2XKO’s roster is small, the balance is tight, and the tag system does a lot of heavy lifting — but differences show up fast when players optimize. Early events and playtests have already drawn a picture: a handful of characters push the pace, some shine primarily as partners, and a few demand more lab time to unlock their ceiling. Treat this as a snapshot of the early meta, not a final verdict.

How to read an early tier list (and why it shifts)

Tier placement in 2XKO depends on two things beyond raw kit strength: assist value and fuse synergy. An average point character can look top tier if their assist reliably extends combos (think restands or screen control) or if a team’s fuse choices (like Double Down, 2x Assist, or Freestyle) unlock new routes and safe tags. Skill floor also matters. Characters with straightforward confirms and stable routes tend to place higher early on; execution-heavy picks climb as players master stance cancels, setplay, and timing-sensitive tags.

Top-tier candidates: pressure, damage, and flexible partners

These are the names that repeatedly surface near the top of early lists and brackets. The order varies by event and skill level, but the “why” is consistent.

  • Vi — Straightforward, fast, and efficient. Movement tools let her force turn-taking, and her kit converts cleanly without elaborate routing. She’s rated at or near S in several early looks and pairs well with both zoners and grapplers.
  • Darius — Huge buttons, simple conversions, real chip and armor presence. Apprehend-style pulls create true strike/throw situations that can’t be negated by pushblock or retreating guard. He’s a staple pick for early consistency and remains effective as either point or assist.
  • Yasuo — The ceiling is terrifying. Highest solo damage with self-DHC routes, blistering side-switch pressure, and stance-cancel mobility. The tradeoff is execution: no true overhead, long startups, and punishable whiffs put him in “hard to master, impossible to ignore” territory.
  • Ekko — A control monster in playtests and an immediate tournament threat. Time manipulation shapes neutral, layered wake-up mixes force guesses, and he pairs with essentially anyone. Complexity is real, but so is the payoff, especially with fuses that amplify assist pressure.
  • Blitzcrank — On point, the neutral can look clunky. As a partner, he’s a problem. Hooks, dashes, and command grab/strike 50/50s create forced interactions and consistent re-engage points, and his assist utility is among the best in the cast.
  • Jinx — A zoner with traps, projectile priority, and explosive team synergy. She’s easy to pick up but her ceiling extends with optimized routes and DHC planning. Teams that protect her setup windows make her feel S-tier; rushdown that slips in on her startup will still crack her.

Strong, but more specialized

  • Ahri — The assist is the headline: OTG extensions that supercharge 2x Assist routes and turn “good” into “TOD.” As point, she plays an evasive midrange game with excellent air movement and corner carry, checked by low health and spacing that can make optimal confirms finicky without help.
  • Illaoi — Setplay that snowballs. Tentacle placement turns unsafe options safe, forces awkward blocks, and supports nasty command-grab sequences. Without tentacles in range, she looks mortal; with them, she locks the screen and tags out into beefy assist conversions.
  • Braum — With Unbreakable shield active, every attack gains armor and his assist becomes a battering ram. He hits hard and brings a real command grab, but poor mobility and a tall hurtbox make neutral a chore on point. He shines more often as a partner and in specific fuse routes.

Learning curve: who’s easiest to start, who takes more work

Early difficulty snapshots point to three forgiving starters and three projects that pay off later:

  • Easiest on-ramp: Darius, Illaoi, Braum — clear game plans, forgiving confirms, immediate team value.
  • Most demanding: Ekko, Jinx, Yasuo — strong or even dominant when optimized, but more execution, routing, or matchup knowledge to realize it.
Note: “Harder” doesn’t mean “worse.” It means don’t expect day-one results without reps, especially around stance cancels, setplay timings, and assist handoffs.

Quick reference: early placements, strengths, tradeoffs

Champion Early placement trend What makes them strong Key tradeoffs
Vi Frequently S/A-top Fast, direct confirms; team-agnostic damage No real ranged threat; can be scouted with time
Darius Frequently S/A Range, damage, armor, true strike/throw off pulls Parryable strings; predictability at high level
Yasuo S/A/B spread (ceiling S) Highest solo damage, self-DHC, side-switch pressure No overhead, weak assists, execution heavy
Ekko S/A/B spread (ceiling S) Neutral control, unreactable layers, pairs with anyone High skill floor/ceiling; lab time required
Blitzcrank S/A Hook access, command mix, top-tier assist utility Point neutral can feel linear; fewer big-damage solos
Jinx S/A/B spread (team-dependent) Projectile dominance, traps, nasty DHC synergy Rushdown can smother; setup windows are punishable
Ahri A/B/C spread (assist anchors her value) Best-in-class OTG assist, air mobility, corner carry Lowest HP tier; midrange buttons need support to spike
Illaoi B/A/C spread (setplay scales) Tentacle snowball, long-range command grab, strong assist Reliant on setup and placement to threaten
Braum B/C/A spread (assist-leaning) Armor with shield, big damage, excellent tackle assist Poor mobility, huge hurtbox, weaker point neutral

Team-building: pairings that already work

It’s early, but certain duos keep popping up because their game plans dovetail: one forces a guess, the other cashes out, or one locks the screen while the other tags to safety.

  • Darius pairs: Braum, Yasuo — cover neutral or amplify strike/throw after pulls.
  • Vi pairs: Jinx, Blitzcrank — shore up range with Jinx or double down on forced engagements with Blitz.
  • Yasuo pairs: Ekko, Darius — either unlock mix layers or stabilize confirms into huge dumps.
  • Jinx pairs: Vi, Ekko — protect setup, extend with layered projectiles or time-based pressure.
  • Blitzcrank pairs: Illaoi, Vi — screen control, restands, and guaranteed close-range turns.
  • Ekko pairs: Yasuo, Braum — mix-heavy teams or armored handoffs to retake space.
  • Illaoi pairs: Blitzcrank, Braum — tentacle pressure + tackle or hook to keep the blender running.
  • Braum pairs: Illaoi, Ahri — armor-backed entries plus setplay or OTG extensions.
  • Ahri pairs: Braum, Yasuo — dependable OTG assist for damage teams or stance-heavy offense.

What’s next

This is a living meta. Characters like Blitzcrank only recently joined the roster; players continue to find tech that reframes matchups, and the champion gallery is growing. Expect the “difficulty tax” on high-ceiling picks to shrink as routing stabilizes, and expect assist value to keep dictating which teams sit at the top. If you’re jumping in now: pick one stable point, one high-value assist, and a fuse package you can execute consistently. The rest is time in the lab.