Split pushing is one of the most powerful yet misunderstood strategies in League of Legends. It’s not just about hitting towers — it’s about applying map pressure, forcing rotations, and creating win conditions through smart lane control and dueling.
Sure, everyone knows about Fiora and Jax, the poster kids for split pushing. But what about the hidden gems — the champs that fly under the radar yet can take over a game from a side lane when piloted correctly?
Today, we’re diving into five underrated split push champions, what makes them great, and why they deserve more love.
1. Camille – The Hookshot Queen
Camille is one of the most dynamic and skill-expressive top laners in the game. Her kit screams dueling, mobility, and precision. Her Precision Protocol (Q) deals massive single-target true damage, and her Hookshot (E) gives her unmatched lane mobility — perfect for engaging, escaping, or juking ganks.
When she has her core items, Camille’s ability to pressure towers and threaten solo defenders becomes overwhelming. Her Hextech Ultimatum (R) isolates targets, turning any 1v1 into her domain.
Camille’s Split Push Breakdown
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| High mobility and true damage | Requires good execution (Q resets, E usage) |
| Excellent 1v1 duelist | Weak when behind or underfarmed |
| Safe from ganks with Hookshot | Struggles without core items |
Why she’s underrated: Most players see Camille as a flashy teamfighter or assassin hybrid — not as a dedicated split pusher. But her kit makes her one of the best sidelane threats in the game if played with patience and precision.
2. Gangplank – The Barrel Baron
Gangplank rarely gets mentioned when people talk about split pushing, but his kit fits the playstyle surprisingly well. Once he’s got items and barrels online, GP becomes a side lane powerhouse.
His Parrrley (Q) acts as a ranged Sheen proc for poke and turret damage, and his Powder Kegs (E) let him zone defenders or delete waves in seconds. On top of that, Cannon Barrage (R) gives him global pressure, helping his team while he’s farming gold on the opposite side of the map.
Gangplank’s Split Push Breakdown
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Safe, ranged farming | Weak early game before 2 items |
| High damage barrels for zoning | High skill ceiling — barrel timing is tough |
| Global pressure from ultimate | No mobility; relies on positioning |
Why he’s underrated: Most people think of Gangplank as a poke-heavy teamfighter. But in the right hands, he’s a global threat who can pressure towers and still impact fights from anywhere.
3. Vladimir – The Lifesteal Vampire
Vladimir might not look like a split pusher, but his sustain, wave clear, and dueling potential make him surprisingly effective in a side lane.
His Transfusion (Q) keeps him topped off, while Sanguine Pool (W) lets him dodge ganks and tower dives. By level 11, Vladimir becomes a 1v1 monster who can bully most melee bruisers out of lane and stay there indefinitely.
Vladimir’s Split Push Breakdown
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Infinite sustain in lane | Weak early game before level 9 |
| Very safe with Sanguine Pool | Countered by Grievous Wounds |
| Can outlast almost any opponent | Slow turret damage (AP scaling) |
Why he’s underrated: Everyone pictures Vlad as a teamfight mage — but his ability to sit in a side lane forever, heal through poke, and demand multiple enemies makes him a quiet but deadly split push threat.
4. Mordekaiser – The Iron Duelist
Mordekaiser’s kit was built for split pushing, even if most people use him as a teamfight bruiser. His Darkness Rise (Passive) gives him steady AOE damage for wave clear, while Indestructible (W) turns trades into healing marathons.
The real magic, though, is his Realm of Death (R) — an isolation tool that forces any would-be defender into a 1v1 cage match. If you’re not ready, you’re gone.
Mordekaiser’s Split Push Breakdown
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Incredible 1v1 power | No mobility — can be collapsed on easily |
| Great sustain and tankiness | Missed skill shots = no damage |
| Turns 2v1s into 1v1s | Countered by anti-heal |
Why he’s underrated: People think of Morde as a teamfight bully, but his 1v1 dominance makes him a nightmare on the side lane. If left unchecked, he’ll either kill you or take your tower — maybe both.
5. Yorick – The Graveyard Shift
Ah, Yorick — the man, the myth, the minion master. He’s designed to split push, yet remains one of the least played champs in League. His Maiden of the Mist (R) and Mist Walkers create a mini army that shoves waves and smashes towers like a siege engine.
His Dark Procession (W) can trap enemies trying to escape, while Last Rites (Q) and Morning Mist (E) combine for serious structure damage.
Yorick’s Split Push Breakdown
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Insane tower damage with pets | Loses a lot of pressure if Maiden dies |
| Constant lane pressure | Weak teamfighter |
| Forces defenders to respond | Easy to gank; no mobility |
Why he’s underrated: Yorick’s not flashy, and his teamfight presence is basically nonexistent — but that’s fine. His power lies in turning one lane into a win condition. Ignore him for too long, and he’ll end your game before you can blink.
Final Thoughts
All five of these champions share one big thing: control.
Control over tempo. Control over waves. Control over how the enemy team moves around the map.
If you can master their kits and learn when to pressure side lanes, you can single-handedly warp a game’s pace and open up free objectives for your team.
Split pushing isn’t about greed — it’s about map manipulation. And these underrated picks can make you the puppet master of Summoner’s Rift.
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