10 Best Champions to Counter Brand in League of Legends

Brand is a high-damage poke and burst mage who excels at zoning enemies, dealing AoE damage, and setting up devastating team fights with his Blaze (Passive) and Pyroclasm (R). His ability to constantly apply damage over time and chain crowd control with Sear (Q) makes him a serious threat in lane and team fights. However, Brand struggles against champions who can dodge his skill shots, engage on him before he can poke, or mitigate his high burst damage.

To effectively counter Brand, you need champions who can either outrange him, avoid his abilities, or punish his lack of mobility. Whether you’re playing as a support, mid-laner, or jungler, picking the right champion can completely shut down Brand’s impact and prevent him from snowballing fights.

In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best champions to counter Brand, explaining their strengths against him and how to exploit his weaknesses to dominate the game.

#10: Nautilus

Nautilus is a strong counter to Brand because his high durability, crowd control, and ability to engage instantly make it difficult for Brand to land his skill shots or safely poke. Brand relies on spacing and landing his abilities to deal damage, but Nautilus’ Dredge Line (Q) can quickly close the gap, forcing Brand into unfavorable trades.

Additionally, Nautilus’ passive, Staggering Blow, roots Brand in place, making it easier for his ADC and jungler to follow up. If Brand tries to poke with Pillar of Flame (W) or land a stun with Sear (Q), Nautilus can immediately counter-engage with his Titan’s Wrath (W) shield to absorb damage and Depth Charge (R) to disrupt him in fights. Since Brand is immobile, Nautilus can force all-ins and completely deny his poke-oriented playstyle.

The key to beating Brand as Nautilus is to stay aggressive, engage as soon as he overextends, and use your CC to lock him down before he can unleash his full combo. Building Locket of the Iron Solari for team shielding or Evenshroud for bonus damage on CC makes Nautilus even stronger. With superior durability, strong engage tools, and the ability to disrupt Brand’s positioning, Nautilus is one of the best champions to counter Brand in bot lane.

#9: Leona

Leona is a strong counter to Brand because her high durability, strong crowd control, and ability to force all-ins make it difficult for him to play his poke-heavy style. Brand thrives on keeping enemies at range to land his abilities, but Leona’s Zenith Blade (E) allows her to close the gap instantly, preventing him from safely poking.

Additionally, Leona’s Eclipse (W) makes her incredibly tanky, allowing her to absorb Brand’s damage while setting up engages for her ADC. If Brand ever mispositions or tries to poke, Leona’s Shield of Daybreak (Q) stuns him instantly, making him an easy target for follow-up damage. In team fights, her Solar Flare (R) provides massive AoE crowd control, preventing Brand from freely casting his high-damage abilities.

The key to beating Brand as Leona is to play aggressively, capitalize on his lack of mobility, and engage as soon as he oversteps. Building Evenshroud for extra damage on CC or Locket of the Iron Solari for team protection makes Leona even more effective. With strong durability, great all-in potential, and the ability to completely shut down Brand’s poke, Leona is one of the best champions to counter him in bot lane.

#8: Alistar

Alistar is a great counter to Brand because his high durability, strong crowd control, and ability to disengage fights make it difficult for Brand to poke or burst down priority targets. Brand relies on landing skill shots and dealing damage from range, but Alistar’s Headbutt (W) completely disrupts Brand’s positioning, forcing him away from fights before he can unload his full combo.

Additionally, Alistar’s Unbreakable Will (R) grants him massive damage reduction and crowd control immunity, making it almost impossible for Brand to kill him even with his full rotation. If Brand ever tries to poke or engage, Alistar’s Pulverize (Q) provides a knock-up, allowing his team to follow up and shut Brand down before he can deal his damage.

The key to beating Brand as Alistar is to position in front of your ADC, use W to knock Brand away from fights, and engage whenever he oversteps. Building Evenshroud for extra damage on CC or Locket of the Iron Solari for team shielding makes Alistar even stronger. With exceptional durability, strong crowd control, and the ability to completely disrupt Brand’s positioning, Alistar is one of the best champions to counter Brand in bot lane.

