Best Izilean Counters In League Of Legends
What's up, League of Legends champions! Today, we're diving deep into one of the most requested topics: Izilean counters. If you've ever found yourself staring down this formidable mage, feeling the pressure of their combo, and wondering, "How do I possibly deal with Izilean?" then you've come to the right place, guys. We're going to break down the best strategies and champion picks to shut down Izilean's reign of terror in Summoner's Rift. Get ready to turn the tables and make Izilean players rage quit!
Understanding Izilean's Strengths and Weaknesses
Before we start talking about counters, it's super important to get a handle on what makes Izilean such a pain in the first place. This arcane trickster thrives on burst damage, crowd control, and lane dominance. Their ability kit is designed to lock down opponents, dish out massive magic damage, and often snowball a lead if they get one. Think about their classic combo: a stun, followed by a barrage of spells, and maybe even an execute if you're low enough. It's nasty, right? They excel in team fights with their AOE spells and their ability to pick off isolated targets. Their passive, Arcane Mastery, empowers their spells, and their ultimate, Ultimate Ability, can be a game-changer in crucial moments. Izilean also has decent poke, allowing them to whittle down opponents before committing to a full engage. Their mobility, while not top-tier, is sufficient to reposition or dodge crucial skill shots, especially with their E ability. This champion is a master of controlling the flow of the game, dictating when fights happen and who comes out on top. They are particularly strong in the early to mid-game, where their damage output can be overwhelming if not properly managed.
However, every champion has their Achilles' heel, and Izilean is no different. Their primary weakness lies in their lack of reliable escapes when caught off guard, their mana dependency, and their vulnerability to hard engage and assassins. If you can bypass their initial poke and get on top of them before they can cast their full combo, they can crumble. champions with high mobility, strong engage, or point-and-click crowd control can often shut them down. Furthermore, Izilean is squishy. If they get focused by the right champions, they can be taken out of the fight very quickly. Their cooldowns can also be a factor; if they miss their key spells, especially their stun, they are left in a vulnerable state for a significant amount of time, making them prime targets. Understanding these core aspects will be our foundation as we explore the best ways to counter them.
Top Tier Champions to Counter Izilean
Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: the champions you want to pick when you see Izilean locking in. These picks are designed to disrupt their game plan, exploit their weaknesses, and come out on top. We're talking about champions who can either go toe-to-toe with Izilean's burst or simply bypass it and shut them down before they become a problem. Remember, the goal isn't just to survive; it's to dominate the lane and carry your team to victory!
Assassins: The Izilean Nightmare Fuel
If you want to make an Izilean player sweat, pick an assassin. These guys are built to dive into the backline, ignore the frontline, and one-shot the squishy mage. Champions like Zed, Fizz, and Talon are your go-to choices. Zed's Living Shadow and Death Mark combo allows him to dodge Izilean's spells and then unleash a devastating burst. Fizz’s Playful/Trickster makes him untargetable, letting him dodge Izilean's key abilities before closing in with Darkspear Craft for a quick kill. Talon, with his mobility and execute potential, can also surprise Izilean and end the fight before it even begins. The key here is to wait for Izilean to use their crowd control, especially their stun. Once that's on cooldown, it's your window to strike. Coordinate with your jungler for ganks, as an early kill can set Izilean so far behind they become irrelevant. Remember, assassins thrive on picks and plays, and Izilean, despite their power, is a prime target for such maneuvers. Their relatively low health pool and reliance on landing their combo make them extremely susceptible to well-timed assassin engages. Don't be afraid to roam if you get a lead, putting pressure on other lanes and further isolating Izilean.
Bruisers and Divers: Forcing the Fight
Sometimes, you don't need to one-shot; you just need to get on top of them and not let them go. Bruisers and divers excel at this. Think Wukong, Jarvan IV, or even Renekton. These champions can initiate fights, lock down Izilean with their own crowd control, and then survive long enough to take them down. Wukong's Nimbus Strike and Cyclone combo can dive the backline and disrupt Izilean's positioning, while his clone can soak up spells. Jarvan IV's Demacian Standard and Dragon Strike combo allows him to engage from range, and his Cataclysm traps Izilean, preventing escapes and setting up kills for his team. Renekton’s raw damage and sustain make him a terror in lane, and his Slice and Dice combined with Dominus allows him to get on top of Izilean and chunk them down quickly. The strategy here is aggression. Don't let Izilean breathe. Force trades, deny them farm, and look for opportunities to dive them under tower if they play too greedily. Their squishiness means that even a bruiser with decent damage can often finish them off, especially if they've already blown their key abilities. These champions also often build tanky items, making them hard for Izilean to kill even if they land some spells, creating a very unfavorable matchup for the mage.
Control Mages and Poke Champions: Out-Trading Izilean
If you prefer to play a more calculated game, some control mages and poke champions can give Izilean a hard time. Cassiopeia, Orianna, and Ziggs can work. Cassiopeia, with her sustained damage and powerful ultimate, can often out-trade Izilean if played correctly. Her Miasma can zone Izilean out, and her ultimate, Petrifying Gaze, is a potent CC that can stop Izilean dead in their tracks. Orianna's Command: Shockwave is a massive AOE ultimate that can turn team fights and is difficult for Izilean to dodge effectively if they are caught. Her ability to shield herself and poke from a safe distance also helps. Ziggs offers incredible poke potential with his Bouncing Bomb and Hexplosive Minefield, making it difficult for Izilean to engage without taking significant damage. The key for these champions is positioning and spell management. You need to stay safe, poke Izilean down when they try to farm, and be ready to dodge their key abilities. If Izilean misses their stun, it's your time to punish. This playstyle requires patience and good mechanical skill, but it can be incredibly rewarding. You're not trying to outright kill them as quickly as an assassin, but rather to deny them resources, prevent them from scaling, and create opportunities for your team through superior wave control and zoning. Their mana issues can also be exploited by consistent poke, forcing them to back more often.
Itemization Against Izilean
Picking the right champion is only half the battle, guys. Your item build plays a massive role in shutting down Izilean. We're talking about items that give you survivability against their magic damage and ways to deal with their crowd control. Investing in the right resistances and utility can turn a losing matchup into a winning one.
Magic Resistance is Your Best Friend
This one is a no-brainer, but it's worth emphasizing. Against Izilean, magic resistance (MR) is crucial. Items like Banshee's Veil, Hexdrinker (which builds into Maw of Malmortius), and Spirit Visage are your best friends. Banshee's Veil provides a spell shield that can block Izilean's initial stun or a key damage spell, giving you a crucial window to react or escape. Hexdrinker and Maw of Malmortius offer both MR and an offensive component, with Maw providing a lifeglass shield when your health gets low, which is invaluable against Izilean's burst. Spirit Visage is excellent for champions who have built-in healing or rely on lifesteal, as it significantly boosts their sustain, allowing them to trade more effectively against Izilean's sustained damage. Don't underestimate the power of the early Null-Magic Mantle; it can save you a lot of pain in the laning phase. For tanks, Force of Nature is also a fantastic option, providing stacking magic resist and movement speed, making you a very difficult target for Izilean to burst down.
Anti-Heal and Grievous Wounds
While not always the primary focus, if Izilean has any sustain (like from runes or items) or if their team has strong healing, Grievous Wounds can be surprisingly effective. Items like Morellonomicon (for AP casters), Executioner's Calling (for AD champions), and Chempunk Chainsword are essential. If Izilean can sustain through your burst or trades, Grievous Wounds will severely hamper their ability to do so. This is especially important in team fights where sustained healing can turn the tide. Even a small amount of Grievous Wounds can make a huge difference in protracted fights. Remember, it's not just about your own damage output; it's about denying the enemy's ability to recover, which can be just as impactful.
Zhonya's Hourglass: The Equalizer
For many mid-lane mages and even some ADCs who build AP, Zhonya's Hourglass is an absolute must-buy against Izilean. The active stasis effect can completely negate Izilean's ultimate or their entire combo if timed correctly. Being able to become invulnerable for a few seconds can save your life, allow your team to turn the fight, or wait for your own cooldowns to come back up. It's the ultimate "get out of jail free" card and a critical tool for surviving burst compositions. Even if you don't build AP, items with stasis-like effects or defensive actives can be crucial. The key is to have some form of reliable defensive tool that can counter Izilean's all-in potential. Knowing when to use it is just as important as having it; don't waste it on a minor poke.
In-Game Strategies and Tips
Knowing the counters and items is great, but how do you actually play against Izilean in the Rift? It all comes down to strategy, awareness, and a little bit of finesse. Here are some key tips to keep in mind:
Lane Phase Domination: Deny and Punish
The lane phase is critical. If you're playing a counter pick, abuse your advantage. Don't let Izilean farm safely. Zone them out, poke them down, and look for opportunities to trade. If you're playing a melee champion, try to freeze the wave near your tower and deny them CS. If you're a ranged champion, maintain pressure and deny them the ability to step up for free. Vision control is paramount. Wards in the river and the enemy jungle can help you anticipate ganks, allowing you to play more aggressively or safely as needed. If Izilean's jungler is absent, this is your chance to push and roam or take objectives. Remember, Izilean often struggles with extreme pressure, so make them feel it from minute one. If you get an early lead, translate it into objectives or map pressure. Don't let them scale into the mid and late game where their combo can be devastating.
Team Fight Positioning: Stay Safe, Strike Smart
In team fights, your positioning is everything. As a squishy champion, you never want to be the primary target for Izilean. Stay behind your tanks and bruisers. If you're playing a diver or assassin, wait for the right moment to engage – ideally after Izilean has used their crowd control. If you're a ranged champion, focus on hitting the targets you can reach safely while avoiding Izilean's combo. Awareness of Izilean's ultimate is key; always assume it's up and be prepared to dodge or use defensive abilities. If you can bait out their stun or other key abilities, you've significantly reduced their threat. Communication with your team is also vital; call out when Izilean uses their important spells. Don't get caught out alone. Izilean excels at punishing isolated targets, so stick together, especially during objective fights.
Respect Cooldowns: The Ultimate Weapon
This is perhaps the most important tip when playing against Izilean: respect their cooldowns. Izilean is incredibly powerful when their abilities are up, especially their stun. However, if they miss their stun or use their full combo on someone else, they become significantly weaker. Track their key abilities. If you see them use their stun on a minion or an engage that doesn't hit you, that's your window to go in. If they just used their ult, play more aggressively. Conversely, if their abilities are up, play defensively and wait for them to overextend or make a mistake. Understanding these windows of vulnerability allows you to dictate the pace of the fight and minimize the risk of being blown up. This constant mental tracking will make you a much more effective player against high-threat mages.
Conclusion: Conquer the Mage
So there you have it, guys! With the right champion picks, smart itemization, and solid in-game strategies, you can absolutely shut down Izilean. It's all about understanding their game plan, exploiting their weaknesses, and staying one step ahead. Remember to focus on their cooldowns, prioritize magic resistance, and position yourself wisely. Don't let Izilean dictate the game; take control, make plays, and lead your team to victory! Now go forth and show Izilean who's boss!
