10 Best Champions To Counter Alistar In League of Legends

Alistar is a tanky support with powerful crowd control, strong engage potential, and high sustain, making him a dominant pick in many games. His ability to disrupt fights with Pulverize (Q) and Headbutt (W) allows him to set up kills and protect his team, while his Unbreakable Will (R) gives him massive damage reduction, making him incredibly hard to kill. However, despite his strengths, Alistar struggles against champions who can interrupt his engages, poke him down before fights, or negate his crowd control.

To counter Alistar effectively, you need champions who can either stop his all-ins, punish his aggressive positioning, or render his tankiness useless. Whether you’re playing support, ADC, or jungle, choosing the right counter can significantly reduce Alistar’s impact on the game.

In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best champions to counter Alistar, explaining why they work well against him and how to shut him down in lane and team fights.

#10: Soraka

Soraka is a strong counter to Alistar because her constant healing, disengage, and poke allow her to out-sustain his engages and keep her team safe. Alistar relies on all-ins with Pulverize (Q) and Headbutt (W) to start fights, but Soraka’s Equinox (E) silences him, preventing him from using his abilities properly and stopping his follow-up crowd control.

Additionally, Astral Infusion (W) allows Soraka to heal her ADC constantly, making it difficult for Alistar to secure kills. If Alistar goes in aggressively, Soraka can use Equinox (E) to stop his escape or follow-up engage, forcing him to take extended trades that don’t favor him. In team fights, Wish (R) provides massive healing for her entire team, negating the damage from Alistar’s engages.

The key to beating Alistar as Soraka is to position carefully, poke him down with Starcall (Q), and use Equinox to disrupt his engages. Building Moonstone Renewer for sustain or Mikael’s Blessing to cleanse crowd control makes her even more effective. With high healing, disengage tools, and the ability to outlast Alistar’s engages, Soraka is a solid pick to counter him in the support role.

#9: Bard

Bard is a strong counter to Alistar because his poke damage, mobility, and ability to interrupt engages make it difficult for Alistar to execute his combos. Alistar relies on charging in with Headbutt (W) and following up with Pulverize (Q), but Bard’s Cosmic Binding (Q) can stun him against terrain, stopping his engage and making him an easy target for follow-up damage.

Additionally, Bard’s Caretaker’s Shrine (W) provides healing, allowing his ADC to sustain through Alistar’s trades. If Alistar manages to engage, Magical Journey (E) gives Bard and his teammates an escape route, preventing Alistar from capitalizing on his crowd control. In team fights, Tempered Fate (R) can completely shut down Alistar’s initiation, either by freezing him mid-engage or stopping his team from following up.

The key to beating Alistar as Bard is to constantly poke him with Meeps, use Cosmic Binding to disrupt his engages, and utilize Tempered Fate to control team fights. Building Shurelya’s Battlesong for extra movement speed or Locket of the Iron Solari for team-wide protection makes him even more effective. With strong crowd control, mobility, and utility, Bard is a great pick to counter Alistar in the support role.

#8: Brand

Brand is a strong counter to Alistar because his high poke damage, percentage-based burn, and ability to punish engages make it difficult for Alistar to tank fights. Alistar thrives on jumping into the enemy team with Headbutt (W) and Pulverize (Q), but Brand’s area-of-effect damage and crowd control make him a nightmare for melee supports.

Additionally, Sear (Q) stuns Alistar if he’s already burning, preventing him from escaping or continuing his engage. Since Brand’s abilities apply Blaze (Passive), which deals damage based on the enemy’s max health, Alistar’s tankiness works against him, as he takes even more damage over time. If Alistar tries to engage in a team fight, Brand’s Pyroclasm (R) will bounce between enemies, dealing massive damage and disrupting Alistar’s initiation.

The key to beating Alistar as Brand is to position safely, poke him down with Pillar of Flame (W), and use Sear to interrupt his engages. Building Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage or Rylai’s Crystal Scepter to slow him makes him even harder for Alistar to deal with. With high burst damage, percentage-based burn, and strong crowd control, Brand is one of the best supports to counter Alistar.

