Guide Sections (15)
- Champion Stats
- The Tentacle Slam
- Illaoi's Best Skins
- When They Ban Illaoi
- Best Runes for Illaoi
- Illaoi's Skill Order
- Mastering Illaoi's Kit
- Illaoi's Best & Worst Matchups
- Ult Without Vessel
- When Splitting Won't Work
- Flanking or Frontlining
- The Hullbreaker Build
- Illaoi's Power Spikes
- The Tentacle Zone
- Recent Patch History
Champion Stats
Low elo players fight inside Illaoi's ultimate. This is the cardinal sin. Rule #1 of League: When Illaoi presses R, WALK AWAY. But they don't. They see a giant health bar and think 'free kill', only to be destroyed by four tentacles slamming simultaneously every second. They also cannot consistently dodge her E (Test of Spirit), which pulls out their soul and makes them take 60% of all damage dealt to the spirit. A smurf lands E consistently to make the lane completely unplayable—if you pull their spirit, they have to either fight you (and lose) or run away and become a Vessel that spawns hostile tentacles for 12 seconds.
The Tentacle Slam
Start Q (Tentacle Smash). Before minions spawn, walk around the lane planting tentacles on every nearby wall with your passive. Position yourself between two tentacles so that when you fight, both will slam your target. Most players don't realize how much damage tentacles do at Level 1. When the enemy walks up to contest the wave, Q them and watch both wall tentacles slam them for free. You can easily chunk them for 30-40% HP before Level 2. You are significantly stronger than you look when surrounded by your own tentacles.
Illaoi's Best Skins
'Snow Moon Illaoi' is crisp. 'Cosmic Invoker' is flashy. 'Resistance Illaoi' is cool. Default sounds are heavy.
'Resistance' fits the rebel theme. 'Cosmic' has amazing tentacle visuals from space. 'Snow Moon' is clean and sharp. 'Void Bringer' makes your tentacles purple and spooky. Resistance feels the most grounded and impactful.
'Snow Moon Illaoi' is crisp and clean. 'Cosmic Invoker' is flashy with starry tentacles. 'Resistance' fits the rebel theme perfectly. 'Void Bringer' makes your tentacles purple and spooky. Resistance feels the most grounded and impactful.
When They Ban Illaoi
If Illaoi is banned, Yorick for the summoner style. Darius for the 1v2. Mordekaiser for the isolation.
Yorick has the ghoul army. Darius has the dunk. Mordekaiser takes you to Brazil. If you want to turn a 1v2 into a double kill, Darius is your guy. If you want to split push forever, Yorick.
Yorick provides the summoner style with ghouls. Darius offers the 1v2 dunk potential. Mordekaiser is for the isolation realm. Yorick matches the 'don't come to my lane' energy best.
Best Runes for Illaoi
Conqueror (Healing) or Grasp (Trading). Presence of Mind is mandatory (mana issues). Last Stand is key for turnarounds. Secondary Resolve (Demolish) or Inspiration.
Illaoi's Skill Order
Max E first for the spirit duration and damage transfer. Q second. W last.
Mastering Illaoi's Kit
Tentacle Smash. Slams a tentacle forward. Passive increases slam damage.
Harsh Lesson. Leap attack. Causes all nearby tentacles to slam the target.
Test of Spirit. Pulls spirit from enemy. Damage to spirit echoes to champion. Killing spirit makes them a Vessel (Tentacles spawn and slam them).
Leap of Faith. Slams ground. Spawns a Tentacle for every enemy champion hit (and Spirit!). W cooldown reduced to 2s. Tentacles slam faster.
Illaoi's Best & Worst Matchups
Hard Counter. Ghouls block E skillshot. His wall traps you. Dodge.
Skill. His R removes your tentacles (Realm swap). Ult AFTER he ults.
Easy. E him when he Qs. You out-damage him hard.
Ult Without Vessel
Stop fighting without landing E first! If you miss E (Test of Spirit), you lose approximately 50% of your damage potential and should immediately disengage. Don't commit to an all-in if you've missed E unless there are multiple enemies on top of you and you're about to ult. Also, DON'T FIGHT IN THE RIVER OR JUNGLE! Illaoi's power is entirely based on having tentacles nearby, which only spawn on walls. Fighting in the middle of the river or an open jungle clearing means you have zero passive tentacles and will lose fights you should win. Always path near walls and position fights around your tentacles.
When Splitting Won't Work
Dodge Yorick or Tryndamere. Yorick ghouls block your E. Tryndamere doesn't die. Also ranged tops like Vayne.
Dodge Yorick or Tryndamere. Yorick ghouls block your E. Tryndamere doesn't die. Also ranged tops like Vayne. If you can't land your E, you aren't a champion. Focus on pulling the spirit or just farm under tower.
Dodge Yorick or Tryndamere. Yorick ghouls block your E, neutralizing your kit. Tryndamere literally refuses to die. Also dodge ranged tops like Vayne who can tumble your E. If you can't land E, you aren't a champion.
Flanking or Frontlining
In teamfights, you don't engage. You let them engage on you. Land E on a frontline. When they dive, press R. Mash W to slam repeatedly. Q to hit multiple people. You are a raid boss. If they run, don't chase. You have no CC.
Your Ult spawns a tentacle for EVERY enemy hit, including the spirit. Pull the spirit first, then R. That's one extra tentacle for free. It's the difference between a double kill and a pentakill.
In teamfights, do NOT engage. Let them engage on you. Land E on a frontline. When they dive, press R. Mash W to slam repeatedly. Q to hit multiple people. You are a raid boss. If they run, let them go.
The Hullbreaker Build
Duskblade Illaoi (if item exists/Lethality). Your tentacles scale with massive AD ratios. One slam deals 1000 damage. Usually Iceborn Gauntlet is better for slow.
Full side-lane dominance. Sundered Sky into Sterak's. You are unkillable in a 1v2. If you pull the spirit, they have to run or die. Add a Frozen Heart if they have multiple AD threats. Illaoi is about the pressure—if they don't send three, they lose a tower.
Sundered Sky into Sterak's Gage. You are unkillable in a 1v2. If you pull the spirit, they have to run or die. Add Iceborn Gauntlet if they are full AD. You own the top lane island.
Illaoi's Power Spikes
Level 6. E Max (Level 9). Black Cleaver/Iceborn completion.
Level 3 you are a champion. Level 6 you are a raid boss. Completing Iceborn or Cleaver makes you sticky. Don't fight without E. If you miss E, walk away. If you land E + R, you win the game.
Level 6 is your god-mode unlock. Level 9 (E Max) significantly lowers your soul pull cooldown. Black Cleaver or Iceborn completion makes you sticky enough to force fights. Don't fight without E.
The Tentacle Zone
Pulling their soul (E) and killing it while they watch helplessly under tower. 1v3ing a gank and typing '?'.
Set up tentacles before the fight. Don't fight in the river without prep. You are a fortress, not a cavalry. Make them come to you. If they engage on your terms, they lose. If you chase them, you lose.
Pulling their soul (E) and killing it while they watch helplessly under tower is peak comedy. 1v3ing a gank and typing '?' in all-chat. Set up tentacles before the fight or you lose.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V14.4 | Feb 22, 2024 | NERF | P nerfed, E nerfed |
| V14.3 | Feb 7, 2024 | NERF | P adjusted, W buffed |
| V14.2 | Jan 24, 2024 | BUFF | P buffed, Base stats buffed |
| V13.20 | Oct 11, 2023 | ADJUST | E nerfed |
| V12.15 | Aug 10, 2022 | ADJUST | E adjusted |
