ADC Matchup

Varus vs Aphelios

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Varus

Varus

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

Matchup Win Rate

52.0%
Varus vs Aphelios Wins
⚔
48.1%
Aphelios vs Varus Wins
Aphelios

Aphelios

the Weapon of the Faithful
ADC
Aphelios ADC Overall Win Rate
49.71%

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

Varus ADC vs Aphelios ADC - Who is stronger?

Varus ADC has an advantage against Aphelios (52.0% win rate) based on 1607 games. The matchup leans toward Varus.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Varus ADC vs Aphelios 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 57.4% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

With 5.0% popularity, Varus constantly encounters meta-dominant Aphelios (8.4%, 10th place out of 30 ADC champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Varus performance in the current patch. Silver lining: While Varus's 47.3% overall win rate (28th among ADC) struggles in the current meta, this matchup against Aphelios offers a bright spot for dedicated players. Optimize for consistency: Arcane Comet paired with Manaflow Band (54.0% win rate, 3.5% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Youmuu's Ghostblade > Manamune > Edge of Night with Berserker's Greaves delivers 57.4% win rate against Aphelios.

Lane dominance: Varus not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (7.41/min vs 6.56 for Aphelios). This 0.85 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Complete superiority: Varus dominates both win rate (52.0%) and damage output (871 vs 810/min, 2nd among ADC). The 61 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Statistical dominance: Varus leads in both matchup win rate (52.0%) and KDA (2.30 vs 2.00) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Varus vs Aphelios - ADC Stats Comparison

Varus ADC
Varus ADC		Versus
Aphelios ADC
Aphelios ADC
DTierB
52.0%Matchup Winrate48.1%
47.31%Role Winrate49.71%
#28Winrate Rank#21
5.0%Pickrate8.4%
2.3Average KDA2.0
431Gold per Minute416
7.41CS/Min6.56
0.30Wards per Minute0.26
871Damage per Minute810

How to Beat Aphelios as Varus (ADC)

While statistically Varus is slightly stronger than Aphelios 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, Varus deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Aphelios deals mainly physical damage (93.27%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Varus is higher farming statistics (ranked 6th among role champions) (versus 22nd for Aphelios), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.0 versus 2.3) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Varus ADC versus Aphelios ADC matchup

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

Varus vs Aphelios: ADC Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Barrier Gain a brief Shield.
47.4% Win Rate83.0% 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.
57.4% Win Rate1.6% Pick Rate

Varus vs Aphelios: ADC Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Inspiration
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 …

Cosmic Insight
Cosmic Insight +18 Summoner Spell Haste
+10 Item Haste

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

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

51.9% Win Rate45.5% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Legend: Haste
Legend: Haste Gain 1.5 basic ability haste 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: Haste

Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).Earn progre…

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

54.0% Win Rate3.5% Pick Rate

Varus vs Aphelios: 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.
51.1% Win Rate90.3% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
46.0% Win Rate37.8% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
56.4% Win Rate31.6% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
45.0% Win Rate16.5% Pick Rate
Core Build
Serrated Dirk
Serrated Dirk (1000 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
->
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.
Manamune
Manamune (2900 gold) 35 Attack Damage
500 Mana
15 Ability Haste
Awe
Gain bonus Attack Damage.
Manaflow (8s, max 4 charges)
Landing Attacks and Abilities grants 3 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Muramana at 360 max Mana.
Edge of Night
Edge of Night (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
250 Health
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
57.4% Win Rate17.7% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
62.3% Win Rate14.2% 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.
74.8% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
62.1% Win Rate1.1% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
56.4% Win Rate31.6% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
52.1% Win Rate5.9% Pick Rate
Core Build
Serrated Dirk
Serrated Dirk (1000 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
->
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.
Manamune
Manamune (2900 gold) 35 Attack Damage
500 Mana
15 Ability Haste
Awe
Gain bonus Attack Damage.
Manaflow (8s, max 4 charges)
Landing Attacks and Abilities grants 3 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Muramana at 360 max Mana.
Edge of Night
Edge of Night (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
250 Health
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
57.4% Win Rate17.7% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
78.8% Win Rate3.0% Pick Rate
Other Items
Opportunity
Opportunity (2700 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Preparation
After being out of combat with Champions for 8 seconds gain Lethality. This Lethality lasts for 3 seconds after dealing damage to champions.
Extraction
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, gain 200 decaying Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
58.4% Win Rate10.1% Pick Rate
Serpent's Fang
Serpent's Fang (2500 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Shield Reaver
Damaging an enemy champion reduces Shields they gain by % for 3 seconds.
If they were not already affected by Shield Reaver, reduce Shields on them by %.
49.3% Win Rate8.3% Pick Rate
Serylda's Grudge
Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Bitter Cold
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
45.4% Win Rate7.8% Pick Rate
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.
19.9% Win Rate5.9% 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.
62.9% Win Rate4.8% Pick Rate
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
16.7% Win Rate3.6% Pick Rate
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.
78.8% Win Rate3.0% Pick Rate

Varus vs Aphelios: 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
Piercing Arrow Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Blighted Quiver Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Hail of Arrows Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Chain of Corruption Varus flings out a damaging tendril of corruption that immobilizes the first enemy champion hit and then spreads towards nearby uninfected champions, immobilizing them too on contact.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
47.9% Win Rate30.4% 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
Piercing Arrow Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Blighted Quiver Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Hail of Arrows Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Chain of Corruption Varus flings out a damaging tendril of corruption that immobilizes the first enemy champion hit and then spreads towards nearby uninfected champions, immobilizing them too on contact.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
62.2% Win Rate1.0% Pick Rate

Varus tips:

  • An early point in Blighted Quiver helps harass enemy champions and get killing blows on minions.
  • During short range fights it's sometimes best to fire Piercing Arrow quickly, rather than charging it to full power.
  • Try to take advantage of Piercing Arrow's very long range to snipe at enemy champions before a fight or as they're trying to flee.

Playing Against Aphelios

  • Each of Aphelios' weapons have different weaknesses, try to exploit the ones that work best for your champion. Watch out for the purple Gravity gun, it can root you.

Varus ADC other Matchups

Varus
+4.4%
Corki

Varus vs Corki

Varus
+2.3%
Mel

Varus vs Mel

Varus
+1.5%
Yunara

Varus vs Yunara

Varus
+1.3%
Draven

Varus vs Draven

Varus
+1.1%
Kai'Sa

Varus vs Kai'Sa

Varus
-1.6%
Kalista

Varus vs Kalista

Varus
-1.8%
Smolder

Varus vs Smolder

Varus
-2.0%
Senna

Varus vs Senna

Varus
-2.1%
Samira

Varus vs Samira

Varus
-2.1%
Xayah

Varus vs Xayah

Varus
-2.3%
Caitlyn

Varus vs Caitlyn

Varus
-2.3%
Zeri

Varus vs Zeri

Varus
-2.6%
Jhin

Varus vs Jhin

Varus
-2.8%
Vayne

Varus vs Vayne

Varus
-2.8%
Jinx

Varus vs Jinx

Varus
-3.0%
Miss Fortune

Varus vs Miss Fortune

Varus
-3.0%
Lucian

Varus vs Lucian

Varus
-3.2%
Ashe

Varus vs Ashe

Varus
-3.3%
Tristana

Varus vs Tristana

Varus
-3.7%
Ziggs

Varus vs Ziggs

Varus
-4.4%
Ezreal

Varus vs Ezreal

Varus
-4.5%
Nilah

Varus vs Nilah

Varus
-4.6%
Twitch

Varus vs Twitch

Varus
-4.9%
Sivir

Varus vs Sivir

Varus
-8.0%
Kog'Maw

Varus vs Kog'Maw