Vex counters mobile champions. Her passive FEARS anyone who dashes near her, and Gloom marks dashing enemies for bonus damage. R homes in on enemies for reliable engage.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Doom 'n Gloom
Passive
Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.
Doom 'n Gloom: Doom = next ability fears. Gloom = nearby enemy dashes mark them for bonus damage. Anti-mobility.
Q
Mistral Bolt
Skillshot · AoE
Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.
CD: 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost: 45/50/55/60/65
Q fires a wave. Deals more damage close range.
W
Personal Space
AoE · Shield · Fear (passive)
Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.
CD: 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost: 75
W shields you and deals AoE around you. If Doom passive is ready, W FEARS nearby enemies.
E
Looming Darkness
AoE · Mark · Gloom
Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.
CD: 13 · Cost: 70/80/90/100/110
E marks an area with Gloom. Marked enemies take bonus damage from next ability.
R
Shadow Surge
Homing · Dash · Reset
Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.
CD: 140/120/100 · Cost: 100
R fires a homing missile. If it hits, you can RECAST to dash to the target. Resets on kill.
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 E — gloom | ||||
| 3 | Take W — shield/fear | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Shadow Surge | ||||
| 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
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis after R dive.
3250g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Q slow.
2600g
Malignance → Deathcap → Void. R engage + Doom fear for reliable picks.
Runes
Domination Primary
Electrocute
E + Q + auto procs.
Taste of Blood
Sustain.
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 Vex
01
Early Game
E + Q Poke, Fear Dashers
- E mark → Q through marked area for Gloom bonus damage.
- Passive Doom: next ability fears. W with Doom = AoE fear.
- Passive Gloom: enemies who dash near you get marked for bonus damage. Counter assassins.
- Q close range deals more damage. Hit the fat part.
- Farm with Q through wave.
02
Mid Game
R Homing Engage
- R homes in on enemies. Recast to dash to them.
- R → W (fear) → E → Q = guaranteed burst combo.
- R resets on kill. Chain kills with R resets.
- Pick Vex INTO mobile teams (Yasuo, Katarina, Akali).
- Doom fear when assassins dash onto you. They're feared mid-dash.
03
Late Game
Anti-Mobility Control
- R homing into backline → fear → burst = dead carry.
- R resets on kill for chain assassinations.
- Passive fears every dashing champion. Anti-mobility queen.
- Zhonya's after R dive.
- Counter-pick into Yasuo, Katarina, Akali, Zed.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Vex
Vex R homes into the backline, fears with Doom, and bursts. R resets on kills.
1
Engage — R Homing
Reliable gap-close
01
R fires homing missile.
02
If it hits, recast to dash to target.
03
R resets on kill.
R missile is slow. It HOMES but enemies can sidestep at close range. Use from mid range.
2
Fear — Doom W
AoE CC
01
W with Doom passive = AoE fear.
02
E mark → Q for Gloom bonus damage.
03
Electrocute procs.
3
Reset — Chain R
Cleanup
01
R resets on kill.
02
Dash to next target with reset R.
03
Chain through the team.
Vex passive FEARS enemies who DASH near her. Pick her vs Yasuo, Katarina, Akali, Zed — they literally fear themselves by dashing.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Vex.
Basic
Anti-Mobility
Passive FEARS enemies who dash near you. Pick Vex INTO mobile champions.
Intermediate
Doom Fear
When Doom passive is ready, your next ability fears. W with Doom = AoE fear around you.
Basic
E + Q Combo
E marks area with Gloom. Q through Gloom deals bonus damage.
Advanced
R Reset
R resets on champion kill. Chain R dashes through the team.
Basic
R Homing
R fires a homing missile. If it hits, recast to dash to the target.
Intermediate
Counter-Pick
Pick Vex INTO Yasuo, Katarina, Akali, Zed, Irelia. Their dashes = your fear procs.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Vex struggles against immobile mages who don't trigger her anti-dash passive. She excels against mobile assassins and fighters.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Immobile mage — your anti-dash passive is wasted.
Play standard Q + E poke. No anti-mobility advantage.
Immobile. Wall blocks your R dash.
R around her wall. Not through it.
Outranges you. Doesn't dash.
Farm and look for R engage opportunities.
Wins Against
Every dash = fear proc. He fears himself.
Let him dash into you. Doom fear → burst.
E blink = fear proc. Her mobility is her weakness vs you.
Doom fear when she E's in. She's dead.
E dash = fear proc. R dash = fear proc.
Every dash she does = fear. Free kills.