Best Counters to Play Against Hwei in League of Legends

Turbosmurfs

Administrator

07 Apr

Mastering the art of countering Hwei in League of Legends can transform your gameplay experience. This powerful mage has become a formidable presence in the mid lane, but every champion has their weaknesses. You'll discover ten battle-tested champions ready to challenge Hwei's dominance.

From assassins to mages, these counters bring unique strengths to the battlefield:

Zed and Talon - Masters of swift, lethal engagements
Qiyana and Irelia - Mobile fighters with devastating combos
Ahri and LeBlanc - Skillful mages with high outplay potential
Morgana and Syndra - Control mages who can match Hwei's range
Fizz and Cho'Gath - Diverse picks offering different counter strategies

Each champion brings a distinct approach to shutting down Hwei's artillery-style gameplay. Whether you prefer the high-risk, high-reward playstyle of assassins or the methodical control of mages, you'll find effective strategies to neutralize Hwei's impact on the game.

To further enhance your chances of victory, consider partnering with someone who complements your chosen champion. Finding the perfect LoL duo partner can significantly improve your performance and increase your chances of climbing the ladder faster.

Let's explore Hwei's specific strengths and weaknesses, followed by detailed insights on how each counter champion can exploit these vulnerabilities to secure your victory on the Rift.

Understanding Hwei's Strengths and Weaknesses

Hwei is a powerful mage in League of Legends, with a unique set of abilities that make him a formidable opponent when played skillfully. His strengths and weaknesses can be categorized into three main areas:

Strengths

1. Long-Range Artillery

Hwei can deal devastating poke damage from a safe distance.
He has multiple spell combinations that allow for varied damage output.
Hwei has the ability to control teamfight zones effectively.

2. Crowd Control Arsenal

Hwei possesses strong area denial capabilities.
He has reliable stun mechanics in his kit.
With proper spell sequencing, Hwei can chain crowd control effects.

3. Wave Clear Dominance

Hwei excels at clearing minion waves quickly.
He has strong pushing power, allowing him to take down towers efficiently.
Hwei's abilities grant him excellent control over objectives such as dragons and Baron Nashor.

Critical Weaknesses

1. Mobility Limitations

Hwei lacks any built-in escape mechanisms, making him vulnerable to ganks and assassins.
Gap-closing champions can easily catch up to him if he mispositions.
Proper positioning is crucial for Hwei to avoid being caught out.

2. Defensive Fragility

Compared to other mages, Hwei has a low base health pool.
His defensive stats are minimal, making him susceptible to burst damage from enemy champions.
If enemies can quickly eliminate Hwei before he can react, they can turn the tide of battle.

3. Resource Management

Hwei's abilities have high mana costs, requiring careful management of resources during fights.
Extended teamfights or skirmishes can quickly drain his mana pool, limiting his effectiveness.
In the early game, Hwei may struggle with mana constraints and need to play more conservatively.

These strengths and weaknesses define Hwei's playstyle as a backline artillery mage who excels at controlling space and dealing sustained damage from afar. To succeed with him, players must prioritize positioning and resource management while being aware of their vulnerabilities against aggressive opponents.

Key Strategies to Counter Hwei

Denying Hwei's early game momentum creates a significant advantage. You'll want to coordinate with your jungler to maintain vision control and prevent his farming patterns. A well-timed gank before level 6 can set him behind, limiting his ability to scale into the late game.

Early Game Pressure

Freeze the lane near your tower to force Hwei into vulnerable positions
Contest his blue buff timing - Hwei is mana-hungry in the early phases
Push waves quickly when he attempts to roam, denying his ability to impact other lanes

Jungle Fight Prevention

Avoid cramped spaces where his abilities can hit multiple targets
Place deep wards to track his movement through river and jungle paths
Take alternate routes when you spot him setting up in choke points

Quick Engagement Tactics

Use Flash aggressively to close the gap and bypass his defensive spells
Target him during his ability cooldowns - particularly after using his escape tools
Coordinate with your team to chain CC once you've engaged

Pressure and Dodging

Move unpredictably to make his skillshots harder to land
Stay behind minions to block his key abilities
Watch his painting animations to anticipate which spell he's preparing
Use minion waves as cover while maintaining aggressive positioning

Remember to track his summoner spell cooldowns and build early magic resistance items to reduce his burst potential. Boots of Swiftness or Mercury's Treads help you dodge his abilities and reduce CC duration.

