ADC Matchup

Aphelios vs Varus

Patch: 15.16 (25.16)
League: Platinum+
Aphelios

Aphelios

the Weapon of the Faithful
ADC
Aphelios ADC Overall Win Rate
49.98%

Matchup Win Rate

51.4%
Aphelios vs Varus Wins
⚔
48.6%
Varus vs Aphelios Wins
Varus

Varus

the Arrow of Retribution
ADC
Varus ADC Overall Win Rate
47.09%

Aphelios vs Varus - ADC Matchup Guide Patch 15.16 (25.16)

Aphelios ADC vs Varus ADC - Who is stronger?

Aphelios ADC has a slight edge over Varus (51.4% win rate) based on 1562 games. The matchup slightly favors Aphelios.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Aphelios ADC vs Varus ADC in patch 15.16 (25.16), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 80.4% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Aphelios dominates the meta (10th most popular, 7.4% pick rate) and regularly clashes with Varus (5.1% pick rate). Understanding this common matchup forms the foundation of consistent gameplay for one of bot lane's current powerhouses. Meta strength confirmed: Aphelios's superior tier rating (B vs D) translates into a solid 51.4% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Aphelios ranks 22nd in win rate among ADC champions. Optimize for consistency: Press the Attack paired with Triumph (51.7% win rate, 12.0% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Yun Tal Wildarrows > Infinity Edge > Mortal Reminder with Berserker's Greaves delivers 80.4% win rate against Varus.

Lane dominance: Aphelios not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (6.65/min vs 6.49 for Varus). This 0.16 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Complete superiority: Aphelios dominates both win rate (51.4%) and damage output (792 vs 747/min, 2nd among ADC). The 45 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Intriguing anomaly: Aphelios wins the matchup (51.4%) despite a lower KDA (2.00 vs 2.30). This suggests you win through macro influence and clutch plays in key moments rather than consistent individual performance.

Aphelios vs Varus - ADC Stats Comparison

Aphelios ADC
Aphelios ADC		Versus
Varus ADC
Varus ADC
BTierD
51.4%Matchup Winrate48.6%
49.98%Role Winrate47.09%
#22Winrate Rank#28
7.4%Pickrate5.1%
2.0Average KDA2.3
442Gold per Minute412
6.65CS/Min6.49
0.26Wards per Minute0.30
792Damage per Minute747

How to Beat Varus as Aphelios (ADC)

While statistically Aphelios is slightly stronger than Varus as ADC, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage in this matchup. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

Except for rare builds, Aphelios deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Varus deals mainly physical damage (70.38%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Aphelios is higher farming statistics (ranked 18th among role champions) (versus 21st for Varus), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their higher KDA (2.3 versus 2.0) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Aphelios ADC versus Varus ADC matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Aphelios player to maintain constant pressure on Varus, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Aphelios vs Varus: ADC Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Barrier Gain a brief Shield.
49.8% Win Rate67.5% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Cleanse
Cleanse Removes all disables (excluding suppression and airborne) and summoner spell debuffs affecting your champion and gives Tenacity.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
52.1% Win Rate24.5% Pick Rate

Aphelios vs Varus: ADC Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Press the Attack
Press the Attack Hitting an enemy champion with 3 consecutive basic attacks deals 40 - 160 bonus adaptive damage (based on level) and amplifies your damage dealt by 8% until you leave combat with champions.

Press the Attack

Hitting an enemy champion with 3 consecutive basic attacks deals 40 - 160 bonus adaptive …

Absorb Life
Absorb Life Killing a target heals you for @HealAmount@.

Absorb Life

Killing a target heals you for @HealAmount@.

Legend: Bloodline
Legend: Bloodline Gain 0.35% Life Steal for every Legend stack (max 15 stacks). At maximum Legend stacks, gain 85 max health.

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Bloodline

Gain 0.35% Life Steal for every Legend stack (max 15 stacks). At maximum Legend…

Cut Down
Cut Down Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Cut Down

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Secondary Path
Sorcery
Absolute Focus
Absolute Focus While above 70% health, gain an adaptive bonus of up to 18 Attack Damage or 30 Ability Power (based on level).

Grants 1.8 Attack Damage or 3 Ability Power at level 1.

Absolute Focus

While above 70% health, gain an adaptive bonus of up to 18 Attack Damage or 30 …

Gathering Storm
Gathering Storm Every 10 min gain AP or AD, adaptive.

10 min: + 8 AP or 5 AD
20 min: + 24 AP or 14 AD
30 min: + 48 AP or 29 AD
40 min: + 80 AP or 48 AD
50 min: + 120 AP or 72 AD
60 min: + 168 AP or 101 AD
etc...

Gathering Storm

Every 10 min gain AP or AD, adaptive.10 min: + 8 AP or 5 AD 20 min: + 24 AP or …

Adaptive
Attack Speed
Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

Attack Speed

Increases attack speed by 10%

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

50.4% Win Rate85.8% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Press the Attack
Press the Attack Hitting an enemy champion with 3 consecutive basic attacks deals 40 - 160 bonus adaptive damage (based on level) and amplifies your damage dealt by 8% until you leave combat with champions.

