Kog'Maw vs Locke
Skill matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Locke
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Kog'Maw: Dusk and Dawn, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Dark Seal, Luden's Echo, Zhonya's Hourglass, Void Staff.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Locke's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Locke's attacks deal additional magic damage On-Hit, increased based on enemy missing Health.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 18s | 10s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 18s | 10s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 17s | 10s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 16s | 10s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 6s | 14s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 6s | 14s | 10s | 1m20 |
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 Locke
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Back instead of staying low
Back instead of staying in lane at low health: Silver Stake (passive) adds damage to his autos that grows with your missing health.
- Trade after his E
Trade after Ashen Pursuit (E): it's his only instant movement, and its 10-second cooldown only resets if he gets a takedown.
- During his W, only hit to kill
During Soul Ignition (W), only hit him if you can kill him: at the end, he heals back part of the last damage taken, yours included.
- Stay above his threshold
Marked by Purgatory (R), stay above its threshold: if you have a heal or a shield, use it, because he seals marked enemies who drop below it.
- Contest his artifact
If the Purgatory (R) artifact lands, hold the area where it fell: by picking it up, Locke raises his execute threshold for each sealed champion, for the rest of the game.
Other Kog'Maw matchups
Patch 16.21.1