10 Best Champions To Counter Varus In League of Legends

Varus is a versatile ADC who can dominate lanes with his poke, burst, or sustained damage, depending on his build. Whether he’s playing as a lethality sniper or an attack-speed carry, he relies heavily on landing skill shots and maintaining safe positioning. However, Varus has clear weaknesses, including low mobility, squishiness, and reliance on his abilities to deal damage. The best counters exploit these flaws by dodging his poke, engaging on him before he can kite, or out-ranging him in fights. In this article, we’ll cover the 10 best champions to counter Varus and how to shut him down before he takes over the game.

#10: Nilah

Nilah is a strong counter to Varus because she thrives in close-range fights and can completely negate his poke. Varus relies heavily on his Piercing Arrow (Q) to harass enemies in lane, but Nilah’s Jubilant Veil (W) makes her immune to all non-targeted attacks and abilities, allowing her to dodge his main source of damage. This gives her a significant advantage in trades and all-ins.

Additionally, Nilah’s slipstream mobility and engage potential make it difficult for Varus to keep her at bay. With her Formless Blade (Q) and Relentless Dash (E), she can close the gap quickly, punishing Varus for his lack of escape tools. Once she gets access to Apotheosis (R), she can force extended fights where Varus struggles to deal with her sustain and AOE damage.

To win this matchup, Nilah players should focus on dodging Varus’ poke with W, using their mobility to engage, and forcing fights where Varus cannot kite effectively. If played correctly, Nilah can turn the lane into a nightmare for Varus by constantly diving onto him and denying his ability to harass safely.

#9: Ziggs

Ziggs is a strong counter to Varus because he outranges him, outpokes him, and forces him to play defensively. While Varus excels at poking enemies down with Piercing Arrow (Q), Ziggs can match and even surpass his poke with Bouncing Bomb (Q), making it difficult for Varus to control the lane. Additionally, Satchel Charge (W) provides an easy way to disengage if Varus or his support tries to engage, further limiting his kill potential.

Another key advantage Ziggs has in this matchup is his ability to take down turrets quickly with Passive (Short Fuse) and Satchel Charge (W). If Varus is forced to recall or play passively, Ziggs can punish him by rapidly shoving waves and taking turret plates, accelerating his lead.

To win this matchup, Ziggs players should focus on constantly poking Varus from a safe distance, using their W to disengage from threats, and applying pressure by pushing waves and taking objectives. Since Varus lacks mobility and sustain, Ziggs’ relentless poke and tower pressure can make the lane unbearable for him.

#8: Kog’Maw

Kog’Maw is a strong counter to Varus because he outscales him in damage and outranges him in fights. While Varus relies on his abilities to deal damage, Kog’Maw’s Bio-Arcane Barrage (W) gives him one of the longest auto-attack ranges in the game, allowing him to safely poke and trade without relying on skill shots. This makes it difficult for Varus to harass him effectively, especially in extended fights.

Additionally, Kog’Maw’s Living Artillery (R) allows him to poke Varus from outside his range, forcing him to either take free damage or play defensively. If Varus goes for a lethality build, Kog’Maw can easily shred him before he has a chance to burst him down. If Varus builds attack speed, Kog’Maw will still outscale him with his superior DPS in the late game.

To win this matchup, Kog’Maw players should focus on positioning safely in lane, using W to trade from a distance, and scaling into the mid and late game where they will completely outdamage Varus. With the right support, Kog’Maw can dominate Varus in extended fights and take control of the game.

#7: Ezreal

Ezreal is a great counter to Varus because he can match his poke, dodge his skill shots, and outmaneuver him in fights. While Varus relies on landing Piercing Arrow (Q) and Hail of Arrows (E) to harass enemies, Ezreal’s Arcane Shift (E) allows him to reposition instantly, making it difficult for Varus to land his abilities. This mobility also makes it much easier for Ezreal to avoid Varus’ Chain of Corruption (R), preventing him from getting locked down in fights.

