As one of League of Legends' most unique and challenging champions, Aphelios boasts a complex weapon system and an array of abilities that can often overwhelm new players. However, mastering Aphelios can lead to immense rewards, allowing you to dominate the bot lane and carry your team to victory. This comprehensive guide will help you unlock Aphelios's full potential by covering weapon system mastery, optimal item builds and runes, synergies with different supports, and crucial positioning and team fight strategies.
Weapon System Mastery
Aphelios's weapon system is unlike any other champion in the game, involving five different weapons that cycle in a fixed order. Each weapon has a unique basic attack and active ability, which can lead to devastating combos if managed correctly. Here’s a breakdown of his arsenal:
Calibrum (The Rifle)
- Use When: Poking and trading at max range.
- Active Ability: Mark targets to attack them again from long-range.
Severum (The Scythe Pistol)
- Use When: Sustaining health and in close-quarters combat.
- Active Ability: Heal yourself as well as deal damage to multiple enemies.
Gravitum (The Cannon)
- Use When: Slowing down enemies.
- Active Ability: Rooting all affected enemies.
Infernum (The Flamethrower)
- Use When: Dealing AoE damage in team fights.
- Active Ability: Spreading damage in a cone in front of you.
Crescendum (The Chakram)
- Use When: All-in bursts and single-target focus.
- Active Ability: Set up turrets to auto-attack targets.
Tips for Weapon Mastery
- Weapon Combo Awareness: Always be aware of which weapons you have and which are coming next. Plan your plays around the weapon swap cooldowns.
- Optimal Weapon Usage: Use each weapon's abilities and passive effects to their fullest. For instance, use Severum's heal when you anticipate incoming damage or need to sustain during a fight.
- Mind the Cooldowns: While it can be tempting to spam abilities, sometimes holding onto a weapon for its passives can be more beneficial during extended trades or skirmishes.
For more insights on mastering ability usage, check out A Beginner's Guide to Using Abilities Effectively in League of Legends.
Optimal Item Builds and Runes
Item Builds
Building the right items is crucial for Aphelios's success in both the early and late game. Here’s a standard build path that works well in most situations:
- Mythic Item: Galeforce – For mobility and burst damage.
- Essence Reaver – For mana sustain and added burst.
- The Collector – For its lethality and execute passive.
- Infinity Edge – To amplify your critical hits.
- Bloodthirster – For increased sustain.
- Guardian Angel – To give you a second chance in critical moments.
Runes
For runes, consider the Precision tree with Conqueror as the keystone for sustained fight potential. Here’s a complete rune setup:
-
Precision Tree:
- Conqueror
- Presence of Mind
- Legend: Bloodline
- Coup de Grace
-
Secondary Tree: Domination
- Taste of Blood
- Ravenous Hunter
-
Stat Runes:
- Attack Speed
- Adaptive Force
- Armor/Magic Resist
To enhance your understanding of optimal builds and strategies, delve into the Caitlyn ADC Guide: Sniping Your Way to Victory.
Synergies with Different Supports
Understanding which supports synergize best with Aphelios can significantly enhance your laning phase.
Best Synergies
- Thresh: His hook (Q) can set up kills easily, while his lantern (W) offers you a safe escape.
- Leona: Her aggressive playstyle can help you take down enemies quickly when combined with Aphelios’s burst damage.
- Braum: His defensive capabilities provide the protection Aphelios needs to survive and deal damage from a safe distance.
Explore more about support synergies with Braum Support Guide: Tips for Shielding Your Team.
Situational Supports
- Janna: Superb peel and protection, allowing you to maximize DPS in team fights.
- Yuumi: Provides sustain and additional DPS through boosts and healing, effectively turning Aphelios into a nearly unstoppable force.
Positioning and Team Fight Strategies
Positioning is key for any ADC, but it’s especially vital for Aphelios due to his limited mobility. Here's how you can perfect your positioning and team fight strategies:
Laning Phase
- Safe Positioning: Always position yourself to farm safely while poking the enemy as much as possible with Calibrum.
- Trading: Use Severum for sustain and Infernum for AoE damage when the enemy steps too close.
Mid to Late Game
- Team Fight Positioning: Stay at the backline, utilizing Calibrum’s range and Infernum's AoE to maximize damage from a distance.
- Weapon Combos: Plan your weapon combos before a fight starts. For example, start with Gravitum to set up a root, then switch to Crescendum for single-target burst.
- Map Awareness: Always be aware of your surroundings and anticipate enemy movement to avoid unexpected ganks.
For more advanced strategies, consider reading Advanced Team Fighting Strategies in League of Legends.
Summary and Call-to-Action
Mastering Aphelios is no small feat, but with the right knowledge and practice, you can become a force to be reckoned with on the Rift. By mastering his unique weapon system, choosing the optimal builds and runes, synergizing well with different supports, and refining your positioning and team fight strategies, you can dominate as one of the game's most complex ADCs.
Feel ready to take your Aphelios gameplay to the next level? Jump into the Summoner's Rift and apply these tips to start dominating your lane and leading your team to victory. Don't forget to share your own tips and experiences in the comments below – let's learn and grow together!
Happy hunting, and good luck in your games!
