Top Champions To Dominate Vladimir

by Jhon Lennon 35 views

Hey guys! So, you're looking to shut down that blood-sucking fiend, Vladimir, huh? Awesome! He can be a real pain in the neck, but trust me, there are plenty of champions out there who can make him regret picking him. This guide will walk you through some of the best counter picks to crush Vladimir in the top lane and mid lane. We'll dive into what makes these champions strong against him, how to play them effectively, and some tips to help you win lane and ultimately, the game. Let's get started and transform you into a Vladimir-slaying machine!

Understanding Vladimir's Strengths and Weaknesses

Before we jump into the best champions to counter Vladimir, let's quickly understand what makes him tick. Vladimir is a powerful scaling mage known for his sustained damage, excellent team fighting, and survivability. He's a late-game monster, so the key to beating him is to exploit his weaknesses in the early and mid-game. Let's break it down:

  • Strengths:

    • Excellent Scaling: Vladimir becomes incredibly strong in the late game. His abilities deal significant damage, and his health pool becomes massive, making him difficult to kill.
    • Sustained Damage: He can constantly dish out damage with his Q, which allows him to slowly drain opponents. He can usually out sustain most champions in lane.
    • High Survivability: His W, Sanguine Pool, makes him invulnerable for a short duration, allowing him to dodge key abilities and reposition himself. Combine this with his ultimate, which heals him, and you've got a champion that's really hard to take down.
    • Strong Team Fighting: Vladimir's ultimate, Hemoplague, deals significant AoE damage and amplifies the damage dealt to enemies. This, coupled with his ability to heal himself and his team, makes him a threat in team fights.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Early Game Vulnerability: Vladimir is relatively weak in the early game. He struggles against champions who can bully him and prevent him from farming. He needs farm to scale, if he doesn't get it, he's basically useless.
    • Mana-less: Vladimir is a mana-less champion which doesn't make him weak per se, but it does allow you to punish his mistakes more, because he has no resources.
    • Reliance on Cooldowns: Vladimir's abilities have cooldowns, and if you can force him to use his abilities defensively, you can create opportunities to punish him.
    • Susceptible to Crowd Control: While his W makes him invulnerable for a short duration, crowd control effects can disrupt his combos and make him an easy target.

Understanding these strengths and weaknesses is crucial for choosing the right counter picks and playing effectively against Vladimir. Now that we know what we're up against, let's explore some champions who can shut him down.

Top Champion Counters for Vladimir

Now, for the main event! Here are some of the best champions to counter Vladimir, broken down by lane, along with explanations of why they work:

Top Lane Counters

1. Renekton

Renekton is a lane bully who excels at shutting down scaling champions like Vladimir. His aggressive playstyle and strong early-game damage make him a nightmare matchup for the Crimson Reaper. Renekton's high damage output allows him to trade effectively with Vladimir. His ability to dash in, stun, and deal significant damage forces Vladimir to use his Pool defensively, allowing Renekton to control the lane and deny farm. The key is to be aggressive early. Deny his farm, force him to use his pool, and set up your jungle for a gank. With proper execution, Renekton can easily snowball the lane and become a significant threat in team fights.

  • Why Renekton Works:

    • Early Game Dominance: Renekton's early game is significantly stronger than Vladimir's. He can bully Vladimir in lane, denying him farm and preventing him from scaling.
    • Crowd Control: His W (Ruthless Predator) provides a stun, which can interrupt Vladimir's combos and leave him vulnerable.
    • Burst Damage: Renekton's abilities deal high burst damage, which can quickly chunk Vladimir's health and force him to play defensively.
    • Tankiness: Renekton is naturally tanky. With some health items, he is very difficult for vladimir to kill.

  • How to Play Renekton Against Vladimir:

    • Aggressive Early Game: Look for opportunities to trade with Vladimir early in the lane. Use your abilities to harass him and force him to use his pool defensively.
    • Freeze the Wave: If possible, try to freeze the wave near your tower. This will make it difficult for Vladimir to farm safely and open him up to ganks.
    • Punish Cooldowns: When Vladimir uses his abilities, punish him. He is vulnerable when his abilities are on cooldown.
    • Control Vision: Place wards to avoid ganks and track the enemy jungler's movements.

2. K'Sante

K'Sante is a tank that specializes in taking down enemies with high health pools. With great dueling potential, he can be a solid counter to Vladimir. K'Sante's ability to absorb damage and disrupt carries allows him to excel in team fights while making it difficult for the enemy team to deal with him. K'Sante has a great combination of crowd control, damage, and tankiness which allows him to out-duel Vladimir. His W, Path Maker is essential for negating Vladimir's combos. K'Sante is a strong laner with a great ability to deal with Vladimir.

