Locke vs Vex

Locke
vs
Not enough games
Vex
Heavy AP damageHigh burstHeavy CCCountered by spell shield

You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Vex

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

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Lich Bane
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rabadon's Deathcap
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rabadon's Deathcap
Void Staff
Banshee's Veil
Stormsurge

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Vex's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Doom 'n Gloom (P)

Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s16s12s–
66s16s12s2m20
94s15s12s2m20
114s14s12s2m
164s12s12s1m40
184s12s12s1m40

Playing as Locke

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. Finish them with autos

    Finish off wounded targets with autos: Silver Stake (passive) adds magic damage that grows with their missing health.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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 Vex

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge her mist early

    Get out of the line of Mistral Bolt (Q) early: after a short delay, the mist narrows but speeds up.

  2. No dashes near her

    If you have a dash, avoid using it near her: it marks you with Gloom, and if Doom 'n Gloom (passive) is ready, her next spell interrupts it and fears you.

  3. Trade after her fear

    Start a trade right after she fears someone: her next spell empowered by Doom 'n Gloom (passive) then takes a while to come back.

  4. Dodge her Shadow

    Get out of the path of Shadow Surge (R): Vex can only dash to the first champion hit by Shadow.

Patch 16.21.1