Tips for Illaoi?

Awoof·11/26/2015, 9:22:12 PM·2 votes·7,662 views

So far people already have emerged to call Illaoi 'broken' and whatnot, as that's expected from a new champion no matter how true. But honestly I'm having a hard time feeling like I'm doing anything on her. Now, I fully admit I played her only four times solo, and probably suck at her, but I don't have the feeling I do significant damage besides the Q early game and am neither noteworthy tanky no matter how I build. So if someone could enlighten me on when she is supposed to be a threat and how, I'd greatly appreciate it.

12 Comments

BattleOxe11/26/2015, 9:28:41 PM1 votes

She never isn't that tanky. She relies on her Q passive to sustain in teamfights. Also, every tentacle deals same DMG as Q, so W in 3 tentacles deals triple DMG of Q, which is just insane. So, you want to fight near tentacles. Basicly, you zone enemy, and hope he engages on you, or his jungler comes to gank, so you can ult both of them and pick up double kill. Simmilar to heimerdinger

Zero Shingetsu11/26/2015, 9:30:31 PM1 votes

I can't be sure this works top as I play her support, but here are my major tips:

Her E is crucial in teamfights. When the enemy comes in and groups up, throw your E into them. You're likely to grab at least one. It counts as a champion for your Q, and it'll also make any nearby tentacles attack that point instantly. If you ult and then E, then Q... Done effectively, this can DESTROY teams who group together.
I find her damage is fairly reliable even without AD, so I tend to build her as a pure tank. It's not as devastating without AD, sure, but as long as your team has plenty of damage, Illaoi makes an amazing tank. Use the above combo in teamfights not primarily to deal damage, but to make yourself harder to kill, in this case.
Thornmail works good on her because she has staying power in teamfights. Spirit Visage is also a good choice for the additional healing, and I sometimes even build Death's Dance for even more stretch survival.
Her whole thing is lane control. If you can get the enemy on their heels and get a lot of tentacles up all over around a spot towards their end of the map, you can hold that spot and push from that point. Don't push beyond it, just take out waves that come into the area and poke opponents out with your E and Q. If they come at you, E - W - Q. If they REALLY mob you, ult and then E - W - Q. If you position right, you should have plenty of area damage to back the enemy off.
Oh, another key thing. Use your tentacles to bait enemies for your E. Stick nearby and when they come up to attack, rip them with your E and make them pay for it. If you're lucky, the tentacle will even take a free shot before it goes down, and there's a decent chance you'll have another one pop right up from your passive by that time.

MinoritySlayer6911/26/2015, 9:33:16 PM1 votes

She isn't that OP, she's strong but not near that. The main problem is that people run away instead of trading when she E's, which makes it impossible for her to debut you.

That being said I'll give you some nice tips for her. Firstly, pretty obviously is to fight in your tentacles. When you E, and they try to fight you, position yourself to hit the spirit and the champ, you get anywhere from 25-70% EXTRA damage.

She is a lane bully aswell, but a weak duelist. Just harass if you are against a dueling champ. Also it is really tempting to wave clear with her abilities, but learn to not wave clear too often, as you need poke to make up for weak all ins (besides them standing in your tentacles like tards) Don't push with abilities, only freeze, early you are super easy to gang

Also, when the jungler ganks you is when you are strongest. You go from being a weak duelist to a god 1v2. Even whIle two kills behind, you can manage to 1v2 if you play correctly. If you are a kill behind you only need about 1 tentacle then a two man ult. Just keep W-ing and healing and position well, you will almost always come out alive, with a double (unless the enemy is one of her counters)

Ralanr11/26/2015, 9:32:56 PM1 votes

In lane, an enemy Illaoi tended to try and hook me when I was trying to break her tentacles. It made me think twice about removing her advantage.