#7: Vel’Koz

Vel’Koz is a strong counter to Alistar because his long-range poke, true damage, and crowd control make it difficult for Alistar to engage effectively. Alistar thrives on getting close to land his Headbutt (W) + Pulverize (Q) combo, but Vel’Koz’s Plasma Fission (Q) allows him to poke from a distance, forcing Alistar to take damage before he can even get in range.

Additionally, Tectonic Disruption (E) knocks Alistar up, stopping his engages mid-air and preventing him from comboing properly. If Alistar does manage to engage, Vel’Koz can kite him with Void Rift (W) and unleash Life Form Disintegration Ray (R), which deals massive true damage if he applies Organic Deconstruction (Passive) stacks. Since Alistar is naturally tanky, Vel’Koz’s true damage conversion shreds through him, negating his durability in fights.

The key to beating Alistar as Vel’Koz is to position safely, poke him before fights, and use crowd control to stop his engages. Building Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage or Zhonya’s Hourglass for survivability makes him even stronger in this matchup. With long-range poke, anti-engage tools, and high true damage, Vel’Koz is a great pick to counter Alistar in the support role.

#6: Nami

Nami is a strong counter to Alistar because her crowd control, healing, and ability to disrupt engages make it difficult for him to start fights effectively. Alistar relies on charging in with Headbutt (W) and following up with Pulverize (Q), but Nami’s Aqua Prison (Q) can stop him mid-air, completely denying his combo and leaving him vulnerable.

Additionally, Ebb and Flow (W) allows Nami to heal her ADC while poking Alistar, making it difficult for him to force favorable trades in lane. If Alistar tries to dive the backline in a team fight, Nami’s Tidal Wave (R) provides a massive disengage, knocking him up and slowing his entire team, preventing a proper follow-up engage.

The key to beating Alistar as Nami is to position carefully, use Aqua Prison to interrupt his engages, and use Tidal Wave to control team fights. Building Shurelya’s Battlesong for extra movement speed or Locket of the Iron Solari for team protection makes her even more effective. With strong healing, disengage tools, and crowd control, Nami is one of the best supports to counter Alistar.

#5: Thresh

Thresh is a strong counter to Alistar because his crowd control, disengage, and ability to peel for his ADC make it difficult for Alistar to engage effectively. Alistar relies on jumping in with Headbutt (W) and Pulverize (Q), but Thresh’s Death Sentence (Q) can stop him mid-engage, making it risky for Alistar to dive in without backup.

Additionally, Flay (E) knocks Alistar back, preventing him from comboing properly and making it difficult for him to escape once he goes in. If Alistar manages to engage, Thresh can use The Box (R) to slow him and his teammates, forcing them to take extra damage before they can follow up. Meanwhile, Dark Passage (W) allows Thresh to safely reposition his ADC, negating Alistar’s attempts to isolate targets.

The key to beating Alistar as Thresh is to position aggressively, use Flay to interrupt his engages, and punish him with hooks whenever he missteps. Building Locket of the Iron Solari for team-wide defense or Zeke’s Convergence for bonus damage makes him even stronger in this matchup. With high CC, strong peeling potential, and great disengage tools, Thresh is one of the best supports to counter Alistar.

#4: Lulu

Lulu is a strong counter to Alistar because her polymorph, shields, and disengage tools make it incredibly difficult for him to engage effectively. Alistar relies on diving into fights with Headbutt (W) and Pulverize (Q) to create chaos, but Whimsy (W) instantly turns him into a harmless critter, completely stopping his combo and rendering him useless for a few seconds.

Additionally, Lulu’s Help, Pix! (E) provides a shield, allowing her ADC to survive Alistar’s initial engage and trade back safely. If Alistar tries to fully commit to a fight, Wild Growth (R) knocks up enemies around Lulu’s target, disrupting Alistar’s team and making it harder for him to execute clean engages. Lulu also excels at keeping her ADC safe with constant shielding and attack speed buffs, making it difficult for Alistar’s ADC to secure kills in lane.