For those looking for more personalized strategies or in-depth guidance on improving their overall gameplay, consider exploring LOL Coaching options available.

Top Champions to Counter Hwei in League of Legends

Choosing the right champion against Hwei can significantly increase your chances of winning. These champions are specifically designed to exploit Hwei's weaknesses and give you an advantage in battle.

1. Zed

Zed is one of the best counters to Hwei, thanks to his ability to move quickly and deal massive damage in a short amount of time.

Key Advantages:

Zed can close the gap between him and Hwei instantly with his Living Shadow ability.
He has multiple ways to escape Hwei's attacks by using his other abilities.
Zed's burst damage can bypass Hwei's defensive abilities, making it harder for him to survive.

Effective Skill Usage:

Use Death Mark (R) to teleport behind Hwei and avoid his forward-facing abilities.
Create positioning mixups with Living Shadow (W) to confuse Hwei's targeting.
Slow down Hwei with Shadow Slash (E) to prevent him from escaping.
Deal significant damage through multiple shadows using Razor Shuriken (Q).

Your assassination combo starts with Living Shadow, creating opportunities to dodge Hwei's abilities while closing distance. Once in range, unleash Death Mark to become untargetable and position yourself for the kill. The mark's detonation, combined with your ability rotation, can delete Hwei before he can respond with his lengthy spell animations.

Lane Dominance:

Push waves quickly to roam and create map pressure.
Maintain presence in Hwei's blind spots.
Punish his cooldowns with aggressive trades.
Use energy-based abilities to outlast his mana pool.

It's essential to balance both micro and macro gameplay in this matchup. While Zed's high mobility allows for effective micro plays, such as dodging skillshots and executing quick trades, understanding the macro aspect will enable you to control the map better—pushing waves strategically and creating pressure in other lanes.

2. Talon

Talon's aggressive playstyle is similar to Zed's effectiveness against Hwei, combining powerful burst damage and high mobility. His Rake ability allows you to poke Hwei from a safe distance while also creating opportunities for all-in attacks.

Key Advantages as Talon

Your main strengths as Talon are:

Noxian Diplomacy (Q) - Jump directly to Hwei, avoiding his skill shots
Shadow Assault (R) - Become invisible to dodge abilities and reposition yourself
Assassin's Path (E) - Scale walls to roam and catch Hwei by surprise

Optimal Engagement Pattern

The best way to engage Hwei is:

Use Rake to slow and damage him
Wait for him to use his important abilities
Close the distance with Noxian Diplomacy
Execute your full burst combo

Your ability to roam with Assassin's Path puts pressure on the map, forcing Hwei to play defensively. When he's pushed up, work together with your jungler to punish his lack of escape tools.

Build Youmuu's Ghostblade early on to enhance your mobility advantage and gain an upper hand in the lane.

3. Qiyana

Qiyana's diverse elemental abilities make her a lethal counter to Hwei's methodical playstyle. Her Elemental Prowess allows her to adapt her damage type and utility based on the situation, keeping Hwei guessing and disrupting his casting patterns.

Key advantages when playing Qiyana against Hwei:

River Element provides movement speed to dodge skill shots
Brush Element creates opportunities for surprise engages
Wall Element grants bonus damage to punish Hwei's positioning

The optimal combo against Hwei starts with Terrashape (Q) using the river element to slow him down, followed by Audacity (E) to close the gap. Use Supreme Display of Talent (R) when Hwei is near walls to maximize crowd control and burst potential.

