Aphelios is a good shooter who can perfectly defend the bottom lane and then push through the opponent's towers. In the guide, we will tell you what stats the hero is endowed with, how he differs from other champions in the game, and how to pump him correctly in order to reveal his full potential.
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Hero Skills
As a marksman, he relies heavily on basic attacks and deals purely physical damage. He has very good damage, has a little control, but in other parameters Aphelios is inferior: support, defense and mobility are at a minimum. Let's take a look at each ability of the shooter separately, and then we will make the best combinations and the order of pumping abilities.
Passive Skill - Assassin and Seer
The champion has an arsenal of Lunar weapons from Aluna (Aphelia's sister) unlocked. At the same time, the hero carries two types of weapons with him - primary and secondary, which differ from each other in auto attacks and passive buffs. At the beginning of the game, he gets the main weapon caliber, and the additional Severum. In addition, in the arsenal of the shooter there is also Gravitum, Infernum и crestendum. The order of the reserve and active guns changes, depending on what weapon Aphelios is equipped with.
Moonlight. The weapon is loaded with 50 rounds of Moonlight rounds. They are spent when the champion uses an auto attack or the first skill. If the ammo level reaches 0, then the hero will change weapons - he will take a new one from the reserve, and put the used one at the end of the queue.
First Skill - Weapon Skills
When using the skill, Aphelios activates an additional effect of the weapon, which depends on its type:
- Caliber - rifle. The hero can shoot at a long distance. After hitting an opponent, he imposes a special mark on him. You can shoot at the marked enemy again, no matter where he is on the map.
- Severum - scythe pistol. The champion gains additional attack speed and unleashes a series of strikes against nearby enemy champions with two weapons at once.
- Gravitum - cannon. Upon hitting an enemy, Aphelios slows them down, and with the activation of the first skill, he immobilizes all targets hit by gravitum.
- Infernum - flamethrower. The character attacks opponents in a cone. During the activation of the ability, shots from a secondary weapon are added to his strikes.
- Crescendum - chakram. When using the skill, Aphelios summons a special guard to the field. The assistant will attack the affected target with additional weapons from the champion's arsenal.
Skill XNUMX - Phase
The hero will switch between the main and secondary weapons that he currently has equipped.
Skill XNUMX - Weapon Queue System
In fact, the hero does not have a third skill. This icon on the screen shows the user which weapon is next in line. It will be automatically selected as the primary weapon once the champion has spent all available ammo on the active weapon.
Ultimate - Moonwatch
The Champion creates a circle of Moonlight. He throws it in front of him in the indicated direction, and when it hits an enemy, the created circle will stop. His sister Aluna then blasts the area around the affected opponent, dealing increased physical damage to everyone around them.
After a little preparation, the shooter begins to attack targets, hits all the heroes affected by the circle from the weapon that he has chosen as the main one. In addition, Aphelios with shots imposes additional effects on champions that depend on the type of weapon:
- caliber. Affected opponents take additional physical damage of 20-70 points.
- Severum. The hero restores 200-400 health points to himself.
- Gravitum. Characters hit are slowed by 99% (nearly immobilized) for 3,5 seconds.
- infernum. Basic attack damage is increased by 50-150 bonus attack damage. At the same time, all additionally marked enemies receive 75% less damage than the main selected enemy.
- crestendum. The champion draws 3 ghostly chakrams from an enemy. When the ult hits more than one enemy champion, then he will already get 4 chakrams.
Sequence of leveling skills
The hero does not have the usual leveling and skills, but Aphelios starts the game with the only available weapon change function. With the onset of the second level, he receives the first skill. By level 6, the champion unlocks an ultimate. The shooter invests his skill points not for leveling abilities, he can increase his characteristics - Attack Power, speed attacks or lethality.
Basic Ability Combinations
Below are the best combinations to help you in the game for Aphelia:
- Ultimate -> First Skill -> Second Skill -> First Skill. The essence of the combo is to have time to give several enhanced effects to your opponents at once. Which weapon to use at the head depends on the state of Aphelios. Use your main weapon Severumif you don't have enough health to fight. For effective control, place the main attacking item Gravitum. To deal as much damage as possible, choose infernum.
