Counters for Twitch
Champion guide
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Champions against Twitch
Favorable matchup
Lucian vs Twitch
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Twitch's damage builds up: Deadly Venom deals damage over time and Contaminate cashes in every stack on poisoned targets. Lucian wins in the opposite format, short trades of an ability plus a double shot, and Relentless Pursuit lets him end the trade before the venom stacks.
Why Lucian works against Twitch
01
Burst before the venom stacks
Every Lucian ability turns his next attack into a double shot with Lightslinger. Piercing Light plus that double shot concentrate damage into one moment, while Deadly Venom needs several Twitch attacks and Contaminate pays off more the longer the trade lasts.
02
A dash Twitch doesn't have
Twitch has no dash anywhere in his kit. Relentless Pursuit lets you step in for the double shot and get out before he answers, and its cooldown drops every time you land Lightslinger on a champion.
When to attack
Trade when Twitch walks up to last-hit and Ambush is on cooldown. If he vanishes with Ambush, don't look for the trade: back off toward your support until he reveals himself.
How to play Lucian
- 1Use Piercing Light through a minion to reach Twitch, then follow with the Lightslinger double shot.
- 2Chain Ardent Blaze and Relentless Pursuit for a second double shot and get out before he returns several attacks.
- 3Venom Cask leaves an area that slows and poisons for a few seconds: dash out of it with Relentless Pursuit instead of fighting inside.
- 4Once you're ahead, pressure the tower with your support: Twitch can reappear from the side with Ambush if your jungle has no vision.
Mistakes to avoid
- Dragging the trade out after winning the first burst: every extra second adds venom for Contaminate to detonate at once.
- Spending Relentless Pursuit to poke when Twitch has just used Ambush and can show up next to you.
Playing Twitch against Lucian
If you're playing Twitch, avoid the short trades Lucian picks: give up minions at range and look for fights where your venom has time to stack. Use Ambush to come in from an angle that doesn't let him dash back to his support, and save Venom Cask for after he dashes.
Favorable matchup
Ezreal vs Twitch
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Twitch needs to be close and keep attacking for the venom to matter. Ezreal pokes from outside that range with Mystic Shot and has Arcane Shift to leave right as Twitch appears with Ambush's attack speed, which leaves his ambush with no target.
Why Ezreal works against Twitch
01
Arcane Shift against the Ambush exit
When he leaves Ambush's camouflage, Twitch gains attack speed for a while. Arcane Shift blinks you away the moment he reveals himself: if you get out of his range, he spends part of that window walking toward you instead of attacking.
02
Mystic Shot wins the poke
Mystic Shot deals damage from range and lowers your cooldowns when it hits. Against a Twitch with no dash, every hit on a last-hit costs him health without letting him answer with attacks; Essence Flux adds damage when you detonate it.
When to attack
Poke when Twitch steps up to last-hit and isn't camouflaged. If he disappears, hold Arcane Shift: it's your answer to his appearance, not a damage tool while Ambush is up.
How to play Ezreal
- 1Throw Mystic Shot at every Twitch last-hit from a spot where his minions don't block the path.
- 2When Twitch uses Ambush, back off toward your support and keep Arcane Shift until he reveals himself.
- 3When he appears, blink out of his range and answer with Mystic Shot once the attack speed runs out.
- 4Against Spray and Pray, don't line up behind your allies: its bolts pierce every enemy in the line.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using Arcane Shift for damage while Twitch has Ambush available and having no exit when he appears.
- Standing in line with your frontline during Spray and Pray: the piercing bolt reaches you even if you aren't the target.
Playing Twitch against Ezreal
Twitch against Ezreal has to draw out the blink before committing: come out of Ambush far enough away to force it, then go in for real while Arcane Shift is on cooldown. Dodge Mystic Shot by moving behind your minions and use Venom Cask to slow him after the blink.
Execution matters
Ashe vs Twitch
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Ashe slows with every attack and can stun from range with Enchanted Crystal Arrow, exactly what punishes a dashless Twitch the moment he leaves Ambush. It's situational: Ashe has no escape either, and if Twitch appears next to her unannounced, the trade is his.
Why Ashe works against Twitch
01
Frost Shot and Volley hold him back
Ashe's attacks slow with Frost Shot, and Volley applies that slow in a cone. Twitch has no dash: once he's revealed, every slow stops him from closing in or backing off at his own pace, and you control the distance of the trade.
02
The arrow finds the end of Ambush
Ambush ends when Twitch attacks or uses offensive abilities. Enchanted Crystal Arrow stuns the first champion it hits, for longer the further it travels: save it for the moment he reveals himself, before he chains attacks or starts Spray and Pray.
03
Hawkshot to read his route
Hawkshot sends your hawk out to scout. Use it to check the river or the brush Twitch usually comes from, and to spot his support. Don't assume the hawk detects a camouflaged Twitch: its value is knowing where he isn't.
When to attack
Trade while Twitch is visible and Ambush is on cooldown. If he disappears, back off next to your support and save the ultimate for when he shows up.
How to play Ashe
- 1Poke with basic attacks and Volley when Twitch walks up to last-hit; the slow keeps him from regaining distance.
- 2Use Hawkshot on the river or the side brush when he drops off the map or the lane.
- 3Hold Enchanted Crystal Arrow for the moment he comes out of Ambush near you or an ally.
- 4In teamfights, once Twitch starts Spray and Pray, slow him with Volley so he can't reposition, and go for the arrow if you still have it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spending Enchanted Crystal Arrow on the enemy support and not having it when Twitch appears from Ambush.
- Stepping up to last-hit without knowing where Twitch or his jungler are: with no dash, Ashe has no way out of an ambush.
Playing Twitch against Ashe
From Twitch's side, the key is to appear where Ashe can't aim the arrow in time: come in from a flank with no vision and don't reveal yourself at mid range. Stay out of her range while she has Volley ready and punish once she has used Enchanted Crystal Arrow; without it, her answer to your ambush is much weaker.