10 Best Champions To Counter Aphelios In League of Legends

Aphelios is one of the most versatile ADCs in League of Legends, capable of switching between different weapons to adapt to any situation. His high damage output, strong scaling, and powerful team fight presence make him a late-game monster. However, Aphelios lacks mobility and depends on his support and positioning to stay alive, making him vulnerable to champions who can burst him down, outrange him, or disrupt his damage output.

To counter Aphelios effectively, you need champions that can exploit his weaknesses by punishing his immobility, shutting him down before he scales, or preventing him from freely dealing damage in fights. Whether you’re playing bot lane, jungle, or support, choosing the right champion can keep Aphelios from becoming a major threat.

In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best champions to counter Aphelios, explaining their strengths against him and how to take advantage of his weaknesses to dominate the bot lane.

#10: Miss Fortune

Miss Fortune is a strong counter to Aphelios because her early-game dominance, superior poke damage, and high AoE burst make it difficult for him to farm safely and scale into the late game. Aphelios relies on stacking his weapons and scaling, but Miss Fortune’s Double Up (Q) allows her to harass him constantly, especially when he stands near minions.

Additionally, Strut (W) gives Miss Fortune bonus movement speed, allowing her to reposition and dodge Aphelios’ skill shots, making it harder for him to return damage. Since Bullet Time (R) can shred teams in fights, she can force Aphelios to reposition or risk getting deleted in an instant. If Aphelios doesn’t have his crowd control-heavy weapons available, Miss Fortune can dominate fights by forcing extended trades where she has the advantage.

The key to beating Aphelios as Miss Fortune is to constantly poke him in lane, punish his poor mobility, and use Bullet Time to wipe him out in team fights before he can fully utilize his kit. Building Eclipse for early lethality or Kraken Slayer for sustained DPS makes her even stronger. With early-game pressure, strong poke, and powerful team fight presence, Miss Fortune is a great pick to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#9: Sivir

Sivir is a strong counter to Aphelios because her long-range poke, superior wave clear, and ability to block crowd control make it difficult for him to engage or trade effectively. Aphelios relies on his different weapon combos to find openings in lane, but Sivir’s Boomerang Blade (Q) and Ricochet (W) allow her to shove waves quickly, denying him the opportunity to set up favorable trades.

Additionally, Spell Shield (E) is a huge tool against Aphelios, as it can block his Moonlight Vigil (R) or crowd control from Gravitum (the root weapon), preventing him from securing key picks. Since On the Hunt (R) grants her and her team bonus movement speed, Sivir can kite Aphelios easily and reposition in fights, making it difficult for him to land his high-damage auto attacks.

The key to beating Aphelios as Sivir is to push the wave constantly, use Spell Shield to deny his crowd control, and kite him in team fights where he struggles to close the gap. Building Kraken Slayer for sustained DPS or Galeforce for extra mobility makes her even stronger. With wave control, defensive tools, and great team utility, Sivir is one of the best ADCs to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#8: Kai’Sa

Kai’Sa is a strong counter to Aphelios because her high burst damage, mobility, and ability to reposition in fights make it difficult for him to keep up in trades. Aphelios lacks mobility, meaning Kai’Sa can use her Killer Instinct (R) to dive onto him and quickly burst him down before he can react.

Additionally, Kai’Sa’s Icathian Rain (Q) deals strong single-target damage, allowing her to quickly shred Aphelios in fights, especially when she evolves it. Supercharge (E) grants her attack speed and invisibility, making it even harder for Aphelios to target her when he’s trying to trade. Since Kai’Sa thrives in short skirmishes, she can take advantage of Aphelios’ reliance on standing still to deal damage and reposition aggressively to punish him.

The key to beating Aphelios as Kai’Sa is to poke him with Void Seeker (W), wait for an opening, and then use R to engage and burst him down before he can retaliate. Building Kraken Slayer for sustained damage or Galeforce for extra mobility makes her even stronger. With great burst, strong repositioning tools, and high DPS, Kai’Sa is one of the best ADCs to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#7: Lucian

Lucian is a strong counter to Aphelios because his high burst damage, mobility, and aggressive laning phase make it difficult for Aphelios to scale safely. Aphelios relies on farming and scaling into the late game, but Lucian’s Piercing Light (Q) and passive, Lightslinger, allow him to trade aggressively early, forcing Aphelios into a defensive playstyle.

