Kog'Maw is the highest DPS ADC in the late game. His W gives range and %max HP magic damage, making him the ultimate tank shredder. He needs a team to protect him — zero mobility, zero escape.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Icathian Surprise
Passive
4 seconds after dying, Kogmaw explodes, dealing true damage to surrounding enemies.
Icathian Surprise: on death, you explode after 4 seconds dealing true damage. Run at enemies when you die.
Q
Caustic Spittle
Skillshot · Armor/MR Shred
Kog'Maw launches a corrosive projectile which deals magic damage and corrodes the target's armor and magic resist for a short time. Kog'Maw also gains additional attack speed.
CD: 7 · Cost: 40
Q shreds armor AND MR. Hit it on tanks before auto-attacking for amplified damage.
W
Bio-Arcane Barrage
Range Buff · %HP On-Hit
Kog'Maw's attacks gain range and deal a percent of the target's maximum health as magic damage.
CD: 17 · Cost: 40
W extends range massively and adds %max HP magic damage. Your main DPS steroid — activate before fighting.
E
Void Ooze
AoE · Slow · Zone
Kog'Maw launches a peculiar ooze which damages all enemies it passes through and leaves a trail which slows enemies who stand on it.
CD: 12 · Cost: 40/55/70/85/100
E slows in a line. Use for self-peel and zoning.
R
Living Artillery
Long Range · AoE · Execute
Kog'Maw fires an artillery shell at a great distance dealing magic damage (increased significantly on low health enemies) and revealing non-stealthed targets. Additionally, multiple Living Artilleries in a short period of time cause them to cost additional Mana.
CD: 2/1.5/1 · Cost: 40
R is long-range artillery that deals more damage to low-HP targets. Mana cost increases with rapid casts — don't spam it.
Skill Leveling Order — Max W first, then Q, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take W — range + %HP | ||||
| 2 | Take E — slow | ||||
| 3 | Take Q — shred | ||||
| 4 | Level W | ||||
| 5 | Level W | ||||
| 6 | R — Living Artillery | ||||
| 7 | Level W | ||||
| 8 | Level Q | ||||
| 9 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level Q | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level Q | ||||
| 13 | Level Q | ||||
| 14 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level E | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level E | ||||
| 18 | E maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Kraken Slayer
True damage + on-hit synergy.
3100g
Berserker's Greaves
AS.
1100g
Guinsoo's Rageblade
Converts crit to on-hit. Double W %HP procs.
2600g
Blade of the Ruined King
%HP on-hit stacks with W.
3200g
Situational
Wit's End
MR + on-hit magic damage.
3100g
Runaan's Hurricane
Bolts apply W %HP to 3 targets.
2600g
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen.
2900g
Kraken → Guinsoo's → BotRK. On-hit stacking with W = highest DPS in the game.
Runes
Precision Primary
Lethal Tempo
Stacking AS for maximum on-hit procs.
Presence of Mind
Mana sustain for R.
Legend: Alacrity
AS.
Coup de Grace
Execute.
Resolve Secondary
Bone Plating
Survive burst in lane.
Overgrowth
Bonus HP scaling.
Shards
Attack Speed · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Kog'Maw
01
Early Game
Farm Safely, Survive
- Farm safely. You're the weakest ADC early. Don't trade.
- W gives extra range for 8 seconds. Use it to poke when it's active, then back off.
- E slow is your only self-peel. Place it between you and threats.
- You have NO escape. Position extremely carefully.
- Let your support dictate trades. Follow up with W autos.
02
Mid Game
W Active DPS
- W + on-hit items = devastating DPS. Activate W before every fight.
- Q shreds armor + MR. Hit tanks before auto-attacking for amplified damage.
- R artillery poke from long range. Don't spam it — mana cost stacks.
- Stay behind your entire team. One assassin reaching you = death.
- You need your team to protect you. Communicate this.
03
Late Game
Highest DPS in the Game
- You deal the most DPS of ANY champion at full build. 6% max HP per auto with W.
- Guinsoo's doubles your on-hit procs. W + BotRK + Kraken + Guinsoo's = tanks die in 3 seconds.
- Position behind everyone. You are the win condition — if you die, your team loses.
- W range at max rank rivals Caitlyn's. You outrange most champions.
- If protected, you're literally unkillable. Lulu + Kog'Maw is the most broken combo in the game.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Kog'Maw
Kog'Maw stands behind his team and auto-attacks with W. If protected, he kills everything.
1
Position — Behind Everyone
Maximum safety
01
Stand behind your ENTIRE team.
02
Activate W before the fight.
03
Q the nearest tank for shred.
You have ZERO escape. If anyone reaches you, you die. Position is EVERYTHING.
2
DPS — W Auto Attacks
Tank shredding
01
Auto-attack with W active. %HP melts everything.
02
Focus nearest target. Don't overextend for the backline.
03
E slow anyone who gets close.
3
Artillery — R Poke
Cleanup
01
R low-HP fleeing enemies.
02
R does more damage to low targets.
03
Don't spam R — mana cost increases per cast.
Lulu R + Kog'Maw is the strongest duo in the game. Lulu's W, E, R all protect Kog while he melts the entire team with W.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Kog'Maw.
Basic
W is Everything
W gives range and %HP on-hit. ALWAYS activate it before fighting. It's your entire identity.
Intermediate
Q Shred
Q shreds armor AND MR. Hit tanks before auto-attacking for amplified damage.
Basic
Zero Mobility
You have NO escape. Position behind your team at all times. One misstep = death.
Advanced
Guinsoo's Double Proc
Guinsoo's makes every 3rd auto apply on-hit effects twice. W + BotRK + Kraken all double-proc. Insane DPS.
Basic
R Mana Cost
R costs more mana each time you cast it rapidly. Don't spam it — use it for finishing low-HP targets.
Intermediate
Death Passive
When you die, you explode after 4 seconds. Run at enemies for true damage. It's not wasted.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Kog'Maw struggles against assassins and all-in lanes. He excels when protected by a peel comp in late-game teamfights.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Draven kills you in 3 autos. You can't trade back.
Farm under tower. Don't trade. Outscale at 3 items.
Lucian's burst and dash overwhelm you.
Respect his level 2. Farm safely.
Kai'Sa R dives directly onto you. No escape.
E slow when she R's. Hope your support peels.
Wins Against
You outscale Ashe and your W outranges her late.
Farm equally. You win at 3+ items.
Sivir can't match your DPS at any stage.
Free farm lane. Outscale.
Ezreal's poke is manageable and you outscale.
Farm safely. Your late game DPS dwarfs his.