
Illaoi Top Lane Guide: Dominate Melee Matchups & Master Team Fights
Illaoi is a powerful top lane champion who excels in melee matchups and team fights. Her unique playstyle revolves around tentacle management and positioning.
Core Strengths
- Dominates melee matchups
- Excellent split pusher
- Strong team fighter
- Great sustain through passive healing
- Can handle multiple opponents simultaneously
Key Power Spikes
- Level 3: Access to all basic abilities enables strong trading
- Level 6: Ultimate greatly increases all-in and teamfight potential
- First item completion: Significant boost to dueling power
Gameplay Tips
- Poke enemies with E (Test of Spirit) and Q (Tentacle Smash)
- Set up tentacles before fighting through passive
- Look for all-in opportunities after level 6
- Use jungle fights and objective contests to your advantage
- Split push to draw pressure when ahead
Weaknesses
- Vulnerable to ranged champions
- Countered by Grievous Wounds
- Ultimate can be interrupted by displacement or polymorph
- Requires setup time for optimal fighting conditions
Late Game Strategy
- Group with team for objective control
- Use E to create pick opportunities
- Continue setting up tentacle zones
- Balance between splitting and teamfighting
- Utilize fog of war for ambushes
Pro Tips
- Focus on farming early to reach power spikes
- Position tentacles strategically in lane and jungle
- Time Ultimate R when multiple enemies are in range
- Use brush control to set up unexpected trades
- Scale into a formidable late-game threat through item advantages
Illaoi becomes increasingly powerful as the game progresses, able to turn teamfights with well-timed ultimates and sustain through extended fights. Her ability to deal massive AoE damage while building tanky makes her a threat that enemies must respect throughout the game.
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