Guide Sections (15)
- Champion Stats
- The Wind Wall Bait
- The Yasuo Skin Tier List
- When They Ban Yasuo
- Runes That Work on Yasuo
- Leveling Yasuo's Abilities
- Mastering Yasuo's Kit
- Matchups That Matter for Yasuo
- 0/10 Power Spike Myth
- When the Wind Dies
- Diving the Backline
- The Crit Samurai Build
- Yasuo's Strongest Moments
- The Tornado Into Ult
- Recent Patch History
Champion Stats
Players simply throw skillshots at you. They don't wait for Windwall. They don't time your shield. You can dash through the minion wave, dodge everything, and kill them without taking damage. It feels unfair because it is. Low elo players also struggle to close out games, giving you the time you need to farm your 100% crit spike and take over the late game.
The Wind Wall Bait
Stack Q on the first 2 melee minions. Walk up with Q2 (tornado threat). If they respect, you zone them from XP. If they don't, Q-Auto-Auto to proc Lethal Tempo. You have a massive advantage in sustained DPS at level 1 vs almost any nage. Do not take free turret shots.
Windwall has a long CD. Use it for important spells. Ashes Arrow. MF Ult. Braum Ult. Don't waste it on an auto.
Hold W. Wait for the important spell (Ashe R, Ahri E). Block it. Flash mastery. It's not about blocking damage, it's about breaking spirits.
The Yasuo Skin Tier List
'Nightbringer Yasuo' has the clearest tornado audio cue and arguably the smoothest dash animation. 'High Noon' feels like a pistol shot on Q, very satisfying. Avoid 'Project'; it feels clunky and heavy. 'Truth/Dream Dragon' are visually stunning but can be visually noisy for pure competitive play.
'Nightbringer' is P2W? Maybe. 'High Noon' sounds like a gun. 'Project' is clunky. High Noon is the cleanest.
'High Noon' is the gunshot Q. 'Nightbringer' is the demon. 'Truth Dragon' is smooth. 'Project' is clunky (don't use it). High Noon is best.
When They Ban Yasuo
If Yasuo is gone, Yone is the best 'windy-brother' pivot. If you want more dashes, Irelia. But nothing replaces the 'Hasagi!'. The wind blows elsewhere.
Yone. Literally just playing his brother. Samira is the ADC version. Irelia is the top lane version. Yone is the way.
Runes That Work on Yasuo
Leveling Yasuo's Abilities
However, a common smurf tactic is putting 3 points in Q then maxing E if you need mobility to dodge skillshots (Syndra/Xerath matchups). The lower E cooldown is noticeable and allows for faster wave traversal.
Mastering Yasuo's Kit
It applies on-hit effects. It can crit. It's an auto-attack that is also a spell. Learn the 'Airblade' (E-Q-R) to transfer Q damage into the Ult, and the 'Keyblade' (E-Q-Flash-E-Q-R) for max style points.
It spawns from INSIDE your model. You can block things that are already 'hitting' you if you react fast enough. It blocks projectiles from both sides. Use it to freeze the wave by blocking enemy caster minion shots.
Each dash increases the damage of the next dash (up to a cap). Stack it on minions before dashing to the champion for max damage. You can E over walls (like Raptors/Gromp) if positioned perfectly.
It gives you 50% Bonus Armor Pen on crits for 15s. This is why you don't need Last Whisper early. Use it at the START of the fight on a tank if possible to melt them, or hold it to extend CC chains.
Matchups That Matter for Yasuo
Hard Counter. His point-and-click stun (W) goes through Windwall. Respect his W range. Wait for him to waste it before engaging. Bush cheese him level 1.
Nightmare. He breaks your shield instantly with empowered W. Do not fight him when he has Fury. Outscale him by farming side lanes.
Hard Counter. Her stun goes through Windwall if it is W or R. Take Cleanse. Hexdrinker is mandatory. Do not interact with her when her passive is up.
0/10 Power Spike Myth
Stop pressing R just because you can. Only take the Ult if it puts you in a safe position or guarantees a kill. Ulting 1v5 into the enemy fountain is why you are hardstuck. Also, stop dashing for no reason; every dash should have a purpose (dodge, gap close, or stack generation).
It's real. Gold reset. Bounty reset. Mental reset. Just farm. You scale with 2 items regardless of score.
It's a meme, but there's truth. Yasuo needs 2 items (100% crit). Once you hit that spike, you can int 10 times and still 1v1 the ADC. But maybe don't int.
When the Wind Dies
Dodge if the enemy drafts Renekton Mid or Vex. Renekton breaks your shield and kills you in one stun combo with no counterplay. Vex's fear passes through windwall and her passive interrupts your dashes, making laning unplayable.
Renekton/Pantheon. Point-click stuns. You can't windwall a fist to the face.
Dodge Renekton/Pantheon. Point-click stuns go through windwall. You die instantly. Vex also ruins your day. Don't blind pick Yasuo.
Diving the Backline
Windwall usage is more important than your damage. Blocking a Miss Fortune Ult, Ashe Arrow, or Ornn Ult wins the fight alone. Be a utility bot first, carry second. Wait for your team's engage (Malphite/Diana) before going in. You are cleanup crew, not the tank.
Eq-Flash-R. The 'Keyblade'. If you can do it, you are Diamond. If not, just wait for Malphite R.
Wait for knockup. R the carry. Q-Auto-E out. Windwall their return fire. You are a samurai. Move like one.
The Crit Samurai Build
Blade of the Ruined King rush. It's not crit, but the duel potential is insane against HP stackers. Then go Infinity Edge. You melt tanks and squishies alike. Consider 'Iceborn Gauntlet' if they are full AD; Tank Yasuo is still secretly viable.
Shieldbow (Wait, removed? No, exists). Kraken Slayer. IE. You need 100% crit. Everything else is luxury.
Kraken -> IE -> Shieldbow. 100% crit at 2 items. Damage is absurd. You are a glass cannon. Kill them before they kill you.
Yasuo's Strongest Moments
The '0/10 Powerspike' is a meme, but the 'Berserker Greaves' spike is real. Attack Speed = Cooldown Reduction on Q. Boots gives you the biggest DPS increase per gold spent early game. Your two-item spike (Boots + Kraken/Shiv + IE) is where you become the strongest champion on the map.
Berserker's Greaves. It's a massive spike. Level 6 R armor pen. 2 Items.
Berserker's Greaves (Q cooldown). Level 6. 2 Items (100% Crit). You spike hard and fast. Use the mid-game to dominate.
The Tornado Into Ult
Dash through them, E-Q, dash out. Do it again. And again. They will get dizzy and frustrated. Spam mastery emote after every windwall block. It forces them to make irrational plays to kill you.
Don't ult immediately. Auto once while they are in air (if close). Then R. Maximize damage.
EQ-Flash combo (Keyblade). Knocking up 3 people. Airblade for extra damage. The mechanics are flashy for a reason. Style on them.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V14.20 | Oct 9, 2024 | BUFF | Q buffed, R buffed |
| V14.15 | Jul 31, 2024 | BUFF | E buffed, Base stats buffed |
| V14.10 | May 15, 2024 | BUFF | P adjusted |
| V14.9 | May 1, 2024 | BUFF | Base stats buffed |
| V13.15 | Aug 2, 2023 | BUFF | P buffed |
