ADC Matchup

Varus vs Kalista

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Varus

Varus

the Arrow of Retribution
ADC
Varus ADC Overall Win Rate
47.34%

Matchup Win Rate

55.7%
Varus vs Kalista Wins
⚔
44.3%
Kalista vs Varus Wins
Kalista

Kalista

the Spear of Vengeance
ADC
Kalista ADC Overall Win Rate
43.80%

Varus vs Kalista - ADC Matchup Guide Patch 15.18 (25.18)

Varus ADC vs Kalista ADC - Who is stronger?

Varus ADC performs well against Kalista (55.7% win rate) based on 556 games. This matchup works well for Varus players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Varus ADC vs Kalista ADC in patch 15.18 (25.18), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 56.8% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Varus maintains steady 5.0% popularity but rarely encounters niche pick Kalista (1.6%, 26th place out of 32 ADC champions). While not a priority matchup to study, understanding it protects against off-meta cheese picks that can catch you unprepared. Even tiers, uneven results: Both champions sit at D-tier, but Varus claims a meaningful 55.7% vs 44.3% advantage. Varus's kit synergizes better in this specific head-to-head matchup. Silver lining: While Varus's 47.3% overall win rate (31st among ADC) struggles in the current meta, this matchup against Kalista offers a bright spot for dedicated players. Amplify your advantage: The Lethal Tempo + Triumph rune setup achieves 85.0% win rate (4.4% popularity), while the core build Blade of The Ruined King > Guinsoo's Rageblade > Wit's End with Berserker's Greaves (56.8% win rate) lets you snowball advantages into guaranteed victories by 15 minutes.

Win through macro: Varus takes the matchup (55.74%) despite falling behind in CS (6.74 vs 7.38/min). Your victories come through roaming, team fighting, and map pressure rather than 1v1 lane dominance. Quality over quantity: Varus wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (703 vs 772/min), the 55.7% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Statistical dominance: Varus leads in both matchup win rate (55.7%) and KDA (2.20 vs 1.90) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Varus vs Kalista - ADC Stats Comparison

Varus ADC
Varus ADC		Versus
Kalista ADC
Kalista ADC
DTierD
55.7%Matchup Winrate44.3%
47.34%Role Winrate43.80%
#31Winrate Rank#32
5.0%Pickrate1.6%
2.2Average KDA1.9
407Gold per Minute471
6.74CS/Min7.38
0.31Wards per Minute0.29
703Damage per Minute772

How to Beat Kalista as Varus (ADC)

The Varus versus Kalista matchup as ADC is favorable with proper positioning. Use your statistical advantage and prevent the opponent from realizing their potential.

Except for rare builds, Varus deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Kalista deals mainly physical damage (79.66%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Kalista, ranking 5th (versus 20th for Varus) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (1.9 versus 2.2) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Varus ADC versus Kalista 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 Kalista, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Varus vs Kalista: 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.
52.5% Win Rate10.8% 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.
52.5% Win Rate10.8% Pick Rate

Varus vs Kalista: 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…

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

Absorb Life

Killing a target heals you for @HealAmount@.

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…

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
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

51.2% Win Rate54.4% 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…

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
Resolve
Bone Plating
Bone Plating After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage.

Duration: 1.5s
Cooldown: 55s

Bone Plating

After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you re…

Overgrowth
Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

Overgrowth

Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

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

85.0% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate

Varus vs Kalista: 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.
Tear of the Goddess
Tear of the Goddess (400 gold) 240 Mana
Manaflow (8s, max 4 charges)
Landing Abilities grants 3 max Mana (doubled vs. champions), up to 360.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal an additional 5 physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
41.1% Win Rate1.8% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
48.1% Win Rate45.8% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
50.7% Win Rate23.2% 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.
46.7% Win Rate9.8% 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.
51.8% Win Rate11.6% 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.
50.1% Win Rate13.7% 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.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health
Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
49.1% Win Rate0.6% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
51.8% Win Rate2.7% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
50.7% Win Rate23.2% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
50.0% Win Rate7.8% 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.
56.8% Win Rate1.9% Pick Rate
Final Build
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
54.7% Win Rate8.0% Pick Rate
Other Items
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.
47.9% Win Rate11.2% Pick Rate
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.
45.4% Win Rate9.7% 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 %.
44.5% Win Rate8.3% Pick Rate
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
54.7% Win Rate8.0% 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.
48.7% Win Rate7.3% 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.
47.9% Win Rate6.0% Pick Rate
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
54.2% Win Rate4.5% Pick Rate

Varus vs Kalista: 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
44.5% Win Rate35.2% 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 > E > W
92.5% 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 Kalista

  • Kalista's mobility is dependent upon attacking. This means it is low when she is outside of her attack range and that Attack Speed slows reduce the amount of distance she can cover in an engagement.
  • Kalista cannot cancel her basic attack wind up. While she is very mobile, this offers a window to land spells on her if you anticipate when she will begin attacking.
  • If you can break line of sight from Kalista, including through brush, her basic attacks will miss you, falling harmlessly to the ground.

Varus ADC other Matchups

Varus
+5.8%
Zeri

Varus vs Zeri

Varus
+2.8%
Aphelios

Varus vs Aphelios

Varus
+2.3%
Senna

Varus vs Senna

Varus
+2.3%
Mel

Varus vs Mel

Varus
+1.5%
Samira

Varus vs Samira

Varus
+1.4%
Yunara

Varus vs Yunara

Varus
-1.6%
Smolder

Varus vs Smolder

Varus
-1.7%
Caitlyn

Varus vs Caitlyn

Varus
-2.3%
Miss Fortune

Varus vs Miss Fortune

Varus
-2.7%
Ashe

Varus vs Ashe

Varus
-2.7%
Jinx

Varus vs Jinx

Varus
-2.9%
Lucian

Varus vs Lucian

Varus
-3.4%
Xayah

Varus vs Xayah

Varus
-3.8%
Jhin

Varus vs Jhin

Varus
-3.9%
Ezreal

Varus vs Ezreal

Varus
-3.9%
Kai'Sa

Varus vs Kai'Sa

Varus
-4.3%
Draven

Varus vs Draven

Varus
-4.4%
Tristana

Varus vs Tristana

Varus
-4.6%
Twitch

Varus vs Twitch

Varus
-5.2%
Vayne

Varus vs Vayne

Varus
-5.3%
Corki

Varus vs Corki

Varus
-5.3%
Nilah

Varus vs Nilah

Varus
-5.6%
Sivir

Varus vs Sivir

Varus
-6.4%
Ziggs

Varus vs Ziggs

Varus
-8.0%
Kog'Maw

Varus vs Kog'Maw