Best Counters to Play Against Orianna in League of Legends
Orianna is the kind of champion that looks calm in lane and then deletes your team with one ult. Her ball flies around the map controlling space, her poke is constant, and her Shockwave (R) is one of the best teamfight ults in the entire game. One good ult can win the game.
The thing is, Orianna has no mobility. None. She has no dash, no escape, and no way to peel for herself when someone gets on top of her. That makes her one of the most gank-friendly champs in mid. This guide breaks down the best counters to Orianna, why each one works, and how to punish her hard in lane.
Quick Counter Picks
- Mid: Fizz, Naafiri, Diana, Ekko, Aurelion Sol
- Top (rare flex): Renekton, Pantheon
If you only remember one pick: Fizz. He dodges everything Orianna throws with his E (Playful/Trickster) and one-shots her at 6.
Why Orianna Is Strong
Three things make Orianna scary.
First, her ball mechanic. Her Q (Command: Attack), W (Command: Dissonance), and E (Command: Protect) all interact with her ball, which can be placed almost anywhere. She controls a huge zone without ever putting herself in danger.
Second, her shield (E) and slow (W) make her tanky enough to survive most ganks if she sees them coming.
Third, her ult, Shockwave, pulls everyone near her ball into a single point. If her team has any AoE follow-up (Yasuo R, Kennen ult, Miss Fortune ult), the game ends right there.
The catch? Orianna has zero mobility. No dash. No blink. No movement speed boost. If you get on top of her, she dies.
Best Mid Lane Counters
Fizz
Fizz is the matchup Orianna players dread the most. His E lets him jump over the ball and dodge every one of her abilities. His ult finds her from across the map. Once Fizz hits 6, he can one-shot her with R-E-Q-auto combo.
How to play it: Farm safe with W until 6. Then look for an all-in the moment her flash is down. Her ult means nothing if she dies before casting it.
Naafiri
Naafiri's early pressure is brutal against an immobile mage. Her dogs apply on-hit damage and she has gap-closers built into her kit. Orianna cannot kite her at all.
How to play it: All-in level 3. Naafiri wins every short trade against Orianna.
Diana
Diana scales hard and her R is a gap-closer that pulls Orianna in. Her shield (W) blocks Orianna's poke. At 6, Diana's R-Q-passive combo deletes Orianna.
How to play it: Trade with passive auto resets. Hit your Q to engage at 6. Make sure your team is nearby for follow-up.
Ekko
Ekko's E gives him an extra dash for chase or escape, his shield (W) blocks Orianna's burst, and his R gives him a full heal plus reposition. Orianna cannot kill Ekko in 1v1 fights.
How to play it: Push the wave early, take side-roams whenever Orianna pushes too far. Ekko's roaming around 6 is one of his best traits.
Aurelion Sol
Aurelion Sol outscales Orianna and his ult is one of the best counters to Shockwave. ASol can ult from huge range, breaking up Orianna's combo before she lands it.
How to play it: Farm passive in lane. Stack quintessence. Outscale her and own the late game.
How to Beat Orianna in Lane
Orianna's biggest weakness is the position of her ball. If her ball is on your minion wave, she has to walk into your range to combo. If her ball is on her, she can poke you safely.
Position away from her ball. Always know where the ball is. If it is on a minion in lane, do not stand next to that minion. If it is on her, attack from the side she does not have it facing.
Punish her short range. Orianna's Q range is 825, which is mid-range. If you pick a longer-range champion (Xerath, Vel'Koz, ASol), you can poke her without trading.
Call your jungler. Orianna has no escape. Most ganks succeed if you can land any CC. Even a basic gank from any jungler usually kills her or burns her flash.
Bait her shield (E). Her shield is her main defensive tool. If you can force her to use it on minions or herself early, your next all-in goes through her full HP.
Track her flash. The moment Orianna flashes, you have a 5-minute window to all-in her again. Punish hard during that time.
Teamfighting
Avoid grouping for her Shockwave. Her ult pulls everyone within range of her ball into one point. If your team is stacked, you all die.
Spread out. Force her to choose a target. If she ults one person, the rest of your team is safe and can engage on her.
Lock her down first. Orianna has no escape. The team that locks her down first wins the fight. Stuns, roots, and even fast bursts kill her instantly.
Watch the ball during fights. Her ball is the warning sign. If it is on your tank, she is about to ult. If it is on her, she is poking. Position based on the ball's location.
Itemization
Banshee's Veil: Blocks her first Q. Huge in lane.
Mercury's Treads: CC reduction for her ult and slows.
Zhonya's Hourglass: Block her ult mid-pull. If you Zhonya during her R, you survive the follow-up combo.
Hexdrinker into Maw: For AD bruisers. Magic shield plus burst when low HP.
Spirit Visage: Tanks. Magic resist plus healing boost.
Common Mistakes
Standing next to her ball. The ball is the trigger for all her abilities. Move.
Grouping for objectives without spreading out. Her Shockwave on a stacked Baron pit wipes teams.
Ignoring her ball location. Always know where it is. It is not just visual flair, it is a danger zone.
Letting her free farm. Even a slightly fed Orianna becomes a teamfight monster.
Not warding mid bushes for her flash range. She can ult from inside bushes if her ball is on a minion.
FAQ
Who is the best counter to Orianna?
Fizz in mid lane. His E dodges all her abilities and his ult one-shots her at 6.
Why is Orianna so strong in teamfights?
Her ult (Shockwave) pulls all enemies near her ball into one spot. Combined with team follow-up like Yasuo R or Kennen ult, it can wipe entire teams.
How do I avoid her ult?
Spread out. Watch the ball. The moment you see her cast animation, dash, flash, or Zhonya away from the pull point. Even moving a small distance can save you.
What item is best against Orianna?
Banshee's Veil. It blocks her first Q, which is her main poke. After that, build whatever your champion normally builds.
Is Orianna good against assassins?
Generally no. Her lack of mobility means assassins like Fizz, Diana, and Zed can kill her in one combo. Her shield helps but it usually is not enough.
Final Words
Orianna looks scary because her ult can win games, but she is one of the most immobile champions in the game. Pick a mobile mid-lane assassin, watch her ball, and punish her every time her flash is down. Call your jungler often. Avoid grouping for her ult. Do that and Orianna goes from a game-winner to a free kill.
Want to practice the Orianna matchup on a fresh account? Turbosmurfs has hand-leveled League of Legends smurf accounts ready to go. Pick up Fizz or Diana on a smurf and learn the lane with no pressure on your main rank.
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