Press the Attack

Hitting an enemy champion with 3 consecutive basic attacks deals 40 - 160 bonus adaptive …

Triumph
Triumph Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant an additional 20 gold.


'The most dangerous game brings the greatest glory.'
—Noxian Reckoner

Triumph

Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant…

Legend: Bloodline
Legend: Bloodline Gain 0.35% Life Steal for every Legend stack (max 15 stacks). At maximum Legend stacks, gain 85 max health.

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Bloodline

Gain 0.35% Life Steal for every Legend stack (max 15 stacks). At maximum Legend…

Cut Down
Cut Down Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Cut Down

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Secondary Path
Inspiration
Magical Footwear
Magical Footwear You get free Slightly Magical Footwear at 12 min, but you cannot buy boots before then. For each takedown you acquire the boots 45s sooner.

Slightly Magical Footwear grants you an additional 10 Move Speed.

Magical Footwear

You get free Slightly Magical Footwear at 12 min, but you cannot buy boots befo…

Biscuit Delivery
Biscuit Delivery Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until 6 min.

Biscuits restore 12% of your missing health. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health by 30.

Biscuit Delivery

Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until …

Adaptive
Attack Speed
Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

Attack Speed

Increases attack speed by 10%

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

+65 Health
+65 Health +65 Health

+65 Health

+65 Health

51.7% Win Rate12.0% Pick Rate

Aphelios vs Varus: ADC Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Blade
Doran's Blade (450 gold) 10 Attack Damage
80 Health
3% Life Steal
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
46.7% Win Rate93.3% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
50.9% Win Rate74.3% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
62.1% Win Rate13.5% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
50.5% Win Rate1.9% Pick Rate
Core Build
Serrated Dirk
Serrated Dirk (1000 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
->
The Collector
The Collector (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
25% Critical Strike Chance
Death
Your damage executes champions that are below 5% Health.
Taxes
Champion kills grant 25 bonus gold.
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
40% Critical Strike Damage
Lord Dominik's Regards
Lord Dominik's Regards (3100 gold) 35 Attack Damage
40% Armor Penetration
25% Critical Strike Chance
55.8% Win Rate18.5% Pick Rate
Final Build
Bloodthirster
Bloodthirster (3400 gold) 80 Attack Damage
15% Life Steal
Ichorshield
Convert excess healing from your Lifesteal to a Shield.
67.1% Win Rate28.7% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Oracle Lens
Oracle Lens (0 gold) Active (160 - 100s, max 2 charges)
Reveals enemy Stealth Wards and traps around you for 6 seconds.
Doran's Blade
Doran's Blade (450 gold) 10 Attack Damage
80 Health
3% Life Steal
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
49.8% Win Rate0.4% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
62.1% Win Rate13.5% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
53.9% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
50.9% Win Rate74.3% Pick Rate
Core Build
B. F. Sword
B. F. Sword (1300 gold) 40 Attack Damage
->
Yun Tal Wildarrows
Yun Tal Wildarrows (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
35% Attack Speed
0% Critical Strike Chance
Practice Makes Lethal
On-Attack, gain Critical Strike Chance permanently up to 25%.
Flurry
On-Attacking an enemy champion, gain 30% Attack Speed for 6 seconds (30 second cooldown).
Attacks reduce this cooldown by 1 second, increased to 2 seconds for Critical Strikes.
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
40% Critical Strike Damage
Mortal Reminder
Mortal Reminder (3300 gold) 35 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
25% Critical Strike Chance
Grievous Wounds
Dealing physical damage applies 40% Wounds to enemy champions for 3 seconds.
80.4% Win Rate1.8% Pick Rate
Final Build
Immortal Shieldbow
Immortal Shieldbow (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
Lifeline
Taking damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a Shield for 3 seconds.
75.9% Win Rate9.5% Pick Rate
Other Items
Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel (3200 gold) 55 Attack Damage
45 Armor
Rebirth
Upon taking lethal damage, restores 50% base Health and 100% max Mana after 4 seconds of Stasis.
58.6% Win Rate21.4% Pick Rate
Immortal Shieldbow
Immortal Shieldbow (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
Lifeline
Taking damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a Shield for 3 seconds.
75.9% Win Rate9.5% Pick Rate
Runaan's Hurricane
Runaan's Hurricane (2650 gold) 40% Attack Speed
25% Critical Strike Chance
4% Move Speed
Wind's Fury
Attacks fire bolts at 2 additional enemies near the target.
Each bolt deals physical damage and applies On-Hit effects.
62.1% Win Rate7.3% Pick Rate
Phantom Dancer
Phantom Dancer (2650 gold) 60% Attack Speed
25% Critical Strike Chance
8% Move Speed
Spectral Waltz
Become Ghosted.
44.7% Win Rate5.0% Pick Rate
Mercurial Scimitar
Mercurial Scimitar (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
40 Magic Resist
10% Life Steal

