Locke vs Pyke
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Pyke
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Locke: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Banshee's Veil, Stormsurge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Pyke's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
When Pyke is hidden from enemies, he regenerates damage that he has recently taken from champions. Pyke also cannot gain extra Maximum Health from any source, and instead gains Bonus AD.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 14s | 15s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 14s | 15s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 8s | 13s | 15s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 8s | 12s | 15s | 1m25 |
| 16 | 8s | 10s | 13s | 1m10 |
| 18 | 8s | 10s | 11s | 1m10 |
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 Pyke
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Put a minion between you and him
When he charges Bone Skewer (Q), put a minion between you and him or step aside: the hook pulls the first enemy hit.
- Back off when sharks appear
Back off as soon as sharks appear under your feet: it means Pyke is hidden right next to you in Ghostwater Dive (W).
- Leave the line of his phantom
After the Phantom Undertow (E) dash, get out of the line between his starting point and him: the phantom returns to Pyke and stuns champions it passes through.
- Leave his X at low health
Get out of the Death From Below (R) X when you're low: below its health threshold, you're executed there, and above it, you only take part of the damage.
- Focus him as soon as he shows
If you can reach him, focus him as soon as he shows himself: out of your sight, Gift of the Drowned Ones (passive) restores the damage you just dealt him.
Other Locke matchups
Patch 16.21.1