10 Best Champions To Counter Annie In League of Legends

Annie is a high-burst mage with strong crowd control and a deadly ultimate, making her a dangerous pick in the mid lane. With her passive, Pyromania, she can stun enemies every few spells, setting up easy kills, while Summon: Tibbers (R) allows her to unleash massive AoE damage in fights. Her simple but effective kit makes her a consistent threat, especially in the early-to-mid game. However, Annie struggles against champions who can dodge her abilities, out-range her, or punish her when she burns her cooldowns.

To counter Annie effectively, you need champions with strong mobility, long-range poke, or defensive tools to survive her burst. Whether you’re playing mid lane, jungle, or support, picking the right counter can limit her impact and prevent her from snowballing.

In this article, we’ll cover the 10 best champions to counter Annie, explaining their strengths against her and how to exploit her weaknesses to dominate the lane and the game.

#10: Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is a strong counter to Annie because her sustained DPS, crowd control, and ability to punish short-range mages make it difficult for Annie to find successful trades. Annie relies on bursting enemies with her combo, but Cassiopeia’s Noxious Blast (Q) and Twin Fang (E) allow her to deal consistent damage over time, making it hard for Annie to survive extended trades.

Additionally, Cassiopeia’s Miasma (W) grounds Annie, preventing her from using Flash or Tibbers to engage effectively. Since Annie is heavily reliant on her Flash + Tibbers combo, Cassiopeia can zone her out of fights and force her into bad positions. If Annie tries to all-in, Petrifying Gaze (R) can stun her, turning fights in Cassiopeia’s favor.

The key to beating Annie as Cassiopeia is to keep your distance, use Miasma to prevent her from engaging, and poke her down before she can find a good stun opportunity. Building Rod of Ages for sustain or Crown of the Shattered Queen for extra defense against burst makes Cassiopeia even stronger. With consistent damage, zoning tools, and strong anti-engage mechanics, Cassiopeia is a great pick to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#9: Viktor

Viktor is a strong counter to Annie because his long-range poke, strong wave clear, and superior scaling make it difficult for Annie to find favorable trades. Annie relies on short-range burst combos to secure kills, but Viktor’s Death Ray (E) allows him to poke her down from a safe distance, forcing her to burn mana just to keep up in lane.

Additionally, Gravity Field (W) can stun or slow Annie, making it harder for her to find a clean Flash + Tibbers (R) engage. Since Viktor scales extremely well into the mid and late game, he can outdamage Annie in extended fights and control team fights with Chaos Storm (R). If Annie tries to engage, Viktor can kite her with Siphon Power (Q) for a shield and movement speed, making it difficult for her to land a full combo.

The key to beating Annie as Viktor is to position safely, poke her with Death Ray, and use Gravity Field to prevent her from engaging freely. Building Crown of the Shattered Queen for extra burst protection or Luden’s Tempest for more poke damage makes him even more effective. With long-range abilities, strong scaling, and zoning tools, Viktor is one of the best champions to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#8: Syndra

Syndra is a strong counter to Annie because her long-range abilities, superior burst damage, and crowd control make it difficult for Annie to find a safe engage. Annie relies on getting in range to land her stun combo, but Syndra’s Dark Sphere (Q) and Scatter the Weak (E) allow her to poke Annie from a distance and push her away if she tries to engage.

Additionally, Syndra’s Unleashed Power (R) deals massive single-target burst damage, which allows her to eliminate Annie before she can even get her combo off. Since Syndra excels in long-range trades, she can constantly harass Annie and force her to use abilities defensively instead of setting up her stun. If Annie ever burns Flash or Tibbers (R) to engage, Syndra can simply stun her with Scatter the Weak and turn the fight in her favor.

The key to beating Annie as Syndra is to play at max range, poke her with Q, and use E to disrupt her engages. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra poke damage or Crown of the Shattered Queen for burst protection makes Syndra even harder to deal with. With superior range, strong burst, and great crowd control, Syndra is one of the best champions to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#7: LeBlanc

LeBlanc is a strong counter to Annie because her high mobility, burst damage, and ability to dodge abilities make it difficult for Annie to land her stun combo. Annie relies on locking down enemies with her Pyromania (Passive) stun and bursting them with Tibbers (R), but LeBlanc’s Distortion (W) allows her to quickly reposition, making it easy to dodge Annie’s abilities and disengage when needed.

