10 Best Champions To Counter Vel’Koz In League of Legends

Vel’Koz is a deadly artillery mage known for his long-range poke, high burst damage, and true damage passive. With abilities like Plasma Fission (Q) and Void Rift (W), he can continuously harass enemies from a distance, while his Life Form Disintegration Ray (R) melts targets in team fights. However, Vel’Koz has clear weaknesses—he is immobile, squishy, and vulnerable to assassins or champions who can dodge his skill shots. The best counters can close the gap quickly, disrupt his combos, or outmaneuver his abilities to avoid taking damage. In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best champions to counter Vel’Koz and how to shut him down before he can take over the game.

#10: Yasuo

Yasuo is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because he can block his abilities, close the gap quickly, and burst him down before he can react. Vel’Koz relies entirely on skill shots to deal damage, and Yasuo’s Wind Wall (W) can completely negate his Plasma Fission (Q), Void Rift (W), and even his Life Form Disintegration Ray (R). This makes it incredibly difficult for Vel’Koz to trade effectively.

Another big advantage Yasuo has is his high mobility. Vel’Koz lacks mobility and struggles against champions who can dodge his skill shots, and Yasuo’s Sweeping Blade (E) allows him to dash through minions to get close. Once Yasuo is in melee range, Vel’Koz has no tools to escape, making him an easy target for Yasuo’s high burst damage and knock-up combos.

To win this matchup, Yasuo players should use Wind Wall to block Vel’Koz’s poke, dash in aggressively when he mispositions, and look for all-ins when his cooldowns are down. If Yasuo plays aggressively, Vel’Koz will struggle to survive lane and scale into the late game.

#9: Akali

Akali is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because she can easily dodge his skill shots, assassinate him quickly, and use her shroud to avoid his burst damage. Vel’Koz relies entirely on landing skill shots to deal damage, but Akali’s Twilight Shroud (W) makes it nearly impossible for him to hit her consistently. This allows her to engage, disengage, and reposition freely without taking return damage.

Another major advantage Akali has is her high mobility. Vel’Koz has no mobility himself and struggles against champions who can quickly close the gap. Akali’s Shuriken Flip (E) and Perfect Execution (R) allow her to dive onto him instantly, making it difficult for him to react before she unleashes her full combo. Since Vel’Koz is one of the squishiest mages in the game, Akali can easily burst him down before he can retaliate.

To win this matchup, Akali players should look for trades once they hit level 3, use W to dodge Vel’Koz’s abilities, and all-in whenever his Q or E is on cooldown. If played aggressively, Akali can make it impossible for Vel’Koz to stay safe and scale into the late game.

#8: Talon

Talon is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because he can burst him down instantly, avoid his skill shots, and roam to snowball before Vel’Koz scales. Vel’Koz is a squishy, immobile mage who struggles against assassins, and Talon excels at jumping in, securing a kill, and escaping before Vel’Koz can react.

One of Talon’s biggest advantages is his Assassin’s Path (E), which allows him to jump over terrain to engage or disengage. This makes it hard for Vel’Koz to keep his distance, as Talon can flank him from unexpected angles and avoid getting hit by skill shots. Once Talon gets on top of him, Rake (W) slows Vel’Koz, and Noxian Diplomacy (Q) allows for an easy all-in. If Talon activates Shadow Assault (R), he can finish the kill and escape before Vel’Koz has a chance to respond.

To win this matchup, Talon players should look for early trades, roam to secure leads, and abuse their burst damage to delete Vel’Koz whenever he mispositions. If Talon gets ahead, Vel’Koz will have no way to survive the mid and late game.

#7: Syndra

Syndra is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because she outranges him, outtrades him in lane, and can burst him down before he gets a chance to fight back. While Vel’Koz relies on landing skill shots to deal damage, Syndra’s Dark Sphere (Q) and Force of Will (W) allow her to poke him from a distance and zone him off farm without needing to commit.

One of Syndra’s biggest advantages is her high burst damage and crowd control. If Vel’Koz tries to position aggressively, Scatter the Weak (E) can push him back and stun him, completely interrupting his Life Form Disintegration Ray (R). Since Vel’Koz has no mobility, landing an E almost guarantees a full combo, leading to an easy kill. Once Syndra reaches level 6, Unleashed Power (R) allows her to instantly delete Vel’Koz before he can react.

To win this matchup, Syndra players should focus on poking Vel’Koz with Q and W, saving E to interrupt his ultimate, and looking for all-ins when he is low. If played well, Syndra can completely shut down Vel’Koz and prevent him from scaling into the late game.

#6: Katarina

Katarina is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because she can dodge his skill shots, burst him down instantly, and snowball off early kills. Vel’Koz relies on landing Plasma Fission (Q), Void Rift (W), and Tectonic Disruption (E) to poke and control fights, but Katarina’s Shunpo (E) allows her to quickly dodge his abilities and reposition for an all-in.

Another major advantage Katarina has is her mobility and resets. Since Vel’Koz is a squishy, immobile mage, he struggles against assassins who can jump onto him and eliminate him before he gets to cast his full combo. Once Katarina lands a kill or assist, her passive resets Shunpo (E), allowing her to continue jumping around and cleaning up fights. Even if Vel’Koz tries to use Event Horizon (E) to disengage, Katarina can wait for the right moment and reposition with her daggers to re-engage.

To win this matchup, Katarina players should wait for Vel’Koz to use his Q or E, then engage aggressively with E and their full combo. If played correctly, Katarina can completely shut down Vel’Koz and make it impossible for him to farm or scale into the late game.

