Pantheon vs Illaoi
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Illaoi
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Pantheon: Serrated Dirk, Bastionbreaker, Voltaic Cyclosword, Plated Steelcaps, Eclipse, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, Edge of Night.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Illaoi's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Illaoi and the Vessels she creates spawn Tentacles on nearby impassible terrain. Tentacles swing at spirits, Vessels, and victims of Illaoi's Harsh lesson. Tentacles deal physical damage to enemies hit, and will heal Illaoi if they damage a champion.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 4s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 4s | 16s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 4s | 16s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 4s | 16s | 1m35 |
| 16 | 6s | 4s | 14s | 1m10 |
| 18 | 6s | 4s | 12s | 1m10 |
Playing as Pantheon
Tips to maximize your impact
- Start with Shield Vault
Start your trades with Shield Vault (W): you leap onto your target and stun them, so Comet Spear (Q) can't miss.
- Thrust or throw
Tap Comet Spear (Q) for a short thrust that refunds part of the cooldown, or hold it to throw your spear farther.
- Raise your Aegis against burst
Raise Aegis Assault (E) against enemy burst: you ignore damage from that direction, except from towers.
- Roam with Grand Starfall
Roam with Grand Starfall (R): you leap from long range onto the chosen area, and the spell instantly readies Mortal Will (passive).
Playing against Illaoi
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge her E
Dodge Test of Spirit (E): if it hits, you take part of the damage dealt to your spirit, and if the spirit dies, you're slowed and marked for her tentacles.
- Hit her if she pulls your spirit
If Test of Spirit (E) pulls out your spirit, attack Illaoi instead of running: damaging her shortens the spirit, and moving too far from it marks you for her tentacles.
- Pull her away from walls
Take your trades away from walls: Prophet of an Elder God (passive) spawns her tentacles on nearby terrain, and each tentacle that hits you heals her.
- Ask for ganks
Ask for ganks: Harsh Lesson (W) only makes her leap toward an enemy, so she has no dash to escape, and no stun.
- Back off during her ult
Don't fight during Leap of Faith (R): each champion hit spawns a tentacle, and while it lasts, they're untargetable and slam faster.
Other Pantheon matchups
Patch 16.21.1