Support Matchup

Vel'Koz vs Bard

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Vel'Koz

Vel'Koz

the Eye of the Void
Support
Vel'Koz Support Overall Win Rate
50.14%

Matchup Win Rate

47.5%
Vel'Koz vs Bard Wins
52.5%
Bard vs Vel'Koz Wins
Bard

Bard

the Wandering Caretaker
Support
Bard Support Overall Win Rate
50.55%

Vel'Koz vs Bard - Support Matchup Guide Patch 15.15 (25.15)

Vel'Koz Support vs Bard Support - Who is stronger?

Vel'Koz Support has trouble against Bard (47.5% win rate) based on 479 games. This is a tough matchup for Vel'Koz players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Vel'Koz Support vs Bard Support in patch 15.15 (25.15), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 74.5% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

With 2.4% popularity, Vel'Koz constantly encounters meta-dominant Bard (5.3%, 13th place out of 51 Support champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Vel'Koz performance in the current patch. Every edge matters: In this tough matchup, the proven Arcane Comet + Manaflow Band combination (56.7% win rate) plus optimal itemization Luden's Companion, Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, and Sorcerer's Shoes boosts your chances from 47.5% to 74.5% - potentially game-changing.

Vision advantage: Despite losing the direct matchup, Vel'Koz's superior warding (0.94 wards/min, 21st among supports) can swing team fights and objectives in your favor. Damage doesn't equal wins: Vel'Koz outputs more damage (691 vs 460/min, 2nd place) but still loses the matchup. The issue likely lies in survivability, mobility, or damage timing rather than raw output. Complete dominance by Bard: leads in both matchup win rate (52.5%) and KDA (3.10 vs 2.30, 7th vs 36th place). Vel'Koz players need exceptional preparation to overcome this counter-pick.

Vel'Koz vs Bard - Support Stats Comparison

Vel'Koz Support
Vel'Koz Support
Versus
Bard Support
Bard Support
B+TierA+
47.5%Matchup Winrate52.5%
50.14%Role Winrate50.55%
#20Winrate Rank#14
2.4%Pickrate5.3%
2.3Average KDA3.1
313Gold per Minute309
0.94Wards per Minute0.91
691Damage per Minute460

How to Beat Bard as Vel'Koz (Support)

Difficult matchup requiring deep understanding of game mechanics and flawless execution. Patience and proper macro play are the keys to victory in this confrontation.

The magic damage that Vel'Koz deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Bard has mixed damage, be careful as it may be harder to defend if the opponent gets ahead or plays aggressively.

An important advantage of Vel'Koz is superior vision control (ranked 21st among supports) (versus 23rd for Bard), which provides better map control and safety for the team in important map areas. Meanwhile, their higher KDA (3.1 versus 2.3) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Vel'Koz Support versus Bard Support matchup

In this difficult confrontation, it is critically important for the Vel'Koz player to avoid attempts to force trades and all-ins with the Bard player, as the matchup requires a patient and calculated approach. Extended trades without clear tactical advantage often lead to unfavorable consequences, and ignoring opportunities to receive team support can be a fatal mistake for game progression.

Vel'Koz vs Bard: Support Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Heal
Heal Restores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion.
54.4% Win Rate66.6% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
55.9% Win Rate2.7% Pick Rate

Vel'Koz vs Bard: Support 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
Domination
Cheap Shot
Cheap Shot Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true damage (based on level).

Cooldown: 4s
Activates on damage occurring after the impairment.

Cheap Shot

Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true d…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

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

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

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

54.5% Win Rate42.9% 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…

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.

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

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

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

56.7% Win Rate11.6% Pick Rate

Vel'Koz vs Bard: Support 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.
World Atlas
World Atlas (400 gold)
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
44.2% Win Rate93.1% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed

48.6% Win Rate69.7% 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.
55.7% Win Rate13.1% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
9.9% Win Rate3.0% Pick Rate
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Luden's Companion
Luden's Companion (2850 gold) 100 Ability Power
600 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Fire
Damaging Abilities fire 6 Shots that deal bonus magic damage to the target and nearby enemies. Remaining Shots fire on the primary target, dealing 20% damage.
Horizon Focus
Horizon Focus (2700 gold) 75 Ability Power
25 Ability Haste

Hypershot
Dealing Ability damage to champions at 600 range or greater Reveals them for 6 seconds.
Deal 10% increased damage to enemies Revealed by this item.
Focus
When Hypershot is triggered, Reveal all other enemy champions within 1400 range of them for 3 seconds.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration

Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
59.6% Win Rate11.4% Pick Rate
Final Build
Morellonomicon
Morellonomicon (2950 gold) 75 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste

Grievous Wounds
Dealing magic damage to champions applies 40% Wounds for 3 seconds.
0.0% Win Rate49.1% 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.
World Atlas
World Atlas (400 gold)
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
44.2% Win Rate93.1% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed

Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
100.0% Win Rate0.9% Pick Rate
Symbiotic Soles
Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
Voidborn
Gain Empowered Recall.
Symbiosis
After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
75.3% Win Rate2.3% 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.
55.7% Win Rate13.1% Pick Rate
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Luden's Companion
Luden's Companion (2850 gold) 100 Ability Power
600 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Fire
Damaging Abilities fire 6 Shots that deal bonus magic damage to the target and nearby enemies. Remaining Shots fire on the primary target, dealing 20% damage.
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health

Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration

Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
74.5% Win Rate4.6% Pick Rate
Final Build
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration

100.0% Win Rate49.1% Pick Rate
Other Items
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration

100.0% Win Rate49.1% Pick Rate

Vel'Koz vs Bard: Support 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
Plasma Fission Vel'Koz shoots a bolt of plasma that splits in two on reactivation or upon hitting an enemy. The bolt slows and damages on hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Void Rift Vel'Koz opens a rift to the void that deals an initial burst of damage, then explodes for a second burst of damage after a delay.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Tectonic Disruption Vel'Koz causes an area to explode, knocking up enemies, and knocking close enemies slightly away.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Life Form Disintegration Ray Vel'Koz unleashes a channelled beam that follows the cursor for 2.5 seconds that deals magic damage. Organic Deconstruction Researches enemy champions causing them to take true damage instead.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
53.5% Win Rate57.7% 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
Plasma Fission Vel'Koz shoots a bolt of plasma that splits in two on reactivation or upon hitting an enemy. The bolt slows and damages on hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Void Rift Vel'Koz opens a rift to the void that deals an initial burst of damage, then explodes for a second burst of damage after a delay.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Tectonic Disruption Vel'Koz causes an area to explode, knocking up enemies, and knocking close enemies slightly away.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Life Form Disintegration Ray Vel'Koz unleashes a channelled beam that follows the cursor for 2.5 seconds that deals magic damage. Organic Deconstruction Researches enemy champions causing them to take true damage instead.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
94.2% Win Rate1.4% Pick Rate

Vel'Koz tips:

  • When laning, use Void Rift to kill minions while building stacks of Organic Deconstruction on your opponent. You can then follow up with your other abilities.
  • Shooting Plasma Fission diagonally and splitting at maximum range allows you to hit opponents that are out of the range of the initial missile, but is more challenging to pull off.
  • Be very careful about when to use Life Form Disintegration Ray. Many champions have abilities that can interrupt the spell.

Playing Against Bard

  • Bard's opponents can also travel through his Magical Journey doorways. You can follow him, if you think it's safe.
  • You can crush Bard's healing shrines just by walking over them. Don't let his allies take them without a fight.
  • Bard's ultimate, Tempered Fate, affects allies, enemies, monsters, and turrets alike. Sometimes it can be to your advantage to jump into it!