Locke vs Cho'Gath
Skill matchup
Build vs Cho'Gath
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Locke: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Dark Seal, Stormsurge, Mejai's Soulstealer.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Cho'Gath's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Whenever Cho'Gath kills a unit, he recovers Health and Mana. The values restored increase with Cho'Gath's level.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6s | 11s | 8s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 11s | 8s | 1m20 |
| 9 | 6s | 10.5s | 8s | 1m20 |
| 11 | 6s | 10s | 8s | 1m10 |
| 16 | 6s | 9s | 6s | 1m |
| 18 | 6s | 9s | 4s | 1m |
Playing as Locke
Tips to maximize your impact
- Nails first, then Pursuit
Cast Ritual Nails (Q) before Ashen Pursuit (E): your hits consume the nails stuck in the target, and each extra nail adds damage.
- Finish them with autos
Finish off wounded targets with autos: Silver Stake (passive) adds magic damage that grows with their missing health.
- Activate W as the trade starts
Activate Soul Ignition (W) at the start of a trade: it costs you health, but at the end, you heal back part of the last damage taken, plus more based on your missing health.
- Save E for a kill or a gank
Save Ashen Pursuit (E) for a sure kill or to escape a gank: it's your only instant movement, it has a 10-second cooldown, and only a takedown resets it.
- Save Purgatory to finish
Save Purgatory (R) to finish: it seals marked enemies below a health threshold, and when you pick up the artifact, each sealed champion raises that threshold for good.
Playing against Cho'Gath
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Keep moving
Keep moving against him: Rupture (Q) strikes an area on the ground, and an enemy standing still takes a knock-up, damage and a slow.
- Punish him while he farms
Punish him when he goes for last hits: Carnivore (passive) restores health and mana for each unit he kills, and he lasts a long time in lane if you let him farm.
- Keep your distance if you can
If you have range, keep your distance: his kit has no dash, only the slows from Rupture (Q) and Vorpal Spikes (E).
- Beware Feast at low health
Don't stay in melee range at low health when Feast (R) is up: its true damage ignores your resistances, even if you're a tank.
Other Locke matchups
Patch 16.21.1