Champion Guide

ADC · Marksman / Assassin

Lucian Guide

The the Purifier

A Tier Patch 16.9.1 Marksman Assassin
49.2%
Win Rate
7.5%
Pick Rate
2.8%
Ban Rate
0.0%
vs Last Patch
Lucian
Lucian
Current Tier
A
Role
ADC
Difficulty
Medium

Lucian is a burst-mobility ADC who weaves abilities between autos for devastating combos. His level 2 all-in is the strongest of any bot lane. 50.5% win rate.

49.2%
Win Rate
↑ + 0.0% from 16.8.1
7.5%
Pick Rate
↑ + 0.1%
7.0
KDA (Avg)
↑ + 0.0
25.2k
Avg Damage
7.8
Avg CS/min
Skills Build Gameplay Teamfight Tips & Tricks Counters Synergies

Abilities

Skills Overview

P
Lightslinger
Lightslinger
Passive
Whenever Lucian uses an ability, his next attack becomes a double-shot. When Lucian is healed or shielded by an ally, or when a nearby enemy Champion is immobilized, his next 2 basic attacks will deal bonus magic damage.
Lightslinger: after every ability, next auto fires twice. ALWAYS auto between abilities. Q → auto → E → auto → W → auto.
Q
Piercing Light
Piercing Light
Line · Burst
Lucian shoots a bolt of piercing light through a target.
CD: 9/8/7/6/5 · Cost: 48/56/64/72/80
Q is a line that extends through the first target. Use on a minion to poke the champion behind.
W
Ardent Blaze
Ardent Blaze
Skillshot · Mark · MS
Lucian shoots a missile that explodes in a star shape, marking and briefly revealing enemies. Lucian gains Move Speed for attacking marked enemies.
CD: 14/13/12/11/10 · Cost: 60
W marks targets. Auto-attacking marked targets gives MS burst. Use for chase.
E
Relentless Pursuit
Relentless Pursuit
Dash · Reset
Lucian quickly dashes a short distance. Lightslinger attacks reduce Relentless Pursuit's cooldown.
CD: 16/15.5/15/14.5/14 · Cost: 32/24/16/8/0
E dash resets 1s on passive double-shot auto on enemies. Chain E resets in fights for constant dashing.
R
The Culling
The Culling
Channel · AoE · MS
Lucian unleashes a torrent of shots from his weapons.
CD: 110/100/90 · Cost: 100
R channels a barrage of bullets. Mostly for waveclear or finishing. Can be cancelled early.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then E, then W · R at 6 / 11 / 16
Level Q W E R Note
1
Take Q
2
Take E — dash
3
Take W
4
Level Q
5
Level Q
6
R — The Culling
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

Summoner Spells
Flash
Primary
Flash
Best repositioning tool — engage, escape and combo extension
Heal
Secondary
Heal
Sustain through poke trades plus burst movement speed
Situational
Ignite Ignite
Cleanse Cleanse
Core Build
Kraken Slayer
Kraken Slayer
True damage. Passive double-shot procs it rapidly.
3100g
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves
AS.
1100g
Essence Reaver
Essence Reaver
Sheen proc on passive double-shot. Mana sustain.
2800g
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge
Crit multiplier.
3400g
Situational
Rapid Firecannon
Rapid Firecannon
Extended range.
2500g
Lord Dominik's Regards
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen.
2900g
Maw of Malmortius
Maw of Malmortius
Magic shield.
2800g
Kraken → ER → IE. Sheen proc double-shot burst is devastating.
Runes
Precision Primary
Press the Attack
Press the Attack
Double-shot procs PtA in 2 autos (counts as 3 hits). Instant expose.
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind
Mana sustain.
Legend: Bloodline
Legend: Bloodline
Lifesteal.
Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace
Execute.
Domination Secondary
Taste of Blood
Taste of Blood
Sustain.
Treasure Hunter
Treasure Hunter
Gold.
Shards
Attack Speed · Adaptive Force · Health

Gameplay

How to Play Lucian

Lucian is a burst ADC who weaves abilities between autos. His passive double-shot after every ability makes his combos devastating. Win lane early, snowball, and close.

