Vel'Koz vs Draven
Build vs Draven
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Vel'Koz: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Horizon Focus, Banshee's Veil, Stormsurge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Draven's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Draven gains his fans' Adoration when he catches a Spinning Axe or kills a minion, monster, or tower. Killing enemy champions grants Draven bonus gold based on how much Adoration he has.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 12s | 12s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 10s | 12s | 16s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 8s | 12s | 16s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 8s | 12s | 16s | 1m30 |
| 16 | 8s | 12s | 14s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 8s | 12s | 12s | 1m20 |
Playing as Vel'Koz
Tips to maximize your impact
- Three spells for the burst
Hit the same target with three spells: at three stacks, Organic Deconstruction (passive) bursts and deals true damage to them.
- Poke and farm with your rift
Stay back and poke with Void Rift (W): its two charges let you kill minions while stacking your passive on your opponent.
- Split your plasma to hit at an angle
Recast Plasma Fission (Q) to split it: the two bolts fly off at 90 degrees, which lets you hit a target hiding behind their minions.
- Start your ray after a knock-up
Cast Life Form Disintegration Ray (R) after the Tectonic Disruption (E) knock-up: your target can't escape, and the ray deals true damage to targets of Organic Deconstruction (passive).
Playing against Draven
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Play hard when he drops an axe
Play hard when he drops a Spinning Axe (Q): without it, he loses his bonus damage and the Blood Rush (W) reset.
- Aim where his axe lands
If you have skillshots, aim where his Spinning Axe (Q) falls: he has to go there to catch it.
- Engage after his Stand Aside
If you can engage, wait until Stand Aside (E) is used: it's his only spell to push you back, on a 16 to 12 second cooldown.
- Don't give him kills
Don't hand him kills: with League of Draven (passive), each champion he kills gives him bonus gold based on his stored Adoration.
- Beware his axes at low health
At low health, beware of Whirling Death (R), which crosses the map: it executes a champion below a threshold that grows with his Adoration.
Other Vel'Koz matchups
Patch 16.21.1