Illaoi – Understanding Her Role in League of Legends
Illaoi. The Kraken Priestess. The bruiser you don’t want to mess with, especially if you’re in the top lane. She’s got tentacles, a divine weapon of destruction, and, let’s be real, she’s a bit of a monster. If you’ve ever seen her in action, you’ve probably either been crushed under the weight of her power or found yourself looking at your screen, wondering what just happened. So, what makes Illaoi tick? What is it about her kit that makes her such a deadly champion in League of Legends? Sit tight, and let’s dive deep into the chaos that is Illaoi.
Who’s Illaoi, Anyway?
Alright, so before we get into how to play her and what she’s actually good at, let’s take a quick second to break down who she even is.
Illaoi hails from Bilgewater, a region where the ocean is king, and so is her god, Nagakabouros. She’s a high priestess who uses her connection to this god to summon tentacles (yep, actual tentacles) that smite her enemies into oblivion. Imagine a sea monster who went to a holy church and learned some combat moves. That’s her. She spends her days punishing those who dare oppose the will of her god, and frankly, she’s really good at it.
But here’s the kicker: I used to think she was just another “big tank” type champion. You know, the ones you have to avoid because they’re too beefy to fight head-on? Turns out, I was wrong. Illaoi’s all about dealing sustained damage, punishing reckless engages, and being an absolute menace when you don’t respect her passive.
I learned the hard way that Illaoi isn’t just a tank; she’s a bruiser who can heal back all the damage she takes. And it’s like, what? How do you even kill her if she keeps healing?
Illaoi’s Abilities: A Tentacle-Tastic Breakdown
Alright, let’s talk about Illaoi’s kit. Because when it comes to her, it’s all about the tentacles. And I mean ALL about them.
Passive – Prophet of an Elder God
The first thing you need to understand about Illaoi is her passive ability—Prophet of an Elder God. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill passive. Nah, this thing actually spawns tentacles when she hits an enemy champion. And when those tentacles start swinging? Bam—a whole lot of damage. I’m talking huge damage.
There’s no need to be a rocket scientist to figure this out: more hits = more tentacles = more pain for your opponent. But seriously, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been caught out by an unsuspecting Illaoi player who lands just one Tentacle Smash (her Q) and suddenly I’m staring down a forest of tentacles trying to kill me.
- Side note: Tentacle camps? Yeah, I’ve seen them. They’re real, they’re terrifying, and you don’t want to be the target of that.
Q – Tentacle Smash
Illaoi swings her idol forward in a line with her Q, Tentacle Smash, and if there’s a tentacle around? You better believe it’s coming for you, too. Now, you’re probably thinking, “Oh, that doesn’t sound too bad.” And maybe if you’re a ranged champion with no intention of getting close to her, you’re safe.
But then—wait for it—you misstep, and BAM, you’re getting hit by a second wave of tentacle damage, and you’re wishing you’d never wandered into the same lane as Illaoi.
- Pro tip: If you want to poke Illaoi from a distance, keep your distance. If you have to get close, pray her Q misses.
W – Harsh Lesson
This is where things get spicy. Illaoi’s W, Harsh Lesson, makes her next basic attack slap extra hard. It deals bonus damage and knocks back her target. Here’s the kicker: if a tentacle is around, that sucker will hit the same target, too. So now, you’ve got Illaoi smacking you with her idol and a tentacle comboing you from behind. Can’t catch a break.
It’s like a “I can hit you hard from close range” ability. Combine this with her passive and things get real nasty.
E – Test of Spirit
This is the one ability that makes Illaoi stand out. She uses her E, Test of Spirit, to grab an enemy champion’s spirit and drag it into the world of the tentacles. The enemy spirit is tethered to their physical body, and if you’re near a tentacle—well, guess what? That spirit’s about to get slapped around.
- Pro tip: The trick here is to get the spirit near a tentacle, so you can dish out damage from both sides. It’s like a 2-for-1 deal, and trust me, you want to be the one making that deal.
R – Leap of Faith
Okay, Leap of Faith is a game-changer. Illaoi leaps into the air and slams down, summoning a set of tentacles to attack all nearby enemies. For every champion hit by these tentacles, she heals. And I mean HEALS. I’ve seen Illaoi go from barely hanging on to full health in seconds just by landing a solid Leap of Faith.
