Neeko Counters
The best Neeko counters in League of Legends patch 26.1 are Pantheon, Mel, Bard, Ahri, Sona. The best Neeko counter is Pantheon, with Neeko having only a 34.78% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.1 Neeko counter choices are Swain, Yuumi, Karma, Zyra, Syndra. Below are the top Neeko counters and matchups alongside their win rates.
Inherent Glamour
Neeko can look like an ally champion or as other units on the map. Receiving immobilizing crowd control, casting damaging spells, damaging enemy towers as a non-champion, or your disguise taking damage equal to its healthbar breaks the disguise.
Blooming Burst
Neeko throws a seed dealing magic damage. The seed blooms again on hitting champions or killing units.
Cost:- 50/
- 60/
- 70/
- 80/
- 90
Cooldown:- 9/
- 9/
- 8/
- 8/
- 7
Range:- 800
Shapesplitter
Neeko passively deals bonus magic damage every third attack, briefly increasing her move speed. Neeko can activate to send a clone in a direction and recast to change the direction of the clone.
Cost:- 0
Cooldown:- 16/
- 15/
- 14/
- 13/
- 12
Range:- 900
Tangle-Barbs
Neeko slings a tangle that damages and roots everything it passes through. If the tangle kills an enemy or passes through a champion, it becomes larger, faster, and roots for longer.
Cost:- 60/
- 65/
- 70/
- 75/
- 80
Cooldown:- 12/
- 12/
- 11/
- 11/
- 10
Range:- 1000
Pop Blossom
After a short preparation, Neeko leaps into the air, knocking up all nearby enemies. Upon landing, nearby enemies are damaged and stunned. The preparation is hidden if Neeko is disguised.
Cost:- 100
Cooldown:- 120/
- 105/
- 90
Range:- 600
- Mage,
- Support
These champions are Neeko's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.1. Pantheon is Neeko's biggest counter with only a 34.78% win rate for Neeko. When facing these Neeko counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Neeko matchups.
Pantheon
Mel
Bard
Ahri
Sona
Swain
Yuumi
Karma
Zyra
Syndra
When facing Neeko in League of Legends, understanding Neeko's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Neeko deals primarily magic damage, which means prioritizing magic resist in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Neeko's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Neeko include Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Force of Nature, and Banshee's Veil. These items provide substantial magic resist stats that directly mitigate Neeko's damage output throughout all stages of the game.
From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Neeko counters are Pantheon, Mel, Bard, and Ahri. These champions either out-trade Neeko in lane, have abilities that negate Neeko's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Pantheon in particular exploits Neeko's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.
Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Neeko involves understanding Neeko's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Neeko when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Neeko in team fights before Neeko can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Neeko to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Neeko's impact and secure victory.
Understanding Neeko's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Neeko is most vulnerable throughout the game.
EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)
Neeko may be mana-dependent early. Punish after spell rotations when abilities are on cooldown. All-in when mana is depleted for advantageous trades.
MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)
Neeko's poke and zone control peaks mid game. Engage quickly to close the gap before Neeko can kite. Use flanks and hard engage to bypass poke damage.
LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)
Neeko provides strong team fight damage late. Prioritize diving Neeko or use assassins to reach the backline. Magic resist items become crucial.
Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Neeko in lane or team fights.
- Pick Pantheon or similar champions with kits that exploit Neeko's weaknesses
- Build Mercury's Treads or Hexdrinker early to reduce Neeko's damage in lane
- Track Neeko's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
- Ward Neeko's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
- Coordinate with your jungler to gank Neeko during vulnerable windows
- Dodge Neeko's skill shots by moving unpredictably
- All-in Neeko when mana is low from spell rotations
Neeko performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.1. Yasuo is Neeko's best matchup with a 56.67% win rate. When playing Neeko into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Neeko can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.
Yasuo
Brand
Katarina
Akali
Tahm Kench
Lulu
Milio
Xerath
Senna
Vel'Koz
Neeko Counters - Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Neeko?
The best Neeko counters are Pantheon, Mel, and Bard. These champions have favorable matchups against Neeko and can exploit Neeko's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.1.
What is Neeko's hardest counter?
Pantheon is Neeko's hardest counter with Neeko having only a 34.78% win rate in this matchup. Mel (37.14% WR) and Bard (38.24% WR) are also strong Neeko counters.
Who does Neeko counter?
Neeko performs well against Yasuo, Brand, and Katarina. These are Neeko's best matchups where Neeko has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.1.
How do I beat Neeko in lane?
To beat Neeko in lane, pick a counter champion like Pantheon or Mel. Focus on trading when Neeko's key abilities are on cooldown, and build magic resist items to reduce Neeko's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Neeko gains an advantage.
What items counter Neeko?
The best items to counter Neeko are Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Force of Nature, and Banshee's Veil. These items provide magic resist which directly reduces Neeko's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Neeko in lane.
When is Neeko weakest?
Neeko is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Neeko's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Neeko before Neeko can set up fights on Neeko's own terms.
How do I play Neeko into counter matchups?
When playing Neeko into counters like Pantheon, 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 Neeko's counters?
If Pantheon, Mel, or Bard are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Neeko's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Neeko's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.