Is Aphelios AP or AD? This question has perplexed League of Legends players since the champion’s release. With his unique weapon system and diverse abilities, Aphelios can be built in a variety of ways, making it difficult to determine the optimal path.
In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of Aphelios’s kit, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of both AP and AD builds. We will provide detailed itemization and rune recommendations, analyze ability synergies, and discuss playstyle differences to help you master the Weapon of the Faithful.
Champion Overview
Aphelios is a unique marksman champion in League of Legends who wields five different weapons, each with its own unique abilities. This complex champion requires a high level of skill to master, but can be incredibly powerful in the right hands.
Aphelios’s playstyle revolves around managing his weapons and abilities to maximize his damage output and utility.
In the current meta, Aphelios is a strong pick due to his versatility and ability to adapt to different team compositions. He excels in team fights with his high sustained damage and crowd control, but can also be played as a split pusher or duelist.
Itemization and Runes
AP Aphelios
For AP Aphelios, the core items are Nashor’s Tooth, Riftmaker, and Zhonya’s Hourglass. Nashor’s Tooth provides Aphelios with attack speed and ability power, while Riftmaker increases his damage output and sustain. Zhonya’s Hourglass gives Aphelios a defensive option to survive burst damage and reposition himself in team fights.
Other good items for AP Aphelios include Rabadon’s Deathcap, Void Staff, and Morellonomicon. Rabadon’s Deathcap increases Aphelios’s ability power, while Void Staff and Morellonomicon help him deal with enemies with high magic resist.
For runes, Aphelios typically takes Conqueror, Triumph, Legend: Alacrity, and Coup de Grace in the Precision tree. In the Domination tree, he takes Taste of Blood and Ravenous Hunter for additional sustain.
AD Aphelios
For AD Aphelios, the core items are Immortal Shieldbow, Runaan’s Hurricane, and Bloodthirster. Immortal Shieldbow gives Aphelios lifesteal, attack damage, and a shield to protect him from burst damage. Runaan’s Hurricane allows Aphelios to attack multiple targets with his basic attacks, increasing his wave clear and team fight damage.
Bloodthirster provides Aphelios with more lifesteal and attack damage, making him more difficult to kill.
Other good items for AD Aphelios include Lord Dominik’s Regards, Infinity Edge, and Phantom Dancer. Lord Dominik’s Regards helps Aphelios deal with enemies with high armor, while Infinity Edge and Phantom Dancer increase his critical strike chance and damage.
For runes, Aphelios typically takes Press the Attack, Triumph, Legend: Alacrity, and Coup de Grace in the Precision tree. In the Inspiration tree, he takes Magical Footwear and Biscuit Delivery for additional mobility and sustain.
Ability Analysis: Is Aphelios Ap Or Ad
Severum (Q), Is aphelios ap or ad
Severum is Aphelios’s basic ability, which allows him to fire a basic attack with one of his five weapons. Each weapon has a unique effect, such as slowing the target (Calibrum), marking the target for increased damage (Severum), or rooting the target (Gravitum).
Calibrum (W)
Calibrum is Aphelios’s ability that allows him to fire a long-range skill shot that slows the target. This ability is great for poking enemies, setting up ganks, or escaping from danger.
Gravitum (E)
Gravitum is Aphelios’s ability that allows him to throw a gravity orb that roots the target. This ability is great for crowd control, setting up kills, or peeling for allies.
Infernum (R)
Infernum is Aphelios’s ultimate ability that allows him to fire a barrage of flamethrowers that deal damage to enemies in a cone-shaped area. This ability is great for clearing waves, dealing damage to multiple enemies, or finishing off low-health targets.
Playstyle Differences
AP Aphelios
AP Aphelios is a more burst-oriented playstyle that focuses on dealing high damage with his abilities. AP Aphelios typically takes the Night Harvester or Luden’s Tempest mythic item, and builds items that increase his ability power and cooldown reduction.
AP Aphelios is strong in the early game, but falls off in the late game as enemies build magic resist. He is best played as a mid-laner or support, where he can use his abilities to burst down enemy carries.
AD Aphelios
AD Aphelios is a more sustained damage playstyle that focuses on dealing consistent damage with his basic attacks. AD Aphelios typically takes the Immortal Shieldbow or Kraken Slayer mythic item, and builds items that increase his attack damage, attack speed, and critical strike chance.
AD Aphelios is strong in the late game, but is weaker in the early game. He is best played as a bot-laner or top-laner, where he can farm safely and scale into the late game.
Matchups
Best Matchups for AP Aphelios
- Champions with low mobility, such as Veigar and Cassiopeia
- Champions with no hard crowd control, such as Tristana and Jinx
- Champions with low burst damage, such as Malphite and Sion
Worst Matchups for AP Aphelios
- Champions with high mobility, such as Zed and Yasuo
- Champions with hard crowd control, such as Morgana and Leona
- Champions with high burst damage, such as Katarina and Talon
FAQ Guide
What are the core items for AP Aphelios?
Luden’s Tempest, Rabadon’s Deathcap, Void Staff
What runes should I take on AD Aphelios?
Conqueror, Triumph, Legend: Alacrity, Coup de Grace
How do I play against a tank as Aphelios?
Focus on building Liandry’s Anguish and Void Staff to penetrate their defenses.