Tristana vs Aphelios
Skill matchup
Build vs Aphelios
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Tristana: Yun Tal Wildarrows, Infinity Edge, Navori Flickerblade, Berserker's Greaves, Lord Dominik's Regards, The Collector, B. F. Sword, Hexoptics C44.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Aphelios's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Aphelios wields 5 Lunari Weapons made by his sister Alune. He has access to two at a time: one main-hand and one off-hand. Each weapon has a unique Basic Attack and Ability. Attacks and abilities consume a weapon's ammo. When out of ammo, Aphelios discards the weapon and Alune summons the next of the 5.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 2m |
| 9 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 2m |
| 11 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 9s | 0.8s | 0s | 1m40 |
Playing as Tristana
Tips to maximize your impact
- Bomb, then Rapid Fire
Plant Explosive Charge (E), then activate Rapid Fire (Q): the attack speed helps you land the 4 hits that make it explode right away, at full power.
- Keep them at a distance
Hit from range and back off as soon as they come close: Draw a Bead (passive) increases your attack range with each level.
- Chain your jumps
Chain your jumps in teamfights: Rocket Jump (W) resets right away on a champion takedown, or when Explosive Charge (E) explodes at max stacks on a champion.
- Knock back the assassin with your ult
Save Buster Shot (R) for the assassin who jumps on you: the cannonball knocks back your target and nearby enemies, and stuns them.
Playing against Aphelios
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Watch out for his cannon
Back off when he holds Gravitum and has slowed you: Weapon Abilities (Q) with the cannon roots every enemy that weapon has slowed.
- Punish his lack of mobility
If you can engage, go for him when his support drifts away: his kit has no dash, and only Severum makes him run faster.
- Spread out from your allies
Spread out from your allies when he has Moonlight Vigil (R): the blast explodes on the first champion hit, damages those nearby, then he attacks each of them.
- Get away from his sentry
When he deploys the Crescendum sentry with Weapon Abilities (Q), leave its area: it attacks you with his off-hand weapon.
Other Tristana matchups
Patch 16.21.1