Additionally, LeBlanc excels at short trades, using Sigil of Malice (Q) + Ethereal Chains (E) to poke Annie down without committing to an all-in. Since Annie lacks sustain and mobility, LeBlanc can force her to take bad trades and chip away at her health. If Annie ever burns Flash to engage, LeBlanc can use her mobility to escape safely, rendering her ultimate useless.

The key to beating Annie as LeBlanc is to poke her down with Q and E, use W to dodge her stun, and capitalize on her lack of mobility. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra burst damage or Zhonya’s Hourglass to avoid her all-in makes LeBlanc even stronger. With high mobility, deceptive plays, and strong poke, LeBlanc is a great pick to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#6: Ahri

Ahri is a strong counter to Annie because her high mobility, poke damage, and ability to disengage make it difficult for Annie to land her burst combo. Annie relies on stunning enemies with Pyromania (Passive) and following up with her Tibbers (R) burst, but Ahri’s Spirit Rush (R) gives her three dashes, allowing her to easily dodge Annie’s abilities and reposition in fights.

Additionally, Ahri’s Orb of Deception (Q) provides consistent poke damage, forcing Annie to burn her mana to clear waves and play defensively. Since Ahri has strong pick potential with Charm (E), she can catch Annie off guard before she can set up her stun, allowing her to burst Annie down first. Even if Annie engages with Flash + Tibbers, Ahri’s mobility and ability to reposition make it hard for her to secure a full combo.

The key to beating Annie as Ahri is to keep moving, poke her with Q, and use Spirit Rush to dodge her stun and engage on her when she mispositions. Building Everfrost for extra crowd control or Luden’s Tempest for burst damage makes Ahri even harder for Annie to deal with. With high mobility, strong poke, and the ability to escape engages, Ahri is one of the best champions to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#5: Lux

Lux is a strong counter to Annie because her long-range poke, crowd control, and strong burst damage make it difficult for Annie to get in range for her stun combo. Annie relies on getting close to enemies to land her Pyromania (Passive) stun and burst them with Tibbers (R), but Lux’s Lucent Singularity (E) and Light Binding (Q) allow her to poke Annie from a safe distance and root her before she can engage.

Additionally, Final Spark (R) gives Lux an easy way to burst Annie down before she can react, making it risky for Annie to ever step up without Flash. Since Lux has a shield with Prismatic Barrier (W), she can mitigate some of Annie’s burst damage and protect herself in trades. If Annie ever burns her Flash to engage, Lux can simply root her with Q, kite backward, and turn the fight in her favor.

The key to beating Annie as Lux is to position safely, poke her down with E, and use Q to stop her from engaging. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra poke or Crown of the Shattered Queen for burst protection makes Lux even harder for Annie to deal with. With long-range poke, strong crowd control, and the ability to zone Annie out, Lux is one of the best champions to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#4: Orianna

Orianna is a strong counter to Annie because her long-range poke, strong shielding, and superior scaling make it difficult for Annie to find a good engage. Annie relies on getting in range to stun and burst enemies with Tibbers (R), but Orianna’s Command: Attack (Q) and Command: Dissonance (W) allow her to poke Annie from a safe distance, forcing Annie to waste mana just to keep up in lane.

Additionally, Command: Protect (E) grants Orianna a shield, helping her survive Annie’s burst combos and making it harder for Annie to secure kills. Since Orianna has one of the best zoning tools with Command: Shockwave (R), she can disrupt Annie’s engages and turn team fights in her favor. If Annie ever burns Flash to land her stun, Orianna can kite backward, shield herself, and counter-engage with her ultimate.

The key to beating Annie as Orianna is to keep your distance, poke her down with Q and W, and use your shield to mitigate her burst damage. Building Crown of the Shattered Queen for extra burst protection or Luden’s Tempest for more poke damage makes Orianna even more effective. With strong range, defensive tools, and excellent team fight presence, Orianna is one of the best champions to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#3: Ziggs

Ziggs is a strong counter to Annie because his superior range, high poke damage, and zoning tools make it nearly impossible for Annie to get close enough to land her stun combo. Annie relies on getting into range to use Tibbers (R) and burst enemies down, but Ziggs’ Bouncing Bomb (Q) and Hexplosive Minefield (E) allow him to poke and zone her from a safe distance, forcing her to take damage before she can engage.

