Vladimir vs Locke Counter Pick

Silver Stake reads like a clause written against Vladimir. Locke’s attacks deal additional magic damage on hit, increased by the target’s missing health, and Vladimir pays his own health to charge Tides of Blood. The tool that gives him area damage also hands Locke a larger number on every following attack. Across 235 games on patch 16.13.1, Vladimir sits at 45.5%.

Locke also opens as the physically larger champion, 655 health against 600 and 32 armor against 24, and stays ahead at level 18 with 2,508 to 2,470. His damage is physical, which makes Vladimir’s low armor the exposed stat rather than his 30 magic resist. Ashen Pursuit teleports before dashing to a target and damaging everything passed through, so the 450 against 125 range advantage lasts exactly as long as that cooldown.

Vladimir’s counterplay is timing rather than statistics. Sanguine Pool removes him as a target for two seconds and can be saved for Purgatory, which damages and potentially executes what it binds. Soul Ignition costs Locke health for its attack speed and move speed, briefly placing him in the wounded bracket that a full Crimson Rush Transfusion punishes hardest. Locke travels at 340 against 330 and pays mana, the only mana cost in the exchange, since Crimson Rush fills on its own. Locke is rated difficulty 5 against Vladimir’s 7. Kits: Vladimir, Locke.