ADC Matchup

Kalista vs Varus

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Kalista

Kalista

the Spear of Vengeance
ADC
Kalista ADC Overall Win Rate
45.52%

Matchup Win Rate

51.6%
Kalista vs Varus Wins
⚔
48.4%
Varus vs Kalista Wins
Varus

Varus

the Arrow of Retribution
ADC
Varus ADC Overall Win Rate
47.31%

Kalista vs Varus - ADC Matchup Guide Patch 15.15 (25.15)

Kalista ADC vs Varus ADC - Who is stronger?

Kalista ADC has an advantage against Varus (51.6% win rate) based on 556 games. The matchup leans toward Kalista.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Kalista ADC vs Varus ADC in patch 15.15 (25.15), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 57.7% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Kalista with 0.9% pick rate (27th place among ADC champions) rarely faces Varus, who maintains 5.0% popularity. While this matchup isn't common overall, Varus's solid presence in the meta makes understanding it worthwhile when you do play Kalista. Even tiers, uneven results: Both champions sit at D-tier, but Kalista claims a meaningful 51.6% vs 48.4% advantage. Kalista's kit synergizes better in this specific head-to-head matchup. Silver lining: While Kalista's 45.5% overall win rate (30th among ADC) struggles in the current meta, this matchup against Varus offers a bright spot for dedicated players. Optimize for consistency: Lethal Tempo paired with Triumph (52.5% win rate, 80.2% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Blade of The Ruined King > Guinsoo's Rageblade > Wit's End with Berserker's Greaves delivers 57.7% win rate against Varus.

Win through macro: Kalista takes the matchup (51.56%) despite falling behind in CS (6.64 vs 7.41/min). Your victories come through roaming, team fighting, and map pressure rather than 1v1 lane dominance. Quality over quantity: Kalista wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (779 vs 871/min), the 51.6% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Intriguing anomaly: Kalista wins the matchup (51.6%) 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.

Kalista vs Varus - ADC Stats Comparison

Kalista ADC
Kalista ADC		Versus
Varus ADC
Varus ADC
DTierD
51.6%Matchup Winrate48.4%
45.52%Role Winrate47.31%
#30Winrate Rank#28
0.9%Pickrate5.0%
2.0Average KDA2.3
460Gold per Minute431
6.64CS/Min7.41
0.28Wards per Minute0.30
779Damage per Minute871

How to Beat Varus as Kalista (ADC)

While statistically Kalista 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, Kalista deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Varus has mixed damage, be careful as it may be harder to defend if the opponent gets ahead or plays aggressively.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Varus, ranking 6th (versus 20th for Kalista) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their higher KDA (2.3 versus 2.0) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Kalista ADC versus Varus ADC matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Kalista 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.

Kalista vs Varus: ADC Summoner Spells

Most Popular

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.
52.7% Win Rate35.8% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Heal
Heal Restores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion.
75.7% Win Rate1.4% Pick Rate

Kalista vs Varus: ADC Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Lethal Tempo Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds, up to 6. At max stacks, deal [9 - 30 Melee || 6 - 24 Ranged] bonus adaptive damage On-Attack, increased by 1% per 1% Bonus Attack Speed.

Lethal Tempo

Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds…

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: Alacrity
Legend: Alacrity Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

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

Legend: Alacrity

Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 sta…

Last Stand
Last Stand Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Secondary Path
Domination
Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

Treasure Hunter
Treasure Hunter Gain an additional 50 gold the next time you collect a Bounty Hunter stack. Increase the gold gained by 20 gold for each Bounty Hunter stack, up to 130 gold.

Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Treasure Hunter

Gain an additional 50 gold the next time you collect a Bounty Hunter stack. Inc…

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

52.5% Win Rate80.2% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Lethal Tempo Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds, up to 6. At max stacks, deal [9 - 30 Melee || 6 - 24 Ranged] bonus adaptive damage On-Attack, increased by 1% per 1% Bonus Attack Speed.

