How to beat Volibear

Common role: Top / Jungle

The best counter to Volibear in Top is Graves: 64.6% win rate over 49 ranked games on patch 26.17.

A diving bruiser who runs you down, stuns towers, and becomes a raging demigod.

What makes Volibear dangerous

Volibear charges in with a stun (Q), gains attack speed and shields, and his ultimate boosts his health and damage while disabling a nearby tower — letting him dive turrets fearlessly. He heals and runs you down, snowballing off early kills into an unkillable frontline.

How to play against Volibear

• 1Dodge or interrupt his Q charge — it's a run-up stun and his main engage. Without it he can't lock you down.
• 2Respect his tower-dive: his ult disables a turret, so he'll dive you under it. Don't assume tower safety when his R is up.
• 3Grievous Wounds cuts his healing — anti-heal makes his dives losing trades. Kite him after he uses his E slow.
• 4Beat him early or scale — a fed Volibear is a monster, but he's kiteable and CC before his Q catches him.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓Q stun is a dodgeable/interruptible charge.
• ✓Healing cut by Grievous Wounds.
• ✓Kiteable outside his engage.
• ✓Snowball-dependent early bruiser.

Abilities & how to counter them

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

• P
  The Relentless Storm

  Volibear's Attacks and abilities grant Attack Speed, and eventually cause his Attacks to deal bonus magic damage to nearby enemies.

• Q
  Thundering Smash

  Volibear gains speed towards enemies, Stunning and damaging the first one he Attacks.

  Strong: a run-up stun — his main engage. Weak: dodge or interrupt the charge and he can't lock you down.

• W
  Frenzied Maul

  Volibear damages an enemy, applying on-hit effects and marking them. Casting this ability again on the same target deals bonus damage and Heals Volibear.

• E
  Sky Splitter

  Volibear summons a lightning bolt at a location, dealing damage and Slowing enemies while granting Volibear a Shield if he's inside the blast radius.

• R
  Stormbringer

  Volibear leaps to a target location, Slowing and damaging enemies beneath him while gaining bonus Health. Enemy towers near his landing location become temporarily disabled.

  Strong: boosts his HP/damage and disables a nearby tower, enabling fearless dives. Weak: don't trust tower safety when it's up; Grievous Wounds cuts the healing.

Itemization

Volibear is AD with healing. Grievous Wounds, armor and slows to kite him are core. Respect his tower-disable dive when his ult is up, and interrupt his Q charge.

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