Best Counters to Play Against Locke in League of Legends

Locke is one of the newest AP assassins to arrive in League of Legends, bringing exceptional burst damage, strong mobility, and impressive snowball potential to the mid lane. If allowed to get an early lead, Locke can quickly take over games by roaming, picking off squishy targets, and dominating teamfights with his execute-heavy kit.

Fortunately, Locke isn’t unbeatable. Several champions can shut him down by outranging him, surviving his burst, interrupting his engages, or punishing him during the laning phase before he has a chance to scale. Choosing the right matchup can make it much harder for Locke to find kills and carry games.

In this guide, we’ll cover the best counters to Locke in League of Legends, explaining why each champion performs well against him, how to play the matchup, and the strategies you can use to consistently beat Locke in Season 26. Whether you’re looking for a safe blind pick or a hard counter, this list has you covered.

#10: Akali

Akali is a solid counter to Locke because she can match his mobility, avoid much of his burst damage, and threaten him throughout every stage of the game. Unlike many control mages that struggle against assassins, Akali is comfortable taking extended skirmishes and can punish Locke whenever he overcommits.

During the laning phase, avoid taking unnecessary poke from Locke’s Ritual Nails (Q) and wait for him to use his mobility before committing to a trade. Once Locke wastes Ashen Pursuit (E), Akali can quickly close the gap and force favorable fights using her own mobility and sustained damage.

Akali’s Twilight Shroud (W) is especially valuable in this matchup, allowing her to dodge key abilities, break Locke’s targeting, and make it difficult for him to finish his combo. If played correctly, Akali can outplay Locke’s burst and turn fights in her favor.

As the game progresses, continue looking for flank opportunities rather than fighting Locke head-on. If you survive his initial burst, Akali has more than enough damage to eliminate him before he can escape.

#9: Xerath

Xerath is a strong counter to Locke thanks to his incredible range and ability to keep assassins at a distance. Since Locke relies on getting close to his targets to unleash his burst combo, Xerath can make the laning phase extremely difficult by constantly poking him before he ever has a chance to engage.

During the early game, use your superior range to pressure Locke whenever he walks up for minions. Landing consistent poke with your abilities forces him to play defensively and delays his ability to look for aggressive trades or roams.

Vision is especially important in this matchup. Locke excels at roaming once he pushes the wave, so placing deep wards and communicating with your teammates can prevent him from snowballing other lanes if he can’t find opportunities mid.

In teamfights, position safely behind your frontline and continue poking from long range. As long as you maintain proper spacing and avoid getting caught by Locke’s engage, Xerath can consistently pressure him while dealing massive damage from a safe distance.

#8: Sylas

Sylas is one of the best champions to pick into Locke because he excels in extended fights and has the sustain needed to survive Locke’s burst damage. While Locke wants to quickly eliminate his target and disengage, Sylas thrives when trades last longer, allowing him to outheal and outdamage his opponent.

During the laning phase, look to trade whenever Locke uses important cooldowns, especially his mobility tools. Sylas can punish these windows by using his own gap closers and sustained damage to force favorable skirmishes. His healing also makes it much harder for Locke to chip him down before committing to an all-in.

As the game progresses, Sylas becomes even more threatening. He can survive Locke’s assassination attempts while dealing significant burst of his own, making it difficult for Locke to find clean kills in side lanes or teamfights. If Locke mispositions or overextends, Sylas has more than enough damage to punish him.

To consistently beat Locke, avoid taking unnecessary poke early, respect his all-in potential when his abilities are available, and capitalize on extended fights where Sylas has the clear advantage.

#7: Vladimir

Vladimir is an excellent counter to Locke because of his incredible sustain, survivability, and ability to outscale assassins. Locke relies on bursting down targets before they can react, but Vladimir’s healing and defensive tools make it extremely difficult for him to secure kills.

During the laning phase, use Vladimir’s sustain to recover from Locke’s poke and avoid taking unnecessary all-ins. If Locke commits with his mobility, Sanguine Pool (W) can completely negate much of his burst combo, forcing him to waste key cooldowns while you safely reposition.

As the game progresses, the matchup becomes even more favorable for Vladimir. His scaling allows him to become a major teamfight threat, while Locke’s assassination attempts become less effective against a champion with high health, healing, and defensive options.

To beat Locke consistently, focus on farming safely during the early game, avoid overextending before your core items, and use your sustain to outlast his burst. Once you reach the mid and late game, Vladimir can comfortably survive Locke’s engage and punish him with superior teamfighting and scaling.

#6: Riven

Riven is a surprisingly effective counter to Locke thanks to her exceptional mobility, crowd control, and powerful all-in potential. She can quickly punish Locke whenever he misuses his abilities, making it difficult for him to safely execute his burst combos.

During the laning phase, look for opportunities to trade after Locke uses his mobility or misses key abilities. Riven’s multiple dashes allow her to stay on top of Locke, while her crowd control can interrupt his momentum and prevent him from escaping once a fight begins.

Unlike many champions that rely on short trades against assassins, Riven excels in extended skirmishes. Her consistent damage output and shielding allow her to survive Locke’s initial burst before turning the fight around with her own combo.

As the game progresses, Riven remains a constant threat in both side lanes and teamfights. If you can stay ahead in gold and experience, you’ll have enough damage and mobility to pressure Locke throughout the game. Play aggressively when his cooldowns are unavailable, avoid giving him free poke in lane, and look to punish every mistake he makes.

#5: Jayce

Jayce is one of the strongest lane counters to Locke thanks to his superior range, early-game dominance, and ability to constantly pressure melee champions. Since Locke needs to get close to deal meaningful damage, Jayce can punish him every time he walks up to farm.

