Kog'Maw counters (Bot)

Common role: ADC

The best counter to Kog'Maw in Bot is Veigar: 50.9% win rate over 177 ranked games on patch 26.21.

A living artillery cannon that melts tanks — if he lives long enough.

What makes Kog'Maw dangerous

Kog'Maw's W extends his range massively and shreds % max HP on hit — tanks evaporate. He slows with void ooze, pokes with long artillery (R), and even in death his passive corpse chases and explodes. With an enchanter babysitter he's a raid boss.

How to counter Kog'Maw

• 1He's the least mobile carry in the game — one gap-close kills him.
• 2Dive him OUTSIDE the W window (its cooldown is real).
• 3Kill him last-second? Walk from the corpse — it explodes.
• 4Cut the head: kill his enchanter first if she's the peel.

What are Kog'Maw's weaknesses?

• ✓Zero mobility — every assassin's dream.
• ✓Nearly useless when W is on cooldown.
• ✓Needs a dedicated protector to function.
• ✓Weak early laning.

Abilities & how to counter them

What each of Kog'Maw's abilities does — and how to play around it.

• P
  Icathian Surprise

  4 seconds after dying, Kogmaw explodes, dealing true damage to surrounding enemies.

  Strong: his corpse chases and explodes for true damage. Weak: a walking speed bomb — simply step away after the kill.

• Q
  Caustic Spittle

  Kog'Maw launches a corrosive projectile which deals magic damage and corrodes the target's armor and magic resist for a short time. Kog'Maw also gains additional attack speed.

  Strong: shreds both resists while boosting his attack speed. Weak: a thin skillshot — the shred misses more than it lands.

• W
  Bio-Arcane Barrage

  Kog'Maw's attacks gain range and deal a percent of the target's maximum health as magic damage %i:OnHit% On-Hit.

  Strong: huge bonus range plus %max-HP magic on-hit — tank deleter. Weak: a short window on a real cooldown — dive exactly after it drops.

• E
  Void Ooze

  Kog'Maw launches a peculiar ooze which damages all enemies it passes through and leaves a trail which slows enemies who stand on it.

  Strong: a long slow-field that covers his kiting lane. Weak: just a slow — dashes and tenacity walk through it.

• R
  Living Artillery

  Kog'Maw fires an artillery shell at a great distance dealing magic damage (increased significantly on low health enemies) and revealing non-stealthed targets. Additionally, multiple Living Artilleries in a short period of time cause them to cost additional Mana.

  Strong: global-feeling artillery poke that executes low HP (%missing). Weak: a visible landing circle — walk unpredictably when low.

Itemization

Flank and dive — never front-to-back into artillery mode. Assassins and hard engage are hard counters.

This guide covers Kog'Maw's core kit and playstyle — advice that holds up across patches.