Welcome to our guide on how to play Pyke in League of Legends! Pyke is a unique and deadly assassin who excels in taking down enemy champions with precise and powerful attacks. In this guide, we will cover Pyke’s abilities, the best builds and runes for him, and how to effectively play him in different stages of the game. We will also discuss the champions who counter Pyke and the champions that Pyke counters.
Pyke Abilities
Pyke is a champion with a diverse set of abilities that allow him to excel in both offensive and defensive situations. His abilities include:
Bone Skewer: Pyke dashes forward and impales the first enemy hit, dealing physical damage and stunning them.
Ghostwater Dive: Pyke enters camouflage and gains movement speed, becoming untargetable for a short duration.
Phantom Undertow: Pyke throws his harpoon, pulling himself and the first enemy hit towards each other and dealing physical damage.
Death from Below: Pyke leaps from the shadows to execute an enemy champion, dealing massive physical damage. If the enemy was killed, Pyke gains a huge amount of gold and an additional execution for a short duration.
Best Pyke Builds
Here are some of the best builds for Pyke:
Full Damage: This build focuses on maximizing Pyke’s damage output by building items such as Infinity Edge, Phantom Dancer, and Blade of the Ruined King.
Tank Killer: This build is designed to help Pyke take down enemy tanks by building items such as Black Cleaver, Mortal Reminder, and Edge of Night.
Hybrid: This build combines elements of the full damage and tank killer builds, with items such as Runaan’s Hurricane, Trinity Force, and Sterak’s Gage.
Best Pyke Runes Set
Here are some of the best runes for Pyke:
Domination: Electrocute, Predator, Dark Harvest, Taste of Blood, Eyeball Collection
Precision: Fleet Footwork, Triumph, Legend: Alacrity, Coup de Grace, Last Stand
Inspiration: Glacial Augment, Cosmic Insight, Magical Footwear, Future’s Market, Time Warp Tonic
Champions who counter Pyke
Here are some champions that can effectively counter Pyke:
Janna: Janna’s strong defensive abilities and crowd control can make it difficult for Pyke to get in close and deal damage.
Braum: Braum’s high armor and magic resistance, combined with his abilities to block and stun enemies, make him a tough opponent for Pyke.
Leona: Leona’s powerful crowd control and tankiness can keep Pyke at bay and prevent him from executing his targets.
Champions Pyke counters
On the other hand, here are some champions that Pyke can effectively counter:
Ashe: Pyke’s mobility and ability to close the gap quickly make him a strong counter to champions like Ashe who rely on ranged attacks.
Ezreal: Pyke’s ability to disrupt and stun enemies can make it difficult for champions like Ezreal to safely deal damage from a distance.
Lucian: Pyke’s high damage and mobility can make him a formidable opponent for champions like Lucian who rely on quick bursts of damage.
Early Game playstyles
In the early game, Pyke should focus on farming and looking for opportunities to harass enemy champions. His Phantom Undertow ability is a great tool for poking enemy champions and can help him secure early kills. Pyke’s mobility and stealth also make him a strong ganker, so he can help his teammates get ahead by setting up kills in other lanes.
In terms of itemization, Pyke should focus on building damage and mobility to maximize his effectiveness in fights. Items like Doran’s Blade, Berserker’s Graves, and Mobility Boots are good choices for the early game.
Mid Game playstyles
As the game progresses into the mid game, Pyke’s role shifts towards that of an assassin. He should be looking for opportunities to pick off enemy champions with his high burst damage and mobility. His Death from Below ultimate is particularly powerful at this stage of the game, as it can allow him to execute low-health enemies and gain a significant gold advantage.
In terms of itemization, Pyke should continue to build damage, but can also consider adding some survivability with items like Ninja Tabi or Mercurial Scimitar.
Late game playstyles
In the late game, Pyke’s role is to continue picking off enemy champions and disrupting the enemy team’s positioning. He should be careful, however, as his lower survivability can make him vulnerable to being targeted by the enemy team. It’s important for Pyke to choose his engage and retreat carefully, and to communicate with his teammates to ensure that he has backup if needed.
In terms of itemization, Pyke should continue to build damage, but should also consider adding items that give him some added survivability, such as Guardian Angel or Maw of Malmortius.
Conclusion
Overall, Pyke is a powerful and unique champion who excels at picking off enemy champions and disrupting their positioning. By following the builds and playstyles outlined in this guide, you can effectively play Pyke and carry your team to victory. Remember to focus on farming and harassing in the early game, picking off enemy champions in the mid game, and disrupting the enemy team in the late game. With the right build, runes, and playstyle, Pyke can be a formidable force on the rift.
