Illaoi Top Lane Counter Guide - Best and Worst Matchups
Countering Illaoi effectively requires understanding her key abilities and weaknesses during both laning phase and team fights.
Laning Phase Strategy:
- Dodge Test of Spirit (E) by staying behind minions
- If hit by E and escaping the zone, keep one tentacle alive to prevent others from spawning
- Freeze wave near your tower to limit her farming potential
- Avoid standing in minion waves to prevent Q poke damage
Teamfight Tactics:
- Disengage when Illaoi uses ultimate
- Avoid fighting in enclosed spaces where tentacles are more effective
- Purchase Grievous Wounds items (Thornmail, Morellonomicon) to reduce her healing
- Remember her E-summoned spirit can grant Dark Harvest stacks
Power Spike Awareness:
- Black Cleaver completion (around 11 minutes) enables one-shot waveclear
- Level 9 (E max) increases side lane threat significantly
- Level 13 (Q and E max) peaks dueling potential
Strong Counters:
- Kayle: Range advantage and scaling power
- Vayne: Mobility and true damage
- Yorick: Split push pressure
- Teemo: Ranged harass and blind
- Warwick: Sustain and dueling potential
Weak Matchups:
- Urgot
- Singed
- Tryndamere
- Jayce
- Trundle
Illaoi, Kraken Priestess
Remember to communicate with your team about Illaoi's position and power spikes, especially when she takes side lanes. Coordinated ganks before she reaches her major power spikes can help prevent her from snowballing.
