Counters for Taliyah
Champion guide
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Champions against Taliyah
Favorable matchup
Syndra vs Taliyah
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Syndra doesn't need to move to win trades against Taliyah. Her kit has no dashes, so Unraveled Earth only goes off on her if Taliyah throws her through the mines, and Scatter the Weak into a Dark Sphere stuns Taliyah when she comes close.
Why Syndra works against Taliyah
01
The mines need you to move
Unraveled Earth creates a slowing field that only explodes if an enemy dashes or is knocked through it. Syndra has no dash at all: the real threat is Seismic Shove, which throws enemies in the direction Taliyah picks, plus Weaver's Wall's knockback. Away from the edge of the field, the mines lose most of their value.
02
Spheres punish her engage
Scatter the Weak knocks back enemies and spheres, and whoever gets hit by a Dark Sphere is stunned. When Taliyah steps up to use Seismic Shove, a sphere placed in front of you turns her engage into your stun.
03
Zone control, not chasing
Force of Will throws a sphere that damages and slows in an area; since 7.3a the slow is a flat 25% and its AP ratio is lower. Use it to control the wave and the space, not to chase Taliyah while she surfs her Weaver's Wall.
When to attack
The lane is played at range from level 1. Place spheres between the wave and Taliyah and punish her when she throws Threaded Volley from up close. If she has Seismic Shove up and mines on the ground, keep your distance.
How to play Syndra
- 1Poke with Dark Sphere when Taliyah walks up to last-hit; every damaging ability adds Splinters of Wrath for Transcendent.
- 2Always keep a sphere between Taliyah and you: that's what turns Scatter the Weak into a stun.
- 3When she drops Unraveled Earth, move away from the edge on the side opposite to where Seismic Shove could throw you.
- 4With Unleashed Power and several spheres, look for the kill when she spends Weaver's Wall to go in or get out.
Mistakes to avoid
- Chasing Taliyah near her minefield: one Seismic Shove throws you through it even though you have no dashes.
- Spending Scatter the Weak to push the wave and not having it when she engages.
Playing Taliyah against Syndra
As Taliyah, don't walk straight at Syndra: the spheres in front of her are her stun. Place Unraveled Earth behind her and use Seismic Shove to throw her through the mines, not toward you. Weaver's Wall lets you surf to another lane before she gets there: your edge against Syndra lives on the map more than in the duel.
Favorable matchup
Swain vs Taliyah
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Taliyah wins lane by poking with Threaded Volley. Swain is built to soak that damage: he heals with Ravenous Flock's fragments and Demonic Ascension, and punishes every approach with Vision of Empire and Nevermove, with no dashes to set off the mines.
Why Swain works against Taliyah
01
Healing makes up for the poke
Ravenous Flock gathers Soul Fragments that heal Swain and raise his max health. 7.3a raised that healing from 3-4.5% + 0.5% AP to 4.5-6% + 0.2% AP. The damage from every rock you take comes back faster if you collect fragments.
02
Vision of Empire grants fragments from range
Vision of Empire opens an eye that damages, slows and reveals, and every champion hit gives you a fragment. It's how you answer the poke without walking in, and the slow leaves Taliyah in range of Death's Hand.
03
Nevermove and the ultimate up close
Nevermove goes out, comes back and roots whoever it hits on the return; you can then pull rooted champions in. 7.3a raises the AP ratio of its return damage from 25% to 40%. With Taliyah close, Demonic Ascension drains her health while it heals you.
When to attack
The early levels are about holding on: last-hit, collect fragments with Vision of Empire and don't waste Nevermove on poke. Once you have your ultimate, every time Taliyah steps up to throw Threaded Volley is a window.
How to play Swain
- 1Use Vision of Empire on Taliyah when she last-hits: the fragment heals you and raises your max health.
- 2Aim Nevermove so its return passes where she is going to be; if she gets rooted, pull her toward your side of the wave.
- 3Don't step onto Unraveled Earth on your own: you have no dashes, but Seismic Shove can throw you through the mines.
- 4In fights, activate Demonic Ascension near several enemy champions: as long as you drain champions, the demon form holds.
Mistakes to avoid
- Answering her Threaded Volley with Death's Hand from range: that's the poke trade she is looking for.
- Chasing her while she surfs Weaver's Wall: the wall carries her far and you have no way to follow.
Playing Taliyah against Swain
Playing Taliyah, don't hand him free fragments: step out of Vision of Empire's area as soon as the eye appears. Poke from outside Nevermove's range and don't stand in its return path. Against his ultimate, split the fight with Weaver's Wall or push him away with Seismic Shove.
Execution matters
Yasuo vs Taliyah
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Wind Wall blocks enemy projectiles and Threaded Volley is a volley of rocks, but Yasuo only wins this lane if he goes in the right way. Sweeping Blade is a dash: used through Unraveled Earth, it sets off the mines. The condition is picking the moment and the path.
Why Yasuo works against Taliyah
01
Wind Wall for the poke
Wind Wall creates a moving wall that blocks all enemy projectiles for 4 seconds. Threaded Volley throws a volley of rocks in one direction: with the wall in front of you, that poke doesn't land and you can walk up to the wave.
02
Sweeping Blade, but not over the mines
Sweeping Blade dashes through the target and is how you close the gap. Unraveled Earth explodes if an enemy dashes through it: a badly chosen dash damages and slows you right in front of Taliyah. Go around the field or wait for it to fade.
03
Closing it out up close
Steel Tempest with two Gathering Storm stacks fires a whirlwind that knocks up, and Last Breath blinks to an airborne champion and keeps them in the air. That's the combo that ends the duel once you're close and Taliyah has spent Seismic Shove.
When to attack
Go in when Taliyah has spent Seismic Shove or when Unraveled Earth is gone. With mines on the ground and Seismic Shove up, hold Wind Wall and last-hit without stepping closer.
How to play Yasuo
- 1Keep Wind Wall for Threaded Volley's poke when you need to last-hit or walk up to the wave.
- 2Use Sweeping Blade on minions outside the minefield, never through it.
- 3Build both stacks with Steel Tempest on the wave before going in: the whirlwind is how you knock her up.
- 4When Weaver's Wall takes her out of lane, don't follow: push and set up the next wave.
Mistakes to avoid
- Crossing Unraveled Earth with Sweeping Blade to chase her: that is exactly what sets off the mines.
- Casting Wind Wall on the first rock of the wave and not having it when Taliyah starts poking for real.
Playing Taliyah against Yasuo
With Taliyah, the plan is to make Yasuo dash: put Unraveled Earth between him and the minions he can Sweeping Blade onto. If he casts Wind Wall, don't throw Threaded Volley into it; wait for it to end and punish him. Seismic Shove throws enemies through the mines even when they don't dash.