Overview
The space squid, Vel’Koz, is one of the best poke champions in the game thanks to all of his abilities dealing damage. He’ll reward players who are good at geometry and thus are able to find angles to hit his spells. And if everything lines up, he’ll literally melt enemies with his beams. Click here for the latest data on her best builds, including Runes, Items, Summoner Spells, and more.
Keys to Remember About Vel’Koz
Vel'Koz dominates choke points, especially when you're able to bait enemies into chasing you or if you're able to funnel them backwards. Even when outnumbered, as long as you're able to use your entire kit in a choke with enemies in it, you can instantly turn a fight in your favor.
Plasma Fission [Q] is the trickiest ability for you to use, which makes it the trickiest ability for opponents to be able to dodge. Thanks to the way it spreads and the fact that you can proc it early, this ability can be used very creatively to poke enemies throughout the game.
Strengths
Like Xerath and Morgana, he’s a champion that originated in mid lane and has since found more success in bot lane, where he plays as a poke-oriented support. Like the others, he’s extremely annoying to deal with in lane as all it takes is a couple rotations of spells landing to chunk the enemy ADC out of lane, or at least it’ll harass them out of being able to CS in comfort. Once team fights begin, he’s a champion that excels in tight corridors thanks to his Tectonic Disruption [E] and Life Form Disintegration Ray [R] -- if you’re able to knock them up and start shooting your ray, you’ll quickly melt them.
Weaknesses
He’s extremely immobile, which is compounded by long cast animations on his abilities, including Life Form Disintegration Ray [R] which roots him in place entirely. You can save your Tectonic Disruption [E] to help peel enemies off of you, but if you’re forced to use it defensively, then it can limit your output. He’s susceptible to ganks and all-ins in the lane phase, and if you fall behind early (or if an assassin elsewhere gets ahead), you’ll be an easy target throughout the game, as you also still have to extend to get vision down.
Game Plan
Early Game: As a poke support, you want to harass the enemy laner as much as possible. You want to build a lead with this champion and help your ADC push the wave in to get pressure on the tower.
Mid Game: Avoid moving off by yourself, even if you’re only looking to secure vision. You are easily killed and should be trying to play with teammates at all times, though if an enemy squishy champion face checks you in a bush, you can unload your kit and go for the kill.
Late Game: Your main focus is still to help your team secure vision, but in fights you should play like a back line mage. Your counter-engage with your ultimate can completely turn around a lost fight.