Yasuo is the most popular champion in League. His windwall blocks projectiles, E dashes through minions, and R follows any knockup. Double crit passive means he reaches 100% crit at 2 items.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Way of the Wanderer
Passive
Yasuo's Critical Strike Chance is increased. Additionally, Yasuo builds toward a shield whenever he is moving. The shield triggers when he takes damage from a champion or monster.
Way of the Wanderer: passive shield from movement. Double crit chance (50% crit = 100%).
Q
Steel Tempest
Skillshot · Tornado (3rd) · AA Reset
Thrusts forward, damaging all enemies in a line.On hit, grants a stack of Gathering Storm for a few seconds. At 2 stacks, Steel Tempest fires a whirlwind that knocks Airborne.Steel Tempest is treated as a basic attack and scales with all the same things.
CD: 4 · Cost: 0
Q stabs. At 2 stacks, 3rd Q throws a TORNADO that knocks up. Can Q during E dash for circular Q.
W
Wind Wall
Wall · Block Projectiles
Creates a moving wall that blocks all enemy projectiles for 4 seconds.
CD: 25/23/21/19/17 · Cost: 0
W creates a wall that blocks ALL projectiles. Best defensive ability.
E
Sweeping Blade
Dash · Through Targets
Dashes through target enemy, dealing magic damage. Each cast increases subsequent dash's damage, up to a max amount.Cannot be re-cast on the same enemy for a few seconds.If Steel Tempest is cast while dashing, it will strike as a circle.
CD: 0.5/0.4/0.3/0.2/0.1 · Cost: 0
E dashes through a target (minion or champion). Per-target cooldown. Stack E for bonus damage.
R
Last Breath
Follow Knockup · Armor Pen
Blinks to an Airborne enemy champion, dealing physical damage and holding all Airborne enemies in the area in the air. Grants maximum Flow but resets all stacks of Gathering Storm.For a moderate time afterwards, Yasuo's critical strikes gain significant Bonus Armor Penetration.
CD: 70/50/30 · Cost: 0
R follows ANY allied knockup in range. Massive damage + bonus armor pen for 15 seconds. Only triggers on knockups.
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 — dash | ||||
| 3 | Take W — windwall | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Last Breath | ||||
| 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
Kraken Slayer
True damage. Passive doubles crit = 100% at 2 items.
3100g
Berserker's Greaves
AS for faster Q tornado.
1100g
Infinity Edge
100% crit + IE multiplier = massive damage.
3400g
Death's Dance
Bleed passive + heal on kill.
3300g
Situational
Phantom Dancer
AS + MS for Q spam.
2600g
Maw of Malmortius
Magic shield.
2800g
Guardian Angel
Revive.
3200g
Kraken → IE = 100% crit. Double crit passive = 2-item spike.
Runes
Precision Primary
Lethal Tempo
AS for faster Q tornado stacking.
Triumph
Heal on kill.
Legend: Alacrity
AS for Q speed.
Last Stand
Bonus damage when low.
Resolve Secondary
Bone Plating
Survive burst.
Overgrowth
Bonus HP.
Shards
Attack Speed · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Yasuo
01
Early Game
Q Stack, E Dash Trades
- Q stack to tornado (3rd Q). Tornado knocks up for R.
- E through minions for mobility. Per-target cooldown.
- W windwall blocks key abilities. Save it.
- Passive shield from moving. Walk around to charge it before trades.
- E → Q during dash = circular Q. AoE in melee trades.
02
Mid Game
Tornado + R Engage
- Tornado + R = your main engage. Q → Q → Q3 tornado → R.
- 100% crit at Kraken + IE. Massive 2-item spike.
- E → Q (circular) through wave for AoE damage.
- W windwall blocks projectile ultimates (Ashe R, MF R, etc.).
- R follows ANY allied knockup — J4 EQ, Vi R, Malphite R.
03
Late Game
100% Crit DPS
- 100% crit DPS rivals ADCs. You're a melee carry.
- R gives 50% bonus armor pen for 15 seconds. Shreds tanks.
- E through teamfights for repositioning.
- W windwall protects your entire team from projectiles.
- Death's Dance + Triumph = heal through everything.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Yasuo
Yasuo tornado + R follows any allied knockup. Windwall protects the team. 100% crit DPS.
1
Tornado — Q3 Knockup
Setup R
01
Q → Q → Q3 tornado.
02
Or wait for allied knockup.
03
R follows ANY knockup in range.
R only works on KNOCKUPS, not stuns or roots. Track which ally abilities knock up.
2
R — Last Breath
Follow-up
01
R on knocked-up enemies.
02
Massive damage + 50% armor pen for 15s.
03
Multi-target R if multiple are airborne.
3
DPS — Crit Autos + Q
Melee carry
01
Auto with 100% crit.
02
Q spam (low CD with AS).
03
E for repositioning.
Yasuo R follows ANY allied knockup: Malphite R, Diana R, J4 EQ, Vi R, Alistar Q. Duo with a knockup champion.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Yasuo.
Basic
Double Crit
Passive DOUBLES crit chance. 50% crit items = 100% crit. Only need 2 crit items.
Intermediate
Q Tornado
3rd Q throws a tornado that knocks up. This enables R.
Basic
W Windwall
W blocks ALL projectiles. Save it for the most dangerous one (Ashe R, MF R, etc.).
Advanced
E → Q Circular
Q during E dash makes a circular slash around you. AoE in melee range.
Basic
R Follows Knockups
R works on ANY knockup — yours or allies. Duo with knockup champions.
Intermediate
E Mobility
E dashes through targets. Each target has a per-unit cooldown. Dash through minion waves for mobility.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Yasuo struggles against point-and-click CC and champions who don't rely on projectiles. He excels against projectile-based mages.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Point-and-click stun. Windwall doesn't block it.
W doesn't block Q stun. Respect her range.
R suppresses through windwall. Passive blocks Q.
QSS or bait R.
Point-and-click stun + burst. Too tanky.
Don't trade. Farm safely.
Wins Against
W blocks her entire kit. All projectiles.
Windwall everything. Free lane.
W blocks Q, W, E, and R.
Windwall his R laser.
All abilities are projectiles. Windwall blocks everything.
W his entire kit.