Illaoi Counters
The best Illaoi counters in League of Legends patch 26.1 are Gnar, Gangplank, Garen, Chogath, Sion. The best Illaoi counter is Gnar, with Illaoi having only a 29.63% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.1 Illaoi counter choices are Urgot, Renekton, Gwen, Yorick, Teemo. Below are the top Illaoi counters and matchups alongside their win rates.
Prophet of an Elder God
Illaoi and the Vessels she creates spawn Tentacles on nearby impassible terrain. Tentacles swing at spirits, Vessels, and victims of Illaoi's Harsh lesson. Tentacles deal physical damage to enemies hit, and will heal Illaoi if they damage a champion.
Tentacle Smash
Increases the damage dealt by Tentacles. When activated, Illaoi smashes down a Tentacle that deals physical damage.
Cost:- 40/
- 45/
- 50/
- 55/
- 60
Cooldown:- 10/
- 9/
- 8/
- 7/
- 6
Range:- 850
Harsh Lesson
Illaoi leaps to her target, dealing physical damage and causing nearby Tentacles to also swing at the target.
Cost:- 30
Cooldown:- 4
Range:- 400
Test of Spirit
Illaoi rips the spirit from a foe's body, forcing it to stand before her. Spirits echo a percentage of the damage they take to the original target. If killed, or if the target gets too far from the spirit, the target will become a Vessel and begin spawning Tentacles.
Cost:- 35/
- 40/
- 45/
- 50/
- 55
Cooldown:- 16/
- 15/
- 14/
- 13/
- 12
Range:- 900
Leap of Faith
Illaoi smashes her idol into the ground, dealing physical damage to nearby enemies. A Tentacle spawns for each enemy champion hit.
Cost:- 100
Cooldown:- 120/
- 95/
- 70
Range:- 450
- Fighter,
- Tank
These champions are Illaoi's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.1. Gnar is Illaoi's biggest counter with only a 29.63% win rate for Illaoi. When facing these Illaoi counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Illaoi matchups.
Gnar
Gangplank
Garen
Cho'Gath
Sion
Urgot
Renekton
Gwen
Yorick
Teemo
When facing Illaoi in League of Legends, understanding Illaoi's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Illaoi deals primarily physical damage, which means prioritizing armor in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Illaoi's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Illaoi include Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, and Thornmail. These items provide substantial armor stats that directly mitigate Illaoi's damage output throughout all stages of the game.
From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Illaoi counters are Gnar, Gangplank, Garen, and Chogath. These champions either out-trade Illaoi in lane, have abilities that negate Illaoi's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Gnar in particular exploits Illaoi's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.
Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Illaoi involves understanding Illaoi's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Illaoi when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Illaoi in team fights before Illaoi can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Illaoi to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Illaoi's impact and secure victory.
Understanding Illaoi's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Illaoi is most vulnerable throughout the game.
EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)
Illaoi may look for extended trades. Avoid long fights and kite with slows. Short trades favor you against sustained damage.
MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)
Illaoi becomes increasingly tanky mid game. Focus on kiting and percent health damage. Avoid fighting in choke points.
LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)
Illaoi is very durable late game. Use armor penetration or anti-tank items. Focus squishier targets first if Illaoi is too tanky.
Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Illaoi in lane or team fights.
- Pick Gnar or similar champions with kits that exploit Illaoi's weaknesses
- Build Plated Steelcaps or Seeker's Armguard early to reduce Illaoi's damage in lane
- Track Illaoi's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
- Ward Illaoi's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
- Coordinate with your jungler to gank Illaoi during vulnerable windows
- Avoid extended trades where Illaoi can stack sustained damage
- Kite Illaoi with slows and crowd control
Illaoi performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.1. Nasus is Illaoi's best matchup with a 65.43% win rate. When playing Illaoi into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Illaoi can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.
Nasus
Aatrox
Pantheon
Shen
Vayne
Tryndamere
Riven
Malphite
Jax
Yone
Illaoi Counters - Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Illaoi?
The best Illaoi counters are Gnar, Gangplank, and Garen. These champions have favorable matchups against Illaoi and can exploit Illaoi's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.1.
What is Illaoi's hardest counter?
Gnar is Illaoi's hardest counter with Illaoi having only a 29.63% win rate in this matchup. Gangplank (38.1% WR) and Garen (38.64% WR) are also strong Illaoi counters.
Who does Illaoi counter?
Illaoi performs well against Nasus, Aatrox, and Pantheon. These are Illaoi's best matchups where Illaoi has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.1.
How do I beat Illaoi in lane?
To beat Illaoi in lane, pick a counter champion like Gnar or Gangplank. Focus on trading when Illaoi's key abilities are on cooldown, and build armor items to reduce Illaoi's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Illaoi gains an advantage.
What items counter Illaoi?
The best items to counter Illaoi are Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, and Thornmail. These items provide armor which directly reduces Illaoi's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Illaoi in lane.
When is Illaoi weakest?
Illaoi is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Illaoi's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Illaoi before Illaoi can set up fights on Illaoi's own terms.
How do I play Illaoi into counter matchups?
When playing Illaoi into counters like Gnar, 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 Illaoi's counters?
If Gnar, Gangplank, or Garen are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Illaoi's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Illaoi's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.