Neeko is a burst mage with disguise, root, and a massive AoE stun ultimate. She's versatile — poke with Q, catch with E, engage with R, and deceive with passive.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Inherent Glamour
Passive
Neeko can look like an ally champion or as other units on the map. Receiving immobilizing crowd control, casting damaging spells, damaging enemy towers as a non-champion, or your disguise taking damage equal to its healthbar breaks the disguise.
Inherent Glamour: disguise as an ally champion. Enemies see you as that ally until you attack or use abilities. Mind games.
Q
Blooming Burst
AoE · Bloom · Burst
Neeko throws a seed dealing magic damage. The seed blooms again on hitting champions or killing units.
CD: 9/8.5/8/7.5/7 · Cost: 50/60/70/80/90
Q blooms on the first target hit, dealing AoE damage. Multiple blooms if it kills minions.
W
Shapesplitter
Clone · Stealth · On-Hit
Neeko passively deals bonus magic damage every third attack, briefly increasing her move speed. Neeko can activate to send a clone in a direction and recast to change the direction of the clone.
CD: 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost: 0
W sends a clone in a direction + gives MS. Also: passive 3rd auto deals bonus magic damage.
E
Tangle-Barbs
Skillshot · Root · AoE
Neeko slings a tangle that damages and roots everything it passes through. If the tangle kills an enemy or passes through a champion, it becomes larger, faster, and roots for longer.
CD: 12/11.5/11/10.5/10 · Cost: 60/65/70/75/80
E is a root that passes through enemies. Root duration INCREASES for each enemy it passes through. Root the whole team.
R
Pop Blossom
AoE · Stun · Shield
After a short preparation, Neeko leaps into the air, knocking up all nearby enemies. Upon landing, nearby enemies are damaged and stunned. The preparation is hidden if Neeko is disguised.
CD: 120/105/90 · Cost: 100
R channels then slams for massive AoE stun + shield. Flash → R for surprise engage.
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 — root | ||||
| 3 | Take W — clone | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Pop Blossom | ||||
| 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
Hextech Rocketbelt
Dash + magic pen for R engage.
2600g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis after R dive.
3250g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier.
3600g
Situational
Void Staff
Magic pen.
2800g
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Q slow.
2600g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Rocketbelt → Zhonya's → Deathcap. Flash → R → Zhonya's engage.
Runes
Domination Primary
Electrocute
E + Q + auto procs.
Cheap Shot
Bonus on rooted targets.
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 Neeko
01
Early Game
Q Poke, E Root Trades
- Q bloom on the wave for CS + poke.
- E root through minions — longer root when passing through more targets.
- W clone for mind games. Send clone one way, walk the other.
- Passive disguise as jungler to scare enemies.
- E → Q → auto for burst trades.
02
Mid Game
Flash → R Engage
- Flash → R for surprise AoE stun. Enemies can't react.
- E through grouped enemies for multi-target root.
- Zhonya's after R for safety.
- Disguise as jungler to roam. Enemies see 'the jungler' ganking.
- R shield keeps you alive during the channel.
03
Late Game
AoE Stun Teamfights
- Flash → R on 3+ enemies wins the teamfight.
- E root through the whole enemy team for 3-second root.
- Q poke for consistent damage.
- W clone baits abilities. Send clone forward.
- Disguise as ADC to bait assassins.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Neeko
Neeko Flash → R for AoE stun, E root through the team, Q burst.
1
Engage — Flash → R
AoE stun
01
Flash into grouped enemies.
02
R channels → AoE stun.
03
Shield protects during channel.
R channels before stunning. Flash BEFORE pressing R so you're in range when it detonates.
2
Root — E Through Team
Multi-root
01
E through grouped enemies.
02
Root duration increases per target passed.
03
Q on rooted targets.
3
Survive — Zhonya's
After engage
01
Zhonya's after R.
02
Team follows up on stunned enemies.
03
Continue Q poke after stasis.
E through 3+ enemies roots the last target for 3 seconds. Aim E to pass through as many enemies as possible.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Neeko.
Basic
E Multi-Root
E root duration INCREASES for each enemy it passes through. Aim through minions/champions for longer root.
Intermediate
Flash → R
Flash → R for surprise AoE stun. Practice the Flash range.
Basic
Passive Disguise
Disguise as an ally. Enemies see you as that champion until you attack.
Advanced
W Clone Bait
W sends a clone. Use it to bait enemy abilities or make them think you're going one way.
Basic
Q Bloom
Q blooms on first target, dealing AoE. Multiple blooms if it kills targets.
Intermediate
Zhonya's After R
R → Zhonya's. Your team kills stunned enemies while you're safe.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Neeko struggles against mobile champions who dodge her R and E. She excels against immobile teams she can root and stun.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Fizz E dodges R stun.
Bait his E first, then R.
Zed R dodges your R.
R when he reappears from R.
LeBlanc W dodges everything.
E root when she W's in. W back = rooted.
Wins Against
Immobile. E root + R stun.
E → R → dead.
You outrange Annie.
E root from outside her range.
Both farm. You engage better with R.
Push and R his team.