Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPS

Build vs Aphelios

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Heartsteel
1Survival
Randuin's Omen
2vs AD
Kaenic Rookern
3vs AP

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Hextech Rocketbelt
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

412100%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5vs Hybride
Unending Despair
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD

Anti Heal

Thornmail
6vs Hybride

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

DPS

Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Riftmaker
Mage tank
0.0% WR1 games
DominationDomination
Hail of BladesHail of Blades
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
SorcerySorcery
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
CelerityCelerity
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
ChogathChogath
ApheliosAphelios
Favorable
Favorable
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