10 Best Champions To Counter Yasuo In League of Legends

Yasuo is a high-skill, mobile champion known for his ability to outplay opponents, high burst damage, and strong teamfighting presence with his Wind Wall (W) and Last Breath (R). While Yasuo excels at dodging skill shots and disrupting enemies, he has weaknesses—he is highly reliant on positioning, lacks crowd control, and can be punished when he mispositions. The best counters to Yasuo can exploit these weaknesses, shut him down in lane, and prevent him from getting the resets and opportunities he needs. In this article, we’ll discuss the 10 best champions to counter Yasuo and how to neutralize his impact in the game.

#10: Anivia

Anivia is a strong counter to Yasuo because she can outpoke him, control the wave, and lock him down in team fights. Yasuo thrives on mobility and positioning, but Anivia’s long-range poke with Flash Frost (Q) and Arcane Pulse (E) forces Yasuo to play defensively and avoid getting caught. Anivia’s Glacial Storm (R) also deals consistent area damage, making it difficult for Yasuo to engage or reposition effectively.

One of Anivia’s biggest advantages is her crowd control. If Yasuo tries to engage with Sweeping Blade (E) or Last Breath (R), Anivia can use Flash Frost (Q) to stun him and deny him a chance to execute his combo. Additionally, Crystallize (W) can block his path, preventing Yasuo from dashing freely and forcing him to waste his abilities.

To win this matchup, Anivia players should focus on keeping Yasuo at a distance, using Q and E to poke, and W to block his dashes. If played correctly, Anivia can make Yasuo’s mobility irrelevant and shut him down in lane and team fights.

#9: Ahri

Ahri is a strong counter to Yasuo because she can outmaneuver him, poke him from a distance, and punish his over-aggression. Yasuo relies on getting in close to land his combos, but Ahri’s mobility with Spirit Rush (R) allows her to dash around him and avoid his abilities, especially his Sweeping Blade (E) and Last Breath (R).

Ahri also has strong poke potential with Orb of Deception (Q) and Fox-Fire (W), allowing her to harass Yasuo from a distance while keeping him at bay. Additionally, Charm (E) can lock Yasuo down, preventing him from engaging or using his ultimate to burst her down. This crowd control gives Ahri the opportunity to burst him with her full combo.

To win this matchup, Ahri players should focus on dodging Yasuo’s skill shots using R, landing E to root him, and using Q and W to poke. If played correctly, Ahri can make Yasuo’s all-ins ineffective and outplay him in skirmishes.

#8: Orianna

Orianna is a strong counter to Yasuo because she can outpoke him, control his positioning, and shut down his engages. Yasuo excels when he can dash around and quickly engage, but Orianna’s ball control and long-range poke with Command: Attack (Q) and Command: Dissonance (W) allow her to keep Yasuo at a distance, forcing him to play defensively.

One of Orianna’s biggest strengths is her ability to control Yasuo’s movements with Command: Protect (E) and Command: Shockwave (R). If Yasuo tries to dash in with Sweeping Blade (E) or engage with Last Breath (R), Orianna can use her ultimate to displace him and prevent him from fully executing his combo. This also makes Orianna a strong threat in team fights, as she can zone Yasuo and prevent him from diving in.

To win this matchup, Orianna players should focus on using the ball to poke Yasuo, keeping him at a safe distance, and using R to disrupt his engages. If played correctly, Orianna can negate Yasuo’s mobility and burst him down in team fights.

#7: Viktor

Viktor is a strong counter to Yasuo because he can outpoke him, control the battlefield, and deny his mobility. Yasuo relies on his quick dashes and mobility to close the gap and engage, but Viktor’s long-range poke with Death Ray (E) and Plasma Fission (Q) allows him to harass Yasuo from a distance before he can even get close.

Another key advantage Viktor has is his crowd control. Gravity Field (W) can root Yasuo in place, preventing him from using his Sweeping Blade (E) to dash around or engage with Last Breath (R). Additionally, Viktor’s Chaos Storm (R) provides consistent damage in team fights and makes it hard for Yasuo to dodge the damage or escape his range.

To win this matchup, Viktor players should focus on poking Yasuo with Q and E, using W to interrupt his dashes, and saving R to burst him down during a team fight. If played well, Viktor can neutralize Yasuo’s mobility and control the lane with his superior range.

#6: Lux

Lux is a strong counter to Yasuo because she can poke him from a distance, keep him at bay with crowd control, and disrupt his engages. Yasuo thrives when he can close the gap quickly and land his Sweeping Blade (E) combo, but Lux’s long-range poke with Light Binding (Q) and Lucent Singularity (E) allows her to harass him from a safe distance and zone him out.

Lux’s crowd control also prevents Yasuo from freely dashing around. If Yasuo tries to engage or dive in with Sweeping Blade (E), Light Binding (Q) can root him in place, stopping him from dashing and disrupting his combo. Additionally, Lux’s ultimate, Final Spark (R), deals high burst damage from range, making it hard for Yasuo to engage or disengage safely.

To win this matchup, Lux players should focus on poking Yasuo with Q and E, using Light Binding to interrupt his dashes, and saving her R for a powerful poke or all-in when Yasuo tries to engage. If played correctly, Lux can shut down Yasuo’s mobility and prevent him from snowballing.