The key to beating Alistar as Lulu is to position carefully, use Whimsy to shut him down, and focus on peeling for your ADC. Building Shurelya’s Battlesong for movement speed or Mikael’s Blessing to cleanse crowd control makes her even more effective. With strong peeling, anti-engage tools, and shields, Lulu is one of the best supports to counter Alistar.

#3: Zyra

Zyra is a strong counter to Alistar because her high poke damage, zoning abilities, and crowd control make it difficult for him to engage effectively. Alistar relies on closing the gap with Headbutt (W) and following up with Pulverize (Q), but Zyra’s Grasping Roots (E) can root him mid-dash, completely disrupting his combo and leaving him vulnerable to poke.

Additionally, Rampant Growth (W) spawns plants that constantly harass Alistar and his ADC, forcing them to take free damage every time they step forward. Since Alistar is a melee support, he struggles to avoid Zyra’s long-range poke from Deadly Spines (Q). In team fights, Stranglethorns (R) provides a massive AoE knock-up, making it even harder for Alistar to successfully engage without being punished.

The key to beating Alistar as Zyra is to position safely, use plants to poke him down, and root him whenever he tries to engage. Building Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage or Zhonya’s Hourglass for survivability makes her even harder for Alistar to deal with. With long-range poke, strong crowd control, and zone control, Zyra is one of the best supports to counter Alistar.

#2: Janna

Janna is a strong counter to Alistar because her knockback, slows, and shields make it nearly impossible for him to engage successfully. Alistar relies on jumping in with Headbutt (W) and Pulverize (Q) to start fights, but Janna’s Howling Gale (Q) can knock him up mid-dash, completely disrupting his engage and leaving him exposed to poke damage.

Additionally, Zephyr (W) slows Alistar, making it harder for him to reposition after an engage, while Eye of the Storm (E) shields Janna’s ADC, negating much of Alistar’s damage in lane. If Alistar ever commits too deep, Monsoon (R) provides a massive knockback, completely resetting the fight and making it impossible for Alistar to follow up.

The key to beating Alistar as Janna is to position well, use Howling Gale to interrupt his engages, and save Monsoon for crucial disengages. Building Shurelya’s Battlesong for extra mobility or Locket of the Iron Solari for team-wide defense makes her even more effective. With strong disengage, defensive tools, and the ability to completely deny Alistar’s engages, Janna is one of the best supports to counter him.

#1: Morgana

Morgana is the best counter to Alistar because her Black Shield (E) completely negates his crowd control, making it impossible for him to land his combo on her or her ADC. Alistar relies on engaging with Headbutt (W) into Pulverize (Q), but if Morgana shields her ADC or herself, the stun and knock-up do nothing, rendering Alistar’s all-in useless.

Additionally, Dark Binding (Q) is a long-range snare, allowing Morgana to lock Alistar down for an extended duration if he overextends. Since Alistar is melee and has no ranged poke, he struggles to avoid Tormented Shadow (W), which provides constant poke and zone control in lane. If Alistar somehow gets into a fight, Soul Shackles (R) stuns him and his teammates, making his engage even riskier.

The key to beating Alistar as Morgana is to position well, use Black Shield reactively to block his crowd control, and punish his engages with Dark Binding. Building Shurelya’s Battlesong for extra mobility or Zhonya’s Hourglass for survivability makes her even stronger. With spell immunity, long-range CC, and strong zoning, Morgana is the best champion to counter Alistar in the support role.

Conclusion

Alistar is a powerful engage support with strong crowd control and tankiness, but he struggles against champions who can interrupt his engages, poke him down, or negate his crowd control. Morgana, Janna, and Zyra are some of the best counters because they can either completely block his crowd control, disengage his all-ins, or punish him for diving in. Supports like Lulu and Thresh can peel for their ADCs and stop Alistar from setting up plays, while poke-heavy champions like Vel’Koz and Brand make it difficult for him to sustain in lane.

The key to shutting down Alistar is to deny his engages, punish him when he overextends, and control fights before he can set up his combos. If he can’t land his Headbutt + Pulverize combo effectively, his impact in the game becomes much weaker. By picking one of these 10 counter champions, you can neutralize Alistar and make it difficult for him to control the game.