Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPS

You are stronger early — look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Aphelios

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Kraken Slayer
1DPS
Stridebreaker
2Bruiser
Death's Dance
3vs AD

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Blade of The Ruined King
5DPS

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5vs Hybride
Guardian Angel
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Wit's End
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Terminus
5vs Tank

DPS

Blade of The Ruined King
DPS

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
BelvethBelveth
ApheliosAphelios
Aggressive
Neutral
Passive

Aphelios's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

The Hitman and the Seer (P)

Aphelios wields 5 Lunari Weapons made by his sister Alune. He has access to two at a time: one main-hand and one off-hand. Each weapon has a unique Basic Attack and Ability. Attacks and abilities consume a weapon's ammo. When out of ammo, Aphelios discards the weapon and Alune summons the next of the 5.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s0.8s0s
69s0.8s0s2m
99s0.8s0s2m
119s0.8s0s1m50
169s0.8s0s1m40
189s0.8s0s1m40

Playing against Aphelios

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Identify his active weapons: Gravitum (purple) = AoE root danger, Infernum (blue) = massive AoE damage with R.

2

Aphelios is immobile with no dash — engages and assassins punish him very easily.

3

He's weaker when transitioning between weapons (Calibrum/Severum remaining) — force fights at that point.

4

Destroy his Crescendum turrets quickly — they deal a lot of area damage if ignored.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026