Additionally, Ezreal’s Mystic Shot (Q) gives him consistent poke and sustained damage without needing to commit to all-ins. Since Varus is immobile, Ezreal can continuously chip away at his health while staying out of range of retaliation. If Varus builds lethality, Ezreal’s mobility and long-range poke allow him to safely whittle Varus down without taking return damage. If Varus goes for an on-hit build, Ezreal can kite him easily and avoid extended trades.

To win this matchup, Ezreal players should focus on weaving in poke with Q, using E to dodge Varus’ skill shots, and playing for sustained damage rather than all-ins. With proper positioning and good use of mobility, Ezreal can make it nearly impossible for Varus to land his abilities, giving him the edge in lane and later team fights.

#6: Caitlyn

Caitlyn is a strong counter to Varus because she outranges him, outpokes him, and controls the lane with her traps and zoning tools. With the longest base attack range of any ADC, Caitlyn can constantly harass Varus with auto-attacks before he can retaliate. This makes it difficult for him to farm or trade effectively, forcing him into a defensive position.

Additionally, 90 Caliber Net (E) gives Caitlyn a reliable escape tool to avoid Varus’ Chain of Corruption (R) and disengage if he tries to all-in. Her Yordle Snap Trap (W) also creates a zoning threat, making it harder for Varus to step up safely in lane. If Varus is playing lethality, Caitlyn’s superior range allows her to poke him down before he can land his burst damage. If he builds on-hit, she can still kite him effectively and punish his shorter range.

To win this matchup, Caitlyn players should focus on harassing Varus with auto-attacks, placing traps in key locations to control space, and using her range advantage to deny him farm and lane control. If played well, Varus will struggle to find openings to fight back, making Caitlyn a dominant pick against him.

#5: Vayne

Vayne is a strong counter to Varus because she excels at punishing immobile champions and dodging skill shots. While Varus relies on landing Piercing Arrow (Q) and Chain of Corruption (R) to control fights, Vayne’s Tumble (Q) allows her to reposition quickly, making it difficult for him to land his key abilities. Her Condemn (E) also gives her a strong disengage tool, letting her knock Varus away if he tries to fight back.

Another major advantage Vayne has is her ability to win extended fights. If Varus is building lethality, he will struggle to burst Vayne down before she can dodge his poke and all-in him. If he goes for an on-hit build, Vayne’s Silver Bolts (W) lets her shred through him in duels. Additionally, Final Hour (R) makes her even harder to catch, allowing her to reposition, chase, or escape fights with ease.

To win this matchup, Vayne players should focus on dodging Varus’ abilities with Q, punishing him whenever he mispositions, and using her mobility to outplay him in skirmishes. Since Varus has no mobility and struggles against hyper-mobile champions, Vayne can easily take over the lane and the game.

#4: Jhin

Jhin is a strong counter to Varus because he matches his poke, outranges him in key trades, and punishes his lack of mobility. While Varus excels at harassing enemies with Piercing Arrow (Q), Jhin can fight back with Dancing Grenade (Q) and Deadly Flourish (W), making trades more even. However, Jhin’s biggest advantage is his superior burst damage and range. His Fourth Shot can deal massive damage, making it risky for Varus to step up, while his Curtain Call (R) lets him pressure Varus from long range, forcing him to play defensively.

Another key factor is Jhin’s Deadly Flourish (W), which can root Varus if he is damaged beforehand. Since Varus lacks mobility, landing a W can easily set up follow-up damage or an all-in. If Varus builds lethality, Jhin can out-trade him with superior burst damage. If Varus goes on-hit, Jhin’s ability to poke and kite makes it hard for him to get close.

To win this matchup, Jhin players should focus on trading with Fourth Shot, using W to punish Varus when he’s hit by poke, and utilizing their superior range to keep Varus under pressure. Since Jhin also excels at long-range fights, he can make it very difficult for Varus to play safely, especially in mid-to-late game team fights.

