Aurora vs Illaoi
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Illaoi
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Aurora: Stormsurge, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Luden's Echo, Oblivion Orb, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Illaoi's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 4s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 4s | 16s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 4s | 16s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 4s | 16s | 1m35 |
| 16 | 6s | 4s | 14s | 1m10 |
| 18 | 6s | 4s | 12s | 1m10 |
Playing as Aurora
Tips to maximize your impact
- Poke, then pull your hex back
Poke with Twofold Hex (Q), then recast it once the target has lost health: the hex passes back through them and deals more damage the more health they're missing.
- Vanish at the right moment
Cast Across the Veil (W) to dodge a skillshot or break a chase: you leap and turn invisible briefly, and a takedown resets its cooldown.
- Keep them in your zone
Cast Between Worlds (R) in the middle of grouped enemies: those trying to enter or leave the area are slowed, which keeps them under your team's spells.
- Jump from edge to edge
Inside Between Worlds (R), teleport from one edge to the other to dodge skillshots and reposition, as long as the area lasts.
Playing against Illaoi
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge her E
Dodge Test of Spirit (E): if it hits, you take part of the damage dealt to your spirit, and if the spirit dies, you're slowed and marked for her tentacles.
- Hit her if she pulls your spirit
If Test of Spirit (E) pulls out your spirit, attack Illaoi instead of running: damaging her shortens the spirit, and moving too far from it marks you for her tentacles.
- Pull her away from walls
Take your trades away from walls: Prophet of an Elder God (passive) spawns her tentacles on nearby terrain, and each tentacle that hits you heals her.
- Ask for ganks
Ask for ganks: Harsh Lesson (W) only makes her leap toward an enemy, so she has no dash to escape, and no stun.
- Back off during her ult
Don't fight during Leap of Faith (R): each champion hit spawns a tentacle, and while it lasts, they're untargetable and slam faster.
Other Aurora matchups
Patch 16.21.1