Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPS

Build vs Kalista

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Gunblade
1Mage
Shadowflame
2vs Tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
3Mage

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Hextech Rocketbelt
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

41462%
41231%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD
Guardian Angel
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Banshee's Veil
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Stormsurge
5vs Tank
Void Staff
vs Tank

DPS

Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
100.0% WR1 games
DominationDomination
ElectrocuteElectrocute
Taste of BloodTaste of Blood
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
SorcerySorcery
Absolute FocusAbsolute Focus
ScorchScorch
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
KennenKennen
KalistaKalista
Favorable
Favorable
Passive

Kalista's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Martial Poise (P)

Enter a movement command while winding up Kalista's basic attack or Pierce to lunge a short distance when she launches her attack.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s30s0s
69s30s0s2m40
99s30s0s2m40
119s30s0s2m20
169s30s0s2m
189s30s0s2m

Playing against Kalista

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Kalista depends on her bound support — if the support is eliminated, she loses her R and a lot of utility.

2

Slows are devastating against Kalista: her passive dash scales with movement speed. Slow = tiny hops.

3

Burst champions are effective: if she can't auto to dash, she's very vulnerable.

4

Grievous Wounds isn't as important as against other ADCs — focus on CC and burst instead.

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