During the laning phase, use your ranged form to continuously harass Locke with auto-attacks and abilities. By keeping him low on health, you’ll make it much riskier for him to look for all-ins or roam to other lanes. If Locke does commit to a fight, Jayce can quickly switch to melee form to knock him back and create distance before continuing the trade.

Jayce also has excellent wave control, allowing him to shove Locke under his tower and limit his roaming opportunities. Preventing Locke from leaving lane is one of the best ways to stop him from snowballing the game.

As the match progresses, continue using your poke to soften Locke before teamfights begin. By forcing him to engage from low health or denying him clean openings, Jayce can consistently keep the AP assassin from having a meaningful impact throughout the game.

#4: Diana

Diana is a powerful counter to Locke because she can survive his burst while matching his all-in potential. Unlike many mid laners that struggle against assassins, Diana is more than capable of fighting Locke head-on once she has a few levels and core items.

During the laning phase, look to trade after Locke uses important cooldowns, particularly his mobility. Diana’s shield helps absorb a significant portion of his burst damage, allowing her to win extended fights where Locke’s damage begins to fall off. Once you land your engage, Locke has very few ways to escape without committing valuable cooldowns.

Diana also scales exceptionally well into the mid and late game. Her ability to dive into teamfights, lock down multiple enemies, and deal massive area-of-effect damage often gives her more overall impact than Locke in coordinated fights.

To consistently beat Locke, avoid taking unnecessary poke early, respect his level spikes, and punish him whenever he overextends. If you survive his initial combo, Diana has the durability and damage needed to quickly turn the fight in her favor.

#3: Galio

Galio is one of the hardest counters to Locke thanks to his natural magic resistance, crowd control, and exceptional ability to shut down AP assassins. Since Locke deals primarily magic damage, Galio can comfortably survive his burst while making it extremely difficult for him to secure kills.

During the laning phase, Galio can safely farm while using his wave clear to match Locke’s pushes and limit his roaming opportunities. His defensive abilities allow him to absorb much of Locke’s poke, and once Locke commits to an all-in, Galio can immediately respond with crowd control and a favorable trade.

One of Galio’s biggest advantages is his ability to influence the map. If Locke attempts to roam, Galio can quickly follow with his Ultimate to protect teammates and turn skirmishes in his team’s favor, preventing Locke from snowballing early leads.

As the game progresses, Galio continues to outperform Locke in teamfights. His tankiness, crowd control, and peel make it extremely difficult for Locke to reach priority targets, while his strong engage can force Locke into unfavorable positions. If you’re looking for one of the safest and most reliable picks against Locke, Galio is an excellent choice.

#2: Anivia

Anivia is one of the strongest counters to Locke because she excels at controlling space, denying engages, and punishing melee champions that rely on mobility. Locke wants to quickly close the gap and burst down his target, but Anivia’s crowd control and zoning tools make that extremely difficult.

During the laning phase, use your superior wave clear and range to constantly pressure Locke while keeping him away from the minion wave. If he attempts to engage, Flash Frost (Q) and Crystallize (W) can interrupt his approach or trap him in unfavorable positions, forcing him to abandon the trade or risk being eliminated.

Anivia also makes roaming much harder for Locke. Her ability to instantly clear waves with Glacial Storm (R) allows her to match his push and punish him if he leaves lane without gaining anything. This limits one of Locke’s biggest strengths—snowballing through successful roams.

As the game moves into the later stages, Anivia becomes even more effective. Her exceptional wave clear, zoning potential, and strong teamfight presence make it difficult for Locke to reach the backline or find clean assassination opportunities. If you play patiently and keep your crowd control available, Anivia can consistently shut down Locke throughout the game.

#1: Kassadin

Kassadin is the best counter to Locke in League of Legends thanks to his exceptional scaling, natural resistance to magic damage, and unmatched mobility in the later stages of the game. Since Locke is an AP assassin, Kassadin’s passive and itemization make it much harder for Locke to burst him down compared to most mid lane champions.

During the laning phase, play patiently and focus on farming safely until you unlock your core abilities and items. While Locke has stronger early kill pressure, Kassadin can comfortably survive the lane by avoiding unnecessary trades and respecting Locke’s all-in potential. Once you reach Level 6, Riftwalk (R) gives you the mobility needed to dodge Locke’s abilities, escape dangerous situations, and punish him whenever he overextends.

The matchup becomes heavily Kassadin-favored in the mid and late game. As Kassadin scales, he gains enough burst damage and mobility to outplay Locke in almost every skirmish. Locke struggles to lock down a champion that can blink repeatedly, making it difficult for him to land a full combo or secure executions.

In teamfights, Kassadin can easily bypass the frontline and eliminate Locke or the enemy backline before Locke has a chance to make an impact. If you survive the early game and reach your power spikes, Kassadin becomes one of the most reliable and effective champions for shutting down Locke throughout Season 26.

Conclusion

Locke can be a terrifying champion when he gets ahead, but the right champion pick and proper game plan can significantly reduce his impact. By choosing champions that can out-range him, survive his burst, or punish his aggressive playstyle, you’ll make it much harder for Locke to snowball and carry games.

Champions like Kassadin, Anivia, Galio, and Diana all have the tools needed to shut down Locke throughout different stages of the game. Whether it’s through superior scaling, crowd control, sustain, or defensive abilities, understanding these matchups will give you a major advantage whenever you face Locke in Season 26.

Keep in mind that beating Locke isn’t just about champion select. Good wave management, proper vision control, tracking his roams, and respecting his early all-in potential are just as important as picking the right counter.

If you’re planning on playing Locke yourself, be sure to check out our complete Locke guide, where we cover everything you need to know, including his abilities, best build, rune setup, skill order, laning strategy, positioning, combos, and advanced gameplay tips to help you master the newest AP assassin in League of Legends.