Anivia is a zone-control mage. R creates a massive blizzard, W walls split teams, and E chunks anyone chilled. She has the best late-game waveclear and teamfight zoning of any mid laner.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Rebirth
Passive
Upon taking fatal damage, Anivia reverts to an egg and is reborn with full health.
Eggnivia: on death, you become an egg for 6 seconds. If the egg survives, you revive at full HP. Essentially 2 lives.
Q
Flash Frost
Skillshot · Stun · AoE
Anivia brings her wings together and summons a sphere of ice that flies towards her opponents, chilling and damaging anyone in its path. When the sphere explodes it does moderate damage in a radius, stunning anyone in the area.
CD: 11/10/9/8/7 · Cost: 80/85/90/95/100
Q stun is a slow-moving AoE. Detonate early by pressing Q again for a guaranteed stun at shorter range.
W
Crystallize
Terrain · Wall
Anivia condenses the moisture in the air into an impassable wall of ice to block all movement. The wall only lasts a short duration before it melts.
CD: 17 · Cost: 70
W creates impassable terrain. Split teams, block escape routes, trap enemies in your R zone.
E
Frostbite
Point-Click · Burst (doubled on chilled)
With a flap of her wings, Anivia blasts a freezing gust of wind at her target, dealing damage. If the target was recently hit by Flash Frost or damaged by a fully formed Glacial Storm, the damage they take is doubled.
CD: 4 · Cost: 50
E deals DOUBLE damage if the target is chilled (by Q stun or R zone). Always chill first, then E.
R
Glacial Storm
AoE · Zone · Chill
Anivia summons a driving rain of ice and hail to damage her enemies and slow their advance.
CD: 4/3/2 · Cost: 60
R creates a massive AoE blizzard that chills and slows. Grows to full size over 1.5 seconds. Your main damage zone.
Skill Leveling Order — Max E first, then Q, then W · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q — stun | ||||
| 2 | Take E — burst | ||||
| 3 | Take W — wall | ||||
| 4 | Level E | ||||
| 5 | Level E | ||||
| 6 | R — Glacial Storm | ||||
| 7 | Level E | ||||
| 8 | Level Q | ||||
| 9 | E maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level Q | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level Q | ||||
| 13 | Level Q | ||||
| 14 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level W | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level W | ||||
| 18 | W maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Archangel's Staff
Mana pool for R sustain. Transforms to Seraph's for shield.
2600g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
R perma-slows. Enemies can't escape the blizzard.
2600g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier.
3600g
Situational
Void Staff
40% magic pen.
2800g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis in egg form.
3250g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Tear → Archangel's → Rylai's → Deathcap. Mana sustain for infinite R uptime.
Runes
Sorcery Primary
Summon Aery
Aery procs on every E and R tick for consistent damage.
Manaflow Band
Bonus mana for R sustain.
Transcendence
CDR for more Q stuns and W walls.
Gathering Storm
Free AP scaling for late game.
Inspiration Secondary
Biscuit Delivery
Sustain + permanent mana.
Cosmic Insight
Summoner CDR.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Anivia
01
Early Game
Farm with Q, Survive to 6
- Farm safely. You're weak pre-6 without R.
- Q → E combo for trades. Q stuns and chills → E deals double damage.
- Egg passive gives you a second life. Play aggressively knowing you have it.
- Manage mana carefully. Buy Tear on first back.
- Don't use W aggressively until you understand wall placement.
02
Mid Game
R Zone Control, W Wall Splits
- R creates a massive AoE zone. Enemies inside are chilled and slowed.
- E on chilled targets deals DOUBLE damage. R chill → E = huge burst.
- W wall in chokepoints splits teams perfectly.
- Waveclear with R + Q clears entire waves instantly.
- R + Rylai's = permanent slow zone. Enemies can never escape.
03
Late Game
Unkillable Zone Mage
- R covers half the teamfight area. Enemies can't fight inside it.
- W wall splits frontline from backline. 5v2 on either side.
- E double damage chunks anyone who steps in R for 40% HP.
- Egg passive makes you effectively have 2 lives. Zhonya's + egg = unkillable.
- You have the best late-game teamfight control of any mage.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Anivia
Anivia controls teamfights with R zone, W wall splits, and E burst on chilled targets.
1
Zone — R Blizzard
AoE control
01
R in the center of the fight.
02
Enemies inside are chilled + slowed.
03
R grows to full size over 1.5 seconds.
R drains mana continuously. Don't leave it on when no enemies are inside.
2
Split — W Wall
Team separation
01
W wall between frontline and backline.
02
Split the enemy team in half.
03
Fight the isolated portion.
3
Burst — E on Chilled
Damage
01
E anyone inside R zone. Double damage on chilled targets.
02
Q stun stragglers.
03
Egg passive if you die — you revive.
W wall + R zone in a jungle corridor = complete lockdown. Enemies are walled inside your blizzard with no escape.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Anivia.
Basic
E Double Damage
E deals DOUBLE damage on chilled targets. Always Q stun or R chill BEFORE pressing E.
Intermediate
W Wall Placement
W creates impassable terrain. Use it to split teams, block escape routes, or trap enemies in your R.
Basic
Egg Passive
On death, you become an egg. If the egg survives 6 seconds, you revive at full HP.
Advanced
W + R Combo
Place W behind enemies, then R on top. They're walled inside your blizzard with no escape.
Basic
Mana Management
R drains mana constantly. Buy Tear early. Don't leave R running with no targets inside.
Intermediate
Q Detonation
Q can be detonated early by pressing Q again. Detonate at shorter range for guaranteed stun.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Anivia struggles against assassins who kill her before she can set up R and champions who outrange her. She excels against melee champions she can zone.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Fizz E dodges your Q and his burst kills you before R sets up.
Play safe. Farm under tower. Your late game is much stronger.
Kassadin R teleports through your W wall.
Bully him pre-6. He outscales — end fast.
Zed's burst kills you through egg early.
Save egg for his R. Rush Zhonya's.
Wins Against
You outrange Veigar. W blocks his cage escape.
R zone + W wall. He can't escape.
You match his waveclear and outscale.
Farm equally. Your late game is better.
You outrange Annie and egg survives her burst.
Poke with Q. Egg passive counters her all-in.