#5: Kassadin

Kassadin is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because he naturally counters AP mages, scales into a late-game monster, and can completely avoid Vel’Koz’s abilities. Vel’Koz thrives on long-range poke and burst damage, but Kassadin’s Passive (Void Stone) grants him reduced magic damage, making it difficult for Vel’Koz to trade effectively.

Another major advantage Kassadin has is his mobility and ability to dodge skill shots. Vel’Koz is immobile and entirely reliant on landing abilities to deal damage, but once Kassadin reaches level 6, Riftwalk (R) allows him to dodge Plasma Fission (Q), escape crowd control, and close the gap for an easy all-in. Since Vel’Koz has no built-in escape, Kassadin can continuously jump onto him and win trades with Nether Blade (W) and Force Pulse (E).

To win this matchup, Kassadin players should focus on surviving the early game, stacking their passive to reduce magic damage, and looking for all-ins once level 6 is reached. If Kassadin scales safely, Vel’Koz will have no way to stop him from snowballing into an unstoppable force.

#4: Ahri

Ahri is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because she can dodge his skill shots, poke him down from a safe distance, and burst him before he can retaliate. Vel’Koz relies on hitting Plasma Fission (Q), Void Rift (W), and Tectonic Disruption (E) to deal damage, but Ahri’s Spirit Rush (R) gives her three dashes, making it incredibly difficult for Vel’Koz to land his abilities.

Another key advantage Ahri has is her strong laning phase and crowd control. With Orb of Deception (Q), she can continuously poke Vel’Koz while staying out of his range. If Vel’Koz ever mispositions, Ahri’s Charm (E) can completely shut him down, leaving him vulnerable to an all-in. Since Vel’Koz has no mobility and low defensive stats, Ahri’s burst combo with Fox-Fire (W) and Spirit Rush (R) can easily take him out before he has a chance to respond.

To win this matchup, Ahri players should focus on poking Vel’Koz with Q, using their ultimate to dodge his abilities, and engaging aggressively when his stun is on cooldown. If played correctly, Ahri can dominate the lane and make it nearly impossible for Vel’Koz to have an impact.

#3: Leblanc

LeBlanc is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because she can dodge his abilities, burst him down instantly, and play aggressively without being punished. Vel’Koz relies on hitting skill shots to deal damage, but LeBlanc’s Distortion (W) allows her to jump in, poke him, and reposition safely before he can retaliate. This makes it incredibly difficult for Vel’Koz to land his Plasma Fission (Q) and Tectonic Disruption (E).

Another major advantage LeBlanc has is her assassination potential. Since Vel’Koz is a squishy, immobile mage, he has no escape tools if LeBlanc lands Ethereal Chains (E). Once LeBlanc reaches level 6, Mimic (R) amplifies her burst damage, allowing her to instantly kill Vel’Koz before he can react or fire his ultimate.

To win this matchup, LeBlanc players should constantly poke Vel’Koz with Q + W combos, use W to dodge his abilities, and look for all-ins whenever he mispositions. If played aggressively, LeBlanc can make it impossible for Vel’Koz to scale or contribute to fights.

#2: Zed

Zed is a strong counter to Vel’Koz because he can completely avoid his abilities, burst him down instantly, and punish his lack of mobility. Vel’Koz relies entirely on skill shots to deal damage, but Zed’s Living Shadow (W) and Death Mark (R) allow him to dodge Plasma Fission (Q), Void Rift (W), and Tectonic Disruption (E), making it incredibly difficult for Vel’Koz to land his abilities.

Another key advantage Zed has is his high burst damage and kill potential. Since Vel’Koz is one of the squishiest mages in the game, Zed can quickly eliminate him with a full combo using Razor Shuriken (Q), Shadow Slash (E), and Death Mark (R). Even if Vel’Koz builds some defensive items, Zed’s percent-based damage from Death Mark’s explosion ensures that he will still be a huge threat.

To win this matchup, Zed players should poke with Q in the early game, use W to dodge Vel’Koz’s poke, and go for an all-in at level 6 when their ultimate is available. If played correctly, Zed can completely shut Vel’Koz down and prevent him from scaling into the late game.

#1: Fizz

Fizz is the best counter to Vel’Koz because he can completely dodge Vel’Koz’s abilities, burst him down instantly, and snowball out of control. Vel’Koz relies entirely on skill shots to deal damage, but Fizz’s Playful/Trickster (E) allows him to dodge Plasma Fission (Q), Void Rift (W), Tectonic Disruption (E), and even Life Form Disintegration Ray (R). This makes it nearly impossible for Vel’Koz to land his full combo on Fizz.

Another huge advantage Fizz has is his one-shot potential. Vel’Koz is a squishy, immobile mage, making him the perfect target for Fizz’s Urchin Strike (Q), Seastone Trident (W), and Chum the Waters (R). Once Fizz gets his ultimate, he can engage from range, lock Vel’Koz down, and instantly delete him before he can react. Even if Vel’Koz builds defensive items, Fizz’s on-hit damage and execution scaling make him an unstoppable threat.

To win this matchup, Fizz players should wait for level 6, use E to dodge Vel’Koz’s abilities, and go for an all-in whenever his ultimate is ready. If played correctly, Fizz can make it impossible for Vel’Koz to farm, trade, or have any impact in fights.

Conclusion

Vel’Koz is a powerful artillery mage with long-range poke and high burst damage, but his biggest weaknesses—lack of mobility, reliance on skill shots, and squishiness—make him vulnerable to the right counters. Champions like Fizz, Zed, and Talon can dodge his abilities and burst him down, while Ahri and LeBlanc can harass him from range and outmaneuver his skill shots. If you’re struggling against Vel’Koz, picking one of these counters and playing aggressively before he can scale will shut him down and prevent him from controlling fights with his massive damage output.