Talon is the fastest roaming assassin. E hops over ANY wall, giving him the fastest roam speed in the game. Get first blood, then roam constantly for more kills. Snowball or fall off.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Blade's End
Passive
Talon's spells Wound champions and large monsters, stacking up to 3 times. When Talon attacks a champion with 3 stacks of Wound, they bleed for heavy damage over time.
Blade's End: 3 ability/auto hits on the same target = massive bleed proc. Always proc passive.
Q
Noxian Diplomacy
Dash/Stab · Execute
Talon stabs the target unit. If they are within melee range, this attack deals critical damage. If they are outside melee range, Talon will leap at his target before stabbing them. Talon refunds some health and cooldown if this ability kills the target.
CD: 8/7.5/7/6.5/6 · Cost: 40
Q at close range = stab (crit damage). Q at long range = dash. Close-range Q deals MUCH more damage.
W
Rake
Skillshot · Slow · Return
Talon sends out a volley of daggers that then return back to him, dealing physical damage every time it passes through an enemy. The returning blades deal bonus damage and slow units hit.
CD: 9/8.5/8/7.5/7 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
W throws blades out and returns. Both hits deal damage. Return hit slows.
E
Assassin's Path
Terrain Hop · Parkour
Talon vaults over any terrain or structure, up to a max distance. This ability has a low cooldown, but puts the used terrain on a long cooldown.
CD: 0 · Cost: 0
E hops over ANY terrain. Each wall has a per-wall cooldown. Fastest roamer in the game.
R
Shadow Assault
Stealth · AoE · Return Blades
Talon disperses a ring of blades and becomes Invisible while gaining additional Move Speed. When Talon emerges from Invisibility, the blades converge on his location. Each time the blades move, Shadow Assault deals physical damage to enemies hit by at least one blade.
CD: 100/80/60 · Cost: 100
R goes invisible and sends blades out. Blades return to you for burst. Use R → walk behind → blades return through enemy.
Skill Leveling Order — Max W first, then Q, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take W | ||||
| 2 | Take Q — stab | ||||
| 3 | Take E — wall hop | ||||
| 4 | Level W | ||||
| 5 | Level W | ||||
| 6 | R — Shadow Assault | ||||
| 7 | Level W | ||||
| 8 | Level Q | ||||
| 9 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level Q | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level Q | ||||
| 13 | Level Q | ||||
| 14 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level E | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level E | ||||
| 18 | E maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Duskblade of Draktharr
Lethality + invis on kill. R invis + Duskblade invis = double stealth.
3100g
Ionian Boots
CDR.
950g
Edge of Night
Spell shield protects roam.
2900g
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Lethality + MS for roaming.
2900g
Situational
Death's Dance
Bleed passive.
3300g
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen.
2900g
Guardian Angel
Revive.
3200g
Full lethality. Roam → kill → E wall hop out.
Runes
Domination Primary
Electrocute
W + Q + auto procs.
Sudden Impact
Lethality after Q dash.
Eyeball Collection
Free AD.
Treasure Hunter
Gold on roam kills.
Precision Secondary
Triumph
Heal on kill.
Last Stand
Bonus damage when low.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Talon
01
Early Game
Level 2 First Blood
- Level 2 W → Q → auto → passive bleed = first blood. Highest first blood rate.
- W through wave for CS + poke. Both hits deal damage.
- Close-range Q (melee range) crits. ALWAYS Q in melee.
- E hop over walls for level 3 roams. Fastest roamer.
- Play aggressive levels 1-3. You're strongest early.
02
Mid Game
Roam Every Wave
- Push wave with W → E hop over wall → roam → kill → E hop back.
- R stealth → walk behind enemy → R blades return through them for burst.
- W → R → Q (melee) → auto → passive bleed = one-shot combo.
- Every wall only has a per-wall cooldown. You can hop each wall once then it's blocked for ~2 minutes.
- Roam bot for double kills. Your E pathing is unpredictable.
03
Late Game
Flank Assassin
- You fall off vs tanks. Focus squishies only.
- R → flank → W → Q melee → passive bleed = dead carry.
- Duskblade invis + R invis = double stealth.
- E over walls for surprise flanks nobody expects.
- Close games fast. You weaken past 30 minutes.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Talon
Talon flanks from E wall hop, R stealth, then bursts the carry.
1
Flank — E Wall Hop
Unexpected angle
01
E hop over terrain behind enemy.
02
R for stealth.
03
Walk behind carry.
E wall hop has per-wall cooldown. Plan your escape route — you can't hop the same wall twice.
2
Burst — W + Q Melee
One-shot
01
W blades through target.
02
Q melee stab (crit damage).
03
R blades return through target.
3
Escape — R Stealth + E
Get out
01
R stealth after burst.
02
E hop a different wall.
03
Duskblade invis on kill.
R → walk through enemy → R blades return. The blades return to YOU, so positioning behind the enemy makes them hit on the return path.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Talon.
Basic
Level 2 First Blood
W → Q melee → auto = passive bleed proc at level 2. Highest first blood rate in the game.
Intermediate
Q Melee vs Range
Q at melee range = stab + crit damage. Q at range = dash. ALWAYS Q in melee for max damage.
Basic
E Parkour
E hops over ANY terrain. Each wall has a ~2 minute per-wall cooldown.
Advanced
R Return Blades
R sends blades out + stealth. Blades return TO you. Walk behind the enemy → blades return THROUGH them.
Basic
Passive Bleed
3 hits from abilities/autos = massive bleed. W (2 hits) + Q = instant passive proc.
Intermediate
Roaming
Push wave with W → E over wall → roam. You're the fastest roamer thanks to E.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Talon struggles against tanks and mages who outrange his melee burst. He excels against immobile squishies.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Passive shield + R suppression.
Pop passive with W. QSS for R.
R self-cast counters your dive.
Bait R, then all-in.
Point-and-click stun.
Bait stun with W. All-in when down.
Wins Against
E hop through cage. Free kill.
Level 2 all-in. He dies.
No escape from your all-in.
W → Q melee → dead.
Squishy, immobile.
Level 2 first blood.