Galio is a tank mid who counters AP champions. His W passive gives a magic damage shield, his W taunt is devastating engage, and his R flies across the map to save allies.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Colossal Smash
Passive
Every few seconds, Galio's next basic attack deals bonus magic damage in an area.
Colossal Smash: every few seconds, next auto deals bonus magic AoE damage. Use for trading.
Q
Winds of War
AoE · Tornado
Galio fires two windblasts that converge into a large tornado that deals damage over time.
CD: 11/10/9/8/7 · Cost: 60/65/70/75/80
Q creates a tornado that deals AoE damage. Two hits: initial + tornado.
W
Shield of Durand
Taunt · Channel · Magic Shield
Galio charges a defensive stance, moving slowly. Upon releasing the charge, Galio will taunt and damage nearby enemies.
CD: 18/17/16/15/14 · Cost: 50
W charges a taunt. Longer charge = wider taunt radius. Passive: magic damage shield.
E
Justice Punch
Dash · Knockup
Galio will briefly step back and charge, knocking up the first enemy champion he encounters.
CD: 11/10/9/8/7 · Cost: 50
E dashes forward and knocks up the first champion hit. Your engage tool.
R
Hero's Entrance
Semi-Global · Ally Shield · AoE Knockup
Galio designates an ally's position as his landing spot, granting all allies in the area a magic shield. After a delay Galio smashes down location, knocking up nearby enemies.
CD: 180/160/140 · Cost: 100
R targets an ALLY and flies to them, shielding them on arrival + AoE knockup around landing. Semi-global.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then W, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q | ||||
| 2 | Take W — taunt | ||||
| 3 | Take E — dash | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Hero's Entrance | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level W | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level W | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level W | ||||
| 13 | Level W | ||||
| 14 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level E | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level E | ||||
| 18 | E maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Summoner Spells
Primary
Flash
Best repositioning tool — engage, escape and combo extension
Secondary
Teleport
Return to lane fast and apply cross-map macro pressure
Situational
Ignite
Ignite
Core Build
Hextech Rocketbelt
Dash + magic pen for engage.
2600g
Mercury's Treads
Tenacity + MR for anti-mage.
1100g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis after W taunt dive.
3250g
Abyssal Mask
MR shred aura. Anti-mage identity.
2700g
Situational
Spirit Visage
MR + enhanced W shield.
2900g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP when ahead.
3600g
Force of Nature
MR + MS vs sustained AP.
2800g
Rocketbelt → Zhonya's → Abyssal. Anti-mage tank with engage.
Runes
Domination Primary
Electrocute
E + passive auto + Q procs.
Sudden Impact
Magic pen after E dash.
Eyeball Collection
Free AP.
Ultimate Hunter
Lower R cooldown — R is global.
Resolve Secondary
Bone Plating
Survive burst.
Unflinching
Tenacity for engage.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Galio
01
Early Game
Q Poke, W Taunt Trades
- Q through the wave for CS + poke.
- W passive shield absorbs magic damage. You win trades vs AP.
- E → W taunt is your engage combo. E knockup → channel W taunt.
- Passive auto deals bonus AoE damage. Weave it between abilities.
- Counter-pick Galio INTO AP mid laners.
02
Mid Game
R to Save Allies Globally
- R to any ally on the map. Shield them + AoE knockup on arrival.
- Push wave → R bot lane for a 4v2 dive.
- E → Flash → W taunt for surprise AoE engage.
- W taunt forces enemies to walk toward you while your team bursts.
- Anti-mage: W shield + MR items make AP champions useless against you.
03
Late Game
Anti-Mage Frontline
- R in teamfights on your engaging frontliner. AoE knockup on arrival.
- E → W taunt → Zhonya's while your team kills the taunted enemies.
- Anti-mage tank: AP assassins like Fizz, Akali literally can't kill you.
- Flash → W taunt for 3+ person taunt.
- You're a frontline tank from the mid lane — play like one.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Galio
Galio E → W taunt engages teamfights while R flies to allies for global presence.
1
Engage — E + W Taunt
AoE CC
01
E dash → knockup.
02
W channel taunt.
03
Enemies walk toward you.
W taunt channels — you can be interrupted. E knockup gives time to channel.
2
Global — R to Ally
Semi-global engage
01
R an engaging ally.
02
Shield them + AoE knockup on landing.
03
Q + passive for burst.
3
Tank — Absorb Damage
Frontline
01
W passive shield absorbs magic damage.
02
Zhonya's after taunt.
03
You're the anti-mage frontline.
Flash → W taunt is instant AoE CC. Practice the range — it catches 3+ enemies in Flash range.
Video Guide
Watch the Full Guide
Credits to Shok
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Galio.
Basic
Anti-Mage
W passive gives magic damage shield. Pick Galio into AP mid laners — they can't kill you.
Intermediate
R Global
R targets an ALLY, not an enemy. You fly to your ally and knockup enemies around them.
Basic
E → W Combo
E dash → W taunt is your engage. E knockup gives time to channel W.
Advanced
Flash → W
Flash during W channel for surprise AoE taunt. Catches multiple enemies.
Basic
Push and Roam
Push wave with Q → R to side lanes. Your roam is semi-global.
Intermediate
Counter-Pick
Only pick Galio vs AP mid. He's weak vs AD mid laners.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Galio struggles against AD mid laners who bypass his magic shield. He excels against AP champions he was designed to counter.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Yasuo is AD. Your magic shield is useless.
Don't pick Galio into Yasuo.
Zed is AD. Your entire kit counters AP, not AD.
Avoid this matchup entirely.
Talon is AD. Same problem.
Don't pick Galio into AD mids.
Wins Against
Fizz is AP. Your W shield absorbs his entire combo.
W shield → E → W taunt. He dies.
Akali is AP. You counter everything she does.
E → W taunt her out of shroud.
W taunt cancels Katarina R.
W taunt when she R's. Channel cancelled.
Team Comp
Best Synergies
Galio's E knockup and W taunt both trigger Yasuo's Last Breath on airborne targets. Galio R lands with an AoE knockup that Yasuo can ult immediately for a 5-man delete.
Galio's R targets Jarvan during his Cataclysm engage, flying in for a simultaneous AoE knockup while Jarvan's arena traps the enemy team. The dual-engage is nearly impossible to escape or react to.
Galio R to Vi during her Cease and Desist charge delivers a back-to-back AoE knockup combo — Vi pins the priority carry and Galio lands the global knockup around her for maximum disruption.
Galio E+W taunt forces enemies to walk toward him while Orianna's Ball sits on him — the taunt walks enemies directly into Shockwave for guaranteed AoE burst damage on the locked-down group.