It’s like her ultimate move: boom, you’re healed, and boom, you’re dealing massive damage to anyone unlucky enough to be nearby.
- Pro tip: Use Leap of Faith in the middle of a fight when multiple enemies are around. You heal back so much that you might as well be a self-sustaining fountain of destruction.
Illaoi’s Strengths: The Upside
1. Sustained Damage Over Time
Illaoi’s sustained damage is what sets her apart from other champions. She doesn’t just burst someone down and call it a day—no, she’s in it for the long haul. Get ready for a bruising. Her passive ensures that if you don’t kill her fast enough, she’ll just keep pounding you with tentacles.
- I learned this the hard way. Seriously, don’t think you can poke Illaoi from a distance and walk away unscathed. Eventually, you’ll eat a Tentacle Smash, and then the fight is on.
2. The Lane Bully
When Illaoi’s in the top lane, she’s a terror. She can out-sustain and out-damage most top laners, especially when they get cocky. Try to engage her without respecting her passive? You’ll regret it.
- Fun fact: There was this one time I thought I could play safe against an Illaoi. I was wrong. I ended up in the respawn queue while she casually walked away with a full HP bar.
3. Healing Machine
Once Illaoi hits her Leap of Faith in a team fight, good luck. I’ve had moments where I thought I had her cornered, but nope. She heals back way too much, and by the time I turn around, my team’s wiped out, and she’s got more health than when the fight started.
- Side note: Once, my team and I tried to focus down an Illaoi during a Baron fight. She healed back all our damage like it was nothing. The Baron wasn’t even the issue—it was her.
Illaoi’s Weaknesses: The Downside
1. Ranged Champions Ruin Her Day
Ranged champions give Illaoi a rough time. If they can poke her down from a distance and stay out of her skillshot range, it’s gonna be hard for Illaoi to retaliate.
- Example: That one time I tried to lane against a Quinn… She stayed so far away, I couldn’t even hit her with a Tentacle Smash. The horror.
2. Skillshot Reliant
Most of Illaoi’s damage is tied to landing her abilities. If you miss Test of Spirit, or if you mess up the timing with Harsh Lesson or Tentacle Smash, you’re going to miss out on a lot of potential damage.
- Personal confession: I’ve missed more Test of Spirits than I care to admit. It’s like I see the enemy spirit floating there, taunting me, and then—whiff. Ugh.
3. She’s Not Exactly Fast
Illaoi is no speedster. She’s like a bulldozer—slow and steady, but when you need to get out of a sticky situation, she doesn’t have a lot of options. If she’s caught in a bad spot, she’s in trouble.
- Tip for playing against her: Pick someone who can kite and make her chase. You’ll see her get frustrated real quick.
Playing Illaoi Like a Pro
1. Master Positioning
The real trick with Illaoi is positioning. You want to make sure you’re always in the thick of it, surrounded by tentacles. If you’re not close enough to them, you’re not gonna deal as much damage.
- Pro tip: I’ve learned the hard way—stay close to your tentacles, and don’t wander off.
2. Team Coordination is Key
Illaoi thrives in coordinated fights. She can absolutely wipe out an enemy team with her Leap of Faith if she’s in the right position. But if your team doesn’t engage with her properly, she’ll be left alone in the middle of a fight, and that’s just sad.
- Pro tip: Ping your team when you have your R available. Nothing like diving in and having your whole team follow up on it.
3. Timing is Crucial
Timing your abilities, especially Test of Spirit, is crucial. If you can land it on multiple enemies near your tentacles, you’ll do so much damage. If you miss? Well, it’s like missing a free throw in basketball.
- Pro tip: Aim for the group of enemies, not just the one guy.
Final Thoughts on Illaoi
Look, Illaoi is a beast. If you’re looking to dominate the top lane, dish out sustained damage, and mess with enemy teamfights, she’s your girl. But remember: she’s not just a tanky bruiser. She’s a healing, tentacle-wielding goddess of destruction who’s got more tricks up her sleeve than you think.
So, do yourself a favor—respect her passive, learn her kit, and watch out for those Tentacle Smashes. If you play your cards right, Illaoi can turn the tide of a game faster than you can say “Kraken.”
