2XKO is a 2v2 tag-team fighter that’s available now on PC, with console versions coming later. If you want to jump in, you can download the PC client from Riot and start building your duo.

How to say the name and what it implies

Pronounce 2XKO as “too-ecks kay-oh,” with a clear break after the X. The name isn’t an acronym; people often read it as “double knockout” or “tag-team knockout.” Either way, the branding fits a game built around two-character teams and momentum swings.

What early tournaments are showing

Week-one brackets are already pointing to recurring picks. Vi, Yasuo, and Blitzcrank have shown up repeatedly in top finishes, hinting at strong early viability. An Ekko + Darius duo took a notable event as well, which tracks with how those two cover each other: Darius’ straightforward threat pairs well with Ekko’s layered pressure and assist value. The sample size is small, but the pattern is consistent—teams with a reliable gap-closer plus either oppressive setplay or premium assists are getting through pools and into finals.

Treat this as a snapshot, not a verdict. New lab work and balance updates can quickly reshuffle the board, but early trends often foreshadow where a meta settles.

Early tier snapshot (week one)

Champion Early tier Primary role Notable strengths and risks
Vi S Point/Hybrid Fast gap-closing, reliable conversions, simple routes; smothers zoners. Few obvious team comps that don’t benefit from her.
Darius S Point High damage with generous windows; long reach and strike/throw pressure; wound amplifies finishers. Linear if denied space.
Teemo S Point/Setup Invisibility mind games and poison tempo control; rewards patient play. Setup-dependent and knowledge-check heavy.
Ekko A Point/Assist Exceptional neutral control, layered okizeme, strong assist utility. High execution burden and spacing discipline required.
Yasuo A Point Huge solo damage and mix potential with stance/cancel mastery; strong normals. Execution-heavy and punishable on whiff.
Warwick A Point Bloodlust stacks unlock oppressive mix and sustain; vicious corner pressure. Stack-dependent and needs assist coverage for resets.
Ahri B Assist/Support Top-tier assist value with OTG and extensions; strong air mobility. Fragile on point and needs help at midrange.
Jinx B Zoner/Setup Dominant projectiles and traps; excellent DHC synergy. Vulnerable to rushdown during setup and at close range.
Illaoi C Setup/Control Tentacles create safe pressure and corner threat; good assist utility. Loses bite without setup or proper positioning.
Blitzcrank C Assist One of the most impactful assists for restands and forced scrambles. On point, neutral gaps lead to gimmick reliance.
Braum D Assist Armor and big damage when he connects; tackle assist is useful. Poor mobility and large hurtbox make point play rough.
Note: Week-one lists age fast. Use tiers to inform practice time and team building, not as hard limits.

Why these characters are rising

  • Gap closers beat unprepared zoning. Vi and Darius are defining match tempo by ignoring space and forcing short, unfavorable scrambles for their opponents.
  • Assist value is king. Ahri and Blitzcrank can transform otherwise fair strings into restands, OTG extensions, and layered mix, raising the ceiling of their partners.
  • Execution pays. Yasuo and Ekko reward players who grind cancels, spacing, and routing. The skill tax is high, but so is the payoff.
  • Setup needs protection. Teemo, Jinx, and Illaoi look terrifying with time to place threats; without cover, they can be rushed and reset to neutral.
  • Stack mechanics swing games. Once Warwick’s Bloodlust is active, mixups and sustain snowball. Teams that feed him safe stack windows look far scarier.

Practical duo building (what’s working now)

  • Vi + Jinx: Classic bulldozer plus zoning. Vi creates the openings and protects setup; Jinx cashes out with traps, supers, and DHC routes.
  • Ekko + Ahri: High-extension shell. Ahri’s assist supercharges Ekko’s freestyle routes while Ekko covers her on point when needed.
  • Darius + Yasuo: Simple threat meets explosive ceiling. Darius starts honest pressure; Yasuo converts strays into brutal damage if execution is on point.
  • Teemo + Ahri: Sneaky screen control. Invisibility and poison set the pace; Ahri keeps conversions alive and stabilizes corner carry.
  • Blitzcrank (assist) + any strong point: If the plan is layered mix or restands, Blitz’s assist can make a good offense feel oppressive. Keep him off point when possible.
  • Braum (assist) + Vi or Illaoi: Use armor and tackle to force turns for partners who thrive in close quarters. Avoid leaving Braum alone on screen.

Matchup tendencies you’ll feel quickly

Teams facing strong zoning, especially Jinx-led shells, often default to aggressive entries to deny setup time. Conversely, squads with Yasuo-level punish and midrange control can afford to play slower and whiff-punish reckless approaches. Expect opponents to test your anti-rush options early; if you’re on a setup character, plan your first safe sequence and the assist call that protects it.

Roster context and what to expect next

The launch roster features a compact but varied cast: Warwick, Teemo, Blitzcrank, Vi, Jinx, Braum, Illaoi, Yasuo, Ahri, Ekko, and Darius. New additions, lab discoveries, and balance tweaks will push teams up and down this list. For now, early success is concentrated around a straightforward offense that forces coin flips, backed by assists that extend or reset pressure.

If you’re starting fresh, pick one point character with a clean game plan (Vi, Darius, or Ekko) and one partner who either amplifies damage (Ahri) or patches neutral (Blitzcrank assist). As the scene evolves, keep an eye on shells that combine a reliable entry with a high-payoff extension—the hallmark of a stable 2v2 meta.