  • Why K'Sante Works:

    • Tankiness: K'Sante is extremely durable, allowing him to absorb Vladimir's damage.
    • Crowd Control: His knockback and stun abilities can interrupt Vladimir's combos and prevent him from using his pool effectively.
    • Duel potential: K'Sante is a great duelist with a lot of mobility, allowing him to catch Vladimir easily.

  • How to Play K'Sante Against Vladimir:

    • Trade Carefully: While K'Sante is tanky, you still need to be mindful of Vladimir's damage. Trade when Vladimir's abilities are on cooldown.
    • Use your W wisely: Use your W to block Vladimir's abilities and interrupt his combos.
    • Focus on farm: Look for opportunities to farm safely and scale into the mid-game, where K'Sante truly shines.

Mid Lane Counters

1. Fizz

Fizz is a slippery assassin who can make Vladimir's life miserable. His high mobility and burst damage make him a nightmare matchup. Fizz's ability to dodge Vladimir's abilities with his E, Playful/Trickster, and his burst damage potential allow him to control the lane and potentially kill Vladimir in the mid-game. The key to playing Fizz against Vladimir is to play smart and time your abilities. By dodging Vladimir's key abilities and punishing his mistakes, Fizz can easily shut him down. Fizz can roam, and snowball and bring the advantage to your team, which makes him a great counter.

  • Why Fizz Works:

    • Mobility: Fizz's E (Playful/Trickster) allows him to dodge Vladimir's abilities and avoid his damage.
    • Burst Damage: Fizz can quickly burst down Vladimir with his abilities, making it difficult for him to survive.
    • Anti-Mage: Fizz is built to counter mages.

  • How to Play Fizz Against Vladimir:

    • Dodge and Punish: Use your E to dodge Vladimir's abilities and then punish him with your own. Time is important.
    • Look for Roams: If you get ahead in lane, consider roaming to other lanes to help your team.
    • Control Vision: Place wards to avoid ganks and track the enemy jungler's movements.

2. LeBlanc

LeBlanc, the Deceiver, is a master of deception and burst damage. She can quickly burst down Vladimir, making her an excellent counter. LeBlanc's high burst damage and ability to reposition with her W and ult make her a dangerous opponent for Vladimir. LeBlanc's kit allows her to punish Vladimir for his mistakes while dodging his abilities. LeBlanc is an excellent lane bully, so the early game is important. If you can get ahead, you can roam and snowball your team. By controlling the lane and putting pressure on Vladimir, LeBlanc can prevent him from farming safely and make it difficult for him to scale.

  • Why LeBlanc Works:

    • Burst Damage: LeBlanc can quickly burst down Vladimir, making it difficult for him to survive.
    • Mobility: LeBlanc's mobility allows her to dodge Vladimir's abilities and reposition herself in fights.
    • Deception: LeBlanc's kit allows her to deceive enemies and make it difficult for them to predict her movements.

  • How to Play LeBlanc Against Vladimir:

    • Aggressive Early Game: Look for opportunities to trade with Vladimir early in the lane. Use your abilities to harass him and force him to use his pool defensively.
    • Punish Cooldowns: When Vladimir uses his abilities, punish him. He is vulnerable when his abilities are on cooldown.
    • Control Vision: Place wards to avoid ganks and track the enemy jungler's movements.

General Tips for Countering Vladimir

Regardless of which champion you choose, here are some general tips to help you counter Vladimir:

  • Early Game Pressure: The earlier you can pressure Vladimir, the better. Deny his farm, force him to use his pool defensively, and punish him for his mistakes.
  • Buy Executioner's Calling: Executioner's Calling reduces healing, which significantly reduces Vladimir's sustain. This is a must-buy item if you're struggling.
  • Force Team Fights: Vladimir excels in team fights. Try to avoid prolonged team fights where Vladimir can freely deal damage. Focus on picking off enemies and controlling objectives.
  • Focus on Objectives: Focus on taking down towers, dragons, and other objectives. This will force Vladimir to respond, opening opportunities for your team.
  • Communicate with Your Team: Let your team know when Vladimir is missing or when he's using his abilities. Communication is key to success!

Conclusion

There you have it, guys! With these champions and tips, you should be well on your way to crushing Vladimir and climbing the ranks. Remember that practice makes perfect. So, head into the Rift, try out these champions, and have fun! GLHF! Remember, understanding Vladimir's weaknesses and playing smart will help you win lane. Good luck out there!