Volibear is a tanky jungler and top-laner known for his high sustain, strong engage, and relentless damage in extended fights. With abilities like Thundering Smash (Q) and Sky Splitter (E), he can stun, slow, and disrupt enemies, while his Stormbringer (R) grants him increased damage and survivability. However, Volibear has weaknesses—he is vulnerable to crowd control, relies on getting in close to deal damage, and lacks strong mobility. The best counters can shut him down early, kite him in fights, or outdamage him before he becomes a late-game powerhouse. In this article, we’ll cover the 10 best champions to counter Volibear and explain how to neutralize his impact in the game.
Hecarim is a strong counter to Volibear because he outmaneuvers him, can kite him effectively, and disrupt his engages. Volibear relies on getting in close to deal his damage, but Hecarim’s mobility from Devastating Charge (E) allows him to dash around the fight, avoiding Volibear’s key abilities like Thundering Smash (Q) and Sky Splitter (E). Hecarim can use his speed to constantly reposition and make it difficult for Volibear to land his abilities.
Another advantage Hecarim has is his burst damage with Rampage (Q) and Onslaught of Shadows (R), which allows him to engage from a distance and potentially burst Volibear down before he can heal or retaliate. Since Volibear is a melee champion with no great ranged poke, Hecarim’s range and speed give him a clear advantage in skirmishes and team fights.
To win this matchup, **Hecarim players should focus on kiting Volibear with E, avoiding his abilities with their mobility, and using R to disrupt Volibear’s engage and burst him down quickly. With careful positioning and aggressive play, Hecarim can shut Volibear down and prevent him from dominating team fights.
Rek’Sai is a strong counter to Volibear because she can outmaneuver him, interrupt his engages, and outduel him early. Volibear relies on charging in with his Q to stun and engage, but Rek’Sai’s Unburrow (W) allows her to dodge his abilities, making it difficult for him to land his key damage. Rek’Sai can also use her tunnel system to quickly reposition and avoid Volibear’s key abilities.
Another advantage Rek’Sai has is her early-game pressure and dueling power. Volibear scales well into the late game, but Rek’Sai can dominate him in the early stages with her high burst damage from Furious Bite (E) and her sustain from the passive. If Rek’Sai gets ahead early, Volibear will struggle to catch up, making it easier to control objectives and skirmishes.
To win this matchup, Rek’Sai players should invade early, use W to dodge Volibear’s Q, and burst him down in the early game before he gets his full item build. If played correctly, Rek’Sai can prevent Volibear from scaling into a late-game threat by taking advantage of her early-game power.
Elise is a strong counter to Volibear because she can burst him down quickly, avoid his engages, and outmaneuver him in the jungle. Volibear excels in extended fights where he can heal and deal damage over time, but Elise’s early-game burst damage from Human Form (Q) and Spider Form (Q) allows her to quickly take Volibear down before he has a chance to heal or retaliate.
Another key advantage Elise has is her mobility and ability to avoid Volibear’s crowd control. Since Volibear relies on Thundering Smash (Q) to engage and Sky Splitter (E) to deal damage, Elise’s Rappel (E) allows her to become untargetable, dodging his key abilities and repositioning herself. This mobility gives Elise a huge advantage in dodging Volibear’s burst and controlling the pace of the fight.
To win this matchup, Elise players should focus on early aggression, looking for invades or ganks to put Volibear behind. Avoid his abilities with Rappel, burst him down with Spider Form attacks, and control the early game to prevent him from scaling into a late-game threat. If played correctly, Elise can shut down Volibear’s sustain and control the tempo of the game.
Trundle is a strong counter to Volibear because he can steal his stats, out-sustain him in fights, and disrupt his engages. Volibear relies on his damage and sustain through abilities like Transfusion (Q) and Stormbringer (R), but Trundle’s Chomp (Q) allows him to reduce Volibear’s damage output, making him significantly weaker in extended trades.
Another key advantage Trundle has is his Subjugate (R), which steals a percentage of Volibear’s health, armor, and magic resist, turning Volibear’s tankiness against him and making it much easier for Trundle to deal damage and survive in fights. Since Volibear relies on being tanky to heal, Trundle’s ability to reduce his resistances and heal off his attacks gives him the edge in prolonged skirmishes.
To win this matchup, Trundle players should focus on using R to lower Volibear’s resistances, fight in extended trades to out-sustain him with his passive healing, and use Q to reduce his damage. If played correctly, Trundle can completely negate Volibear’s healing and tankiness, turning him into a much easier target.
Olaf is a strong counter to Volibear because he outduels him, ignores his crowd control, and can sustain through his damage. Volibear relies on engaging with his Q and healing through his abilities, but Olaf’s Ragnarok (R) makes him immune to all crowd control, including Volibear’s Thundering Smash (Q) and Sky Splitter (E), allowing Olaf to continue his offensive without being disrupted.
Another major advantage Olaf has is his incredible sustain and damage output. With Vicious Strikes (W) and his passive attack speed bonus, Olaf can keep healing through Volibear’s damage while continuing to deal high burst damage. Olaf also has strong dueling power, with Undertow (Q) slowing Volibear, preventing him from escaping or chasing.
To win this matchup, Olaf players should focus on engaging Volibear in extended trades, using R to ignore his crowd control and W to heal through his damage. If played aggressively, Olaf can easily out-sustain and out-damage Volibear, preventing him from turning the fight in his favor.
