Vladimir vs Kalista
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Kalista
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Vladimir: Stormsurge, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Dark Seal, Zhonya's Hourglass, Mejai's Soulstealer, Cosmic Drive.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Kalista's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Enter a movement command while winding up Kalista's basic attack or Pierce to lunge a short distance when she launches her attack.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 30s | 0s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 30s | 0s | 2m40 |
| 9 | 9s | 30s | 0s | 2m40 |
| 11 | 9s | 30s | 0s | 2m20 |
| 16 | 9s | 30s | 0s | 2m |
| 18 | 9s | 30s | 0s | 2m |
Playing as Vladimir
Tips to maximize your impact
- Save your empowered Transfusion
After two Transfusion (Q) casts, the next one is empowered for a few seconds: save it for a trade, since it hits harder and heals you based on your missing health.
- Farm safely with Transfusion
Last-hit minions with Transfusion (Q) until your items come in: it deals damage before healing you, and costs you nothing.
- Charge Tides of Blood at least 1 second
Charge Tides of Blood (E) for at least 1 second before releasing: the missiles then also slow, and their damage grows with the charge.
- Dodge in your Sanguine Pool
Save Sanguine Pool (W) to dodge CC or a burst: for 2 seconds, you're untargetable. It costs you part of your current health.
- Hemoplague first, burst second
Cast Hemoplague (R) before your burst: infected enemies take increased damage from all sources, then the blast heals you for each champion hit.
Playing against Kalista
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Back off so her spears drop
After a trade, back off until her spears fall out: they stay stuck for 4 seconds, and Rend (E) deals more damage for each extra spear.
- Hit her as her auto starts
Cast your spells as she starts an auto: she can't cancel the animation, and Martial Poise (passive) only makes her hop once the shot is out.
- Focus her Oathsworn
Focus her Oathsworn when you can: without them, Fate's Call (R) has no one to throw, and Sentinel (W) loses its bonus damage.
- Spread out when her ally is in stasis
When Fate's Call (R) pulls in her Oathsworn, spread out: they can launch within 4 seconds, stop at the first champion hit and knock back nearby enemies.
Other Vladimir matchups
Patch 16.21.1