A Guide to Vi with DIG Spica
With Arcane Season Two right around the corner, it’s time to punch first and ask questions later.
With Arcane Season Two right around the corner, it’s time to punch first and ask questions later.
Vi, the Piltover Enforcer, is a versatile and aggressive jungler in League of Legends. Known for her powerful initiation and strong burst damage, she excels at disrupting enemy backlines and securing key picks. This guide will walk you through the intricacies of playing Vi, from understanding her strengths and weaknesses to mastering her mechanics and strategies.
But why listen to me when you can take tips from a professional with a 58%-win rate on the Champion on stage? We sat down with Dignitas’ jungler, Mingyi ‘Spica’ Lu to help you start punching first and asking questions later!
Spica: "Vi is best when you play against a lot of squishies. Your ultimate is a point-and-click CC knock up that can’t be avoided. You press R on them and they get one-shot."
1. Strong Initiation: Vi's ultimate ability, Assault and Battery, allows her to lock down key targets with a point-and-click crowd control (CC) that cannot be avoided.
2. Burst Damage: Vi's kit is designed to deal significant burst damage, particularly against squishy and immobile champions. Her Denting Blows (W) and Vault Breaker (Q) provide the necessary tools to quickly eliminate targets.
3. High Mobility: Vi's Vault Breaker (Q) allows her to dash over walls and close the gap on enemies, making her an excellent ganker who can bypass traditional vision points.
1. Reliant on Team Coordination: Without proper follow-up from your team, Vi's engage can be risky.
Spica: "I think Vi right now is not the best for solo queue because you’re really reliant on your teammates to follow up."
2. Vulnerable to Tanky Champions: Vi struggles against tanky opponents due to her reliance on burst damage.
Spica: "Vi is pretty useless against tanky champions."
3. Slow Farming Speed: Vi's farming speed is not the fastest, which can be a disadvantage in a meta where farming is crucial.
Spica:"The meta is very farm-heavy. Vi farms really slowly and loses a lot of 1v1s, so she’s definitely not a meta pick right now"
4. Countered by Spell Shields: Champions like Morgana can be particularly troublesome for Vi due to her Black Shield.
Spica: "When I play against Vi, I pick Morgana because she’s really annoying for Vi to play against with the Black Shield."
Spica: “A lot of people go Conqueror, but when I have been playing her, I really enjoy going Hail of Blades. You can really burst someone quickly for like half of their health.”
Primary: Domination
Secondary: Precision
Recommended Rune Setup
1. Q - Vault Breaker: Max this ability first for increased damage, lower cooldown, and greater mobility. It is Vi's primary tool for engaging and escaping.
2. E - Excessive Force: Max this second for additional wave clear and damage during skirmishes.
3. W - Denting Blows: Max this last, as it provides passive attack speed and armor shredding, which are valuable but not as crucial early on.
4. R - Assault and Battery: Level this ability at every opportunity (levels 6, 11, and 16) for increased damage and reduced cooldown on Vi's ultimate.
1. Sundered Sky: A core item for Vi, providing damage, healing, and a bit of HP bulk.
2. Black Cleaver: Offers cooldown reduction, health, and armor penetration, synergizing well with Vi's playstyle.
1. Eclipse: For a riskier, full lethality build, Eclipse can be an option. Spica describes this as "the for-fun build" that allows you to "one-shot enemies."
2. Guardian Angel: Provides survivability with its passive revive and additional attack damage.
3. Sterak's Gage: Grants a shield when taking significant damage, boosting Vi's durability in fights.
4. Thornmail or Randuin's Omen: Consider these defensive items if facing heavy physical damage or critical strike champions.
Efficient jungle pathing is crucial for Vi, especially given her slower farming speed compared to other junglers. The goal is to reach level 6 as quickly as possible to unlock Vi's ultimate, which greatly enhances her ganking potential.
Spica: "Vi in the current meta wants to farm. It’s all about farming to level six and then using your ultimate to make an impact."
Vi's early game ganking potential is solid, especially if you can capitalize on enemy mispositioning. Utilize Vault Breaker (Q) to engage from unexpected angles, such as over walls or through unwarded areas. Look for the following opportunities:
While ganking is essential, maintaining farm efficiency is equally important. Given Vi's slower farming speed, proper resource management and prioritization are key.
The mid game is where Vi truly shines, thanks to her powerful initiation and ability to disrupt enemy backlines. With your ultimate, Assault and Battery, unlocked and core items coming online, you can exert significant influence on the game by securing objectives, forcing skirmishes, and creating picks.
Vi's strengths make her an ideal champion for controlling key objectives like Dragons and the Rift Herald. Securing these objectives provides global advantages for your team and can help swing the game in your favor.
Vi excels in teamfights by initiating on high-value targets and disrupting the enemy formation. Your goal is to create opportunities for your team to capitalize on.
Spica: "Vi is best when you play against a lot of squishies."
1. Target Selection: Identify and engage on key enemy carries or squishy champions. Use Assault and Battery to lock them down, preventing them from outputting damage or using their abilities effectively.
2. Combos and Mechanics: Master the Q-Flash combo to catch opponents off guard. Start charging Vault Breaker (Q), then Flash to extend its range and ensure you connect with your target.
3. Positioning and Zoning: After initiating, position yourself to zone out other threats or peel for your carries. Vi's disruptive nature makes her a valuable asset in protecting allies and preventing enemies from reaching your backline.
Spica: "When you’re behind as Vi, you just don’t want to look for 5v5s. Instead, look for picks, pockets of vision, and 2v2s with your strongest ally."
1. Know When to Disengage: While Vi's initiation is strong, overcommitting without proper follow-up can be detrimental. Ensure your team is ready to engage alongside you, and be prepared to disengage if the fight turns unfavorable.
2. Adapt to Situations: If behind, avoid full 5v5 engagements and look for picks instead.
Synergy Combos: Taliyah
Maintaining vision control is crucial for setting up successful fights and securing objectives. Use Vi's mobility to manage vision effectively and deny enemy vision.
As the game progresses into the late game, Vi's role shifts towards being a key initiator and team fight disruptor. The late game is characterized by high-stakes engagements where a single pick or fight can determine the outcome of the match. To maximize Vi's effectiveness during this phase, focus on strategic positioning, decisive target selection, and smart play around objectives.
Coordinated Diving Partner: Kai'Sa
Objectives become increasingly important in the late game, providing powerful buffs that can sway the game in your favor.
Maintaining vision and map awareness is crucial in the late game to prevent ambushes and capitalize on enemy mistakes.
When facing Vi, consider champions like Morgana, who can negate her engages with Black Shield.
Vi's versatility allows her to adapt to different team compositions and scenarios. When behind, focus on pick plays and smaller skirmishes. Pairing with champions like Taliyah can create powerful pick potential.
Spica: "Vi and Taliyah are a really strong pairing in competitive games."
Vi is a dynamic jungler with the potential to carry games through strong initiation and burst damage. By understanding her strengths and weaknesses, optimizing your build and rune choices, and mastering her mechanics, you can effectively dominate the Rift as Vi. Whether you choose a standard build or opt for the riskier Lethality path, remember that successful Vi gameplay relies on strategic decision-making, vision control, and team coordination. As Spica aptly puts it, "Vi as a Champion is less about mechanics and more about knowing how to play the game."
We’d like to thank Spica for taking the time to sit down with us to share his insights on Vi, the Piltover Enforcer!
If you’d like to hear and see more of Spica, check out his socials: