This matchup in higher elos is more of an Aatrox favoured. Its pretty much a skill one. Try pressing E when he Q3 on you. You win early and watch for his level 4 spike. You can get Plated Steelcaps early and get Anti-Heal later on.
Akshan
I won't put him at tiny nor extreme threat. This matchup really depends on both players skills. In lower Elos Pantheon usually has the upper hand. In higher elos Akshan has more chances. If the Akshan has good mechanics you are in a bad position, otherwise you can play the game. Try to dodge his abilities and if he uses E to escape, stand in front of him. Also E his Ultimate and you can rush Plated Steelcaps.
Camille
CAMEEEL is a hard matchup, but not impossible.If you take PTA, you win early and can all-in her. Your E should be used for her Q2 or E2. After 6 be careful.
Cho'Gath
Cho'gath is a really hard one. He has good early game and out-sustains you. For him you must take Resolve for secondary tree and preferably D Shield too. Dodge his abilities if possible, otherwise you waste HP and he will win if he tries to kill you. He outscales you and after 6 watch for his Ultimate. You can E his ultimate but it requires good timing. Don't let him NOM NOM you.
Darius
Now the matchup is really a skilled one. It used to be Darius favoured. Dont fight him level 1 with Ghost + Passive, he wins. After 2 you can look for engage. Try no to get hit by his E and always E his ultimate. Don't let Darius heal with his Q. Consider rushing Plated Steelcaps.
Do not let him dunk you.
Dr. Mundo
Mundo is not an extreme threat but for sure is a good one. You win early, because he is squishy for a tank pre 6. Always stay behind minions and aim to get his canister after it falls of. After 6 it becomes hard for you to kill. Get Anti-Heal. In the end of the day, he goes where he pleases.
Fiora
Fiora is a skill matchup too. Although a good player will probably harass you in lane. But if you play better you can possibly win. Watch for her vitals pre 6, if you need to reset them, get out of vision. Dont W first, she can parry it and stun you. After 6 becomes harder to kill and stay close to walls, so she can't proc all of the vitals.
Gangplank
This matchup depends on the enemy's skill. If the opponent Gangplank is bad you win easily but if can play the game well he just wins. He can zone you off with his barrels. Don't let the barrels touch otherwise E them. His W removes your W stun. You need to be careful in this matchup.
Garen
Its more of a Garen favoured one. You can win early, although his sustain due to his passive is annoying. If he Q's you E him and then you can start engaging and try to kill him. After 6 watch for his ultimate. In a fight E his ultimate. Kinda hard to catch him since he is more fast than you.
Gnar
Pretty easy. You win early. While he is Mini Gnar you can all-in him and trade, one thing to keep in mind is his dash. Respect the Mega Gnar and E his W or R. You can fight him in Mega if you think he dies. You can get Plated Steelcaps early for him.
Gragas
Gragas is a big counter. He has better poke than you and more sustain. He has a better 1v1 ultimate. Usually you dont want to engage first, because he can cancel your W with his E. Try dodging his Q and R with your E. Mercury's Treads are excellent agaisnt him and one MR item will make you better at 1v1ing him.
Gwen
Gwen is not a hard matchup. You win early, you just need to dodge her scissors. Be careful of her W, it makes her immune. After 6 watch for her Ultimate, you can block it with your E.
Illaoi
One of your hardest counters. You can try to fight early, but you must dodge her abilities, if not you are doomed. After 6 dont really fight her she wins most of the times. Remember that if you are ahead, she can still kill you.
Irelia
This matchup early is more Pantheon favoured. Respect level 1, Level 2 you can engage. Don't let her stack her passive for free and after 6 watch for her ultimate. She outscales you lategame.
Jax
You can take Conqueror on him too. You win early and can poke with your Q. Don't W if he has E, he can cancel your Auto Attacks, other than that you win. Be careful after 6 for his ultimate.
Jayce
Jayce is not an extreme threat. Most of the times it depends on the players skill. You need spacing for him and you can engage early. His level 1-3 are strong too. Try to dodge his abilities. Can rush Plated Steelcaps early.
K'Sante
If you can dodge his abilities you pretty much win. You have more damage early. He probably outscale you. He will probably yield.
