Vel'Koz Build Guide by rachichu

It is important to note that while the last three cons are listed, they are also things that I am currently struggling with. I do believe success on Vel'Koz is determined by game knowledge more than anything, so I will not be going into much detail on wave manipulation, game knowledge or game pacing during this guide since I do not feel I am equipped to teach people about this. (yet!)

Before the game even begins, you must plan what you are going to take based on who is in the game. For the sake of explaining why I chose certain runes and why specific runes are valuable, I will explain my most common rune pages in detail, and give an overall synopsis of the others. Vel'Koz is very fortunate for a mage, he can be surprisingly flexible - and that works in your favour.

Vel'Koz early levels is quite focused on wave management and managing your mana. In most matchups, the following skill order is what you would go in order to maintain a good pace within the early learning phase:
Taking 3 points into your W after a single point in Q allows you to clear the wave quickly and effectively.
Timing your Plasma Fission is the most important part of your wave clear. Void Rift can be cast twice, meaning W ➔ Q ➔ W will clear the full wave with a few auto-attacks on the Melee Minions pretty quickly. Your Q gives 50% of its mana back when a minion is slain - and therefore timing it to make sure at least two minions are killed by it to get the complete cost of the ability refunded is very important for his laning phase. This form of wave-clearing and/or wave management will work with both of the staple pages mentioned above, and only becomes easier as the game progresses.

Utilizing the Sapphire Crystal + Refillable Potion with Future's Market is a slightly more advanced starting set-up. It enables you to effectively wave clear with a higher mana pool early, into match-ups you will not really be able to do anything into. For example, Vel'Koz cannot easily kill most champions before level 6. Therefore, starting Sapphire Crystal does not cause you to take a hit in the early levels. Lost Chapter is a very good item spike for Vel'Koz - and getting it as quickly as possible is incredibly beneficial. I myself am not well equipped to explain how this works in its entirety in written form, so I recommend watching this video by LS, that explains how to effectively use this start.

To give a short summary, this start allows you to potentially back and buy a Lost Chapter as soon as wave 5. You may get it later, this is fine. The point is that you still get it far earlier than your counterpart. I usually end up backing around wave 7 for mine, given sometimes I have to aid my jungler in early skirmishes that result in me missing CS. My quickest Lost Chapter purchase was on wave 4 after getting first blood and having near perfect CS. I was also able to TP back to lane, without missing anything.
Lost Chapter can enable you to shove faster, therefore punishing early roams, and give you an edge for damage - too. You can sometimes even pick up a kill due to the enemy laner disrespecting your item spike.


Your early game as Vel'Koz largely revolves around farming, and rotating for your team's needs. While you are not the best at solo-killing most of the champions in the game incredibly early, you do have good damage consistently throughout the game - from the start. Vel'Kozas a champion has the potential to deal true damage as soon as level 2 (if someone stands in your W) and therefore is not to be underestimated in early skirmishes. While it is not the highest damage, it is enough to catch people off guard if they are not paying attention. Ideally, you would like to wait until level 3 so that you have your CC, but you are able to help if needed. Your Q is a slow, which is beneficial at any stage in the game, even without having your E.


Speaking of your Q, this is probably the ability Vel'Koz is known for. Do not be alarmed, it's really not as hard as it looks. (Just trust me, okay?) Taking your time and finding a good window is imperative to being efficient with the ability. When in midlane, you generally will be using this ability to farm in tandem with your W. Make sure, if you can, do secure 2 minion kills with your Q, to get the full mama refund of it back. If you can, killing 3 minions with your Q is amazingly worth while, but most of the time the minions quite simply do not position in such a way that makes this easy to do.
In mid, angles are important, but not as much as you may think. The first few Q's will nearly always be to see how your opponent dodges - which will then determine how you throw your Q.

Vel'koz is less about skill, more about knowledge.

Outside of the laning phase, Vel'Koz truly shines in teamfights. He has astronomical range, with the potential to be the highest damage in every single game you play. In order to utilize Vel'Koz's kit well - your positioning is imperative.

Vel'Koz has a huge zone of influence (where you can stand in order to do damage and impact fights). While you can stay back, Vel'Koz can also be played as an assassin, working from fog of war very effectively.
Depending on the team composition, and whether you can reliably oneshot someone - Vel'Koz can be used to consistently roam and pick of enemies in their own territory. Your E - Tectonic Disruption is unaffected by tenacity, and therefore gives enemies little time to respond. Utilise it from fog of war, and safe, clean kills are yours.
Vel'Koz does damage. A lot of it. Your goal in every team fight is to get as much damage out as physically possible, or to assassinate a priority target from afar.

Taking your time is important, especially when side laning with TP. Vel'Koz is surprisingly good at getting himself out of sticky situations when utilising your Q and E correctly. With some hypermobile champions, such as LeBlanc, Zed and Katarina, you will first and foremost be less likely to side lane - but also have to hold your E for a perfect opportunity. Remember, when used closer to Vel'Koz - it also has a somewhat knock-back effect, as well as the knock up and stun. You are not on a champion that has the ability to panic. Your cooldowns do not allow you to missplay in high pressure situations, and you will die - a lot. Sometimes, simply holding your E is enough to get some people to not engage you, for fear of being immediately knocked out of their engage. As stated many times before, Vel'Koz is not about mechanical skill. He is about knowledge and patience. Knowing when to use your E will get you far further than simply hitting an angled Q. The Q's look great, but when that ability is down, you no longer have poke threat. You no longer have a slow for disengage, and without flash you are a sitting duck.
Unfortunately, I can't teach it in words. It's something you'll have to spend time learning, and simply practicing match-ups for yourself. You may find yourself being able to deal with Zed just fine. You may find LeBlanc being hell on earth - but the important thing is to assess as many cooldowns as possible, and to know when your openings are. :)

More will be added to this guide soon, for now, please enjoy this! - Rachichu :)