Taliyah · Mid

Taliyah Aggressive Guide

OffensiveData-drivenMediumPatch 16.19.1

510Updated 9 hours ago

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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 is about playing Taliyah aggressively. Aggressive mid means shoving the wave, taking the river first and looking for kills in the side lanes with your jungler. Your spikes are level 6, when Weaver's Wall comes online, and each completed item: Cryptbloom first, then Archangel's Staff. Riot rates it 1/10 in attack, 8/10 in magic, 7/10 in defense and 5/10 in difficulty.

Strengths

High magic damage: Riot rates it 8/10 in magic.
Crowd control: Unraveled Earth applies a stun to set up kills.
Long attack range (525) for safe trades in lane.
Very durable: Riot rates it 7/10 in defense.

Weaknesses

Mana-hungry early: spamming abilities leaves you empty before the fight.
Every death while playing aggressively hands the tempo back to the enemy.

Build cheat sheet

Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.

Burst buildOffensiveRecommendedAll-in on damage: Shadowflame, Void Staff and Bloodletter's Curse stack ability power, magic penetration and health. Choose it when you're ahead or the enemy team is fragile — it gives up safety for kill pressure.
Against physical damageDefensiveSituationalFor a lane or a team that hits with attacks: armor boots and an armor item in the core.

Builds

Burst build

OffensiveRecommended

Open build

When to use it

All-in on damage: Shadowflame, Void Staff and Bloodletter's Curse stack ability power, magic penetration and health. Choose it when you're ahead or the enemy team is fragile — it gives up safety for kill pressure.

Where it's played

Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.

Summoner's RiftRed side · bottom leftBlue side · top right

MidMain100% of matches
JunglePriority 2

Starting items

Doran's RingHealth Potion

Core items

1Shadowflame
2Void Staff
3Bloodletter's Curse

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

Situational

Zhonya's HourglassAgainst heavy physical damage.Banshee's VeilAgainst heavy magic damage.MorellonomiconCuts the enemy's healing.

Runes

Primary· Domination

Secondary· Sorcery

Shards

Summoner spells

Flash
Ignite

Abilities

Rock SurfingPassiveTaliyah gains Move Speed near walls.
QThreaded Volley7/6/5/4/3s55/60/65/70/75 mpTaliyah throws a volley of rocks in a target direction, moving freely as she casts. This creates Worked Ground below her. If Taliyah casts Threaded Volley on Worked Ground, she consumes the ground to throw a stronger boulder that slows enemies.
Cooldown
7·6·5·4·3
Cost
55·60·65·70·75
Range
1000
WSeismic Shove14/12.5/11/9.5/8s40/30/20/10/0 mpTaliyah causes an area of ground to erupt and throws enemies within it in a direction of her choosing.
Cooldown
14·12.5·11·9.5·8
Cost
40·30·20·10·0
Range
900
EUnraveled Earth14s90 mpTaliyah creates a slowing minefield. If enemies dash through it or are knocked through it, the mines explode and stun them.
Cooldown
14
Cost
90
Range
950
Basic ability — applies a stun and moves you. Save it for priority targets or to interrupt a channel.
RWeaver's WallUltimate180/150/120s100 mpTaliyah creates a very long wall and then surfs it.
Cooldown
180·150·120
Cost
100
Range
2500·4500·6500
Ultimate. Plan your fights around its cooldown.

Strategy

1When to fight

Your spikes are level 6, when Weaver's Wall comes online, and each completed item: Cryptbloom first, then Archangel's Staff. Aggressive mid means shoving the wave, taking the river first and looking for kills in the side lanes with your jungler.

2Picking your targets

Use Weaver's Wall where it changes the fight, not where it's safe, and keep your distance until the enemy uses their engage. The best target is the one your team can reach and kill before the enemy answers, not always the most valuable one.

3Snowballing a lead

After a won fight, take dragons and towers before anything else: that's what turns kills into a lead the enemy can't erase. Early, prioritise the river: being first to a skirmish or to the first dragon is worth more than a few extra minions.

4When to back off

Safe mid means farming under your tower, waiting for your items and only following your jungler when the enemy jungler is seen elsewhere. If your key abilities are on cooldown or the enemy is missing from the map, the aggressive play is to wait.

Tips

Fight on your spikes: right after Cryptbloom, look for the next fight instead of farming.
Look for kills when Weaver's Wall is ready and the enemy's key ability is not.
Use Unraveled Earth to start the fight, then commit your damage.
Track the enemy's key cooldowns and attack right after they use them.
Turn every kill into dragons and towers: a kill without an objective is a wasted lead.
Push your lane before you roam so the aggression doesn't cost you resources.

Matchups

Strong against

Akali
Taliyah attacks from 525 units and Akali from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Katarina
Taliyah attacks from 525 units and Katarina from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Locke
Taliyah attacks from 525 units and Locke from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.