Locke vs Qiyana
Skill matchup
Build vs Qiyana
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Locke: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Dark Seal, Rabadon's Deathcap, Stormsurge, Mejai's Soulstealer.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Qiyana's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Qiyana's first basic attack or ability against each enemy deals bonus damage.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 7s | 11s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 7s | 11s | 2m |
| 9 | 7s | 7s | 11s | 2m |
| 11 | 7s | 7s | 11s | 2m |
| 16 | 7s | 7s | 9s | 2m |
| 18 | 7s | 7s | 7s | 2m |
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 Qiyana
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Check her weapon's element
Before a trade, check her weapon's element: with Ice, Elemental Wrath (Q) roots you, and with Wild, the brush element, its trail makes her invisible.
- Back off when she changes element
Back off when she casts Terrashape (W): the spell resets Elemental Wrath (Q), so she can hit you twice in a row.
- Stay away from walls and the river
Don't fight right next to a wall, the river or brush: Supreme Display of Talent (R) explodes along them and stuns enemies there.
Other Locke matchups
Patch 16.21.1