Additionally, Relentless Pursuit (E) gives Lucian great mobility, letting him dash forward for aggressive trades or dodge Aphelios’ skill shots. Since Lucian excels in short, high-damage trades, he can consistently pressure Aphelios and punish him for his lack of mobility. The Culling (R) also provides high burst damage, allowing Lucian to zone Aphelios out of fights or force him to reposition.

The key to beating Aphelios as Lucian is to play aggressively in the early game, use E to dodge his abilities, and continuously pressure him so he can’t safely scale. Building Kraken Slayer for high DPS or Galeforce for extra mobility makes Lucian even harder to deal with. With strong early-game damage, mobility, and aggressive kill pressure, Lucian is one of the best ADCs to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#6: Draven

Draven is a strong counter to Aphelios because his high early-game damage, aggressive trading, and ability to snowball quickly make it nearly impossible for Aphelios to scale safely. Aphelios relies on farming and item spikes to be effective, but Draven’s Spinning Axes (Q) allow him to deal massive damage in short trades, forcing Aphelios to play defensively from the start.

Additionally, Draven’s Blood Rush (W) gives him movement speed, letting him kite Aphelios or chase him down when he tries to reposition. Since Aphelios lacks mobility, he struggles to escape when Draven lands a Stand Aside (E) to disrupt him, making it easier to secure kills. If Draven gets an early kill and cashes in his League of Draven (Passive) stacks, he snowballs out of control, leaving Aphelios completely behind.

The key to beating Aphelios as Draven is to play aggressively in the early game, force extended trades, and capitalize on his weak mobility to secure kills before he can scale. Building Kraken Slayer for even more damage or Eclipse for a burstier playstyle makes Draven even stronger. With dominant early-game power, high damage output, and strong lane pressure, Draven is one of the best ADCs to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#5: Varus

Varus is a strong counter to Aphelios because his long-range poke, burst damage, and crowd control make it difficult for Aphelios to trade effectively. Aphelios relies on scaling and playing at a mid-range, but Varus’ Piercing Arrow (Q) allows him to poke Aphelios from a safe distance, making it hard for him to farm or position aggressively.

Additionally, Hail of Arrows (E) reduces healing and slows Aphelios, punishing him when he tries to sustain off Severum (his healing weapon). Since Aphelios lacks mobility, Varus can lock him down with Chain of Corruption (R), making it easy for his team to collapse on him. Whether playing lethality Varus for poke or on-hit Varus for sustained damage, he can outtrade Aphelios in lane and pressure him before he scales.

The key to beating Aphelios as Varus is to harass him with Q, use E to slow him when he tries to reposition, and engage with R to prevent him from outputting damage. Building Lethality items like Duskblade for poke or Kraken Slayer for sustained damage makes Varus even harder for Aphelios to deal with. With long-range poke, strong burst, and powerful crowd control, Varus is one of the best ADCs to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#4: Jhin

Jhin is a strong counter to Aphelios because his long-range poke, crowd control, and burst damage make it difficult for Aphelios to position safely in fights. Aphelios thrives in extended skirmishes and relies on his weapon combinations to deal sustained damage, but Jhin’s Deadly Flourish (W) and Captive Audience (E) allow him to root and slow Aphelios from a safe distance, making it hard for him to trade effectively.

Additionally, Jhin’s fourth shot and Curtain Call (R) provide massive burst damage, meaning he can chunk Aphelios down before he gets a chance to deal damage in fights. Since Jhin can stay far back while still being impactful, Aphelios struggles to reach him, especially when Jhin has a strong support to peel for him.

The key to beating Aphelios as Jhin is to position safely, poke him down with W and R, and use your movement speed advantage from Whisper (Passive) to stay out of his range. Building Galeforce for extra mobility or Eclipse for a burstier playstyle makes Jhin even more effective. With high range, strong crowd control, and powerful burst damage, Jhin is one of the best ADCs to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#3: Ashe

Ashe is a strong counter to Aphelios because her constant slows, crowd control, and long-range engage make it difficult for him to play aggressively or reposition in fights. Aphelios relies on finding the right weapon combinations to deal damage, but Ashe’s Frost Shot (Passive) slows him with every auto attack, making it nearly impossible for him to escape extended trades.

