Azir vs Locke
Skill matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Locke
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Azir: Nashor's Tooth, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Zhonya's Hourglass, Dark Seal, Dusk and Dawn, Void Staff.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Locke's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Locke's attacks deal additional magic damage On-Hit, increased based on enemy missing Health.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 18s | 10s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 18s | 10s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 17s | 10s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 16s | 10s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 6s | 14s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 6s | 14s | 10s | 1m20 |
Playing as Azir
Tips to maximize your impact
- Line your soldiers up on the wave
Place your Arise! (W) soldiers so their spear thrust goes through the wave and your opponent: it hits every enemy in a line.
- Dash to a soldier with a clear path
To escape, cast Shifting Sands (E) toward a soldier behind you: the spell shields you, but stops on the first enemy champion in its path.
- Get behind them before your R
To get behind your target, cast Conquering Sands (Q) during the Shifting Sands (E) dash to a soldier. Emperor's Divide (R) then knocks them back toward your team.
- Protect your team with your wall
Cast Emperor's Divide (R) between your team and those charging at it: the soldiers knock them back, then stay as a wall that blocks the way.
Playing against Locke
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Back instead of staying low
Back instead of staying in lane at low health: Silver Stake (passive) adds damage to his autos that grows with your missing health.
- Trade after his E
Trade after Ashen Pursuit (E): it's his only instant movement, and its 10-second cooldown only resets if he gets a takedown.
- During his W, only hit to kill
During Soul Ignition (W), only hit him if you can kill him: at the end, he heals back part of the last damage taken, yours included.
- Stay above his threshold
Marked by Purgatory (R), stay above its threshold: if you have a heal or a shield, use it, because he seals marked enemies who drop below it.
- Contest his artifact
If the Purgatory (R) artifact lands, hold the area where it fell: by picking it up, Locke raises his execute threshold for each sealed champion, for the rest of the game.
Other Azir matchups
Patch 16.21.1