Vel'Koz vs Senna
Build vs Senna
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
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Senna's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
When units die near Senna, their souls are periodically trapped by the Black Mist. Senna can attack these souls to free them, absorbing the Mist that held them in death. Mist fuels her Relic Cannon's power with increased Attack Damage, Attack Range, and Critical Strike Chance. Attacks from Senna's Relic Cannon take longer to fire, deal bonus damage, and briefly grant her a portion of her target's Move Speed.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 15s | 11s | 26s | – |
| 6 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m20 |
| 9 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m20 |
| 11 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m |
| 16 | 15s | 11s | 23s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 15s | 11s | 20s | 1m40 |
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 Senna
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Punish her when she goes for a soul
Take a trade when she steps up for a soul: each bit of Mist she absorbs with Absolution (passive) gives her AD, attack range and crit.
- Spread out if her embrace hits you
If Last Embrace (W) hits you, move away from your allies: after a short delay, you and nearby allies are rooted.
- Target her when she steps up
If you can engage, target her when she steps up for Piercing Darkness (Q): she has no dash to get away.
- Beware the wraiths
Back off when her team disappears into Curse of the Black Mist (E): her allies are camouflaged there, then fast and unselectable.
Other Vel'Koz matchups
Patch 16.21.1