Additionally, Volley (W) provides long-range poke and slows, forcing Aphelios to take bad trades whenever he steps up for farm. If Aphelios tries to engage, Enchanted Crystal Arrow (R) gives Ashe a global stun, allowing her to lock him down and set up easy kills for her team. Since Aphelios has no mobility, Ashe can kite him effectively and punish him whenever he overextends.

The key to beating Aphelios as Ashe is to constantly slow him with auto attacks, poke him with W, and use R to engage or disengage whenever he tries to get aggressive. Building Kraken Slayer for sustained DPS or Immortal Shieldbow for survivability makes Ashe even stronger. With great crowd control, long-range poke, and excellent kiting, Ashe is one of the best ADCs to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#2: Ezreal

Ezreal is a strong counter to Aphelios because his long-range poke, mobility, and ability to play safely make it difficult for Aphelios to land his abilities and trade effectively. Aphelios thrives in extended fights where he can cycle through his weapons, but Ezreal’s Mystic Shot (Q) allows him to poke Aphelios from a safe distance, preventing him from getting into range for meaningful trades.

Additionally, Ezreal’s Arcane Shift (E) gives him an instant escape, allowing him to dodge Aphelios’ Moonlight Vigil (R) or any potential crowd control from his Gravitum weapon. Since Ezreal scales extremely well into the late game, he can consistently poke Aphelios down before fights even start, forcing him to play defensively. If Aphelios ever tries to engage, Trueshot Barrage (R) allows Ezreal to burst him down from anywhere on the map.

The key to beating Aphelios as Ezreal is to constantly poke him with Q, use E to reposition or disengage, and avoid extended fights where Aphelios can outdamage you. Building Divine Sunderer for sustain or Trinity Force for extra burst damage makes Ezreal even stronger. With superior poke, strong mobility, and great scaling, Ezreal is one of the best ADCs to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

#1: Caitlyn

Caitlyn is the best counter to Aphelios because her superior range, early-game dominance, and strong zoning tools make it nearly impossible for Aphelios to farm safely and scale into the late game. Aphelios struggles against ADCs with longer range, and Caitlyn’s Headshot (Passive) and Piltover Peacemaker (Q) allow her to poke him constantly, forcing him to play defensively.

Additionally, Yordle Snap Trap (W) gives Caitlyn excellent zoning tools, preventing Aphelios from stepping up in lane and making it easy to punish him when he mispositions. Since Aphelios has no mobility, Caitlyn can bully him under turret, deny him farm, and control the pace of the lane. If Aphelios tries to retreat in fights, Ace in the Hole (R) lets Caitlyn finish him off from a safe distance.

The key to beating Aphelios as Caitlyn is to constantly pressure him in lane, use your range advantage to poke him down, and deny him opportunities to trade. Building Galeforce for extra mobility or Kraken Slayer for high DPS makes Caitlyn even stronger. With the highest ADC range, strong lane control, and powerful zoning tools, Caitlyn is the best champion to counter Aphelios in the bot lane.

Conclusion

Aphelios is a powerful late-game ADC with a versatile kit, but he struggles against champions who can exploit his lack of mobility, outrange him, or pressure him early in lane. Caitlyn, Ezreal, and Ashe are among the best counters because they keep him at a distance, poke him down, and deny him opportunities to scale. Draven, Lucian, and Miss Fortune dominate Aphelios in the early game with high burst damage and aggressive trading, preventing him from safely farming. Varus, Jhin, and Sivir counter him by controlling fights with long-range poke, crowd control, and wave-clear advantages.

The key to shutting down Aphelios is to take advantage of his weak mobility, force trades when he has an unfavorable weapon combination, and punish him before he reaches his late-game power spikes. By picking one of these 10 counter champions, you can limit Aphelios’ impact, deny his scaling, and make sure he never becomes a threat in team fights.