Your early game priority is maintaining lane dominance through:

Aggressive trades when Hwei's abilities are on cooldown
Roaming to side lanes after pushing the wave
Controlling river vision to deny Hwei's escape routes

Qiyana's ability to weave in and out of combat while dealing significant burst damage makes her particularly effective at punishing Hwei's lack of mobility and defensive options.

4. Irelia

Irelia is a strong counter to Hwei because she has both healing and burst damage capabilities. Her Bladesurge ability allows her to quickly move through minions, making it difficult for Hwei to accurately hit his skillshots.

Key strengths against Hwei:

Ionian Fervor passive stacks enable increased damage output
Built-in healing through Defiant Dance
Multiple dash resets to dodge Hwei's abilities

Your lane strategy should focus on:

Building Blade of the Ruined King first for increased sustain
Using minions as mobility tools to close gaps
Saving Defiant Dance to reduce incoming burst damage

When engaging Hwei, wait for him to use his main abilities before going in. Your Vanguard's Edge ultimate can force him into unfavorable positions, creating opportunities for all-in attacks. The combination of Bladesurge resets and Flawless Duet stun makes Irelia particularly effective at punishing Hwei's positioning mistakes.

Remember to maintain your passive stacks - they're crucial for winning extended trades against Hwei's poke-heavy playstyle.

5. Ahri

Ahri's versatile kit makes her a formidable counter to Hwei in the mid lane. Her Charm (E) ability disrupts Hwei's casting sequences, forcing him to reset his combinations and creating windows of opportunity for aggressive plays.

The Spirit Rush (R) ultimate grants Ahri three dashes, perfect for:

Dodging Hwei's skillshots
Repositioning during team fights
Creating distance when needed
Setting up precise angles for charm attacks

Your Orb of Deception (Q) provides consistent damage while maintaining a safe distance. The movement speed boost from the ability helps you weave between Hwei's spells and maintain lane control.

Fox-Fire (W) auto-targets Hwei when he's in range, dealing reliable damage even when he attempts to hide behind minions. This ability pairs well with your charm for quick burst combos.

The key to success lies in using Ahri's mobility to bait out Hwei's abilities. Wait for him to commit to a spell, then punish with a charm-combo while his abilities are on cooldown. Your ultimate serves as both an offensive tool and a safety net, letting you control the pace of engagements.

6. LeBlanc

LeBlanc's high-mobility kit makes her a natural counter to Hwei's skill shot-heavy playstyle. Her Distortion (W) ability allows you to:

Dodge Hwei's primary damage abilities
Create unpredictable movement patterns
Return to safety after trading

The key to success lies in LeBlanc's burst combo potential. You can unleash devastating damage through her Sigil of Malice (Q) followed by Ethereal Chains (E). This combination locks down Hwei while dealing significant burst damage.

Your Mimic (R) ability adds another layer of deception:

Double dash potential with W-R combination
Multiple escape routes during ganks
Confusing clone mechanics that disrupt Hwei's targeting

LeBlanc's trading pattern excels against Hwei's relatively static positioning. Wait for him to use his abilities, then engage with your full combo when his spells are on cooldown. Your mobility advantage allows you to control the lane's tempo and force favorable trades on your terms.

7. Morgana

Morgana's Black Shield ability creates a powerful defense against Hwei's crowd control effects. You can shield yourself or allies to negate his stuns and slows, allowing for aggressive plays without fear of his CC.

Her Dark Binding provides excellent lane control:

3-second root at max rank
Long-range skillshot that outranges most of Hwei's abilities
Perfect tool for setting up ganks

The laning phase strategy revolves around your Tormented Shadow:

Place it strategically to zone Hwei from CS
Force him to choose between taking damage or missing farm
Use it to clear waves quickly and maintain lane pressure

Your Soul Shackles ultimate serves as both an offensive and defensive tool:

Forces Hwei to retreat or risk being stunned
Creates space for your team to engage
Disrupts his positioning in teamfights

Build Liandry's Anguish early to amplify your damage output against Hwei's relatively low mobility. Pair it with Zhonya's Hourglass to survive his burst attempts while your abilities are on cooldown.

