Annie · Mid
Annie Matchups and Counters
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
This guide covers Annie's matchups and how to adapt to them. Riot publishes no matchup statistics, so the matchups below come from the champions' own stats and kits: attack range, starting durability, crowd control and mobility. They describe an advantage on paper, not a measured result.
Strengths
- Crowd control: Pyromania applies a stun to set up kills.
- Sustain from Molten Shield.
- Long attack range (625) for safe trades in lane.
Weaknesses
- Fragile: Riot rates it 3/10 in defense.
- No dash or blink in the kit: vulnerable to ganks without vision.
- Mana-hungry early: spamming abilities leaves you empty before the fight.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Against physical damageDefensiveRecommendedFor a lane or a team that hits with attacks: armor boots and an armor item in the core.
- Against magic damageDefensiveSituationalFor a team that kills with abilities: magic resist boots and a magic resist item in the core.
- Against healingDefensiveSituationalFor games against healers, life steal or regeneration: the anti-heal item goes into the core instead of waiting.
Builds
Against physical damage
When to use it
For a lane or a team that hits with attacks: armor boots and an armor item in the core.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- MidMain100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Cryptbloom
- 2Archangel's Staff
- 3Zhonya's Hourglass
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Resolve
Shards
Summoner spells
Flash
Ignite
Against magic damage
When to use it
For a team that kills with abilities: magic resist boots and a magic resist item in the core.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- MidMain100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Cryptbloom
- 2Archangel's Staff
- 3Banshee's Veil
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Resolve
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
- Ignite
Against healing
When to use it
For games against healers, life steal or regeneration: the anti-heal item goes into the core instead of waiting.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- MidMain100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Cryptbloom
- 2Archangel's Staff
- 3Morellonomicon
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Resolve
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
- Ignite
Abilities
PyromaniaPassiveAfter casting 4 spells, Annie's next offensive spell will stun the target. Annie begins the game and respawns with Pyromania available.
QDisintegrate4s60/65/70/75/80 mpAnnie hurls a Mana infused fireball, dealing damage and refunding the Mana cost if it destroys the target.- Cooldown
- 4
- Cost
- 60·65·70·75·80
- Range
- 625
WIncinerate7s70/75/80/85/90 mpAnnie casts a blazing cone of fire, dealing damage to all enemies in the area.- Cooldown
- 7
- Cost
- 70·75·80·85·90
- Range
- 600
EMolten Shield10s60/65/70/75/80 mpGrants Annie or an ally a shield, a burst of Move Speed, and damages enemies who strike her with attacks or spells.- Cooldown
- 10
- Cost
- 60·65·70·75·80
- Range
- 800
RSummon: TibbersUltimate130/115/100s100 mpAnnie wills her bear Tibbers to life, dealing damage to units in the area. Tibbers can attack and also burns enemies that stand near him.- Cooldown
- 130·115·100
- Cost
- 100
- Range
- 600
Strategy
1Good matchups
Annie does well against these:
- Akali: Annie attacks from 625 units and Akali from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
- Katarina: Annie attacks from 625 units and Katarina from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
- Locke: Annie attacks from 625 units and Locke from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
2Tough matchups
Annie struggles against these:
3Synergies
Annie works well alongside these, because their kits fit together:
- Jhin: Deadly Flourish from Jhin gives Annie, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
- Rek'Sai: Burrow / Un-burrow from Rek'Sai gives Annie, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
- Rell: Shattering Strike from Rell gives Annie, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
4Adapting the build
The situational builds in this guide answer specific threats: Against physical damage, Against magic damage and Against healing.
5Playing against Annie
If you're on the other side, this is what to exploit:
- Annie's summoned bear, Tibbers, burns opposing units around himself. Try to keep your distance from him after he's been summoned.
- Summoner Smite can be used to help take down Tibbers.
- Keep an eye out for a white, swirling power around Annie. It means she's ready to unleash her stun.
Matchups
Strong against
Annie attacks from 625 units and Akali from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Annie attacks from 625 units and Katarina from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Annie attacks from 625 units and Locke from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Weak against
Call of the Void silences Annie, whose damage comes from abilities.
Mortal Steel lets Yone reach Annie, who has no escape in the kit.
Sweeping Blade lets Yasuo reach Annie, who has no escape in the kit.
Works well with
Deadly Flourish from Jhin gives Annie, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
Burrow / Un-burrow from Rek'Sai gives Annie, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
Shattering Strike from Rell gives Annie, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 16.19.1.
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