- First Skill -> Auto Attack -> Second Skill -> Auto Attack -> Auto Attack -> Auto Attack -> First Skill -> Ultimate -> Auto Attack -> Auto Attack. A complex combination of abilities that will require your skill and focus. How to install the main weapon crestendum, additional - Caliber. In this combo, you will mark the champion and distract him with the guard, and then deliver a series of powerful blows from the rifle and increase the damage of the hero from the ult.
In addition to skill combinations, when playing as Aphelios, you need to know the best combination of weapons. It will be effective to use any bundle with Infernum at the head. The flamethrower places marks on all affected opponents at once, and then with the help of second skill you switch to a secondary weapon and use its boosted effect (burn the first skill) for all marked targets at once. So you will inflict a lot of damage not only on one opponent.
The rest of the links between weapons are quite situational, and there are a lot of options for their assemblies. Therefore, playing as Aphelios is considered very difficult, but with training and understanding of the mechanics, you will feel more confident in combat.
Pros and cons of the hero
Next, we will tell you what else you should know about Aphelia so that during the match you can use his advantages over your opponents and take into account the weaknesses of the shooter.
Character pros:
- A versatile and unique hero who can be changed based on the situation in battle.
- A fairly powerful shooter that does a lot of damage in seconds.
- Strong in team battles.
- In the middle and late stages, he becomes an invincible champion, with the right tactics.
Character Cons:
- One of the most difficult champions in the game, it's easy to get confused by combos and weapon combos.
- Before each battle, you need to think through tactics to the smallest detail - the wrong bunch or sequence will make you ineffective and vulnerable.
- Immobile is an easy target for enemies, as it will not be able to quickly leave the battle.
- Depends on your teammates, especially tanks with defense and control.
Suitable runes
The best current rune build for Aphelios is a combination of Accuracy and Dominance. To make it easier to set the runes in the game, use the screenshot below.
Primal Rune - Accuracy:
- Deadly pace - Each charge increases the champion's attack speed. With maximum charges, not only speed will increase, but also range.
- Overtreatment - Healing effects in excess of health are converted into a shield. Works both on your own heal and if you are being healed by an ally.
- Legend: bloodline - When participating in any kill (both enemy champions and mobs), you gain charges, which are then converted into lifesteal and, at maximum amounts, increase your total HP.
- Revenge - Your damage increases based on the maximum health level of the affected champion.
Secondary - Dominance:
- The taste of blood Grants additional lifesteal when dealing damage to opponents.
- Inventive hunter - for each first last hit of the enemy (5 in total per match), you are given charges that are converted into acceleration of objects.
- +10 attack speed.
- +9 to adaptive damage.
- +6 Armor.
Required Spells
Jump – an instant dash, with which it will be easier for the champion to dodge the opponent’s skills, attack or retreat.- Healing - in combination with runes and with the ult in the arsenal with Severum, it will create a powerful shield for Aphelia and help to get out of the match alive. Somewhat compensates for the lack of mobility of the hero by increasing survivability.
Best Build
We offer an up-to-date assembly of equipment that bypasses other sets in terms of winning percentage. It takes into account all the features, pros and cons of the hero, so that the battles are not so difficult for Aphelios.
Starting Items
At the start, we equip the hero with the effects of pulling life and increase his survivability through potions. This way you can farm better and leave the lane less often in the early game.
- Blade of Doran.
- Health Potion.
- Hidden totem.
Early items
Then, with the first gold, get items for speed - both movement and attack. In addition to this comes a useful effect that increases damage against monsters and minions. The shooter will clear the crowd of minions and farm faster.
- Midday quiver.
- Boots.
Main subjects
In the main set, focus on stats like attack speed, critical strike chance, movement speed, and lifesteal. All this is very important for a thin shooter with poor mobility, but strong damage indicators.
- Storm power.
- Berserker Greaves.
- Bloodsucker.