ACTIVE
Quicksilver
Removes all crowd control debuffs (excluding Airborne) and grants Move Speed.
55.6% Win Rate5.0% Pick Rate
Mortal Reminder
Mortal Reminder (3300 gold) 35 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
25% Critical Strike Chance
Grievous Wounds
Dealing physical damage applies 40% Wounds to enemy champions for 3 seconds.
60.6% Win Rate2.8% Pick Rate
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
33.3% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate

Aphelios vs Varus: ADC Skill (abilities) Orders

Most Frequent Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Weapon Abilites Aphelios has 5 different activated abilities, based on his main-hand weapon:

Calibrum (Rifle): Long range shot that marks its target for a long-range follow-up attack.
Severum (Scythe Pistol): Run fast while attacking nearby enemies with both weapons.
Gravitum (Cannon): Root all enemies slowed by this weapon.
Infernum (Flamethrower): Blast enemies in a cone and attack them with your off-hand weapon.
Crescendum (Chakram): Deploy a sentry that shoots your off-hand weapon.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Phase Aphelios swaps his main-hand gun with his off-hand gun, replacing his basic attack and activated ability.
W
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Weapon Queue System Aphelios has no third ability. This slot shows the next weapon Alune will give him. Weapon order begins fixed but may change over game time -- when a weapon is out of ammo it goes to the end of the order.
E
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Moonlight Vigil Fire a concentrated blast of moonlight that explodes on enemy champions. Applies the unique effect of Aphelios' main-hand gun.
Max Order: Q > E > W
44.1% Win Rate54.7% Pick Rate

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
R
Q
Weapon Abilites Aphelios has 5 different activated abilities, based on his main-hand weapon:

Calibrum (Rifle): Long range shot that marks its target for a long-range follow-up attack.
Severum (Scythe Pistol): Run fast while attacking nearby enemies with both weapons.
Gravitum (Cannon): Root all enemies slowed by this weapon.
Infernum (Flamethrower): Blast enemies in a cone and attack them with your off-hand weapon.
Crescendum (Chakram): Deploy a sentry that shoots your off-hand weapon.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Phase Aphelios swaps his main-hand gun with his off-hand gun, replacing his basic attack and activated ability.
W
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Weapon Queue System Aphelios has no third ability. This slot shows the next weapon Alune will give him. Weapon order begins fixed but may change over game time -- when a weapon is out of ammo it goes to the end of the order.
E
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Moonlight Vigil Fire a concentrated blast of moonlight that explodes on enemy champions. Applies the unique effect of Aphelios' main-hand gun.
Max Order: Q > E > W
82.2% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate

Aphelios tips:

  • Each of Aphelios' weapons have different strengths, so try to find the right situation for your current weapons.

Playing Against Varus

  • If you are affected by Blight, Varus' abilities will deal extra damage to you.
  • When he gets a kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Speed and is much more dangerous.
  • You'll get bound in place if a tendril from Varus' ultimate, Chain of Corruption, reaches you. You can cause the tendril to die however by running far enough away from it.

Aphelios ADC other Matchups

Aphelios
+3.4%
Vayne

Aphelios vs Vayne

Aphelios
+2.2%
Senna

Aphelios vs Senna

Aphelios
+2.1%
Draven

Aphelios vs Draven

Aphelios
+1.9%
Sivir

Aphelios vs Sivir

Aphelios
+1.7%
Zeri

Aphelios vs Zeri

Aphelios
+0.8%
Yunara

Aphelios vs Yunara

Aphelios
+0.7%
Xayah

Aphelios vs Xayah

Aphelios
+0.6%
Lucian

Aphelios vs Lucian

Aphelios
+0.4%
Kai'Sa

Aphelios vs Kai'Sa

Aphelios
-0.3%
Caitlyn

Aphelios vs Caitlyn

Aphelios
-1.1%
Miss Fortune

Aphelios vs Miss Fortune

Aphelios
-1.2%
Twitch

Aphelios vs Twitch

Aphelios
-1.3%
Ziggs

Aphelios vs Ziggs

Aphelios
-1.4%
Tristana

Aphelios vs Tristana

Aphelios
-1.4%
Jinx

Aphelios vs Jinx

Aphelios
-1.5%
Ezreal

Aphelios vs Ezreal

Aphelios
-1.6%
Jhin

Aphelios vs Jhin

Aphelios
-2.5%
Corki

Aphelios vs Corki

Aphelios
-2.7%
Smolder

Aphelios vs Smolder

Aphelios
-3.2%
Kog'Maw

Aphelios vs Kog'Maw

Aphelios
-3.7%
Ashe

Aphelios vs Ashe

Aphelios
-4.6%
Samira

Aphelios vs Samira

Aphelios
-5.2%
Nilah

Aphelios vs Nilah