Who is Bad Against Yone? Unpacking the Yasuo's Brother's Kryptonite in League of Legends
Yone, the Unforgotten, is a formidable force in the world of League of Legends. His dual-wielding swordsmanship, teleporting dashes, and devastating ultimate ability make him a threat to squishy champions and even some bruisers. But like any powerful warrior, Yone has his weaknesses. Knowing who has the upper hand against him is crucial for both aspiring Yone players and those looking to shut him down. This article dives deep into the champions that give Yone a hard time and explains why.
Champions Who Counter Yone: A Closer Look
When we talk about "bad against Yone," we're generally referring to champions who can either out-damage him in a prolonged fight, shut down his mobility, disrupt his combos, or simply survive his burst and retaliate effectively. It's not always about a direct 1v1 counterpick; sometimes, it's about the overall team composition and how certain champions can negate Yone's strengths.
Tanks and High-Durability Bruisers: The Unmovable Objects
Yone excels at diving onto targets and dishing out significant damage. However, champions who are naturally tanky and can withstand his initial onslaught, while also having the tools to CC him and retaliate, can make his life very difficult.
- Ornn: Ornn is a prime example of a tank that can frustrate Yone. His passive, Living Forge, allows him to upgrade his allies' ultimate items, making him a valuable asset that Yone can't easily burst down. Ornn's Bellows Breath (W) provides a shield and armor penetration, making him tankier and allowing him to trade favorably. His Soothing/Molten Shell (E) grants him significant defensive stats, and his ultimate, Call of the Forge God, can knock up Yone and prevent him from reaching his targets. Ornn's sheer durability means Yone will struggle to kill him, and Ornn can often set up plays for his team to catch Yone out.
- Skarner: Skarner's kit is designed to lock down mobile champions. His passive, Crystal Spires, grants him bonus stats when near them, and his Crystalline Exoskeleton (E) can be used to slow Yone. However, his true power comes from his ultimate, Impale. If Skarner lands this ability, he can drag Yone anywhere on the map, effectively removing him from the fight or setting him up for his entire team to kill. Yone's dashes are no match for Skarner's reliable suppression.
- Malphite: The ultimate rock-solid counter to AD (Attack Damage) heavy champions. Yone deals primarily physical damage. Malphite's passive, Seismic Shard, gives him a magic shield, and his Granite Shield provides him with damage reduction. His Unstoppable Force (R) is a devastating engage that can completely nullify Yone's dive and knock him up, often allowing his team to follow up with overwhelming damage. Malphite's ability to build pure armor makes Yone's damage significantly less effective.
- Poppy: Poppy's kit is a nightmare for mobile, dash-heavy champions like Yone. Her passive, Hammer of the Guardians, can grant her a shield and a powerful knockback. Her Heroic Charge (E) can stun Yone if he runs into a wall, and her ultimate, Keeper's Verdict, can knock Yone up and send him flying away, effectively disengaging him from a fight or disrupting his engage. Poppy excels at punishing aggressive dives.
Champions with Crowd Control (CC) and Disruption: The Strangleholds
Yone's offensive power relies heavily on his ability to chain his abilities together and execute his combos. Champions who can interrupt his sequences or lock him down can significantly reduce his effectiveness.
- Ahri: While not a tank, Ahri brings valuable crowd control and mobility to counter Yone. Her Charm (E) can stop Yone dead in his tracks, forcing him to use his dash defensively or become an easy target. Her Orb of Deception (Q) and Fox-Fire (W) provide poke and burst damage, and her ultimate, Spirit Rush, allows her to reposition and dodge Yone's abilities. A well-timed Charm can completely ruin Yone's engage.
- Morgana: Morgana's kit is built around her infamous Dark Binding (Q). If this skillshot lands on Yone, it can root him for a significant duration, preventing him from dashing or attacking. Her Black Shield (E) can also be used on herself or allies to prevent Yone's CC from affecting them, allowing for easier escapes or engages. While Morgana might not kill Yone quickly, she can effectively peel for her team or set up ganks.
- Pantheon: Pantheon's interrupt potential is key. His Shield Vault (W) provides a stun, and his empowered Comet Spear (Q) can deal significant damage. His ultimate, Grand Starfall, allows him to engage from range. What makes Pantheon particularly good against Yone is his ability to block critical hits with his passive, Mantle of the Pantheon. Yone often relies on critical strikes, and Pantheon can negate a significant portion of that damage.