Lethal Tempo

Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds…

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: Alacrity
Legend: Alacrity Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

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

Legend: Alacrity

Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 sta…

Last Stand
Last Stand Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Secondary Path
Domination
Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

Treasure Hunter
Treasure Hunter Gain an additional 50 gold the next time you collect a Bounty Hunter stack. Increase the gold gained by 20 gold for each Bounty Hunter stack, up to 130 gold.

Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Treasure Hunter

Gain an additional 50 gold the next time you collect a Bounty Hunter stack. Inc…

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

52.5% Win Rate80.2% Pick Rate

Kalista 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.
Kalista's Black Spear
Kalista's Black Spear (0 gold) Active - Consume: Bind with an ally for the remainder of the game, becoming Oathsworn Allies. Oathsworn empowers you both while near one another.
32.4% Win Rate1.1% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
45.8% Win Rate91.0% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
47.7% Win Rate4.1% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
41.8% Win Rate1.0% Pick Rate
Core Build
Vampiric Scepter
Vampiric Scepter (900 gold) 15 Attack Damage
7% Life Steal
->
Blade of The Ruined King
Blade of The Ruined King (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
25% Attack Speed
10% Life Steal
Mist's Edge
Attacks deal a percentage of enemy's current Health as bonus physical damageOn-Hit.
Clawing Shadows
Attacking a champion 3 times Slows them by 30% for 1 second.
Guinsoo's Rageblade
Guinsoo's Rageblade (3000 gold) 30 Attack Damage
30 Ability Power
25% Attack Speed
Wrath
Attacks deal 30 bonus magic damage On-Hit.
Seething Strike
Attacks grant 8% Attack Speed for 3 seconds. (stacks 4 times).
While fully stacked, every third Attack applies On-Hit effects twice.
Terminus
Terminus (3000 gold) 30 Attack Damage
35% Attack Speed
Shadow
Attacks deal 30 bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
Juxtaposition
Alternate between Light and Dark Attacks against champions:
  • Light Attacks grant Armor and Magic Resist for 5s.
  • Dark Attacks grant 10% Armor Penetration and Magic Penetration for 5s.
    • 52.5% Win Rate20.2% Pick Rate
    Final Build
    Jak'Sho, The Protean
    Jak'Sho, The Protean (3200 gold) 350 Health
    45 Armor
    45 Magic Resist
    Voidborn Resilience
    After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
    48.6% Win Rate23.3% Pick Rate