01
Early Game
Level 2 All-In King
  • Level 2 all-in: E dash → auto (double-shot) → Q → auto (double-shot) = massive burst.
  • Q through minions to poke the enemy ADC behind the wave.
  • Passive double-shot procs PtA in ONE auto after an ability. Instant expose.
  • W mark + auto gives MS burst for chasing.
  • You're strongest at levels 2-6. Play aggressively.
02
Mid Game
Burst Combos
  • Combo: E → AA → Q → AA → W → AA. Every ability triggers passive double-shot.
  • E resets on passive double-shots hitting enemies. Chain dashes in extended fights.
  • R is mostly for waveclear or finishing. Don't use it in close range — autos deal more.
  • Push your lead. You fall off vs hypercarries late.
  • Sheen proc + double-shot = burst trades no other ADC can match.
03
Late Game
Mobile Burst DPS
  • You're strong but fall off vs Jinx/Kog at 6 items. Close before 35 minutes.
  • E repositioning makes you mobile in fights. Dash constantly.
  • Combo weaving deals more damage than raw auto-attacking. Always weave abilities.
  • R to finish fleeing enemies or waveclear for pressure.
  • Position aggressively. Your E gives mobility other ADCs don't have.
Power CurveLow → High
Lvl 1–5
Lvl 6
1st Item
2 Items
Full Build

Teamfighting

How to Teamfight as Lucian

Lucian dashes and bursts with ability-weaved combos. More mobile than most ADCs.

1
Burst — E + Combo
Opening
01
E into range.
02
AA → Q → AA → W → AA. Full combo.
03
PtA exposes in 1 passive auto.
⚠ WARNING
Don't E forward into 5 people. E sideways for repositioning.
2
Reset — Chain E Dashes
Mobility
01
Each passive double-shot on enemies reduces E CD.
02
Chain dashes for constant repositioning.
03
Auto between every ability.
3
Finish — R or Chase
Cleanup
01
R fleeing enemies.
02
W → auto for MS to chase.
03
E to close gaps.
💡 PRO TIP
Passive double-shot counts as 2 autos. PtA procs after Q → auto (double-shot) = only 1 auto needed after an ability.

Video Guide

Watch the Full Guide

How to Play LUCIAN ADC for Beginners | LUCIAN Guide Season 15 | League of Legends

Credits to MipZ


Tips & Tricks

Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech

Advanced mechanics for Lucian.

Basic
Passive Double-Shot
After EVERY ability, your next auto fires twice. ALWAYS auto between abilities. Never cast 2 abilities in a row.
Intermediate
Q Through Minions
Q extends through the first target. Stand behind a minion and Q — it hits the enemy champion behind.
Basic
Level 2 All-In
Get level 2 first (first wave + 3 melee minions of second wave). E → AA → Q → AA = first blood.
Advanced
E Reset
Each passive double-shot on enemies reduces E cooldown by 1s per bullet (2s per double-shot). Chain dashes in fights.
Intermediate
W MS
W marks targets. Auto the marked target for a burst of MS. Use to chase or kite.
Basic
Early Game Champion
You're strongest early. Win lane and snowball. Don't let games go to 35+ minutes.

Matchups

Counters & Matchups

Lucian struggles against long-range ADCs who kite him and hypercarries who outscale. He excels in all-in lanes.

Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Caitlyn
Caitlyn Hard
Caitlyn outranges your all-in.
E through her traps. All-in when Q is down.
Ashe
Ashe Hard
Ashe perma-slows you. Hard to dash in.
E through her slow. All-in fast.
Jinx
Jinx Medium
Jinx outscales if you don't snowball.
Kill her early. Don't let her scale.
Wins Against
Kog'Maw
Kog'Maw Easy
Kog is a punching bag. You kill him in 2 combos.
All-in level 2. Free kill.
Twitch
Twitch Easy
Twitch is the weakest laner.
All-in immediately.
Vayne
Vayne Easy
Vayne is weak early. You burst her.
Level 2 all-in. Don't let her scale.
Team Comp

Best Synergies

Nami
Damage Amp
Nami
Nami's E empowers Lucian's next auto-attack which also triggers his passive double-shot, effectively doubling her E's effect in one trade. The W heal bounce plus E empowerment makes every Lucian combo deal enormous burst damage.
Leona
Engage
Leona
Leona's E+Q stun locks enemies for Lucian's level 2 all-in, and Sunlight passive procs off Lucian's rapid ability-into-auto sequences. The kill lane is extremely oppressive since both champions peak at level 2.
Lulu
Peel
Lulu
Lulu's W polymorph protects Lucian from divers and her E shield keeps him alive during melee-range burst trades. Wild Growth R saves Lucian when he dashes aggressively into danger.
Pyke
Pick
Pyke
Pyke hooks and stuns a target, Lucian dashes in and bursts them down for the execute, and Pyke's R shares gold with Lucian on kill. The roam coordination of Pyke plus Lucian's mobility creates picks across the map.