First Strike

First Strike Overview

51.08%WR
First Strike S tier

Attacks or abilities against an enemy champion within 0.25s of entering champion combat grant 10 gold and First Strike for 3 seconds, causing you to deal 7% extra damage against champions, and granting 50% (35% for ranged champions) of bonus damage dealt as gold.

Cooldown: 25 - 15s

Patch:26.1
Sample Size:687,817 ranked games
Tier:All Tiers
Last Updated:

Lux leads with 8.25% pick rate and 68.75% win rate, Miss Fortune leads with 8.00% pick rate and 69.57% win rate, Zed leads with 4.29% pick rate and 70.97% win rate.

Veigar achieves 72.41% win rate (+20.46% diff), Zed achieves 70.97% win rate (+22.20% diff), Gangplank achieves 70.45% win rate (+19.30% diff).

First Strike Early vs Late Game Performance's win rate varies throughout the game based on match duration. First Strike Early vs Late Game Performance peaks at 52.67% win rate in 40 minute games, while performing lowest at 48.74% in 15 minute games. Understanding First Strike Early vs Late Game Performance's power spikes across game duration helps optimize your playstyle and decision-making.

First Strike is most commonly used by Mage (47%), Fighter (20%) and Marksman (13%) champions.

These runes are most commonly used alongside First Strike in League of Legends. Triple Tonic appears in 90.0% of builds with a 66.16% win rate, Cash Back appears in 70.0% of builds with a 66.73% win rate, Cosmic Insight appears in 70.0% of builds with a 64.58% win rate when paired with First Strike.

When to Pick First Strike

First Strike is a Inspiration tree rune with a 51.08% win rate and 4.41% pick rate in the current patch. It's most effective on Mage champions (47% of users). The most popular champions using First Strike are Lux, Miss Fortune, Zed.

Strengths

  • Solid win rate (51.08%) shows reliable performance
  • Excellent synergy with Veigar (72.41% WR)
  • Strong synergy with Triple Tonic (90.0% pairing rate)
  • Scales well into late game teamfights

Weaknesses

  • Requires proper champion selection to maximize value
  • Weaker early game requires safe laning phase
  • Less effective on Support champions
  • Other Inspiration runes may outperform in specific matchups

Strategic Tips

1
Champion Selection

Pick First Strike on champions like Lux that can fully utilize its effects. Avoid picking it on champions where other Inspiration runes provide more value.

2
Rune Synergies

Pair First Strike with Triple Tonic and Cash Back for the highest win rate combinations.

3
Game Phase Focus

First Strike scales into the late game. Focus on farming safely and reaching your power spikes before committing to fights.

These runes are part of the same Inspiration rune tree as First Strike. Glacial Augment, Unsealed Spellbook, Hextech Flashtraption, and 8 more runes can be combined with First Strike in your rune page.

First Strike - Frequently Asked Questions

What is First Strike and what does it do in League of Legends?

First Strike is a rune in the Inspiration rune tree. It currently has a 51.08% win rate and 4.41% pick rate across 10 champions in ranked play.

Is First Strike good in the current meta?

First Strike has a 51.08% win rate in the current patch, making it a solid option. The most popular champions using First Strike are Miss Fortune, Kassadin, Jayce.

What champion class benefits most from First Strike?

Mage champions benefit most from First Strike, making up 47% of its usage. Fighter (20%) and Marksman (13%) also commonly use this rune.

What runes pair well with First Strike?

The best runes to pair with First Strike are Triple Tonic, Cash Back, Cosmic Insight. Triple Tonic appears in 90.0% of builds featuring First Strike with a 66.16% combined win rate.

Which champion has the highest win rate with First Strike?

Veigar currently has the highest win rate with First Strike at 51.96%, with a 4.20% pick rate in ranked games.