Kog'Maw vs Aphelios
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Aphelios
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Kog'Maw: Dusk and Dawn, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil, Stormsurge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Aphelios's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 2m |
| 9 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 2m |
| 11 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 1m40 |
Playing as Kog'Maw
Tips to maximize your impact
- Start with Caustic Spittle
Start your trades with Caustic Spittle (Q): it reduces the target's armor and magic resist, and its ranks also give you permanent attack speed.
- Activate W before the fight
Activate Bio-Arcane Barrage (W) right before the teamfight: it extends your attack range, and your autos deal damage based on the target's max health.
- Slow whoever charges you
When an enemy runs at you, cast Void Ooze (E) between you and them: the trail of ooze slows everyone who crosses it.
- Save your R to finish
Save Living Artillery (R) for targets below 40% health, where it deals its max damage: each shot fired in quick succession costs more mana.
Playing against Aphelios
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Watch out for his cannon
Back off when he holds Gravitum and has slowed you: Weapon Abilities (Q) with the cannon roots every enemy that weapon has slowed.
- Punish his lack of mobility
If you can engage, go for him when his support drifts away: his kit has no dash, and only Severum makes him run faster.
- Spread out from your allies
Spread out from your allies when he has Moonlight Vigil (R): the blast explodes on the first champion hit, damages those nearby, then he attacks each of them.
- Get away from his sentry
When he deploys the Crescendum sentry with Weapon Abilities (Q), leave its area: it attacks you with his off-hand weapon.
Other Kog'Maw matchups
Patch 16.21.1