#7: Braum

Braum is a strong counter to Brand because his ability to block skill shots, absorb burst damage, and peel for his team makes it difficult for Brand to deal consistent damage. Brand relies on landing his abilities to poke and apply burn damage, but Braum’s Unbreakable (E) completely nullifies his key spells, including Pillar of Flame (W) and Pyroclasm (R), preventing Brand from maximizing his burst potential.

Additionally, Braum’s Stand Behind Me (W) allows him to quickly reposition and shield allies, making it much harder for Brand to land his full combo. If Brand tries to engage aggressively, Braum’s Winter’s Bite (Q) slows him down, and his passive, Concussive Blows, stuns him after a few auto-attacks, making him an easy target for follow-up damage.

The key to beating Brand as Braum is to position in front of your ADC, block key abilities with E, and use Q and passive auto-attacks to punish Brand whenever he mispositions. Building Locket of the Iron Solari for extra shielding or Knight’s Vow for added protection on your ADC makes Braum even stronger. With excellent defensive tools, strong peel, and the ability to shut down Brand’s poke, Braum is one of the best champions to counter Brand in bot lane.

#6: Taric

Taric is a strong counter to Brand because his healing, durability, and invulnerability ultimate make it extremely difficult for Brand to secure kills with his burst damage. Brand relies on landing his full combo to burn enemies down, but Taric’s Starlight’s Touch (Q) provides constant healing, allowing his team to sustain through Brand’s poke and damage over time.

Additionally, Taric’s Bastion (W) provides a shield and armor to an ally, making it harder for Brand to execute a quick kill if he lands a stun with Sear (Q). If Brand ever tries to commit with his full combo, Taric’s Dazzle (E) can stun him mid-animation, shutting down his damage output. In team fights, Cosmic Radiance (R) makes his entire team invulnerable, completely negating Brand’s Pyroclasm (R) and preventing his AoE burn from securing kills.

The key to beating Brand as Taric is to position near your ADC, use W and Q to mitigate poke damage, and activate R to deny Brand’s burst in team fights. Building Locket of the Iron Solari for extra shielding or Knight’s Vow to further protect your ADC makes Taric even stronger. With massive sustain, strong crowd control, and an ultimate that completely negates Brand’s damage, Taric is one of the best champions to counter Brand in bot lane.

#5: Zilean

Zilean is a fantastic counter to Brand because his ability to revive teammates, slow enemies, and poke from range makes it extremely difficult for Brand to secure kills or play aggressively. Brand relies on landing his full combo to burn down targets, but Zilean’s Chronoshift (R) completely negates his all-in, reviving any ally that Brand tries to burst down.

Additionally, Zilean’s Time Warp (E) slows Brand, making it much harder for him to land his skill shots and position properly in fights. Since Brand is immobile and lacks escape tools, Zilean’s double Time Bomb (Q) stun punishes him whenever he oversteps, making him an easy target for follow-up damage. If Brand tries to engage with Pyroclasm (R), Zilean can preemptively place his ultimate on an ally, denying Brand’s kill potential entirely.

The key to beating Brand as Zilean is to stay back, poke with Q, slow him with E, and always be ready to use R on a priority target. Building Shurelya’s Battlesong for extra mobility or Imperial Mandate for bonus poke damage makes Zilean even more effective. With unmatched utility, strong poke, and the ability to completely nullify Brand’s burst, Zilean is one of the best champions to counter Brand in bot lane.

#4: Soraka

Soraka is a strong counter to Brand because her constant healing, sustain, and ability to remove grievous wounds make it difficult for Brand to secure kills. Brand thrives on poking enemies down with his burn effects and high AoE damage, but Soraka’s Astral Infusion (W) allows her to keep her teammates healthy, negating his poke entirely.

Additionally, Soraka’s Equinox (E) silences Brand, making it difficult for him to cast his full combo in fights. If Brand tries to all-in with Pyroclasm (R), Equinox’s silence field can stop him from following up, reducing his overall impact. In team fights, Soraka’s Wish (R) heals her entire team globally, countering Brand’s AoE burst and keeping her carries alive.

The key to beating Brand as Soraka is to position safely, spam W to keep your ADC healthy, and use E to silence Brand whenever he tries to go for an engage. Building Moonstone Renewer for increased healing or Mikael’s Blessing to remove crowd control makes Soraka even stronger. With superior sustain, healing, and the ability to completely nullify Brand’s poke, Soraka is one of the best champions to counter him in bot lane.

