Talon How to Play: Tips & Power Spikes

When Talon Mid gets stronger, in the order it happens in a typical ranked game: ability unlocks from the most common skill order, item spikes at the median minute players finish them, and the game length Talon wins most.

1. Lv 3
   All three basic abilities at level 3

   Talon's full combo is online — the first point where trading all-in is realistic.
2. Lv 6
   Ultimate rank 1 at level 6

   The biggest early spike: look for a kill or a roam as soon as Talon hits it.
3. Lv 11
   Ultimate rank 2 at level 11

   Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Talon can start or win.
4. Lv 16
   Ultimate rank 3 at level 16

   Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Talon can start or win.
5. 10.0 min
   First item at 10.0 min

   Youmuu's Ghostblade is done — Talon's first real damage or durability spike.
6. 18.2 min
   Two items at 18.2 min

   ›Youmuu's Ghostblade + Voltaic Cyclosword: the window to group and take objectives.
7. 24.2 min
   Three-item core at 24.2 min

   ››Youmuu's Ghostblade + Voltaic Cyclosword + Edge of Night completes Talon's core build.
8. 25 min
   Strongest in games of about 25 minutes

   Talon wins 59.1% of games that end around this point.

Item timings are medians: half of players finish later. Fall behind in farm and every item spike moves back with it.

Talon is a lane bully: trade early and often, push the advantage, and turn the gold lead into the first item spike. On average Talon Mid is 252 gold ahead of the lane opponent at 15 minutes and ahead in 56% of games. A 1,000-gold lead at 15 turns into a 69% win rate; a 1,000-gold deficit leaves 30%. Talon averages 1.31 solo kills by 15 minutes.

Talon win rate by gold at 15

• 1,000+ gold ahead68.5%
• Ahead61.5%
• Behind34.5%
• 1,000+ gold behind30.3%

Lane matchups that decide the plan

Press these lanes

Yone+904 gold at 15

Malzahar+810 gold at 15

Akali+540 gold at 15