Kha’Zix is a strong counter to Volibear because he can burst him down quickly, outmaneuver him with his mobility, and avoid his crowd control. Volibear thrives in extended fights where he can heal and deal consistent damage, but Kha’Zix’s high burst damage from Taste Their Fear (Q) and his ability to isolate targets allows him to quickly eliminate Volibear before he has a chance to sustain.
Another major advantage Kha’Zix has is his stealth and mobility. With Void Assault (R), Kha’Zix can dash in and out of fights, avoiding Volibear’s attempts to lock him down with his crowd control. Additionally, Kha’Zix can jump over terrain using Leap (E), making it harder for Volibear to land his abilities and engage.
To win this matchup, Kha’Zix players should focus on isolating Volibear in skirmishes, using Q to burst him down quickly, and using R to dodge his crowd control. If played well, Kha’Zix can outmaneuver Volibear and prevent him from getting sustained damage or resets.
Nidalee is a strong counter to Volibear because she can kite him effectively, outmaneuver his engages, and burst him down before he can heal. Volibear excels in extended fights where he can use his sustain, but Nidalee’s mobility with Prowl (Passive) and quick poke from Javelin Toss (Q) allow her to poke him from a distance, preventing him from engaging freely and healing up.
Another major advantage Nidalee has is her ability to sustain with Primal Surge (W) and burst potential in Cougar Form (R). Volibear’s damage and crowd control are powerful in close combat, but Nidalee’s long-range poke can keep him at a distance and whittle him down before he can close the gap. If Volibear does engage, Nidalee’s Rappel (E) gives her the ability to escape or reposition, making it difficult for Volibear to land his key abilities.
To win this matchup, Nidalee players should focus on keeping Volibear at a distance with Q and W, using Cougar Form for quick burst damage, and dodge his engage with Rappel. If played correctly, Nidalee can kite Volibear effectively and prevent him from ever becoming a threat in extended fights.
Lee Sin is a strong counter to Volibear because he can outmaneuver him, interrupt his engages, and burst him down early. Volibear relies on getting in close to deal his damage and sustain, but Lee Sin’s high mobility from Sonic Wave (Q) and Tempest (E) allow him to dodge Volibear’s abilities and engage or disengage quickly. Lee Sin’s Dragon’s Rage (R) can also knock Volibear away mid-fight, preventing him from sticking to his target or landing key abilities like Thundering Smash (Q) and Sky Splitter (E).
Another major advantage Lee Sin has is his early-game dueling power. Lee Sin’s early burst damage with Sonic Wave (Q), Tempest (E), and Dragon’s Rage (R) allows him to take Volibear out of the fight early, before he can heal or get his full sustain from Transfusion (Q) and Stormbringer (R).
To win this matchup, Lee Sin players should focus on early aggression, using Q to poke and E to engage, disrupt Volibear’s all-ins with Dragon’s Rage, and avoid his crowd control. If played aggressively and effectively, Lee Sin can prevent Volibear from scaling and control the early game.
Kindred is a strong counter to Volibear because she can kite him, outdamage him in extended fights, and deny his healing with Lamb’s Respite (R). Volibear thrives in close-range combat where he can use his sustain from Transfusion (Q) and Stormbringer (R), but Kindred’s ranged damage from Dance of Arrows (Q) and Mounting Dread (E) allows her to poke and kite Volibear before he can get into range to sustain through trades.
Another major advantage Kindred has is her ultimate, Lamb’s Respite (R), which prevents Volibear from securing kills in crucial moments. If Volibear tries to all-in Kindred, Lamb’s Respite will heal both Kindred and her allies, negating Volibear’s burst and allowing Kindred to turn the fight in her favor.
To win this matchup, Kindred players should focus on keeping their distance and kiting Volibear with Q and E, while using R to deny his damage when he tries to engage. If played correctly, Kindred can completely shut down Volibear’s sustain and win fights by outmaneuvering him.
Graves is the best counter to Volibear because he out-ranges him, can burst him down quickly, and sustain through his damage. Volibear thrives in extended fights where he can heal and deal damage, but Graves’ long-range poke with End of the Line (Q) and auto-attacks allows him to poke Volibear down before he can get into range to engage or heal. Additionally, Graves’ True Grit (E) provides bonus armor and magic resist, helping him tank through Volibear’s damage and sustain in trades.
Another key advantage Graves has is his mobility and ability to kite. Quickdraw (E) allows him to dodge Volibear’s crowd control and reposition quickly in fights, making it harder for Volibear to stick to him. Graves can also burst Volibear down with his ultimate, the High Noon (R), dealing significant damage from a safe distance, and preventing Volibear from healing back the damage.
To win this matchup, Graves players should focus on poking Volibear from range, using E to disengage or dodge his abilities, and burst him down with R when Volibear tries to engage. If played correctly, Graves can kite Volibear effectively and deny him the opportunity to heal or sustain in fights.
Volibear is a formidable champion with strong sustain, tankiness, and relentless damage, but his weaknesses—vulnerability to kiting, reliance on engaging, and lack of mobility—make him susceptible to the right counters. Champions like Graves and Kindred can out-range and burst him down before he has a chance to heal, while Lee Sin and Rek’Sai can dodge his abilities and disrupt his engages. If you’re struggling against Volibear, picking one of these champions and playing around his weaknesses, whether by avoiding extended fights or kiting him, will prevent him from becoming the powerhouse he can be in the late game. By shutting down his sustain and preventing him from engaging, you can easily neutralize his impact and control the game.
Posted On: March 7th, 2025
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