Guide Sections (15)
- Champion Stats
- The Cocoon Gank
- Which Elise Skin to Use
- When They Ban Elise
- Optimal Runes for Elise
- Elise's Ability Priority
- Mastering Elise's Kit
- Elise's Lane Opponents
- Spider Form Greed
- When You Can't Get Resets
- The Flank Assassination
- The AP Elise Build
- Timing Elise's All-Ins
- The Rappel Outplay
- Recent Patch History
Champion Stats
Low elo players play scared under their towers when they are low HP, but against Elise, the tower is just a decoration. A smurf abuses the Rappel mechanic to juggle tower shots perfectly, allowing your team to dive without taking casualties. Furthermore, players rarely ward deep enough to spot her early invades. An Elise who tracks the enemy jungler can walk into their woods, land a Cocoon (E), and one-shot them before they finish their Buff.
The Cocoon Gank
The 'Fast 3' or 'W Start' Invade. Start W (Volatile Spiderling). It gives the fastest clearing speed due to the attack speed buff in Spider Form. Clear Blue and Gromp instantly. Level 3 is your kill window. Alternatively, invade their top-side buff at Level 2 with Q and E learned. If you land a Cocoon on the jungler while they are tanking the buff, it is a guaranteed First Blood.
Fast level 3 into a tower dive is the Elise special. If you haven't ganked by 3:15, you're failing. Use your human W to check bushes and your spider E to drop on top of them. Elise is the queen of the early game—use it.
Which Elise Skin to Use
'Super Galaxy Elise' is a fantastic smurf skin—the animations and spider form design are high-tech and intimidating. 'Coven Elise' offers a very dark and prestigious aesthetic. 'Bewitching Elise' is a fun seasonal choice with great pumpkin-spiderlings. Avoid 'Death Blossom Elise' as it feels a bit dated compared to her newer high-fidelity options.
'Super Galaxy' or 'Coven' are the only choices. The spider form in Coven is beautiful, but Super Galaxy has better SFX for the Cocoon. Avoid 'Victorious'—it's too old and clunky for a modern smurf.
When They Ban Elise
Nidalee is the high-mechanic sister. Lee Sin for the early pressure. If you pick Shaco, prepare for a long game of mental warfare. Stick to Nidalee if you have the fingers for the jumps.
Nidalee offers a similar 'cat and mouse' high-mobility assassin feel. Lee Sin provides early-game pressure and playmaking. Shaco gives the tilt-inducing terror. Nidalee is the high-mechanic sister.
Optimal Runes for Elise
Electrocute is the superior choice for high-burst assassinations and early-game dominance. Press the Attack is an alternative for a more auto-attack focused spider form playstyle. Secondary Inspiration with Magical Footwear and Cosmic Insight to reach your items and have Rappel up more often.
Elise's Ability Priority
Max Q first—it's your primary damage and the cooldown reduction is vital. Max E second for the increased attack speed and spiderling damage. Max W last as the Rappel utility is more important than the damage/root duration increase early on.
Mastering Elise's Kit
Elise's Lane Opponents
Skill Matchup. You win the burst duel if you land Cocoon first. If he hits you mid-Spider-Q, he wins. Use Rappel to dodge his R or second Q.
Easy Matchup. You have the burst to kill him before he can stack his passive. Save your Cocoon for the moment he exits Alpha Strike (Q).
Hard Matchup. She has more AoE damage and can follow your Rappel with her lunar dash. You have to win the early 1v1 or she will out-scale you in teamfights.
Spider Form Greed
Stop Rappelling for no reason! Rappel (Spider E) has a massive cooldown. If you use it just to gap close on a target you could have walked to, you have wasted your only escape and dive tool. Save it to dodge a key spell (like a Lux bind) or to drop tower aggro. Also, HIT YOUR COCOON. An Elise who misses E is just a melee minion. Be patient; wait for them to dash or flash before throwing it.
When You Can't Get Resets
Dodge if facing heavy anti-assassin comps with Lulu or Janna. Their shields and knock-backs make it impossible for you to execute targets. Also dodge into Rengar if you aren't confident in the 1v1 jungle duel.
Lulu and Janna will stop your dive every single time. Against them, you have to find the Cocoon on the support first. If the peel is dead, the ADC is yours. Don't jump in without the stun landing first.
Dodge heavy anti-assassin comps with Lulu or Janna. Their shields and knock-backs make it impossible to execute targets. Also dodge Rengar unless you are a god at the 1v1 jungle duel.
The Flank Assassination
In teamfights, your job is to find a pick. Look for an angle to Cocoon a carry, then jump in with spider form to finish them. Once your primary target is down, use Rappel to reset or reposition. You are not a frontline tank; stay on the edges and wait for the perfect moment to strike.
Stay on the edges of the fight. Cocoon from fog, then go human W-Q, spider Q-W. Then Rappel (E) out. You aren't a frontline, you're a surgical tool. Delete the carry and disappear into the ceiling.
The AP Elise Build
Full AP Assassin Elise. Lich Bane -> Stormsurge -> Shadowflame. With this build, your spider form bites will literally one-shot squishies. The extra movement speed from Lich Bane and Stormsurge makes you impossible to catch while you weave in and out of the forest.
Lich Bane is mandatory now. The spider bites with Lich Bane proc are disgusting. Stormsurge for the extra burst and move speed. If you're 5/0, go for Rabadon's 3rd and watch the ADC's HP bar disappear in one bite.
Timing Elise's All-Ins
Level 3 is your first massive spike—having access to all 6 of your abilities is a huge advantage over almost any other jungler. Your biggest item spike is Lich Bane or Nashor's Tooth (depending on playstyle), giving you the burst or sustained DPS to take over the game.
Level 3 is your entire identity. If you win at 3, you win the game. If you lose at 3, you're a support for the rest of the game. First item completion is your mid-game insurance. Don't play for late game.
The Rappel Outplay
Use the 'spider' emote every time you escape a gank with Rappel. Type 'Did I catch a fly?' in all-chat after a Cocoon pick. The sight of a giant spider dropping from the sky onto a lone support is enough to cause a permanent 'spider-fear' in the enemy team.
Rappel can be used on enemy wards, plants, or minions to escape. Don't just use it for the jump-in. Always have an exit plan. A spider without a web is just an insect.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V14.19 | Sep 25, 2024 | BUFF | P adjusted, Q buffed |
| V13.23 | Nov 21, 2023 | ADJUST | E adjusted |
| V13.20 | Oct 11, 2023 | ADJUST | Base stats adjusted |
| V13.17 | Aug 30, 2023 | BUFF | P buffed, E buffed |
| V13.4 | Feb 23, 2023 | NERF | P adjusted, Q nerfed |