Additionally, Satchel Charge (W) provides Ziggs with an excellent disengage tool, allowing him to knock Annie away if she tries to Flash engage. Since Mega Inferno Bomb (R) gives Ziggs a powerful long-range finisher, he can chip away at Annie’s health and kill her before she even gets close. If Annie ever burns her cooldowns or misses her stun, Ziggs can punish her with heavy poke damage and deny her farm with constant wave clear.

The key to beating Annie as Ziggs is to keep your distance, use E to zone her from engaging, and poke her down with Q before she gets an opportunity to fight. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra poke damage or Crown of the Shattered Queen for burst protection makes Ziggs even stronger. With superior range, strong disengage, and high poke damage, Ziggs is one of the best champions to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#2: Vel’Koz

Vel’Koz is a strong counter to Annie because his superior range, high poke damage, and disengage tools make it extremely difficult for Annie to get close enough to use her stun combo. Annie relies on getting within range to land her Pyromania (Passive) stun and burst enemies with Tibbers (R), but Vel’Koz’s Plasma Fission (Q) and Void Rift (W) allow him to poke her down from a safe distance, making it hard for her to find a good engage.

Additionally, Tectonic Disruption (E) provides knock-up crowd control, which can interrupt Annie’s Flash + Tibbers engage and push her away. Since Life Form Disintegration Ray (R) gives Vel’Koz a massive long-range finisher, he can burst Annie down before she even gets a chance to use her abilities. If Annie ever tries to step forward, Vel’Koz’s range allows him to punish her heavily, forcing her to take bad trades.

The key to beating Annie as Vel’Koz is to position safely, poke her with Q and W, and use E to knock her back if she tries to engage. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra poke damage or Crown of the Shattered Queen for burst protection makes Vel’Koz even more effective. With superior range, high poke, and strong disengage tools, Vel’Koz is one of the best champions to counter Annie in the mid lane.

#1: Xerath

Xerath is the best counter to Annie because his insane range, constant poke damage, and strong zoning tools make it nearly impossible for Annie to get close enough to use her stun combo. Annie relies on getting into range to land her Pyromania (Passive) stun and following up with Tibbers (R), but Xerath’s Arcanopulse (Q) and Eye of Destruction (W) allow him to poke her down from extreme distances, forcing her to either take free damage or struggle to farm.

Additionally, Shocking Orb (E) provides a long-range stun, which can interrupt Annie’s Flash + Tibbers engage and prevent her from getting into position for a fight. Since Rite of the Arcane (R) lets Xerath finish off low-health enemies from a massive range, Annie is often forced to play passively, making it hard for her to have an impact in lane. If Annie ever tries to engage, Xerath’s superior range allows him to punish her before she even gets close.

The key to beating Annie as Xerath is to position far back, poke her with Q and W, and use E to stop her from ever engaging. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra poke damage or Crown of the Shattered Queen for burst protection makes Xerath even stronger. With superior range, constant poke, and strong defensive tools, Xerath is the best champion to counter Annie in the mid lane.

Conclusion

Annie is a deadly burst mage with strong crowd control, but she struggles against long-range poke champions, mobile assassins, and mages who can disengage her engage attempts. Xerath, Vel’Koz, and Ziggs are some of the best counters because they can harass her from extreme distances, preventing her from finding an opening to land her stun combo. LeBlanc, Ahri, and Kassadin can dodge her abilities and quickly burst her down before she can react, while control mages like Orianna, Syndra, and Viktor can outtrade and outscale her with better wave control and zoning tools.

The key to shutting down Annie is to stay out of her engage range, poke her down before she can set up her stun, and punish her when she burns her cooldowns. If Annie is denied the ability to Flash engage and land Tibbers (R), she becomes much less effective in fights. By picking one of these 10 counter champions, you can limit Annie’s impact in lane and prevent her from snowballing into a major threat.