Aphelios Counters
The best Aphelios counters in League of Legends patch 26.1 are Yasuo, Samira, Lucian, Twitch, Nilah. The best Aphelios counter is Yasuo, with Aphelios having only a 40.54% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.1 Aphelios counter choices are Smolder, Xayah, Caitlyn, Sivir, Yunara. Below are the top Aphelios counters and matchups alongside their win rates.
The Hitman and the Seer
Aphelios wields 5 Lunari Weapons made by his sister Alune. He has access to two at a time: one main-hand and one off-hand. Each weapon has a unique Basic Attack and Ability. Attacks and abilities consume a weapon's ammo. When out of ammo, Aphelios discards the weapon and Alune summons the next of the 5.
Weapon Abilites
Aphelios has 5 different activated abilities, based on his main-hand weapon:
Calibrum (Rifle): Long range shot that marks its target for a long-range follow-up attack.
Severum (Scythe Pistol): Run fast while attacking nearby enemies with both weapons.
Gravitum (Cannon): Root all enemies slowed by this weapon.
Infernum (Flamethrower): Blast enemies in a cone and attack them with your off-hand weapon.
Crescendum (Chakram): Deploy a sentry that shoots your off-hand weapon.Cost:- 60
Cooldown:- 9
Range:- 1450
Phase
Aphelios swaps his main-hand gun with his off-hand gun, replacing his basic attack and activated ability.
Cost:- 0
Cooldown:- 1
Range:- 250
Weapon Queue System
Aphelios has no third ability. This slot shows the next weapon Alune will give him. Weapon order begins fixed but may change over game time -- when a weapon is out of ammo it goes to the end of the order.
Cost:- 0
Cooldown:- 0
Range:- 1000
Moonlight Vigil
Fire a concentrated blast of moonlight that explodes on enemy champions. Applies the unique effect of Aphelios' main-hand gun.
Cost:- 100
Cooldown:- 120/
- 110/
- 100
Range:- 1300
- Marksman
These champions are Aphelios's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.1. Yasuo is Aphelios's biggest counter with only a 40.54% win rate for Aphelios. When facing these Aphelios counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Aphelios matchups.
Yasuo
Samira
Lucian
Twitch
Nilah
Smolder
Xayah
Caitlyn
Sivir
Yunara
When facing Aphelios in League of Legends, understanding Aphelios's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Aphelios deals primarily physical damage, which means prioritizing armor in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Aphelios's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Aphelios include Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, and Thornmail. These items provide substantial armor stats that directly mitigate Aphelios's damage output throughout all stages of the game.
From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Aphelios counters are Yasuo, Samira, Lucian, and Twitch. These champions either out-trade Aphelios in lane, have abilities that negate Aphelios's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Yasuo in particular exploits Aphelios's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.
Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Aphelios involves understanding Aphelios's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Aphelios when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Aphelios in team fights before Aphelios can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Aphelios to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Aphelios's impact and secure victory.
Understanding Aphelios's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Aphelios is most vulnerable throughout the game.
EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)
Aphelios is weak to all-ins before completing attack speed items. Zone from farm and punish aggressive positioning. Supports with hard engage excel against Aphelios.
MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)
Aphelios spikes hard with 2-3 items. Dive and burst before Aphelios can kite. Assassins and engage supports are effective.
LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)
Aphelios reaches maximum DPS potential late. Focus Aphelios immediately in fights or use zone control to deny positioning.
Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Aphelios in lane or team fights.
- Pick Yasuo or similar champions with kits that exploit Aphelios's weaknesses
- Build Plated Steelcaps or Seeker's Armguard early to reduce Aphelios's damage in lane
- Track Aphelios's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
- Ward Aphelios's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
- Coordinate with your jungler to gank Aphelios during vulnerable windows
- Close the gap quickly - Aphelios is weaker in melee range
- Target Aphelios in team fights to remove the primary damage threat
Aphelios performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.1. Varus is Aphelios's best matchup with a 60% win rate. When playing Aphelios into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Aphelios can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.
Varus
Corki
Kai'Sa
Ezreal
Zeri
Ashe
Jhin
Draven
Tristana
Miss Fortune
Aphelios Counters - Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Aphelios?
The best Aphelios counters are Yasuo, Samira, and Lucian. These champions have favorable matchups against Aphelios and can exploit Aphelios's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.1.
What is Aphelios's hardest counter?
Yasuo is Aphelios's hardest counter with Aphelios having only a 40.54% win rate in this matchup. Samira (45.23% WR) and Lucian (47.23% WR) are also strong Aphelios counters.
Who does Aphelios counter?
Aphelios performs well against Varus, Corki, and Kai'Sa. These are Aphelios's best matchups where Aphelios has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.1.
How do I beat Aphelios in lane?
To beat Aphelios in lane, pick a counter champion like Yasuo or Samira. Focus on trading when Aphelios's key abilities are on cooldown, and build armor items to reduce Aphelios's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Aphelios gains an advantage.
What items counter Aphelios?
The best items to counter Aphelios are Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, and Thornmail. These items provide armor which directly reduces Aphelios's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Aphelios in lane.
When is Aphelios weakest?
Aphelios is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Aphelios's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Aphelios before Aphelios can set up fights on Aphelios's own terms.
How do I play Aphelios into counter matchups?
When playing Aphelios into counters like Yasuo, focus on safe farming, waiting for jungle assistance, and playing around power spikes. Avoid extended trades in unfavorable matchups and look for opportunities to scale into mid and late game.
What champions are similar to Aphelios's counters?
If Yasuo, Samira, or Lucian are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Aphelios's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Aphelios's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.