Aphelios, known as the Weapon of the Faithful, hails from Targon, a region that reveres celestial beings and cosmic power. He belongs to the Lunari, a secretive order worshiping the moon, in stark contrast to the more dominant Solari worshippers. Aphelios and his twin sister, Alune, were born under a rare lunar conjunction, granting them extraordinary abilities. Aphelios wields an arsenal of magical weapons crafted by his sister, who communicates with him from her sanctuary. While Aphelios is mute, his determination and unwavering faith make him a formidable force on the battlefield, guided by Alune's presence.
Aphelios' Role in the Game
In "League of Legends," Aphelios is an AD Carry (ADC), primarily positioned in the bottom lane. His unique kit requires mastering various weapons, each offering distinct abilities and playstyles. Aphelios excels in dealing sustained damage from a distance and can adapt to different combat scenarios, making him versatile yet challenging to master.
Aphelios' Performance in Patch 14.14
In Patch 14.14, Aphelios has received some adjustments to balance his performance. These changes focus on his weapon mechanics and damage output to ensure he remains competitive without being overly dominant.
Skill Mechanism Changes
Calibrum (Rifle): Slightly increased range and critical damage scaling.
Severum (Scythe Pistol): Improved lifesteal effectiveness and base damage.
Gravitum (Cannon): Enhanced slow effect duration.
Infernum (Flamethrower): Increased area of effect damage.
Crescendo (Chakram): Boosted attack speed scaling and base damage.
These adjustments aim to fine-tune Aphelios' overall damage potential and utility, providing a more balanced experience across different phases of the game. When you embark on your journey, mmowow gold can lend a helping hand when you need help.
Detailed Skill Explanation and Playstyle
Passive - The Hitman and the Seer
Aphelios cycles through five different weapons, each with unique basic attacks and abilities. Alune selects the next two weapons in sequence. Understanding the order and synergy of these weapons is crucial for effective gameplay.
Q - Weapon Abilities
Each weapon grants Aphelios a unique Q ability:
Calibrum (Rifle): Long-range attack that marks enemies, allowing follow-up attacks.
Severum (Scythe Pistol): Grants lifesteal and a rapid-fire mode.
Gravitum (Cannon): Applies a slowing effect to enemies.
Infernum (Flamethrower): Deals area damage in a cone.
Crescendo (Chakram): Boomerang attack that returns to Aphelios.
W - Phase
Switches between his main and off-hand weapons.
R - Moonlight Vigil
Launches a concentrated blast of moonlight, exploding on the first enemy hit and applying effects based on his current main-hand weapon.
Rune Suggestions and Explanation
For Aphelios, the Precision tree with "Conqueror" as the keystone rune is highly recommended, given his need for sustained damage and healing.
Precision Tree:
Conqueror: Increases damage during extended fights and grants healing.
Presence of Mind: Provides mana regeneration on takedowns, crucial for ability usage.
Legend: Bloodline: Grants lifesteal, enhancing his sustain.
Coup de Grace: Increases damage against low-health targets.
Domination Tree:
Taste of Blood: Offers additional healing during trades.
Ravenous Hunter: Further enhances his healing from abilities.
Item Build Recommendations
Aphelios' build focuses on maximizing his attack damage, critical strike chance, and sustain. Key items include:
Kraken Slayer: Provides true damage on every third attack, increasing his burst potential.
Galeforce: Offers mobility and an additional damaging dash, enhancing positioning.
Infinity Edge: Amplifies critical strike damage, synergizing with his weapon effects.
Runaan's Hurricane: Applies his on-hit effects to multiple targets, useful in team fights.
Bloodthirster: Grants significant lifestyle and a shield, boosting his survivability.
Guardian Angel: Provides a second life, allowing him to rejoin fights after being taken down.
Early, Mid, and Late Game Playstyle
Early Game
Focus on farming and trading safely. Utilize Severum for sustain and Calibrum for poking enemies from a distance. Prioritize last-hitting minions and build toward your first core item.
Mid Game
Start participating in skirmishes and objective control. Use Gravitum to slow and catch out opponents, while Infernum can deal significant damage in clustered fights. Coordinate with your team to secure kills and objectives.
Late Game
Positioning and weapon management are crucial. Use Crescendum for rapid attacks and high burst damage in extended fights. Moonlight Vigil can turn the tide of battles with its area damage and weapon effects. Stay behind your frontline and focus on dealing sustained damage while avoiding enemy threats.
Recommended Team Compositions
Strong Initiation Composition
Pair Aphelios with champions who can engage and lock down enemies, allowing him to safely dish out damage from the backline. Examples include:
Malphite: Provides a reliable initiation with his ultimate.
Leona: Offers crowd control and peel for Aphelios.
Scaling Composition
Combine Aphelios with champions that scale well into the late game, ensuring a strong presence as the game progresses. Examples include:
Kassadin: Late-game powerhouse that can dive the backline.
Ornn: Provides utility and scaling benefits through item upgrades.
