Vel'Koz is an artillery mage. Q pokes from extreme range, W zones, E knocks up, and R laser sweeps through entire teams dealing true damage with passive procs.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Organic Deconstruction
Passive
Vel'Koz's abilities apply Organic Deconstruction to enemies on hit. If 3 stacks are accumulated, the enemy will take a burst of true damage.
Organic Deconstruction: 3 ability hits = true damage proc. R applies stacks rapidly.
Q
Plasma Fission
Skillshot · Split · Slow
Vel'Koz shoots a bolt of plasma that splits in two on reactivation or upon hitting an enemy. The bolt slows and damages on hit.
CD: 7 · Cost: 40/45/50/55/60
Q fires, then splits at 90° angles on recast. Use split for unexpected poke angles.
W
Void Rift
AoE · Zone
Vel'Koz opens a rift to the void that deals an initial burst of damage, then explodes for a second burst of damage after a delay.
CD: 1.5 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
W creates a zone that deals damage. Two hits: initial + detonation.
E
Tectonic Disruption
Knockup · AoE
Vel'Koz causes an area to explode, knocking up enemies, and knocking close enemies slightly away.
CD: 12/11.5/11/10.5/10 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
E knocks up enemies in an area. Your only CC.
R
Life Form Disintegration Ray
Channel · Laser · True Damage (with stacks)
Vel'Koz unleashes a channelled beam that follows the cursor for 2.5 seconds that deals magic damage. Organic Deconstruction Researches enemy champions causing them to take true damage instead.
CD: 100/90/80 · Cost: 100
R channels a sweeping laser. Applies passive stacks RAPIDLY. 3 stacks = true damage burst.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then W, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q | ||||
| 2 | Take W | ||||
| 3 | Take E — knockup | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Lifeform Disintegration Ray | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level W | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level W | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level W | ||||
| 13 | Level W | ||||
| 14 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level E | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level E | ||||
| 18 | E maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Malignance
R CDR.
2700g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier.
3600g
Void Staff
Magic pen.
2800g
Situational
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
R laser slows.
2600g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis.
3250g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Malignance → Deathcap → Void. R laser + passive true damage melts.
Runes
Sorcery Primary
Arcane Comet
Q slow guarantees comet.
Manaflow Band
Mana.
Transcendence
CDR.
Gathering Storm
AP scaling.
Inspiration Secondary
Magical Footwear
Free boots.
Cosmic Insight
CDR.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Vel'Koz
01
Early Game
Q Split Poke
- Q → recast for split angle poke. Unexpected angles.
- W through wave for CS.
- E knockup for gank setup and self-peel.
- Passive: 3 ability hits = true damage. Q + Q split + W = passive proc.
- Farm safely. You're immobile.
02
Mid Game
R Laser Teamfights
- R laser sweeps through entire teams.
- E knockup → W → R laser for guaranteed damage.
- R applies passive stacks rapidly. Full R channel = multiple true damage procs.
- Position behind frontline. You have no escape.
- Q poke from max range before fights.
03
Late Game
True Damage Artillery
- R laser with full AP + passive true damage melts anything.
- Q split poke chunks from screen distance.
- E knockup for peel.
- You deal the most AoE sustained damage of any artillery mage.
- R channel = stationary. Position carefully.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Vel'Koz
Vel'Koz R laser sweeps through the enemy team dealing massive true damage with passive procs.
1
Poke — Q Split
Long range
01
Q from max range.
02
Recast to split at 90° angle.
03
Slow enables follow-up.
R channels — you're stationary. Never R in the open without your team in front.
2
Zone — E + W
CC + damage
01
E knockup grouped enemies.
02
W zone on knockup location.
03
Passive procs for true damage.
3
Laser — R
Sweep
01
R laser sweeps through team.
02
Applies passive stacks rapidly.
03
Multiple true damage procs during channel.
R applies passive stacks SO fast that you get 2-3 true damage procs during a full channel. That's 2-3 bursts of true damage on everyone in the laser.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Vel'Koz.
Basic
Q Split
Q can be recast to split at 90° angles. Use unexpected angles to hit enemies behind minions.
Intermediate
Passive True Damage
3 ability hits = true damage proc. R applies stacks rapidly for multiple procs.
Basic
R Laser
R sweeps a laser in front of you. You can aim it left/right during channel.
Advanced
E → W → R Combo
E knockup → W zone → R laser on knocked-up targets. Guaranteed full R channel on CC'd enemies.
Basic
Immobile
You have no escape. Position behind your team.
Intermediate
Q Angle
Q goes straight, then splits sideways on recast. Use to poke around minion waves.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Vel'Koz struggles against assassins who reach him and champions who interrupt R channel. He excels at long-range poke.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Fizz gap-closes and kills you during R channel.
E knockup his dive. Don't R when he can E.
Zed R onto you cancels your R channel.
Zhonya's his R.
Windwall blocks Q and R.
Bait windwall, then R.
Wins Against
You outrange him massively.
Q poke from screen distance.
You outrange her Flash → R.
Stay at max range. She can't reach you.
Both farm. You outpoke.
Q poke through his voidlings.