Susan JessicaIn the world of League of Legends, champions come with a wide variety of playstyles, abilities, and unique characteristics that make each one stand out. Some champions rely on speed and agility, while others depend on powerful area-of-effect attacks or intense crowd control. One such champion is Illaoi, a fierce and imposing demi-goddess who draws power from the power of the ocean and her tentacles. As a tanky bruiser, she thrives in melee combat, using her abilities to control the battlefield. However, despite her overwhelming presence and damage potential, Illaoi can also be a double-edged sword in the hands of an inexperienced player, as I soon learned the hard way.
The Power of Illaoi’s Tentacles
When I first picked Illaoi, I was excited to harness the raw power of her tentacles. On paper, Illaoi is a force to be reckoned with in lane. She can deal massive amounts of damage through her passive, Prophet of an Elder God, summoning tentacles that deal damage when enemies are hit by her abilities. This makes her a formidable laning champion, capable of dishing out pain while simultaneously healing herself with her Harsh Lesson and Test of Spirit abilities. It all seemed like a dream.
But soon enough, reality hit me. Despite the impressive damage and sustain that Illaoi brings to the table, there was something about her playstyle that made her extremely difficult to master. In my eagerness to fight like her, I ended up sinking into the depths of my own mistakes.
Key Points About Illaoi’s Kit:
- Passive (Prophet of an Elder God): This is Illaoi’s most defining feature. Her passive summons tentacles around her that deal significant damage when enemies are struck by her abilities.
- Q (Tentacle Smash): Illaoi slams her tentacle down in a target area, dealing damage to enemies in the area of effect. The ability scales well with her attack damage and is great for clearing minions or dealing damage to enemy champions.
- W (Harsh Lesson): Illaoi uses this ability to enhance her next attack. She can also use it in combination with her passive to trigger a tentacle slam, dealing even more damage to enemies.
- E (Test of Spirit): Illaoi sends out a spirit tether that attaches to enemy champions, pulling them towards her if they are not destroyed. This is key to her ability to control fights and set up her other abilities.
- R (Leap of Faith): Illaoi’s ultimate ability summons even more tentacles around her, empowering her with devastating AOE damage. This is her most potent tool for team fights and 1v1 duels.
The overwhelming power of her kit made me feel like I was unstoppable at times. Her tentacles lashed out at my enemies, and I could feel the tides of battle turn in my favor. But my overconfidence quickly became my downfall.
The Temptation to Dive In
Illaoi thrives in the thick of battle. Her Leap of Faith summons multiple tentacles around her, making her a terrifying presence in any fight. For a while, I believed that my tentacles could not be stopped. I dove straight into every skirmish, thinking that my Test of Spirit would keep my enemies in check, and my Harsh Lesson would deliver a fatal blow. The reality, however, was far less forgiving.
When I fought like Illaoi, I found that it was easy to get caught up in the excitement of landing powerful tentacle slams. However, I quickly realized that my positioning was often lacking. I dove into the fray without considering my surroundings, which often led to me being trapped or stunned by enemy crowd control. More importantly, I was not using Illaoi’s abilities as strategically as I should have.
Mistakes I Made While Playing Illaoi:
- Overextending: I frequently overextended when engaging enemy champions. Illaoi is a bruiser who relies on sustaining herself in fights with her Harsh Lesson and Test of Spirit, but diving too deep left me isolated and vulnerable.
- Lack of Awareness: I often used Test of Spirit on the wrong target or missed crucial opportunities to land it on an important champion.
- Ignoring Minion Waves: While Illaoi excels in battles where minions are present, I would sometimes forget to position myself near waves of minions to trigger additional tentacle slams.
- Focusing Too Much on Damage: I got too carried away with dishing out damage, rather than focusing on surviving and scaling for the late game.
Each of these mistakes made it difficult for me to maximize the potential of Illaoi’s kit. She isn’t a champion who can simply run headfirst into battle and hope for the best—she requires precise positioning and strategic thinking to unleash her full power.
The Role of Tentacles in Fights
One of the most unique and intriguing aspects of Illaoi’s playstyle is the role of her tentacles in combat. These tentacles are not just a cosmetic feature, but a core part of her damage output. When I first picked Illaoi, I didn’t fully understand how important tentacle placement was. The tentacles deal massive amounts of damage when triggered, and the key to mastering Illaoi is positioning them in such a way that you can take full advantage of their power.
How Tentacles Shape the Fight:
- Tentacle Slam Setup: When fighting near minions or structures, Illaoi’s tentacles deal more damage when they can strike multiple enemies. Positioning yourself in the right spot allows you to trigger multiple tentacles at once, maximizing your damage potential.
- Controlling Space: Tentacles help create a zone of control on the battlefield. If you can keep your enemies within range of your tentacles, you can slow down their movement and force them to engage you on your terms.
- Sustain with Tentacles: Illaoi can heal herself when enemies are hit by her tentacles, which makes her a great champion for extended fights. Keeping enemies close to her while triggering multiple tentacle slams allows her to sustain herself while outlasting opponents.
Despite all these advantages, Illaoi can be punished if the enemy team manages to control her positioning. Whether it’s through mobility, crowd control, or simply keeping her out of range, keeping her in the right spot to land tentacle hits is critical to her success.
Learning from My Mistakes
While I initially struggled with Illaoi, I eventually learned to master her kit through trial and error. Playing Illaoi is not about charging into every fight with reckless abandon—it’s about carefully positioning yourself and knowing when to unleash your ultimate power. Here are a few key lessons I learned during my time playing as Illaoi:
Key Takeaways:
- Positioning Is Key: You need to position yourself near minion waves or enemy champions to trigger tentacles. Staying mobile while avoiding overextension is essential to maximizing your damage output.
- Patience in Fights: Illaoi is a champion that thrives in extended fights. Rather than rushing in and hoping for an instant kill, take your time, control space, and whittle down your opponents.
- Combo Your Abilities: Illaoi’s abilities are most effective when used in tandem. For example, using Test of Spirit on a key target followed by Harsh Lesson can trigger a devastating combo, especially when the tentacles are nearby.
- Respect the Enemy’s Crowd Control: Illaoi’s power lies in sustained combat, but crowd control can lock her down and render her useless. Always be mindful of the enemy’s abilities and try to avoid getting stunned or rooted.
By incorporating these lessons into my gameplay, I found that I was able to win more fights and climb higher in rank. Illaoi is a champion that rewards patience and strategic thinking, but she can also punish mistakes with her immense damage potential.
Conclusion: My Tentacle Triumphs and Failures
In the end, playing Illaoi was both a frustrating and rewarding experience. She’s a champion that requires practice, timing, and positioning to truly master. While I certainly had my fair share of failures—such as getting caught by enemy crowd control or misusing my abilities—there were also moments of glory when I successfully dominated a team fight, summoning tentacles that destroyed everything in their path. Illaoi is not a champion for the faint of heart, but if you take the time to learn her ins and outs, she can be a truly powerful force in the game.
As I learned through experience, playing Illaoi isn’t just about relying on her tentacles for raw damage. It’s about knowing when to fight and when to retreat, ensuring your abilities are used to their fullest potential, and understanding the importance of positioning. After all, even the mightiest champion can be sunk by their own tentacles if they’re not careful.