Kayle
Kayle is a super easy matchup. Just watch for level 1. After that you can engage on her everytime you have W and try to poke with Q. If you get ahead early you can fight her after 6 too. She just outscales you.
Kennen
Kennen has the upper hand in lane most of the times. He has more range than you, but it really depends on the skill level of Kennen. You can play aggro early to get lead. Watch for his Ultimate after 6, also dodging in important for some of his abilities.
Kled
I don't want to put Kled into Extreme. Kled has his traps, taking Bone Plating is not really worth it. Watch for his dashes, because if it hits he can recast it. Try to E his Ultimate. Remember than if you are way ahead, he can still kill you.
Malphite
Rock Solid. His shield is annoying. You dont deal damage to him and he outdamages you. After 6 it becomes way worse. He pokes with Q and can't do nothing, unless you E but you lose too much mana. Try to get a lead early, otherwise you are a walking minion.
Mordekaiser
Mordekaiser's kit is just better than yours, more damage, more sustain and a better Ultimate. You must dodge his abilities and play around his W cooldown. Preferable engage when his W is down. After 6 it becomes hard to kill and he can still kill you if you are ahead. If he sends you to Brazil, you can try to R inside of his R to escape, if it has walls and you can get over them.
Nasus
Dodge or ban matchup. You win between level 1-5. After 6 he is unkillable. You can be ahead and he still kills you. Even worse when he gets his second item. Try to zone him of the minions, so he can't stack them. After the buffs, he is even more difficult to face.
Olaf
This matchup used to be a nightmare for Pantheon. Now its a skill matchup. Although he can kill you most of the times, but if you play correctly you can kill him or atleast live. Respect his level 1, after that you can start engaging. After 6 it becomes hard to kill. He has a lot of healing.
Ornn
Not the easiest, but you can win him if you play correctly. Get a lead early. Avoid his Q + E combo and dont let him W you with Brittle. E his Ultimate recast.
Quinn
She can cancel your W with her E. You can win if she has mediocre reactions or plays badly. She is very mobile and you can't catch her easily. If she uses E and you have W up you can press it and start fighting. A hard one.
Renekton
Most of the times you win this matchup. Your Q has a longer range than his. Watch for his W stun and the E double dash. You win early, just be careful after 6, because he gets his Ultimate
Riven
A good Riven player can win but its pretty much a skill matchup. You can win early, just be careful for her stuns . E her Q3 or Ultimate. After 6 it becomes harder to kill.
Sett
Matchup is even. Whoever plays better wins. Respect level 1, after level 2 you can engage. Be careful for his E and E his W. After 6 watch for his Ultimate
Shen
His kit counters your all-ins. He has decent early game so be careful of that. Don't W on him, he can press W and cancel your 3 Auto Attacks. Don't stay near his tower, he can taunt you undertower and possibly kill you. Most of the times you win the trades and potentially the lane.
Singed
You can fight him early and you win. After some levels though it becomes hard to kill. He flips you and his ground doesn't allow your W to go off. He has better waveclear than you and he can proxy. But if played correctly you win the all-ins. If he tries to proxy, dont follow him stay in tower and farm. If he stays in lane, you can kill him. Try to farm and roam to other lanes. Not impossible though.
Sion
Not your favorite one, but definitely not unplayable. He is squishy early like Mundo and you can win him. After 6 watch for his Ultimate. He might proxy too and he completely outscales you.
Tahm Kench
Really hard one. You must dodge his Q if you can, if not you cannot really play. Try to dodge his W if possible too. You dont deal much damage to him before getting any items. Stay away from his towers if he has 6. He wins extended trades.
Teemo
Not that hard, but his Q makes your W useless, engage only if his Q is down. Then you can pretty much kill him. Get Oracle Lens after 6.
Trundle
You dont see him in Toplane that much, but if you do its a really hard one. More damage, more sustain, better 1v1 kit, better splitpusher.Don't fight him level 1. After level 2 you can look for short trades, he wins the extended ones. Don't go near his Kingdom.