    Best Win Rate 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.
    Long Sword
    Long Sword (350 gold) 10 Attack Damage
    Refillable Potion
    Refillable Potion (150 gold) Active (2 charges)
    Restores 100 Health over 12 seconds.
    Refills upon visiting the shop.
    67.2% Win Rate0.1% Pick Rate
    Highest Winrate Boots
    Boots of Swiftness
    Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
    Fleetfooted
    Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
    50.9% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate
    Plated Steelcaps
    Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
    45 Move Speed
    Plating
    Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
    47.7% Win Rate4.1% Pick Rate
    Berserker's Greaves
    Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
    45 Move Speed
    45.8% Win Rate91.0% Pick Rate
    Core Build
    Pickaxe
    Pickaxe (875 gold) 25 Attack Damage
    ->
    Blade of The Ruined King
    Blade of The Ruined King (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
    25% Attack Speed
    10% Life Steal
    Mist's Edge
    Attacks deal a percentage of enemy's current Health as bonus physical damageOn-Hit.
    Clawing Shadows
    Attacking a champion 3 times Slows them by 30% for 1 second.
    Guinsoo's Rageblade
    Guinsoo's Rageblade (3000 gold) 30 Attack Damage
    30 Ability Power
    25% Attack Speed
    Wrath
    Attacks deal 30 bonus magic damage On-Hit.
    Seething Strike
    Attacks grant 8% Attack Speed for 3 seconds. (stacks 4 times).
    While fully stacked, every third Attack applies On-Hit effects twice.
    Wit's End
    Wit's End (2800 gold) 50% Attack Speed
    45 Magic Resist
    20% Tenacity
    Fray
    Attacks deal bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
    57.7% Win Rate2.6% Pick Rate
    Final Build
    Randuin's Omen
    Randuin's Omen (2700 gold) 350 Health
    75 Armor
    Resilience
    Receive 30% less damage from Critical Strikes.
    Humility
    Slow nearby enemies by 70% for 2 seconds.
    64.8% Win Rate10.0% 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.
    50.2% Win Rate20.5% Pick Rate
    Bloodthirster
    Bloodthirster (3400 gold) 80 Attack Damage
    15% Life Steal
    Ichorshield
    Convert excess healing from your Lifesteal to a Shield.
    57.9% Win Rate18.5% Pick Rate
    Wit's End
    Wit's End (2800 gold) 50% Attack Speed
    45 Magic Resist
    20% Tenacity
    Fray
    Attacks deal bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
    49.8% Win Rate10.5% 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.
    56.3% Win Rate10.2% Pick Rate
    Randuin's Omen
    Randuin's Omen (2700 gold) 350 Health
    75 Armor
    Resilience
    Receive 30% less damage from Critical Strikes.
    Humility
    Slow nearby enemies by 70% for 2 seconds.
    64.8% Win Rate10.0% 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.
    50.4% Win Rate5.9% Pick Rate
    Kraken Slayer
    Kraken Slayer (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
    40% Attack Speed
    4% Move Speed
    Bring It Down
    Every third Attack deals bonus physical damageOn-Hit, increased based on their missing Health.
    56.2% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate

    Kalista 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
    Pierce Throw a fast moving spear that passes through enemies it kills.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    W
    W
    Sentinel Gain bonus damage when Kalista and her Oathsworn strike the same target.

    Activate to send a soul to scout out the path, revealing the area in front of it.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    E
    E
    Rend Attacks impale their targets with spears. Activate to rip the spears out, slowing and dealing escalating damage.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Fate's Call Kalista teleports the Oathsworn ally to herself. They gain the ability to dash toward a position, knocking enemy champions back.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: E > Q > W
    55.8% Win Rate57.6% 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
    Pierce Throw a fast moving spear that passes through enemies it kills.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    R
    W
    Sentinel Gain bonus damage when Kalista and her Oathsworn strike the same target.

    Activate to send a soul to scout out the path, revealing the area in front of it.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    R
    E
    Rend Attacks impale their targets with spears. Activate to rip the spears out, slowing and dealing escalating damage.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Fate's Call Kalista teleports the Oathsworn ally to herself. They gain the ability to dash toward a position, knocking enemy champions back.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: E > Q > W
    90.4% Win Rate1.0% Pick Rate

    Kalista tips:

    • Rend is a valuable last hitting aid, since its cooldown resets if it kills a target.
    • Entering a move order once to trigger Martial Poise will not clear Kalista's basic attack target.
    • Due to her passive, Kalista's Move Speed is effectively increased by Attack Speed.

    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.

    Kalista ADC other Matchups

    Kalista
    -2.2%
    Ezreal

    Kalista vs Ezreal

    Kalista
    -3.5%
    Jhin

    Kalista vs Jhin

    Kalista
    -3.8%
    Kai'Sa

    Kalista vs Kai'Sa

    Kalista
    -5.4%
    Caitlyn

    Kalista vs Caitlyn

    Kalista
    -5.9%
    Yunara

    Kalista vs Yunara

    Kalista
    -7.7%
    Miss Fortune

    Kalista vs Miss Fortune

    Kalista
    -8.1%
    Ashe

    Kalista vs Ashe

    Kalista
    -8.4%
    Lucian

    Kalista vs Lucian

    Kalista
    -9.1%
    Jinx

    Kalista vs Jinx

    Kalista
    -10.6%
    Tristana

    Kalista vs Tristana