Ryze vs Vel'Koz
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Vel'Koz
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Ryze: Tear of the Goddess, Rod of Ages, Seraph's Embrace, Sorcerer's Shoes, Actualizer, Rabadon's Deathcap, Zhonya's Hourglass, Void Staff.
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 Ryze
Tips to maximize your impact
- Flux, then Overload
Cast Spell Flux (E) on your target or a nearby minion, then Overload (Q): the Flux spreads to nearby enemies, and the bolt bounces from one to the next.
- Root a target with Flux
Cast Rune Prison (W) on a target marked by Spell Flux (E): they're rooted instead of slowed.
- Alternate your spells
Alternate your spells in teamfights: Rune Prison (W) and Spell Flux (E) reset the cooldown of Overload (Q).
- Open a portal for your team
Cast Realm Warp (R) to rotate to an objective or a flank: after a few seconds, all allies near you are teleported.
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 Ryze matchups
Patch 16.21.1