Line-denial artillery mage build: Vel'Koz wins when he turns frontal approach into a path that is too costly for the enemy. The build must therefore reinforce poke quality, positional stability, and enough protection for him to deliver several full rotations.
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
15,000 total cost
Nothing dominates on the other side: the standard build maximizes your damage.
Open this draft in the tool →Anti-resist build for tanky enemies. Choose when multiple enemies build armor/magic resist.
15,100 total cost +100gDefensive build adding survivability. Pick this against high enemy damage or when behind.
15,300 total cost +300g
Share of the roster this champion outclasses, at each stage of the game.
50% = average for the roster at that point of the game, 90% = among the strongest. The three phases come from the site's editorial tempo grid (early/mid/late, rated across 142 champions); the level-by-level curve adds this build's computed spikes — ultimate, completed items — never by more than ±8 points.
Your hardest matchups in this role, and the item from your situational list that answers each one.
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
12,400 total cost
Nothing dominates on the other side: the standard build maximizes your damage.
Open this draft in the tool →Utility build, maximizes support provided to your carry.
10,250 total cost -2150g
Allied carry to protect: Twitch, Aurelion Sol, Draven.
Open this draft in the tool →Defensive build adding survivability. Pick this against high enemy damage or when behind.
11,550 total cost -850g
Share of the roster this champion outclasses, at each stage of the game.
50% = average for the roster at that point of the game, 90% = among the strongest. The three phases come from the site's editorial tempo grid (early/mid/late, rated across 142 champions); the level-by-level curve adds this build's computed spikes — ultimate, completed items — never by more than ±8 points.
Your hardest matchups in this role, and the item from your situational list that answers each one.
Same advisor in the Draft (the MVP sheet applies it to your real draft) and in Ask Nexus, which explains the choice. On counters pages: the variant to take against each counter-pick.
Skill leveling order and rune choices explained, from our in-depth kit analysis (patch 7.0e). Ability numbers are from patch 7.3; up-to-date items are in the section above.
Vel’Koz wins fights before they start.
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Your splitting Q slows — the comet is guaranteed on your main poke, every rotation.
Free gold on rotations — your AP core comes sooner, and the R laser does the rest.
Reduces cooldown of the R Lifeform Disintegration Ray to the trigger more often.
Strengthens Q pokes in early game to force opponents to heal or retreat.
An immobile artillery mage takes dives — three blunted hits buy time to land the E knock-up.
Transcendence
Bone Plating
