Lucian vs Vel'Koz
Skill matchup
Build vs Vel'Koz
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Lucian: Essence Reaver, Navori Flickerblade, Infinity Edge, Gluttonous Greaves, Lord Dominik's Regards, B. F. Sword, The Collector, Mortal Reminder.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Vel'Koz's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Vel'Koz's abilities apply Organic Deconstruction to enemies on hit. If 3 stacks are accumulated, the enemy will take a burst of true damage.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 1.5s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 1.5s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 7s | 1.5s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 7s | 1.5s | 12s | 1m30 |
| 16 | 7s | 1.5s | 11s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 7s | 1.5s | 10s | 1m20 |
Playing as Lucian
Tips to maximize your impact
- Weave an auto between spells
Weave an auto between each spell: Lightslinger (passive) turns it into a double shot, and each shot that hits lowers the cooldown of Relentless Pursuit (E).
- Attack after your support helps
Attack right after an ally's heal or shield, or a nearby enemy getting immobilized: Lightslinger (passive) then empowers your next 2 autos.
- R on an immobilized target
Cast The Culling (R) on a target your team has immobilized: each shot hits the first enemy in its path, and you can use Relentless Pursuit (E) while firing.
- Get ahead early
Look for trades and kills early on: Lucian is strongest early, and his impact drops once the other marksmen have their items.
Playing against Vel'Koz
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Watch both branches of his plasma
Get out of the line of Plasma Fission (Q) and watch its sides too: the bolt splits into two branches at 90 degrees when it hits a target or he recasts it.
- Back off before the third stack
Back off after taking two of his spells: at the third Organic Deconstruction (passive) stack, you take a burst of true damage.
- Engage after Tectonic Disruption
If you can engage, go in after Tectonic Disruption (E): it's his only spell to push back someone charging him, and he has no dash to escape.
- Interrupt his ray
If you have a stun, a silence or a knock-up, save it for Life Form Disintegration Ray (R): any of them interrupts the ray.
Other Lucian matchups
Patch 16.21.1