Tryndamere
This matchup is higher elos is usually a dodge or ban. You can win early, just be careful of his fury. Never fight him while he has full fury, plus he has a lot of sustain. After 6 it becomes unkillable and he can easily dive you. You can take exhaust. His right arm is stronger than his left arm, so be careful.
Urgot
Definitely one of your hardest matchups but not unplayable. You can win early, but his early is strong too. Don't get hit by his E. After 6 it becomes harder to kill, he has items and his Ultimate is better than yours in a 1v1. You can E his Ultimate but you need good timing. After level 9 his W becomes permanent and he spams a lot. He outscales you. You can rush Plated Steecaps.
Vayne
Hard one. She is more mobile than you, she can stun you a lot and she has a lot of damage. You could take exhaust on her. After 6 it becomes even harder, but you could win early. Try to poke with Q and W her if she doesn't have the knockback. If you get a lead early you should not worry.
Vladimir
Not reguraly seen in Top, but it's an easy matchup most of the times. You win early, his W cooldown early is very long. Never let the fully charged Q hit you, if he does E him. Try to E his full combo after 6 and his ultimate. Getting a lead early is basically over for him.
Volibear
No one plays him Top nowdays. You win this match up. He has good early but you are stronger. Don't let his W hit you and try not to get hit by his Q. If his Passive is up stay a little further to not get damaged. After 6 it becomes harder, because he can dive you, but you can E his Ultimate.
Wukong
You will never see him Top, but if you do, it's really hard. You cannot all-in him with W, you may hit a clone or he can cancel it with his Ultimate. He wins extended trades and he is tanky. Play safe after 6. You may get an advantage early, but its really hard too. Keep your W for when you know where the real Wukong is.
Yorick
Hard one if the player is good. Try to only poke with Q. Avoid getting hit by his E and you dont want to all-in him first with W, he can close you in his cage. Keep W after he presses W. Don't fight him when he has Maiden. Try getting help from a different lane.
Yone
It's one of your easiest matchups, you stomp him early. It's almost the same with Yasuo. Poke him with Q and engage on him with W, he can't do much. After 6 he gets a better Ultimate at dueling but you still win if you are ahead. Remember to E his Ultimate behind you and not in front of you, if you do in front, you will not mitigate the damage.
Pantheon
If you play Blind Pick the mirror match its a skill matchup. Poke with Q, never engage first with W, you will probably lose. Your E is now a little useless, so you just burst him with it, or block his damage.
Rumble
Rumble has the upper hand. He is manaless, he pushes faster than you and outscales you. Try to stay close to minions to avoid his E, try to poke him with Q. Don't let the flamethrower touch you. Lastly E his Ultimate. Also don't go near him when he is overcharged.
Bard
He has stuns and gives some healing. His portals are good for escaping and his Ultimate can either save you or completely kill you.
Cassiopeia
She has damage and slows. Plus she can stun even more with your W and you can catch enemies faster.
Fiddlesticks
He has fear which helps you to catch enemies faster and his Ultimate deals a lot of damage and can even fear them, which is better for you to catch the enemy carry.
Karthus
Karthus has slow with his wall which is good for, since you can catch them with your W and crazy amount of damage. His Ultimate can even help you win a fight, or steal your kill. :)
Lux
Tons of damage and stuns + slows. What else do you really want?
Synergies
IdealStrongOkLowNone
Bard
He has stuns and gives some healing. His portals are good for escaping and his Ultimate can either save you or completely kill you.
Cassiopeia
She has damage and slows. Plus she can stun even more with your W and you can catch enemies faster.
Fiddlesticks
He has fear which helps you to catch enemies faster and his Ultimate deals a lot of damage and can even fear them, which is better for you to catch the enemy carry.
Karthus
Karthus has slow with his wall which is good for, since you can catch them with your W and crazy amount of damage. His Ultimate can even help you win a fight, or steal your kill. :)
Lux
Tons of damage and stuns + slows. What else do you really want?
I'm a Pantheon OTP with 400k points on him and playing with him for over a year.
I made this guide because I was bored and I felt like I knew a lot about Pantheon and I wanted to share my 1.5 year experience with him and provide the best info that I have. I'm playing on EUNE and this year I went Silver in SD and Gold in FLEX. Now I don't really play ranked but I want to climb to be honest.
