Azir · Mid
Azir 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 Azir'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
- Sustain from Shifting Sands.
- Long attack range (525) for safe trades in lane.
- High magic damage: Riot rates it 8/10 in magic.
Weaknesses
- Fragile: Riot rates it 3/10 in defense.
- Hard to master: Riot rates its difficulty 9/10.
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
- 1Stormrazor
- 2Yun Tal Wildarrows
- 3Zhonya's Hourglass
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Precision
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
- 1Stormrazor
- 2Yun Tal Wildarrows
- 3Banshee's Veil
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Precision
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
- 1Stormrazor
- 2Yun Tal Wildarrows
- 3Morellonomicon
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Precision
Secondary· Resolve
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
- Ignite
Abilities
Shurima's LegacyPassiveAzir can summon the Disc of the Sun from the ruins of allied or enemy turrets.
QConquering Sands14/12/10/8/6s70/80/90/100/110 mpAzir sends all Sand Soldiers towards a location. Sand Soldiers deal magic damage to enemies they pass through and apply a slow for 1 second.- Cooldown
- 14·12·10·8·6
- Cost
- 70·80·90·100·110
- Range
- 740
WArise!1.5s40/35/30/25/20 mpAzir summons a Sand Soldier to attack nearby targets for him, replacing his basic attack against targets within the soldier's range. Their attacks deal magic damage to enemies in a line.- Cooldown
- 1.5
- Cost
- 40·35·30·25·20
- Range
- 525
EShifting Sands22/20.5/19/17.5/16s60 mpAzir shields himself briefly and dashes to one of his Sand Soldiers, damaging enemies. If he hits an enemy champion, he instantly readies a new Sand Soldier for deployment and halts his dash.- Cooldown
- 22·20.5·19·17.5·16
- Cost
- 60
- Range
- 1100
REmperor's DivideUltimate120/105/90s100 mpAzir summons a wall of soldiers which charge forward, knocking back and damaging enemies.- Cooldown
- 120·105·90
- Cost
- 100
- Range
- 250
Strategy
1Good matchups
Azir does well against these:
- Akali: Azir attacks from 525 units and Akali from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
- Katarina: Azir attacks from 525 units and Katarina from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
- Locke: Azir attacks from 525 units and Locke from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
2Tough matchups
Azir struggles against these:
- Lissandra: Ring of Frost (root) lets Lissandra pin Azir down before Shifting Sands gets them out.
- Cassiopeia: Petrifying Gaze (stun) lets Cassiopeia pin Azir down before Shifting Sands gets them out.
- Malzahar: Call of the Void silences Azir, whose damage comes from abilities.
3Synergies
Azir works well alongside these, because their kits fit together:
4Adapting the build
The situational builds in this guide answer specific threats: Against physical damage, Against magic damage and Against healing.
5Playing against Azir
If you're on the other side, this is what to exploit:
- Azir relies on his soldiers to deal damage and can only move them so often. Try to capitalize on windows of time when his soldiers are stationary.
- Azir has immense damage over a prolonged amount of time but lacks the upfront burst of other mages. Try to burst him out before he can turn a confrontation around.
- Try to think of Sand Soldiers as fire. Don't stand in the fire.
Tips
Matchups
Strong against
Azir attacks from 525 units and Akali from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Azir attacks from 525 units and Katarina from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Azir attacks from 525 units and Locke from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Weak against
Ring of Frost (root) lets Lissandra pin Azir down before Shifting Sands gets them out.
Petrifying Gaze (stun) lets Cassiopeia pin Azir down before Shifting Sands gets them out.
Call of the Void silences Azir, whose damage comes from abilities.
Works well with
Piercing Darkness from Senna keeps Azir alive, and Azir is the damage the team needs to protect.
Inspire from Karma keeps Azir alive, and Azir is the damage the team needs to protect.
Eye Of The Storm from Janna keeps Azir alive, and Azir is the damage the team needs to protect.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 16.19.1.
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