Lissandra is a CC mage who engages teamfights. E dash → W root → R self-cast invulnerability → Zhonya's = 4 seconds of invulnerability while your team kills everything frozen around you.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Iceborn Subjugation
Passive
When an enemy champion dies near Lissandra they become a Frozen Thrall. Frozen Thralls slow nearby enemies and then, after a delay, shatter from the intense cold, dealing magic damage to nearby targets.
Iceborn Subjugation: when an enemy dies near you, a frozen thrall spawns and slows/damages nearby enemies.
Q
Ice Shard
Skillshot · Slow · Shatter
Throws a spear of ice that shatters when it hits an enemy, dealing magic damage and slowing Move Speed. Shards pass through the target, dealing the same damage to other enemies hit.
CD: 7/6/5/4/3 · Cost: 55/60/65/70/75
Q fires ice that shatters through targets. Main poke and waveclear.
W
Ring of Frost
AoE · Root · Self-Cast
Freezes nearby enemies in ice, dealing magic damage and rooting them.
CD: 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 · Cost: 40
W roots all nearby enemies for 1 second. Instant AoE root.
E
Glacial Path
Claw · Recast Dash
Lissandra creates an ice claw that deals magic damage. Reactivating this ability transports Lissandra to the claw's current location.
CD: 24/21/18/15/12 · Cost: 80/85/90/95/100
E sends a claw that you can recast to dash to. Your engage + escape.
R
Frozen Tomb
Stasis (self) or Stun (enemy)
If cast on an enemy champion, the target is frozen solid, stunning it. If cast on Lissandra, she encases herself in dark ice, healing herself while becoming untargetable and invulnerable. Dark ice then emanates from the target dealing magic damage to enemies and slowing Move Speed.
CD: 120/100/80 · Cost: 100
R on ENEMY = stun them. R on SELF = you become invulnerable (like Zhonya's) and create a freeze zone.
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 — root | ||||
| 3 | Take E — claw dash | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Frozen Tomb | ||||
| 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
Core Build
Hextech Rocketbelt
Dash + magic pen.
2600g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis stacking with R self-cast = double invulnerability.
3250g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier.
3600g
Situational
Void Staff
Magic pen.
2800g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Q perma-slow.
2600g
Rocketbelt → Zhonya's → Deathcap. E dive → W root → R self-cast → Zhonya's = 4 seconds invulnerable.
Runes
Domination Primary
Electrocute
E + W + Q procs.
Taste of Blood
Sustain.
Eyeball Collection
Free AP.
Ultimate Hunter
Lower R cooldown.
Inspiration Secondary
Magical Footwear
Free boots.
Cosmic Insight
CDR.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Lissandra
01
Early Game
Q Poke, Safe Farm
- Q through minions for poke and waveclear.
- W root at melee range — use when trading or ganked.
- E claw for escape. Save it — it's your only mobility.
- R on assassins when they dive you. Self-cast = invulnerable + freeze zone.
- Play safe and farm. Your power is at teamfights.
02
Mid Game
E Engage + R
- E → W → R self-cast → Zhonya's = engage combo. 4 seconds invulnerable.
- R on enemy carry for point-and-click stun.
- R self-cast creates freeze zone that damages + slows all nearby enemies.
- Roam with E dash speed. Push wave → E through wall → gank.
- Anti-assassin: when Zed/Fizz dive you, R self-cast. They die to freeze zone.
03
Late Game
Engage Mage
- E into enemy team → W root all → R self-cast → Zhonya's → team kills everything.
- Double invulnerability (R + Zhonya's) makes you the safest engage mage.
- R on enemy carry = guaranteed 1.5s stun. Follow with W root.
- Passive thralls from dying enemies slow and damage remaining survivors.
- You're the engage. Flash → E → W → R self-cast wins every teamfight.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Lissandra
Lissandra E dashes into the enemy team, W roots everyone, R self-casts for invulnerability + freeze zone.
1
Engage — E Dash
Get in
01
E claw through terrain.
02
Recast to dash to claw location.
03
You're in the middle of the enemy team.
E is your engage AND escape. If you use it to engage, you MUST R self-cast or Zhonya's to survive.
2
CC — W Root + R
Lockdown
01
W root all nearby enemies.
02
R self-cast for invulnerability + freeze zone.
03
Q spam during freeze zone.
3
Survive — Zhonya's
Double stasis
01
Zhonya's after R self-cast ends.
02
4 seconds total invulnerability.
03
Your team has killed everything by now.
R self-cast → Zhonya's = 4 seconds invulnerable. In that time, your team deals damage while enemies are frozen around you.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Lissandra.
Basic
R Self-Cast
R on yourself = invulnerable + freeze zone around you. Use it after diving into enemies.
Intermediate
R on Enemy
R on an enemy = 1.5s stun. Use for picks or to shut down the enemy carry.
Basic
W Root
W roots ALL nearby enemies. Instant AoE root at melee range.
Advanced
E Through Walls
E claw passes through terrain. Recast to dash through walls for surprise engages.
Basic
Anti-Assassin
When assassins dive you, R self-cast. They freeze next to you while you're invulnerable.
Intermediate
Double Stasis
R self-cast + Zhonya's = 4 seconds invulnerable. The enemy team can't kill you.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Lissandra struggles against long-range mages who poke before she can E in. She excels against assassins she can R self-cast against.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Outranges your E engage.
Dodge Q. Flash → E → W → R.
Pokes from screen distance.
Roam. Can't reach him.
W zone blocks your E dash.
Bait W, then E → engage.
Wins Against
R self-cast when he R's you. He freezes and dies.
R self-cast his R. He's dead.
R self-cast his dive. W root.
He dives → R self-cast → he dies.
W root cancels her R. R self-cast her dive.
W root her R channel. Done.