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.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
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
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
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
Dash · Reset
Lucian quickly dashes a short distance. Lightslinger attacks reduce Relentless Pursuit's cooldown.
CD: 18/17/16/15/14 · Cost: 40/30/20/10/0
E dash resets 1s on passive double-shot auto on enemies. Chain E resets in fights for constant dashing.
R
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
Core Build
Kraken Slayer
True damage. Passive double-shot procs it rapidly.
3100g
Berserker's Greaves
AS.
1100g
Essence Reaver
Sheen proc on passive double-shot. Mana sustain.
2800g
Infinity Edge
Crit multiplier.
3400g
Situational
Rapid Firecannon
Extended range.
2500g
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen.
2900g
Maw of Malmortius
Magic shield.
2800g
Kraken → ER → IE. Sheen proc double-shot burst is devastating.
Runes
Precision Primary
Press the Attack
Double-shot procs PtA in 2 autos (counts as 3 hits). Instant expose.
Presence of Mind
Mana sustain.
Legend: Bloodline
Lifesteal.
Coup de Grace
Execute.
Domination Secondary
Taste of Blood
Sustain.
Treasure Hunter
Gold.
Shards
Attack Speed · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Lucian
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.
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.
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.
Passive double-shot counts as 2 autos. PtA procs after Q → auto (double-shot) = only 1 auto needed after an ability.
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 outranges your all-in.
E through her traps. All-in when Q is down.
Ashe perma-slows you. Hard to dash in.
E through her slow. All-in fast.
Jinx outscales if you don't snowball.
Kill her early. Don't let her scale.
Wins Against
Kog is a punching bag. You kill him in 2 combos.
All-in level 2. Free kill.
Twitch is the weakest laner.
All-in immediately.
Vayne is weak early. You burst her.
Level 2 all-in. Don't let her scale.