#3: Nami

Nami is a great counter to Brand because her constant healing, crowd control, and ability to disengage fights make it difficult for Brand to land his full combo and secure kills. Brand relies on wearing enemies down with poke damage before bursting them, but Nami’s Ebb and Flow (W) provides strong sustain, healing her ADC while poking Brand at the same time.

Additionally, Nami’s Aqua Prison (Q) can disrupt Brand’s positioning and prevent him from casting his abilities, making it risky for him to engage. If Brand tries to all-in with Pyroclasm (R), Nami’s Tidal Wave (R) serves as a powerful disengage tool, knocking up multiple enemies and giving her team time to reposition. Since Brand lacks mobility, Nami’s Tidecaller’s Blessing (E) slows him down, making it easier for her ADC to kite and avoid his skill shots.

The key to beating Brand as Nami is to position carefully, use W to sustain through his poke, and use Q and R to stop him from fully committing to fights. Building Moonstone Renewer for increased healing or Shurelya’s Battlesong for added mobility makes Nami even stronger. With excellent sustain, powerful crowd control, and great disengage tools, Nami is one of the best champions to counter Brand in bot lane.

#2: Janna

Janna is one of the best counters to Brand because her peel, disengage tools, and shields make it extremely difficult for Brand to land his full combo and deal effective damage. Brand thrives on catching enemies in his AoE abilities and bursting them down, but Janna’s Eye of the Storm (E) shields her teammates, significantly reducing the impact of his poke and burst.

Additionally, Janna’s Howling Gale (Q) can interrupt Brand’s combo, preventing him from following up with his stun or ultimate. If Brand tries to engage with Pyroclasm (R), Janna’s Monsoon (R) completely resets the fight, knocking him and his team away while healing her allies, negating his damage completely. Since Brand lacks mobility, Janna’s Tailwind passive and W slow make it harder for him to reposition, limiting his effectiveness.

The key to beating Brand as Janna is to stay back, use E to mitigate poke damage, and use Q and R to disrupt his engages and protect your ADC. Building Shurelya’s Battlesong for extra mobility or Locket of the Iron Solari for additional shielding makes Janna even stronger. With superior disengage, defensive shields, and the ability to completely nullify Brand’s burst, Janna is one of the best champions to counter him in bot lane.

#1: Sona

Sona is the best counter to Brand because her constant healing, poke damage, and team-wide utility make it nearly impossible for him to pressure lane or secure kills. Brand relies on poking enemies down with burn effects before bursting them, but Sona’s Aria of Perseverance (W) provides frequent healing and shields, completely negating his damage over time.

Additionally, Sona’s Hymn of Valor (Q) allows her to poke Brand from a safe distance, making it difficult for him to trade effectively. Since Brand is immobile and lacks sustain, Sona’s consistent poke forces him into bad trades, weakening his presence in lane. If Brand tries to fully commit with Pyroclasm (R), Sona’s Crescendo (R) can instantly counter-engage, stunning him and his teammates, completely flipping the fight in her favor.

The key to beating Brand as Sona is to play patiently, use W to sustain through his poke, and use R to counter his all-in engages. Building Moonstone Renewer for increased healing or Shurelya’s Battlesong for extra movement speed makes Sona even stronger. With superior sustain, great poke, and an ultimate that can turn fights instantly, Sona is the best champion to counter Brand in bot lane.

Conclusion

Brand is a high-damage poke mage who excels at burning enemies down over time and dealing massive AoE damage in fights, but he struggles against sustain, crowd control, and disengage-heavy champions. Sona, Soraka, and Nami counter Brand by healing through his poke and preventing him from securing kills. Janna and Zilean deny his all-ins with shields, movement speed slows, and fight-resetting abilities. Leona, Nautilus, and Alistar completely shut him down by engaging onto him before he can poke and locking him down with heavy CC.

The key to shutting down Brand is to either out-sustain his burn damage, avoid his skill shots, or engage onto him before he can dish out his full combo. By picking one of these ten counters, you can neutralize Brand’s strengths, dominate the bot lane, and prevent him from becoming a late-game damage threat in League of Legends.