Taliyah is a control mage jungler. W-E combo deals massive AoE damage, Q provides sustained DPS, and R splits the entire map in half. She rewards creative positioning and map awareness.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Rock Surfing
Passive
Taliyah gains Move Speed near walls.
Worked Ground: Q creates worked ground where cast. On worked ground, Q fires a single empowered boulder instead of 5.
Q
Threaded Volley
Skillshot · AoE · Worked Ground
Taliyah throws a volley of rocks in a target direction, moving freely as she casts. This creates Worked Ground below her. If Taliyah casts Threaded Volley on Worked Ground, she consumes the ground to throw a stronger boulder that slows enemies.
CD: 7/6/5/4/3 · Cost: 55/60/65/70/75
Normal Q fires 5 rocks. Worked Ground Q fires 1 big boulder. Position to avoid worked ground for max DPS.
W
Seismic Shove
AoE · Knockup · Displacement
Taliyah causes an area of ground to erupt and throws enemies within it in a direction of her choosing.
CD: 14/12.5/11/9.5/8 · Cost: 40/30/20/10/0
W knocks up enemies after a delay. Aim where they'll be, not where they are.
E
Unraveled Earth
Zone · AoE · Slow
Taliyah creates a slowing minefield. If enemies dash through it or are knocked through it, the mines explode and stun them.
CD: 14 · Cost: 90
E creates a minefield. Enemies dashing or knocked through it take bonus damage. W into E is devastating.
R
Weaver's Wall
Wall · Terrain · Ride
Taliyah creates a very long wall and then surfs it.
CD: 180/150/120 · Cost: 100
R creates a massive wall across the map. You ride on top of it. Use for rotations, cutting off escape, or splitting teams.
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 | ||||
| 3 | Take W | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Weaver's Wall | ||||
| 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.
2600g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis for survival.
3250g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier.
3600g
Situational
Void Staff
Magic pen vs MR.
2800g
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Q slow.
2600g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Rocketbelt → Zhonya's → Deathcap. W-E combo + Q follow-up is your burst pattern.
Runes
Domination Primary
Dark Harvest
Q procs on low targets.
Cheap Shot
Bonus on W knockup targets.
Eyeball Collection
Free AP.
Treasure Hunter
Gold on kills.
Inspiration Secondary
Magical Footwear
Free boots.
Cosmic Insight
Item CDR.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Taliyah
01
Early Game
Healthy Clear, W-E Ganks
- Start Red → Raptors → Krugs → Wolves → Blue → Gromp. Q AoE clears camps fast.
- Level 3 ganks with W knockup into E minefield are devastating.
- Avoid worked ground — move to fresh ground for full 5-rock Q.
- R at level 6 lets you ride across the map for instant ganks from anywhere.
- Place E in front of fleeing enemies, then W them through it.
02
Mid Game
R Roams, Zone Control
- W → E combo is your bread and butter. W knocks enemies through E for double damage.
- R walls off escape routes. Cut enemies off from tower and force fights.
- In dragon fights, R wall to split the enemy team — fight 5v2 while 3 are stuck behind your wall.
- Avoid standing on worked ground. Reposition constantly for fresh ground Q.
- Zhonya's lets you W-E → Zhonya's while damage ticks.
03
Late Game
AoE Burst + Wall Splits
- R in late game wins entire fights. One good wall = 5v3.
- W-E combo with Deathcap deals 60-70% HP to squishies.
- Q from fresh ground (5 rocks) is massive sustained DPS.
- Zone objectives with E minefield. Enemies can't walk through it.
- R to steal Baron from across the map — ride the wall over and Smite.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Taliyah
Taliyah zones with E, bursts with W-E, and splits teams with R.
1
Zone — E Minefield
Area denial
01
E the fight area.
02
W enemies through E for burst.
03
Q from fresh ground for 5-rock DPS.
Don't stand on worked ground during fights. Reposition for fresh ground Q.
2
Burst — W-E Combo
Damage
01
W knockup through E minefield.
02
Q follow-up for burst.
03
Rocketbelt for repositioning.
3
Split — R Wall
Team split
01
R to cut the enemy team in half.
02
Fight the isolated portion.
03
R also blocks retreat paths.
R wall splits teams perfectly at chokepoints (dragon pit entrance, baron corridor). Position the wall to isolate 2-3 enemies from the rest.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Taliyah.
Basic
W-E Combo
Place E first, then W enemies through it. Enemies knocked through E take massive bonus damage.
Intermediate
Worked Ground
Q creates worked ground. On worked ground, Q fires 1 boulder instead of 5. Reposition constantly.
Advanced
R Team Split
R wall cuts the map in half. Use at chokepoints to isolate part of the enemy team.
Basic
R Roaming
You can ride R wall across the map. Use for surprise ganks from across the map.
Intermediate
E Zone Control
E minefield deters dashes. Place it where enemies want to dash through (over walls, through chokes).
Advanced
W Prediction
W has a delay. Aim where enemies will BE, not where they ARE. Cast slightly ahead of their movement.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Taliyah struggles against mobile champions who dodge W and champions who can break her R wall quickly. She excels against immobile teams she can zone.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Lee Sin's mobility dodges your W and his early pressure invades you.
Farm safely. Don't try to W a Lee Sin — he'll dodge it every time.
Graves dashes your W and outbursts you.
Keep distance. Poke with Q and save W for when his E is down.
Kindred Q dodges your W and R negates your burst.
W after Kindred uses Q. She's vulnerable during Q cooldown.
Wins Against
Amumu has no mobility to dodge W. He walks right into E minefield.
W-E combo hits every time. He can't escape.
Karthus can't dodge anything. W-E-Q combo kills him easily.
Invade and combo him. Zero escape.
Sejuani is too slow to dodge W. Your burst outpaces her tankiness.
W-E combo chunks her. She can't close the gap against your zone control.