How to beat Annie

Common role: Mid

A burst mage who stores a stun and one-shots you with her bear and combo.

What makes Annie dangerous

Annie charges a stun on her fourth ability cast (shown by a white glow), then combos her point-and-click ultimate — summoning a bear (Tibbers) for a huge AoE burst that stuns on cast. Her all-in is guaranteed once her stun is up: no skillshot to dodge, just point and delete.

How to play against Annie

• 1Watch her stun charge (the white glow around her at 4 stacks) — when it's up, respect her all-in and don't step up.
• 2Bait her stun on a spell before she can Tibbers you — make her use it on a Q/W, then trade freely.
• 3She's immobile with no escape. Dive her or all-in when her stun and ult are on cooldown.
• 4Magic resist and a Banshee's/Zhonya's blunt her point-and-click burst since there's no skillshot to dodge.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓Immobile with no escape — easy to dive.
• ✓Stun charge is visible — respect it, punish when it's down.
• ✓Short-ranged for a mage.
• ✓Squishy; magic resist and burst answer her.

Abilities & how to counter them

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

• P
  Pyromania

  After casting 4 spells, Annie's next offensive spell will stun the target.Annie begins the game and respawns with Pyromania available.

  Strong: her fourth ability cast is a guaranteed point-and-click stun (white glow). Weak: watch the glow — respect her all-in when it's up, punish when it's down.

• Q
  Disintegrate

  Annie hurls a Mana infused fireball, dealing damage and refunding the Mana cost if it destroys the target.

• W
  Incinerate

  Annie casts a blazing cone of fire, dealing damage to all enemies in the area.

• E
  Molten Shield

  Grants Annie or an ally a shield, a burst of Move Speed, and damages enemies who strike her with attacks or spells.

• R
  Summon: Tibbers

  Annie wills her bear Tibbers to life, dealing damage to units in the area. Tibbers can attack and also burns enemies that stand near him.

  Strong: summons Tibbers for a huge AoE burst that stuns on cast. Weak: it's part of her point-and-click combo — magic resist and a Banshee's/Zhonya's blunt it.

Itemization

Annie is AP burst with a point-and-click stun. Magic resist (Mercury's Treads, an MR item) and a Banshee's/Zhonya's answer her. Respect her stun charge; dive her when it's down.

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