Vel'Koz vs Pyke

Vel'Koz
vs
Not enough games
Pyke
High burstHeavy AD damageCountered by stasisHeavy CC

Build vs Pyke

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

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rabadon's Deathcap
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rabadon's Deathcap
Horizon Focus
Banshee's Veil
Stormsurge
Void Staff
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
DominationDomination
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Pyke's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Gift of the Drowned Ones (P)

When Pyke is hidden from enemies, he regenerates damage that he has recently taken from champions. Pyke also cannot gain extra Maximum Health from any source, and instead gains Bonus AD.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s14s15s–
69s14s15s1m40
98s13s15s1m40
118s12s15s1m25
168s10s13s1m10
188s10s11s1m10

Playing as Vel'Koz

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 Pyke

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Put a minion between you and him

    When he charges Bone Skewer (Q), put a minion between you and him or step aside: the hook pulls the first enemy hit.

  2. Back off when sharks appear

    Back off as soon as sharks appear under your feet: it means Pyke is hidden right next to you in Ghostwater Dive (W).

  3. Leave the line of his phantom

    After the Phantom Undertow (E) dash, get out of the line between his starting point and him: the phantom returns to Pyke and stuns champions it passes through.

  4. Leave his X at low health

    Get out of the Death From Below (R) X when you're low: below its health threshold, you're executed there, and above it, you only take part of the damage.

  5. Focus him as soon as he shows

    If you can reach him, focus him as soon as he shows himself: out of your sight, Gift of the Drowned Ones (passive) restores the damage you just dealt him.

Patch 16.21.1