#5: Xerath

Xerath is a strong counter to Yasuo because he outranges him, can poke him from a distance, and deny his mobility. Yasuo relies on closing the gap with his dashes and engaging with his ultimate, but Xerath’s long-range poke with Arcanopulse (Q) and Eye of Destruction (W) allows him to harass Yasuo before he can get close. This forces Yasuo to play defensively and makes it difficult for him to engage.

Another key advantage Xerath has is his crowd control. Shocking Orb (E) can stun Yasuo, preventing him from dashing and interrupting his combo, and Rite of the Arcane (R) provides powerful long-range burst damage that Yasuo struggles to avoid, especially in team fights when Yasuo is looking for opportunities to engage.

To win this matchup, Xerath players should focus on keeping Yasuo at a distance, using Q and W to poke and pressure him, and saving E to interrupt Yasuo’s dashes. If played correctly, Xerath can completely shut down Yasuo’s mobility and prevent him from getting in range to deal damage.

#4: Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is a strong counter to Yasuo because she can out-sustain him in trades, punish his mobility, and burst him down before he can engage. Yasuo thrives in extended trades and dashes with his Sweeping Blade (E), but Cassiopeia’s Miasma (W) grounds him, preventing him from using his dashes and completely negating his mobility. This leaves Yasuo vulnerable and unable to reposition during fights.

Another advantage Cassiopeia has is her sustained damage. With Twin Fang (E) and Noxious Blast (Q), Cassiopeia can consistently deal damage, forcing Yasuo to play cautiously. Her poison also works exceptionally well against Yasuo’s attempts to heal and sustain, making it difficult for him to trade back effectively.

To win this matchup, Cassiopeia players should focus on landing Miasma to ground Yasuo, poke him with Q and E, and take advantage of her sustained damage to win extended trades. If played correctly, Cassiopeia can completely shut down Yasuo’s mobility and burst him down before he can find an opening.

#3: Syndra

Syndra is a strong counter to Yasuo because she can outpoke him, burst him down quickly, and prevent him from dashing around with her crowd control. Yasuo relies on his mobility and dashes to close the gap and engage, but Syndra’s long-range poke with Dark Sphere (Q) and Force of Will (W) can harass Yasuo from a distance, forcing him to play defensively and making it difficult for him to engage.

One of Syndra’s key advantages is her crowd control. Scatter the Weak (E) can stun Yasuo, preventing him from dashing or engaging with his ultimate. This interrupts his attempts to engage and leaves him vulnerable to Syndra’s burst damage from Unleashed Power (R), which can quickly eliminate Yasuo if he tries to dive in too aggressively.

To win this matchup, Syndra players should focus on landing their Q and W to poke Yasuo, using E to interrupt his dashes, and saving R for a burst combo when Yasuo mispositions or tries to engage. If played correctly, Syndra can easily shut down Yasuo’s mobility and prevent him from scaling in the game.

#2: Annie

Annie is a strong counter to Yasuo because she can burst him down quickly, stun him with her crowd control, and deny his mobility. Yasuo relies on his dashes with Sweeping Blade (E) and his mobility to dodge abilities, but Annie’s Molten Shield (E) allows her to stun him with Pyromania (Passive) whenever she reaches 4 stacks. This locks Yasuo down, preventing him from using his dashes or engaging with his ultimate.

Another major advantage Annie has is her burst damage. With Disintegrate (Q) and Incinerate (W), she can quickly poke and burst Yasuo down, especially once she hits level 6 and has access to her Tibbers (R). Yasuo struggles to respond to Annie’s high burst and crowd control, as he lacks tools to escape her combo.

To win this matchup, Annie players should focus on poking Yasuo with Q and W, using E to set up stuns, and saving R for a powerful all-in combo when Yasuo overextends. If played correctly, Annie can completely shut down Yasuo’s ability to engage and burst him before he has a chance to retaliate.

#1: Malzahar

Malzahar is the best counter to Yasuo because he can suppress him, out-poke him, and completely deny his mobility. Yasuo thrives on dashing around and using his mobility to dodge skill shots, but Malzahar’s Passive (Void Shift) grants him spell shield that blocks Yasuo’s crowd control attempts, allowing him to safely lane against Yasuo without worrying about being knocked up by his ultimate, Last Breath (R).

Malzahar’s Malefic Visions (E) and Void Swarm (W) provide consistent poke, and his ultimate, Nether Grasp (R), can lock Yasuo down for a significant duration, preventing him from using Sweeping Blade (E) to escape or dash to safety. Since Yasuo has no reliable crowd control or escape tools against Malzahar’s R, he is highly vulnerable when Malzahar engages.

To win this matchup, Malzahar players should focus on keeping Yasuo at a distance with E, maintaining their passive shield to block his crowd control, and using R to engage when Yasuo is overextended. If played correctly, Malzahar can completely nullify Yasuo’s mobility and burst him down in both lane and team fights.

Conclusion

Yasuo is a powerful champion with high mobility, strong burst damage, and the ability to outplay opponents, but his weaknesses—reliance on positioning, vulnerability to crowd control, and lack of reliable escape tools—make him susceptible to certain counters. Champions like Malzahar, Annie, and Syndra can interrupt his dashes, lock him down with crowd control, and burst him down before he can unleash his ultimate. Additionally, champions like Cassiopeia and Ahri can outpoke and outmaneuver him, preventing him from closing the gap. By exploiting Yasuo’s weaknesses and playing around his cooldowns, you can easily shut him down in lane and prevent him from becoming a late-game threat.