By So, you’ve heard about Illaoi, right? The Kraken Priestess? She’s this gigantic, tentacle-waving powerhouse in League of Legends, and, to be honest, when I first picked her up, I had no idea what I was doing. Like, seriously. I was flinging tentacles left and right, hoping something would stick. Spoiler alert: It didn’t. But I learned—eventually. And now, I can tell you exactly how to master Illaoi’s power without looking like a noob. (Hint: It’s all about the tentacles.)
Who’s Illaoi, Anyway?
Okay, so first things first: Illaoi is a beast. A literal god’s priestess. If you’re used to squishy mages or nimble assassins, she’ll feel like a brick wall with tentacles. She’s a top-lane monster with incredible sustain, damage, and dueling potential. Picture this: She’s got this passive ability where tentacles spawn around her, and when you hit certain abilities, those tentacles slam into enemies. It’s… a lot.
I remember my first time playing her. I saw the Q ability (Tentacle Smash) and thought, “Yeah, I can do this.” Then I realized that if you miss, those tentacles mock you. That’s how it feels. Like being roasted by giant… well, tentacles.
Illaoi’s Kit
Let’s break down Illaoi’s abilities because, trust me, understanding her kit is half the battle. If you’re not using her tentacles to your advantage, you’re just a big fish flapping around in the sea.
- Tentacle Smash (Q): This is your main damage tool. You’ll be spamming it all day, every day. If you’re not, are you even playing Illaoi?
- Harsh Lesson (W): An auto-attack reset that slams nearby tentacles into your enemies. It’s like saying, “You thought you were safe? Nope. Tentacle time.”
- Test of Spirit (E): This is where you pull a spirit out of your opponent. Sounds creepy, right? But it’s your bread and butter for setting up tentacle hits.
- Leap of Faith (R): Think of this as your grand finale. It’s like a dance where the tentacles get to do all the heavy lifting. You press R, and bam! Your enemies are swarmed by tentacles.
You’ll need to build Illaoi correctly, or all those tentacle slams won’t do much damage. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.
Early Game – Surviving the Lane
Let’s rewind to the early game. Now, when I first tried Illaoi, I thought I could just muscle my way through every lane. That worked… sometimes. But when I faced someone like Teemo, who can dodge my tentacles like he’s in a Cirque du Soleil act, I quickly realized I was in over my head. Fast forward a few attempts, and I figured out the key: patience.
Laning with Illaoi
In the early phase, you need to poke with that Q (Tentacle Smash), but not just randomly. If you hit your E (Test of Spirit) first, you can set up a whole wave of tentacle damage. If you’re lucky, the enemy will try to fight you, and that’s when you punish them with W.
Here’s a tip: If you’re laning against someone who’s got poke, like Quinn or Jayce, consider Corrupting Potion instead of the usual Doran’s Shield. That potion gives you extra sustain when you’re getting harassed. And trust me, you’ll need it.
The Perfect Illaoi Build
Here’s where the magic happens. The Illaoi build isn’t just about stacking damage items and hoping for the best. If you rush the wrong items, you’ll be as effective as a wet paper towel in a fight. I’ve been there. My first few games, I built straight tank, thinking I was invincible. Spoiler: I wasn’t.
Core Items
- Divine Sunderer: This item is pretty much mandatory. It gives you extra damage, healing, and sustain. Illaoi without Divine Sunderer is like a toaster without bread—pointless.
- Sterak’s Gage: This item gives you a nice shield and some extra AD. If you’re going into a teamfight, this is your safety net.
- Black Cleaver: If they’ve got armor, this is your solution. Armor shredding is your best friend when you’re trying to fight tanks.
Situational Items
- Death’s Dance: If you’re against an AD-heavy team, this will help you survive. Plus, it’s just fun to say.
- Thornmail: If your enemies are healing up, slap this bad boy on. You’ll make them regret every auto-attack.
- Spirit Visage: If you’re facing an AP-heavy team, this one’s a must. It boosts your healing, and you’ll be even more of a nuisance than usual.
Mid Game – Gank, Split Push, Repeat
Okay, here’s where the fun begins. By mid-game, Illaoi is ready to either split-push or teamfight. But honestly, my best games were the ones where I just split-pushed, drawing the enemy to me like moths to a flame.
- Split-pushing: Get your lane pushed, then Test of Spirit someone in the jungle. Suddenly, they’re fighting not just you but a bunch of tentacles. It’s like, surprise! Tentacles for days.
- Teamfighting: Don’t just charge in like a maniac. You need to wait until the enemy’s grouped up, then drop Leap of Faith. I made the mistake of popping it too early—didn’t go well.
Bullet Point Recap – The Illaoi Essentials
- Early Game: Poke with Q, set up with E, and punish with W.
- Core Build: Divine Sunderer → Sterak’s Gage → Black Cleaver.
- Mid Game: Split-push or teamfight based on your comfort.
- Items: Consider Death’s Dance for AD comps and Spirit Visage for AP teams.
- Ultimate: Use Leap of Faith when enemies are grouped for max damage.
Teamfights – How to Make Tentacles Dance
Alright, now that you’re all geared up and feeling like a beast, let’s talk teamfights. I’ve been in plenty where I thought, “Okay, this is it. This is the moment I become a legend.” And you know what? Sometimes, I actually did.
How to Position
Don’t rush into the fight. Let your team take some of the heat. You’re Illaoi, not a tank (well, not just a tank). You’re a force of nature, and you want to use that E (Test of Spirit) to grab someone out of position.
Here’s what I learned: Flash-R combos are wicked. Flash into the fight and drop Leap of Faith. If the enemy doesn’t scatter, they’re basically dead.
Illaoi Matchups – Who to Avoid
It’s not all sunshine and tentacles. There are some champions who will give Illaoi a tough time. Here’s a quick breakdown of who’s got your number:
Tough Matchups
- Fiora – She can dodge your tentacles. Plus, her dueling is on another level.
- Teemo – That blind is a nightmare for Illaoi. You can’t even hit your tentacles.
- Vayne Top – This one’s rough. She just kites you forever.
Easy Matchups
- Darius – He can’t deal with your sustain.
- Nasus – Too slow for you to really care.
- Sett – Short range means you can poke him out with ease.
Runes and Summoners – The Illaoi “Go-To” Setup
My personal favorite rune setup for Illaoi is Conqueror. Honestly, it’s like a win button if you can stay in the fight long enough. Pair that with Triumph, and you’re set for sustained teamfights.
Runes:
- Keystone: Conqueror – Because you’re here for the long haul, right?
- Triumph – Helps you stay alive after kills.
- Legend: Tenacity – So you can tank CC like it’s nothing.
Summoner Spells:
- Flash + Teleport: Standard for mobility and map presence.
- Flash + Ignite: Go for this if you’re feeling spicy and want to kill in lane.
Illaoi Skins – Lookin’ Wicked
If you’re anything like me, you care about aesthetics. Illaoi has some wicked skins, and honestly, they can make your gameplay even more fun. I’m all about Cosmic Illaoi—those glowing tentacles just scream power.
Conclusion – Be the Kraken Priestess
So there you have it. With the right Illaoi build, a little practice, and a healthy dose of patience, you’ll be wrecking the Rift in no time. Get in there, swing those tentacles, and show them who’s boss. Just don’t do what I did and miss all your E’s. That’s a hard lesson, trust me. Anyway, go out there and master Illaoi!