Hwei has 10 abilities across 3 stances. The right ability for every situation makes him the most versatile mage. He requires knowledge of all 10 abilities and when to use each one.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Signature of the Visionary
Passive
Hwei primes enemy champions he damages with his abilities for his signature finishing touch.Hitting an enemy with a second damaging spell completes his signature, leaving it beneath them. The signature detonates after a short delay, dealing magic damage to all enemies in range.
Signature of the Visionary: damaging an enemy with abilities marks them. Your next damaging ability on marked targets deals bonus damage.
Q
Subject: Disaster
Damage Stance (3 sub-abilities)
Hwei envisions a series of disasters, allowing him to paint a devastating blow.This ability replaces Hwei's abilities with damaging abilities: Devastating Fire, Severing Bolt, and Molten Fissure.
CD: 10/9/8/7/6 · Cost: 80/90/100/110/120
Q stance = damage. QQ: fire bolt. QW: paint explosion. QE: running fireball.
W
Subject: Serenity
Utility Stance (3 sub-abilities)
Hwei envisions a series of serenities, allowing him to paint invigorating settings.This ability replaces Hwei's abilities with utility abilities: Fleeting Current, Pool of Reflection, and Stirring Lights.
CD: 18/17.5/17/16.5/16 · Cost: 90/95/100/105/110
W stance = utility. WQ: ally shield zone. WW: mana restore field. WE: MS zone.
E
Subject: Torment
CC Stance (3 sub-abilities)
Hwei envisions a series of torments, allowing him to paint controlling visages.This ability replaces Hwei's abilities with crowd control abilities: Grim Visage, Gaze of the Abyss, and Crushing Maw.
CD: 13/12.5/12/11.5/11 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
E stance = CC. EQ: pull field. EW: slow zone. EE: fear line.
R
Spiraling Despair
Long Range · AoE · Root
Hwei paints a vision of pure despair. The first enemy champion struck becomes the center of an expanding painting that slows and damages nearby enemies. The vision explodes after reaching its maximum size or when the champion dies.
CD: 120/100/80 · Cost: 100
R fires a long-range AoE that roots and deals damage. Your engage tool.
Skill Leveling Order — Max QQ first, then EQ, then WQ · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q — damage stance | ||||
| 2 | Take E — CC stance | ||||
| 3 | Take W — utility stance | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Spiraling Despair | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level E | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level E | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level E | ||||
| 13 | Level E | ||||
| 14 | E maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level W | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level W | ||||
| 18 | W maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Malignance
Ultimate CDR. More R roots.
2700g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier.
3600g
Void Staff
Magic pen.
2800g
Situational
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis.
3250g
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Slows on all abilities.
2600g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Malignance → Deathcap → Void. R spam with ultimate CDR.
Runes
Sorcery Primary
Arcane Comet
QQ/EQ CC guarantees comet landing.
Manaflow Band
Mana sustain for ability spam.
Transcendence
CDR for all 10 abilities.
Gathering Storm
Free AP.
Inspiration Secondary
Biscuit Delivery
Sustain.
Cosmic Insight
CDR.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Hwei
01
Early Game
QQ Poke, Farm Safely
- QQ fire bolt for poke in lane.
- QE running fireball for waveclear.
- EQ pull field for gank setup.
- WW mana restore when low.
- Practice switching stances quickly.
02
Mid Game
R Engage, Stance Versatility
- R long-range root for engage.
- EE fear line for peel.
- QW paint explosion for burst on grouped enemies.
- WQ shield zone for allies in fights.
- WE MS zone for rotations.
03
Late Game
10-Ability Artillery
- R root from screen distance initiates fights.
- Rotate between all 10 abilities based on situation.
- EQ pull + QQ damage + EE fear = massive CC chain.
- WQ shield for teamfight survivability.
- You have an answer for EVERY situation if you choose the right ability.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Hwei
Hwei uses all 10 abilities dynamically — damage, utility, and CC — based on the fight state.
1
Engage — R Root
Long range CC
01
R from long range.
02
Root grouped enemies.
03
Follow with QQ/QW damage.
Don't use all damage abilities. Save E stance CC for divers.
2
DPS — Q Stance Damage
Burst
01
QQ fire bolt for single target.
02
QW explosion for AoE.
03
QE fireball for zone.
3
Utility — W + E Stances
Support your team
01
WQ shield zone for allies.
02
EQ pull divers away.
03
EE fear line for peel.
Master all 10 abilities. The difference between a good and great Hwei is knowing which sub-ability to use in each microsecond.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Hwei.
Basic
3 Stances
Q = damage. W = utility. E = CC. Each has 3 sub-abilities. 10 total.
Intermediate
QQ Poke
QQ fire bolt is your main poke. Fast, decent range, reliable damage.
Advanced
Stance Switching
Practice switching stances mid-fight. The right ability at the right time wins fights.
Basic
R Engage
R is a long-range AoE root. Use to start fights from safety.
Intermediate
EQ Pull
EQ creates a pull zone. Enemies are pulled to center. Great for grouping.
Advanced
WQ Shield
WQ creates a shield zone for allies. Use it when your frontline engages.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Hwei struggles against assassins who dive him before he can stance-switch and mobile champions who dodge his skillshots.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Fizz E dodges everything and bursts you.
EE fear when he E's in.
Zed's burst overwhelms your casting time.
Zhonya's his R.
Katarina's mobility overwhelms your skillshots.
EQ pull her R channel.
Wins Against
Immobile. All your skillshots land.
QQ poke freely. R root him.
Farm lane. You outpoke.
QQ poke through his voidlings.
You outrange her.
QQ poke from outside her range.