Alistar
Recommended Build
Most popular build path
Recommended items for Alistar: Locket of the Iron Solari, Zeke's Convergence, Knight's Vow, Boots of Swiftness, Celestial Opposition, Protoplasm Harness, Thornmail, Frozen Heart.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Anti CC
Other options
Resolve
Aftershock
Font of Life
Bone Plating
Unflinching
Inspiration
Hextech Flashtraption
Cosmic Insight
Playing as Alistar
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pulverize during your charge
Cast Pulverize (Q) during the Headbutt (W) charge: it's your core engage, and the target takes a knock-up as soon as you arrive.
- Stay in melee range during Trample
Stay in melee range during Trample (E): each pulse that hits a champion gives you a stack, and at max stacks your next auto stuns.
- Knock them toward your team
Get behind your target, then cast Headbutt (W) toward your team: the charge knocks them back along your path, straight into your allies.
- Cast your R when you get focused
Cast Unbreakable Will (R) when you dive under a tower or get focused: it removes all CC on you and reduces the damage you take.
Versus
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Alistar matchups
Global strengths and weaknesses
Wins against
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All Alistar matchups
Build, runes and tips against each opponent
Alistar vs Thresh
Alistar vs Nautilus
Alistar vs Leona
Alistar vs Lulu
Alistar vs Rell
Alistar vs Nami
Alistar vs Janna
Alistar vs Karma
Alistar vs Milio
Alistar vs Senna
Alistar vs Swain
Alistar vs BrandPlaying against Alistar
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Trade after his Headbutt
Take a trade right after his Headbutt (W): without it, he can't engage from range, and its cooldown is 14 to 10 seconds.
- Watch who can follow him
Back off when his carry is close enough to follow him, and play hard when they're far away: an Alistar engage only kills if someone follows up.
- Respect his level 2
Once he hits level 2, stay out of Headbutt (W) range: combined with Pulverize (Q), he knocks you into the air as soon as he arrives.
- Save your CC for after his R
If you have CC, save it for after Unbreakable Will (R): the spell removes the CC on him when cast, but doesn't protect him from what comes next.
Abilities and cooldowns
Alistar charges his roar by stunning or displacing enemy champions or when nearby enemies die. When fully charged he heals himself all nearby allied champions.
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 14s | 14s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 12s | 14s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 10s | 13s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 10s | 12s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 10s | 10s | 11s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 10s | 10s | 10s | 1m20 |
How pros play Alistar
High-elo players who play this champion.
Patch 16.21.1