Heart of Frelijord’, Braum can be very useful as a defensive character, but his size means that he can be slow when on the offensive. His slow movements and poor range when attacking can be a significant detriment. Against quick opponents, it can be a challenge to get close to cause damage, which may be frustrating at times. Braum is best played with Jinx or Teemo, so they can deal the damage while he protects with his assists and more, but that’s about it.

Darius is the prime example of a mid-range fighter who can be great to use as an easy play. Known as the ‘Hand of Noxus’, every swing from his weapon can deal great damage when it lands, along with some great anti-air attacks that can take you out of some tough binds when a match looks to be going against you. Darius’s assists and special attacks are a great showcase in 2XKO as well, being a prime example of how well the game’s engine can shine when it wants to. He’s simple to play, powerful, and very effective, but other champions excel in areas Darius simply lacks.

Blitzcrank has a design that harkens back to the 2000s movie, The Iron Giant, but this robot is all about brutality. Its rocket grab can yank opponents in an instant, and is great when assisting, as well as its Steam mechanic, which can turn the tide in most matches. But, like Braum, the robot’s size can be a detriment, falling foul to faster champions, which may cause players to use Blitzcrank as an assist in matches. Ultimately, however, it’s a powerhouse if used right, and its special attacks can cause huge damage when in desperate need of a win.

Warwick looks like something out of a long-forgotten fighting series, Bloody Roar, but that’s to the wolf’s benefit. His claws and fangs mean that he can perform close-range attacks, as well as leaping from angles that can surprise opponents. Warwick’s rushdown attack is another relentless time, too, with a series of hits leaving other champions with no time to dodge. However, the predictable points he leaps from can make him vulnerable to others. But when paired with champions like Ahri or Ekko, Warwick’s offence is supercharged, thanks to his special attacks. Overall, he’s fast, feral, and relentless when it counts.

Illaloi, known as the Kraken Priestess, is a unique champion thanks to her tentacle mechanic. This lets her potentially dominate the match by covering the space with them, causing opponents to cautiously guess where they may end up. Both her range and damage dealt can be devastating up close, but Illaloi is a great fighter in how she can be tactically played. Despite her slow movement and setups that can be taken advantage of by some, her assists can cover a lot of ground, as well as help to cover other champions when paired with the likes of Vi or Ahri. Although requiring some practice, Illaloi could be a great champion to play as part of your default tag team.

Vi is a champion built for players who rely on aggression, pressure, and rhythmic attacks. She is very fast to play, with grabs and traps that can lure opponents into taking some close-range damage. Vi’s Blast Shield reversal can also bring some defensive resilience, which stands her in great stead when put into a tag-team and used as the secondary fighter. However, her short reach and weak air range can be a detriment, especially when pitted against Jinx or Yasuo. However, Vi’s bruiser attacks can reward players with some brutal wins, making her very fun to play.

Yasuo is the ultimate all-rounder in 2XKO. The swordsman can change his calm stance to a mix of mid-range attacks that can deal some damaging combos, as well as his Wind Wall attack that can block projectiles. Yasuo is unique in that he can be used in matches without switching to a teammate, thanks to his quick momentum and moves that can cancel timing from opponents. However, pairing with Illaoi or Ekko can help cover some of Yasuo’s mid-range attacks. Overall, he’s a great pick if you’re new to 2XKO.

Ahri is a nine-tailed fox who is fast, agile, and built around aerial dashes and spirit magic attacks. She can dominate during mid-range and close combat, though some of her combos require plenty of button presses that may put off beginners. When paired with other champions like Ekko or Yasuo, you get a duo that will be hard for opponents to avoid, thanks to a multitude of air attacks and special ones that could make some matches end quickly. If you want to see how a champion can work with aerial attacks and magic, Ahri is a great one to work with.

A relatively new fighter at the time of writing, Teemo differs from the other 10 champions here due to his size, quick attacks, and traps. He can hit and run while evading attacks from opponents quickly. However, some need a lot of setup time, and if cornered, it can be difficult to move Teemo away from some close-range attacks. But when you consider Teemo as an assist, his trap attacks can turn the tide in matches, allowing for the other playable champion to go all out with their special attacks. Teemo may have a high learning curve, but his attacks, unique traps, and more make him a fighter well worth considering.

Ekko is a fantastic champion who mixes Timewinder attacks with his own clone, resulting in some impressive showcases of what 2XKO’s engine is capable of. His clone can trap opponents in sequences that make it hard for opponents to avoid, while his short-range attacks and unpredictable momentum make Ekko tense for others to face. Another advantage to him is how easy he fits into almost any tag-team combination, thanks to his clone attacks and rushdown assists when needed. Ultimately, Ekko can bend the match to his will when required, thanks to his time-winding attacks that can turn the tide when you think the match is almost lost.

Jinx is almost the poster character of 2XKO, thanks to her great art style and projectiles that make her a joy to control in almost any match. She uses a variety of guns and bombs that can create some big zoning pressure when needed, but these can also transform into some offensive attacks when some opponents find themselves in a corner. Jinx’s projectile assist is also something to behold, being one of the best to use in 2XKO, which can easily help those who may feel like they’re being pummeled as soon as the match begins. Despite her lack of mobility and struggles to withstand rushdown pressure, her setups, weapons arsenal, and more all result in Jinx being a fantastic all-rounder for anyone. She’s a master of chaos, where every bullet and bomb can usually decide who will win the match.

Every champion from the 2XKO roster has their own special abilities and art style that only ramps up the replayability of the game, even at this stage of the early access. It’s also helped by Riot Games refining each fighter with balance patches based on player feedback, meaning that each champion feels more unique and fresh compared to the others.

Although we’ve ranked 11 champions so far, we’re sure there are more to come as we reach Season 0, especially when 2XKO comes to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles in the future. For now, though, if you’re new to 2XKO and want to start with an all-around champion, Jinx is a great entry point.