Are you ready to become a master of stealth and swift elimination as Talon, the Blade’s Shadow? Talon is a high-skill assassin known for his burst damage, mobility, and ability to roam and impact other lanes. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore Talon’s abilities, the best builds and runes, and strategies for each stage of the game. Whether you’re an experienced Talon player or looking to become a deadly assassin, this guide will help you achieve dominance on the rift.
Talon Abilities
Let’s begin by delving into the shadowy abilities of Talon:
Passive: Blade’s End
Talon’s passive ability allows his basic attacks and abilities to deal bonus damage to enemies he hits in the back. Proper positioning to hit enemies from behind is crucial for maximizing damage.
Q: Noxian Diplomacy
Talon’s Q ability is an empowered basic attack that deals bonus damage and causes his target to bleed. It’s an essential part of his burst combo.
W: Rake
Rake is Talon’s ranged area-of-effect ability. He throws blades in a cone, damaging and slowing enemies hit. Using Rake efficiently for wave clear and poke is essential.
E: Assassin’s Path
Assassin’s Path is Talon’s mobility ability. He can wall jump by targeting terrain, allowing for quick escapes or unexpected roams to other lanes.
R: Shadow Assault
Talon’s ultimate ability unleashes a flurry of blades, damaging all enemies hit. When recasting the ability, he returns to the blades, dealing damage once more. Shadow Assault provides additional mobility and burst damage.
Best Talon Builds
Talon’s build can adapt based on the game circumstances and your playstyle, but here are some of the most effective ones:
Standard Assassin Build
- Duskblade of Draktharr
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Eclipse
- Youmuu’s Ghostblade
- Guardian Angel
Sustained Damage Build
- Eclipse
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Ravenous Hydra
- The Collector
- Guardian Angel
Split Push Build
- Eclipse
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Serylda’s Grudge
- Ravenous Hydra
- Guardian Angel
Best Talon Runes Set
Customize your runes to maximize Talon’s burst damage and mobility:
Domination
- Keystone: Electrocute
- Sudden Impact
- Eyeball Collection
- Ravenous Hunter
Precision
- Triumph (for clutch healing)
- Coup de Grace (for bonus damage to low-health targets)
Champions Who Counter Talon
While Talon is a formidable assassin, certain champions can make his life challenging:
- Lulu: Lulu’s polymorph ability can turn Talon into a harmless critter, rendering him unable to assassinate targets.
- Malzahar: Malzahar’s suppress ultimate can lock down Talon and prevent him from using his abilities.
- Fizz: Fizz’s mobility and playful/trickster ability can make it difficult for Talon to land his skillshots and burst him down.
Champions Talon Counters
Talon excels against champions who are immobile or rely on skillshots:
- Lux: Talon can dodge Lux’s skillshots and engage when she’s vulnerable after using her abilities.
- Veigar: Talon can engage on Veigar before he can stack his passive and become a late-game threat.
- Ahri: Talon can outmaneuver Ahri and avoid her charm, making it difficult for her to escape his all-ins.
Early Game Playstyles
In the early game, focus on farming and using your W ability to poke and harass your opponent. Talon’s level 2 and 3 all-in potential is strong, so look for opportunities to engage and secure kills.
Mid Game Playstyles
As you transition into the mid game, roam to other lanes and use your mobility to secure kills and objectives. Talon’s Assassin’s Path can be used to quickly move between lanes, making him a roaming threat.
Late Game Playstyles
In the late game, Talon excels at assassinating key targets in team fights. Wait for your team to engage, and then use your mobility to dive into the enemy backline and eliminate high-priority threats. Properly timing your ultimate, Shadow Assault, is crucial for securing kills.
Mastering Talon’s burst combo, mobility, and map presence will help you become a deadly assassin on the rift. Embrace the shadows and become the Blade’s Shadow as Talon!