- Braum: A dedicated defensive support. Braum's Stand Behind Me (E) can block incoming projectiles, including Yone's ultimate. His Glacial Fissure (R) can knock up enemies in a line, interrupting Yone's aggressive plays. Braum's primary role here is to peel for his carries and make Yone's engage less potent.
Long-Range Poke and Sustain: The Attrition Warriors
Champions who can consistently poke Yone down from a safe distance, preventing him from engaging or forcing him to back off, can also be effective counters. Sustain allows them to stay in lane and out-grind Yone.
- Vayne: Vayne's Silver Bolts (W) deal true damage based on the enemy's max health, which bypasses Yone's armor. Her Tumble (Q) provides mobility, allowing her to dodge Yone's abilities. Her ultimate, Final Hour, grants her bonus AD and mobility, making her a significant threat in a prolonged fight. Vayne excels at dueling and out-sustaining Yone if played correctly.
- Kennen: A ranged top laner or mid laner who can kite Yone effectively. Kennen's Thundering Shuriken (Q) and Lightning Rush (E) allow him to poke Yone from a distance and escape. His passive, Mark of the Storm, can stack on Yone, and his ultimate, Searing Maelstrom, can deal massive damage to Yone and his nearby allies. Kennen can zone Yone out of farm and deny him opportunities to engage.
Why These Champions are "Bad" Against Yone
The reasons these champions excel against Yone boil down to a few key factors:
- Negating Mobility: Yone's core gameplay involves dashing and repositioning. Champions with hard CC (stuns, roots, knock-ups) or abilities that can suppress movement are highly effective at stopping his momentum.
- Sustained Damage/Durability: Yone often has a window of opportunity to burst down a target. Champions who can survive this burst due to high defenses, shields, or damage reduction can then turn the tables.
- Disrupting Combos: Yone's damage comes from a specific sequence of abilities. Interrupting any part of this sequence, especially his empowered Q or his ultimate, can significantly reduce his kill potential.
- Range Advantage: Ranged champions who can poke Yone down before he can get into engage range force him to play defensively or risk dying before he can even make a play.
- True Damage/Armor Penetration: Yone builds some defensive items, but he's still primarily AD. Champions who deal true damage or have excellent armor penetration can bypass his defenses more effectively.
The Importance of Player Skill
It's crucial to remember that even with a favorable matchup, player skill remains paramount. A highly skilled Yone player can still overcome some of these disadvantages with excellent positioning, timing, and decision-making. Conversely, a less experienced player on a "counter" champion might still struggle against a proficient Yone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I counter Yone's ultimate?
Yone's ultimate, Fate Sealed, is a powerful engage tool that knocks up and damages enemies in a line. To counter it, look for champions with hard crowd control like stuns or knock-ups that can interrupt him before he fully casts it, or abilities that grant invulnerability or displacement like Braum's Glacial Fissure or Poppy's Keeper's Verdict. Items like Zhonya's Hourglass or Banshee's Veil can also help dodge or mitigate the ultimate.
Why are tanks good against Yone?
Tanks are good against Yone because they can naturally withstand his high physical damage output due to their inherent tankiness and itemization. They can also often disrupt his engage with their crowd control abilities, preventing him from snowballing and giving their team time to react and punish him.
What kind of abilities does Yone struggle against?
Yone struggles against abilities that can prevent him from dashing or executing his combo. This includes stuns, roots, knock-ups, silences, and displacement abilities. He also has a harder time against champions who can out-sustain him in lane or deal significant true damage.
Is there a specific item that counters Yone?
While not a single item that "counters" him entirely, items like Plated Steelcaps (for reduced auto-attack damage), Bramble Vest (for Grievous Wounds against healing), and Zhonya's Hourglass (for invulnerability to dodge his damage) can be very effective against Yone. For magic damage dealers, items like Banshee's Veil can block his initial engage.
Why is mobility important when playing against Yone?
Mobility is important when playing against Yone because it allows you to dodge his abilities, particularly his empowered Q (the third cast) and his ultimate. Champions with dashes or blinks can reposition themselves to avoid damage or escape his engage, making it harder for him to secure kills.