This Guide focuses on my experience with Pantheon and his Items, starting items, first back, core and situational items. His Matchups and a little bit about his combos and the champion himself.
About Pantheon
Pantheon is a fighter caster champion. As the years passed his identity is kinda weird. He is considered an assassin, a fighter, but not a bruiser, constantly changing lanes. He is most common in the Toplane, but he is better at Mid. He can be played as a Jungler and as a Support. You could go ADC but at your own risk. Pantheon is an Anti-carry meaning that your role as a Pantheon is to prevent the enemy carry from actually carring the game. You could also try to carry a game if possible. Pantheon doesn't require a lot of mechanics because he is easy mechanicaly, but he requires good macro knowledge to beat your opponents. About lanes, Pantheon is better for me at Top because he is a better blind pick in there, while at Mid he is better as a counter pick since he counters most of the AD assassins, while he gets countered by mages in the Mid lane. In lane you try to bully the enemy laner early by poking. Also when laning you always want to look if the opponent has Bone Plating, it can block all your damage when engaging.
Pros
:
Easy to pick and play.
Great at oneshoting targets.
Big Roam potential to help.
Amazing early game.
You can solo carry games on your own.
If your early game goes well, your mid and late game should go just as good.
Cons
:
Falls of late game if behind.
If your early game is not good nor your late would be.
Kinda immobile.
Vulnerable to hard CC.
Falls of at 6 because of his non 1v1 Ultimate.
You just need to survive till Mid-Game.
Pantheon's Abilities
Abilities:
Passive: Every Auto Attack or ability you press, you gain one stack. At 5 stacks your abilities are empowered, except your ultimate.
: It has 2 uses, the first one is a stab and the second one is the charged one and it becomes a skillshot.
Your Q stab deals the same damage to all enemies hit, your charged Q deals normal damage but if it hits more targets, it deals 50% less.
Also note that your Q executes enemies below 20%, also it deals 30% reduced damage to minions and 5% increased damage in jungle monsters. Your empowered Q deals more damage.
: Your W will stun an enemy for 1 second, it can be used on minions or jungle monsters. (It's a leap).
Your empowered W will stun for 1 second and it will apply 3 Auto Attacks for the duration (On-Hit Effect). Trick: You can use empowered W and stun him but cancel your 3 Auto Attacks and use them later.
: Your E will mitigate damage from a single direction. Your shield must face the opponent in order to prevent your HP lowering, if you face against him, you will take the damage normally. Empowered E gives you 60% movement speed for 1.5 seconds. Also your E has a second cast which Pantheon slams the shield to the ground and deals damage.
Lastly your is not a 1v1 Ultimate but a roam one. You can use your Ultimate to roam to different lanes to help other teammates or escape a fight you cannot win. It gives you 10% ArmorPen at level 6, 20% at level 11 and 30% at level 16. Your Ultimate needs 4 seconds to succesfully land. 2 seconds on the ground and 2 seconds while hitting the ground. Your Ultimate has a spear in the middle, if enemies get hit by it they will get 50% slowed for 2 seconds. While the edge of your Ultimate and the area around your spear will deal magic damage.
Runes
is your way to go rune, since you will be using it in most of your games. This rune after the first 3 Auto Attacks (you can proc it with your W), for the next 6 seconds you deal more damage to all enemies and this applies for your teammates too.
You take when you are facing tanks and heavy juggernauts. You can still use .
For your secondary tree you take most of the times , because it gives you sustain which you lack.
You can choose and depending on the opponent and the play style you prefer.
You take everytime , since it's your most valuable first rune page.
You want to take because it helps you with your mana problems, but you can take to help you at fights.
For Legends, you want to take as any form of CC can cancel your all-ins. You can also take if you feel pretty confident against your laner.
Lastly you take if your opponent is squishier than you and can burst him easily. Take if the enemy laner is a tank or he has more max health than you. And for last you take if you think that you will be less HP than your opponent when you all-in.
End of the guide
This was my first guide and it was a lot of work.
Anyways, I want to thanks everyone that even took a little of his time to click and view my guide.
Thanks again, and I will see you next time. Have a great day!
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