Complete assembly
In the later stages, supplement the hero's arsenal with items aimed at the same characteristics: critical strike chance, attack power. Do not forget about armor penetration, because in the late game, many heroes will buy themselves good protection.
- Storm power.
- Berserker Greaves.
- Bloodsucker.
- Edge of Infinity.
- Bow to Lord Dominic.
- Hurricane Runaan.
During a match, it can be difficult to play against strong champions. To increase survivability, you can purchase "Guardian angel", which increases resistance to physical damage, or "Zev Malmortiuswith magical resistance. Choose, depending on what kind of damage prevails in the opposing team.
Worst and best enemies
Aphelia will be easy to play against Zeri, Ezreal и Veina - according to match statistics, the percentage of wins against these heroes is above 48%. The following champions will be harder to face:
- Twich - a good shooter with a high range of attacks, good control and disguise. On the lane against him, you will have to learn how to avoid skills, otherwise the character will easily slow you down and reduce the healing effects, which can be a deplorable outcome for our hero.
- Samira – very mobile shooter with protection and high damage. It will be extremely difficult for the sedentary Aphelios to stand in line with her, so at first you will have to keep a distance and prevent her from killing herself, stay closer to the tank or support.
- Shaya - Another shooter, who, due to skills, has a long stun, and increases the speed of movement. When playing against her, try to take control of the hero and not go too far ahead. Leave this task to warriors or tanks.
The best synergy for this champion is Fiddlesticks, which will take control of all enemy heroes and buy time for complex combinations. He also shows himself well with a powerful tank Law и Tarik – a support champion with a strong heal. Combined with his rune passives, Aphelios easily transforms all incoming healing into an unstoppable shield.
How to play as Aphelia
Beginning of the game. Compared to the rest of the game, Aphelios is a bit behind in the early game, so he needs farm to get off to a good start. After getting the first item, you can breathe, but for now, aim mainly at the minions.
You can join the battle if there is a tank or support nearby that will take incoming damage on themselves. But don't try to be the initiator. With Aphelion's minimal mobility, this would be a critical mistake. Even if the opponent is in the camp from Gravitum, keep your distance and do not let yourself be destroyed.
You will be the main target for the gank - beware of the jungler, unexpected dashes from tanks and don't run too far into the lane. Ask your ally to look at the bushes and the map in order to inform you of the danger in time.
When you reach level 6 and unlock the ultimate, the game becomes more interesting. Now you can play Aphelios aggressively, but prudently: calculate the possible withdrawal, because he has no additional jerks, except for the Blink spell.
Try to get the first primary item before the enemy shooter to dominate the lane, clear minions faster and push the tower. With the first big item, you can help in the jungle or go down to the mid, but not to the detriment of your own lane.
Average game. Aphelios is very good in team fights, so his power only grows towards the middle. With its damage, it will not be difficult to move around the map and push the rest of the opponent's towers.
At the same time, do not stray far from the team, focus on the map and come to each gank, because you are the main damage dealer who cannot survive without support, control or healing from allies.
Be careful and hunt down heroes with total control - they are a weak link for a sedentary character. Try to pair up with a tank or support to kill him first to make it easier for yourself to fight further. Or ask the killer for help, direct the team's focus to the controllers.
late game. Here, Aphelios still remains a strong and significant champion, in whose hands the outcome of the match often falls. A lot will depend on your efforts, attentiveness and caution.
Try to put the main weapon at the beginning of the fight infernum. With it, you focus on all enemy heroes at once. Do not waste a valuable weapon in the late game just like that.
You will become the main target for the rest of the team, so always move around the map only with your teammates and do not go ahead, as ambushes are very scary for Aphelios. Stay away from enemies at the maximum possible shooting distance, do not engage in one-on-one fights with strong heroes, and always use every opportunity to survive.
Aphelios is a weapon of faith, on which a lot depends in the match. It is difficult to learn how to play it because of the unique mechanics, you will have to spend a lot of time getting used to changing weapons and calculating the outcome of the battle in advance. We wish you good luck!
