Kalista vs Vladimir
Hard matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Vladimir
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Kalista: Statikk Shiv, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Terminus, Gluttonous Greaves, Jak'Sho, The Protean, Wit's End, Executioner's Calling, Blade of The Ruined King.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Vladimir's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every 30 points of bonus Health gives Vladimir 1 Ability Power and every 1 point of Ability Power gives Vladimir 1.6 bonus Health (does not stack with itself).
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 28s | 13s | – |
| 6 | 6.8s | 28s | 13s | 2m |
| 9 | 4.6s | 25s | 13s | 2m |
| 11 | 4.6s | 22s | 13s | 2m |
| 16 | 4.6s | 16s | 9s | 2m |
| 18 | 4.6s | 16s | 5s | 2m |
Playing as Kalista
Tips to maximize your impact
- Hop after every auto
Issue a move command during each auto: Martial Poise (passive) then makes you hop in that direction, to kite or dodge.
- Stack spears before you Rend
Stack spears before casting Rend (E): each spear after the first adds damage, but each one only stays stuck for 4 seconds.
- Last-hit with Rend
Use Rend (E) to finish off minions or an objective monster: if it kills at least one target, its cooldown resets and you get mana back.
- Ping before Fate's Call
Ping your Oathsworn before Fate's Call (R): you pull them to you, then they launch at the first enemy champion hit and knock back nearby enemies.
Playing against Vladimir
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Force his Sanguine Pool early
Force him to use Sanguine Pool (W) early in the fight, when it costs him the most health: he can't become untargetable again for 28 to 16 seconds.
- Back off from his empowered Transfusion
Back off after his first two Transfusion (Q) casts: the next one is empowered, hits harder and heals him based on his missing health.
- Play hard before his items
Get ahead early: Vladimir mostly shines later, once he has his items, since Crimson Pact (passive) turns his ability power into health and his bonus health into ability power.
- Kill him before his Hemoplague pops
During Hemoplague (R), focus him if you can kill him before the blast, otherwise back off: you take increased damage until then, and the blast heals him per champion hit.
- Cut his healing
If you have Grievous Wounds, apply it to him: Transfusion (Q), Sanguine Pool (W) and Hemoplague (R) all heal him.
Other Kalista matchups
Patch 16.21.1