#3: Samira

Samira is a devastating counter to Varus because she completely negates his poke, excels in close-range fights, and can easily punish his lack of mobility. Varus relies heavily on his Piercing Arrow (Q) and Hail of Arrows (E) to poke and control the lane, but Samira’s Blade Whirl (W) can block all of his projectiles, rendering his main sources of damage useless. This allows her to close the gap safely and set up for an all-in.

Additionally, Samira thrives in high-aggression fights, while Varus struggles when enemies get too close. With her Wild Rush (E), she can dash onto Varus and force a fight before he has a chance to react. Once she builds up her Style meter, she can unleash Inferno Trigger (R), quickly shredding Varus before he can escape. If Varus builds lethality, Samira can easily survive his burst and counter-engage. If he goes on-hit, he won’t have the tools to keep her at a distance.

To win this matchup, Samira players should focus on blocking Varus’ poke with W, using E to engage when he mispositions, and forcing all-ins where he has no way to kite or escape. If played aggressively, Samira can make it nearly impossible for Varus to play safely, turning the lane heavily in her favor.

#2: Senna

Senna is a strong counter to Varus because she outranges him, sustains through his poke, and punishes his immobility. One of Varus’ biggest strengths is his ability to harass enemies with Piercing Arrow (Q) and Hail of Arrows (E), but Senna’s Piercing Darkness (Q) provides consistent healing, making it difficult for him to chip her down. Additionally, Senna’s auto-attack range scales with her passive, allowing her to trade with Varus from a safer distance.

Another key advantage Senna has in this matchup is her ability to punish immobile champions. Her Last Embrace (W) roots Varus if he gets hit, setting up easy follow-up damage or an all-in with her team. If Varus tries to use Chain of Corruption (R) to lock her down, she can activate Curse of the Black Mist (E) to become untargetable and disengage safely.

To win this matchup, Senna players should focus on poking Varus down with long-range autos, using Q to sustain through his poke, and looking for W roots to punish his lack of mobility. Since Senna scales incredibly well into the late game, she can out-value Varus over time, making this a difficult matchup for him to win.

#1: Aphelios

Aphelios is the best counter to Varus because he outdamages him in extended fights, has better scaling, and can punish his lack of mobility. While Varus relies on his Piercing Arrow (Q) poke and burst combos, Aphelios can trade back heavily with his long-range poke from Calibrum (Sniper Rifle) and sustain from Severum (Scythe Pistol). This makes it difficult for Varus to whittle him down over time.

One of Aphelios’ biggest advantages in this matchup is his superior team-fighting potential. If Varus builds lethality, Aphelios can survive his burst and out-DPS him in extended fights. If Varus builds on-hit, Aphelios’ crowd control with Gravitum (Gravity Cannon) and AOE damage with Infernum (Flamethrower) can completely turn the tide of a fight. Additionally, Aphelios’ Moonlight Vigil (R) gives him a massive engage and follow-up tool, making it difficult for Varus to position safely.

To win this matchup, Aphelios players should focus on scaling, trading effectively with their different weapons, and using their superior late-game power to take over fights. Since Varus lacks mobility and relies heavily on skill shots, Aphelios can take advantage of his versatility and raw damage output to shut him down both in lane and in team fights.

Conclusion

Varus is a strong ADC with versatile builds, but his biggest weaknesses—**lack of mobility, reliance on skill shots, and vulnerability to all-ins—**make him susceptible to the right counterpicks. Champions like Aphelios and Senna can outrange him, Samira and Nilah can nullify his poke, and Ezreal and Caitlyn can outmaneuver and harass him from a distance. Whether you’re looking to outscale him, dodge his abilities, or shut him down early, these 10 champions provide the best tools to make his laning phase and late-game impact much weaker. If you’re struggling against Varus, choosing one of these counters and playing around his weaknesses can help you take control of the game and neutralize his threat.