Individual Carry Composition
Build a team around enabling Aphelios to carry fights through protection and utility. Examples include:
Lulu: Shields, polymorphs, and buffs Aphelios, enhancing his damage and survivability.
Janna: Offers peel and healing, keeping Aphelios safe from threats.
Aphelios vs. Zoe: Laning Phase Strategy
Early Game Strategy
Against Zoe, Aphelios must be cautious of her burst damage and crowd control. Zoe's Paddle Star (Q) and Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E) can quickly turn the tide of a skirmish. Here are some key strategies for the early game:
Positioning: Always position yourself behind minions to avoid Zoe's Sleepy Trouble Bubble. This ability can pass through walls, so be mindful of her positioning.
Weapon Management: Start with Severum (Scythe Pistol) for sustain and Calibrum (Rifle) for poking Zoe from a distance. Calibrum's long-range attacks can keep Zoe at bay.
Vision Control: Place wards in the river and jungle entrances to avoid ganks. Zoe is especially dangerous when she can follow up on her Sleepy Trouble Bubble with a jungler.
Trading: Use Calibrum to poke Zoe when she goes for the last hits. Avoid extended trades unless you have Severum ready to sustain through the damage.
Mid Game Strategy
As the game progresses into the mid-game, Aphelios should focus on team fights and skirmishes while still maintaining safe positioning against Zoe:
Weapon Synergy: Use Gravitum (Cannon) to slow Zoe, making it easier for your team to catch her. Follow up with Infernum (Flamethrower) to deal area-of-effect damage if she dives in.
Objective Control: Focus on securing dragons and Rift Herald. Use your range advantage to poke Zoe and keep her away from objectives.
Group with Team: Stay grouped with your team to avoid getting caught out by Zoe's Sleepy Trouble Bubble. Work with your support to peel for you and mitigate Zoe's burst potential.
Late Game Strategy
In the late game, team fights become crucial, and Aphelios must maximize his damage output while avoiding Zoe's threats:
Positioning: Positioning remains key. Stay behind your frontline and avoid clumping up with your team to reduce the impact of
Zoe's Paddle Star.
Weapon Utilization: Use Crescendum (Chakram) for rapid damage in extended fights and Severum for life steal. Moonlight Vigil can be a game-changer in team fights with its area damage and weapon effects.
Peeling and Kiting: Work closely with your support and tanks to peel for you. Utilize your weapons' utility to kite back and deal sustained damage.
Aphelios' Suitability in Patch 14.14
Aphelios' versatility and unique kit make him a strong pick in Patch 14.14. His ability to adapt to various situations and deal significant damage over time aligns well with the current meta, which favors ADCs with high damage output and utility.
Strengths
Versatility: Aphelios can handle different combat scenarios due to his diverse weapon set, making him adaptable in various matchups.
High Damage Output: With the right positioning and weapon management, Aphelios can deal immense damage in both single-target and area-of-effect situations.
Scaling: Aphelios scales well into the late game, becoming a major threat as he builds his core items.
Weaknesses
High Skill Ceiling: Aphelios requires mastery of his weapon mechanics and positioning. Players must understand each weapon's strengths and weaknesses to maximize effectiveness.
Vulnerability to Burst: Aphelios can be vulnerable to champions with high burst damage, such as Zoe. Proper positioning and team support are essential to mitigate this weakness.
Practical Gameplay Tips
Weapon Rotation: Understand the sequence of your weapons and plan your engagements accordingly. Manage your ammo to ensure you have the optimal weapon for each situation.
Objective Focus: Use your range and damage output to secure objectives. Calibrum's long-range poke and Crescendum's rapid damage can be particularly effective in securing Baron and Dragon.
Peeling and Positioning: Always stay behind your frontline and rely on your support for peel. Avoid overextending and use Severum's lifestyle to sustain through skirmishes.
Team Composition and Initiation
Strong Initiation Teams
Malphite: Provides a reliable initiation with his ultimate, allowing Aphelios to follow up with Infernum or Crescendum for massive damage.
Leona: Offers crowd control and peel, ensuring Aphelios can safely deal damage from the backline.
Scaling Teams
Kassadin: Scales well into the late game and can dive the backline to distract and eliminate threats to Aphelios.
Ornn: Provides item upgrades and strong initiation, enhancing Aphelios' late-game presence.
Individual Carry Teams
Lulu: Shields, polymorphs, and buffs Aphelios, significantly boosting his damage and survivability.
Janna: Offers peel, healing, and disengage, ensuring Aphelios can stay safe and dish out damage. However, when some players explore further and become familiar with heroes, some will buy cheap lol accounts from a safe and reliable supplier.
Conclusion
Aphelios in Patch 14.14 remains a potent pick for players willing to invest the time to master his intricate mechanics. His ability to adapt to various situations, combined with high damage potential, makes him a valuable asset in the current meta. However, players must be mindful of their vulnerabilities and focus on positioning, weapon management, and teamwork to fully leverage their strengths. By understanding and applying these strategies, players can maximize Aphelios' effectiveness and lead their teams to victory.
