Matchup

Heavy CCStrong engageVery tanky

Build vs Alistar

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Tear of the Goddess
1
Eclipse
2DPS
Youmuu's Ghostblade
3vs Tank

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Muramana
5

Summoner spells

41453%
41233%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Guardian Angel
5vs AD

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Serylda's Grudge
5vs Tank
Edge of Night
vs Tank
Serpent's Fang
vs Tank

DPS

Opportunity
DPS

Other options

Muramana
100.0% WR3 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
JayceJayce
AlistarAlistar
Aggressive
Careful
Careful

Alistar's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Triumphant Roar (P)

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.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
314s14s12s
612s14s12s2m
910s13s12s2m
1110s12s12s1m40
1610s10s11s1m20
1810s10s10s1m20

Playing against Alistar

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Respect his level 2 (W+Q): it's one of the strongest engages in the game at that point. Stay at range.

2

His WQ combo has a long cooldown (~14s) — punish him aggressively after he uses it.

3

Alistar is useless if his ADC isn't there to follow up — provoke engages when the enemy ADC is busy farming.

4

His R reduces damage but not CC — keep CC-ing him even during his ult.

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