Locke vs Viego
Skill matchup
Build vs Viego
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
Viego's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Enemies who fall before Viego become wraiths. By attacking a wraith, Viego temporarily seizes control of the dead enemy's body, healing for a percentage of his target's max health and gaining access to their basic abilities and items. He replaces their Ultimate with a free cast of his own.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5s | 8s | 14s | – |
| 6 | 4s | 8s | 14s | 2m |
| 9 | 3s | 8s | 14s | 2m |
| 11 | 3s | 8s | 14s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 3s | 8s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 3s | 8s | 6s | 1m20 |
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 Viego
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge his Spectral Maw
Get out of his line when he charges Spectral Maw (W): he dashes and stuns the first enemy hit, for longer the longer he charged.
- Back off after each of his spells
Don't stay in melee range after one of his spells: thanks to Blade of the Ruined King (Q), his next auto strikes twice and heals him.
- Don't be the lowest in his range
In teamfights, don't stay in his range if your health percentage is the lowest: Heartbreaker (R) strikes that champion, with damage based on their missing health.
- Back off when an ally falls near him
If an ally dies in front of him, back off: by hitting their wraith, Viego restores health and takes their basic spells and items through Sovereign's Domination (passive).
- Reveal him in his Mist
When he disappears into the Harrowed Path (E) Mist, place a Control Ward: it reveals camouflaged enemies, and he's only camouflaged inside the Mist.
Other Locke matchups
Patch 16.21.1