Vladimir vs Kog'Maw

Vladimir
vs
Not enough games
Kog'Maw
Sustained DPSHigh burstHeavy pokeHeavy AP damage

Build vs Kog'Maw

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

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Stormsurge
1
Rabadon's Deathcap
2
Void Staff
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Dark Seal
5

Summoner spells

FlashHaste67%
FlashDot33%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Dark Seal
Zhonya's Hourglass
Mejai's Soulstealer
Cosmic Drive
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceTranscendence
Gathering StormGathering Storm
PrecisionPrecision
Last StandLast Stand
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Ability HasteAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Kog'Maw's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Icathian Surprise (P)

4 seconds after dying, Kogmaw explodes, dealing true damage to surrounding enemies.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s17s12s–
67s17s12s2s
97s17s12s2s
117s17s12s1.5s
167s17s12s1s
187s17s12s1s

Playing as Vladimir

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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 Kog'Maw

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Engage when his W ends

    Engage when Bio-Arcane Barrage (W) ends: his attack range drops back to 500, and the spell has a 17-second cooldown.

  2. Punish his lack of mobility

    If you can engage, go for him: with no dash or leap, Kog'Maw can only back off on foot, and Void Ooze (E) is his only slow.

  3. Leave his R range at low health

    Below 40% health, get out of range of Living Artillery (R): each shot then deals its max damage to you, and it reaches very far.

  4. Move away when he dies

    When he dies, move away from him: Icathian Surprise (passive) makes him explode 4 seconds later, dealing true damage to nearby enemies.

Patch 16.21.1