8. Fizz

Fizz is a powerful counter to Hwei because of his unmatched speed and ability to deal burst damage. His Playful/Trickster skill allows him to become untargetable for a short period, making it possible to dodge Hwei's important skill shots with precise timing.

Key advantages when playing Fizz:

Your Q - Urchin Strike lets you close the gap quickly while dealing damage
E - Playful/Trickster helps avoid Hwei's combo sequences
R - Chum the Waters sets up guaranteed burst damage

The optimal burst combo against Hwei:

Land your ultimate from medium range
Wait for the shark to emerge
Q toward Hwei
Use W for enhanced auto-attack damage
E to dodge any counter-abilities

You can maximize your damage output by waiting for Hwei to use his abilities before engaging. His lack of escape mechanisms makes him particularly vulnerable to Fizz's all-in potential. Rushing Hextech Rocketbelt provides additional mobility to chase down Hwei when he attempts to maintain distance.

9. Syndra

Syndra's mastery over dark spheres creates a challenging matchup for Hwei. Her Force of Will (W) ability disrupts Hwei's positioning, making it difficult for him to set up his artistic combinations.

Syndra's key advantages against Hwei:

Dark Sphere (Q) matches Hwei's range, allowing her to trade effectively without exposing herself
Scatter the Weak (E) creates distance while stunning, perfect for interrupting Hwei's spell casting
Unleashed Power (R) delivers devastating burst damage when Hwei is caught out of position

Your laning strategy should focus on:

Maintaining sphere presence in the lane to zone Hwei from farm
Using Dark Sphere to punish Hwei when he attempts to cast his abilities
Saving Scatter the Weak for defensive plays or to set up ganks

During team fights, position your spheres strategically to limit Hwei's movement options. A well-timed Unleashed Power can eliminate Hwei before he impacts major objectives, turning team fights in your favor.

10. Cho'Gath

Cho'Gath is a strong counter to Hwei because he has a unique combination of being tough and having abilities that disrupt. His passive ability lets him heal through Hwei's poke damage by getting health back from killing minions, making the laning phase much easier.

Key Strengths Against Hwei:

Gaining more health through his ultimate ability
Healing himself with his passive ability
Having multiple ways to control enemies with his abilities

Your main strategy is to focus on building items that increase your health early on while also farming safely. Once you reach level 6, you can start putting pressure on Hwei by using your Rupture (Q) ability to push him away from his preferred range. The silence effect from Feral Scream (W) will stop Hwei from using his spell combinations, giving your team opportunities to engage.

During team fights, you can:

Take the damage from Hwei while your team gets into position for an attack
Use Feast (R) to make yourself harder to kill
Push Hwei out of position with your knock-up and slow abilities
Create chaos in the enemy backline with Vorpal Spikes (E)

As you build up your health, your role changes from being defensive to offensive, making you a powerful force against Hwei's fragile body.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of countering Hwei requires a strategic champion selection and an understanding of key gameplay mechanics. The most effective counters to Hwei share common traits:

High mobility champions like Zed and LeBlanc can dodge his skillshots
Burst damage dealers such as Talon and Fizz can quickly eliminate him
Sustain-focused champions like Irelia and Cho'Gath can withstand his poke

Your success against Hwei depends on implementing these core strategies:

Lock him down with targeted crowd control
Engage quickly before he can set up his combos
Maintain constant pressure to prevent his scaling
Capitalize on his lack of mobility during teamfights

These League of Legends strategies work best when combined with proper wave management and vision control. Remember to adapt your build path to include items that enhance your champion's natural advantages against Hwei.

The Best Counters to Play Against Hwei in League of Legends aren't just about champion selection - they're about understanding the matchup dynamics and executing your game plan effectively. Pick a counter that matches your playstyle, practice the specific matchup mechanics, and you'll find success against this formidable mage in your ranked games.