Yone
Master Tier Champion Guide
Identity
Yone is a high-skill, high-reward skirmisher with the potential to single-handedly carry games. He is the ideal champion for players who enjoy a demanding playstyle and the thrill of being the center of attention in teamfights. Yone's passive doubles his critical strike chance, allowing him to reach 100% crit with only two items, and his hybrid damage profile makes him a versatile threat that is difficult to itemize against.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
He is one of, if not the best 1v9 champ in the game due to his hyper-scaling in the mid-to-late game.
His passive grants 100% crit chance at two items and allows every other auto attack to deal 50% magic damage, making him highly effective against all-AD team compositions.
His E (Soul Unbound) allows him to deal massive percentage of true damage and can be used as a cleanse against CC effects like Nocturne Fear or Malzahar Ultimate.
Weaknesses
His laning phase is by far his weakest point in the game.
His standard core build (Bor, Shieldbow, IE) is really expensive and really squishy.
His complexity and endless skill ceiling mean that mistakes with his key abilities (
E and R) can easily cost team fights or duels.
Laning Phase
Yone's early game is difficult, and patience will be very important.
Buying Tip
You can run all the way to the fountain, buy an item, and use the second E activation to instantly return to where you cast it, saving a lot of time getting back to lane.
Escape Strategy (E)
Never use E to escape into your own turret when getting ganked, as you will return to danger. Instead, E forward to safety, gain distance, and use Q3 to dash out.
Level 3 Trading
Once you hit level three, you have very strong trading pressure. Since E has a high cooldown early, you must make the most of these trades.
Mindset
You are not an early game champion. Do not rush fights, unlike Yasuo or Irelia.
Optimal Trades
Wait for the enemy to use one of their abilities (
E.g., Orianna Q). Use E to dodge the ability, and then run straight at the opponent to maximize damage and gain pressure.
Pre-Level 3
Your primary goals are to collect as much CS as possible while taking as little damage as possible.
Team Fighting & Macro
Yone is very strong, if not the strongest sideliner in the entire game. Adopt an extremely greedy mindset focused on maximizing gold and experience.
Macro Strategy
Sidelane Priority
Yone is very strong, if not the strongest sideliner in the entire game. Adopt an extremely greedy mindset focused on maximizing gold and experience.
Mid-Game Flow
Push out the side wave, sweep the enemy jungle and get vision (often swapping your trinket to sweeper), kill jungle camps to increase your lead, and force enemies to respond.
Objective Pressure
Pressure the side lane where the next major objective is located so you can quickly group with your team when necessary.
Winning the Game
Once Yone reaches two or three items, he can 1v1 almost any champion and start diving them due to the safety provided by E.
Team Fighting
Default Position
Generally, it is best to approach fights by focusing front-to-back with your team to kill one target quickly.
Ultimate Discipline
Hold your
R. The enemy carries will be terrified and unable to walk up just by your mere presence.
R/Q3 Guarantee
Almost never use E-R if you do not have your Q3. Landing Q3 first guarantees the R lands, even if they Flash.
Bor Damage
Since Blade of the Ruined King (Bor) is often built first, massive AOE ultimate attacks may not deal as much instant damage as in previous seasons; be careful and focus on single-target damage when needed.
Key Combos
Basic Q3 Trading Combo
E
Q
WQThis is the most basic trading combo.
Ultimate All-in (Q3 Set-up)
QERWQWhen performing this, you must max range the Q3/Ult combo or the enemy can easily flash out.
Basic Mobility/Extension
Q
Q -> Flash (works with Q3).
W Flash
WW -> Flash.
Q Hitbox Trick
QQ3 has two hitboxes (Yone's body and the projectile). You can Flash into one target while the projectile hits another to strike two enemies simultaneously.
Tips & Tricks
Abilities
QAttack speed is the most important stat because it reduces the cooldown of both your
Q (Mortal Steel) and W (Spirit Cleave). Q3 can dash over many walls.- Q has an uncancellable windup. Once the animation starts, it will cast, allowing you to use Q while stunned.
WYour
W provides a shield that gets bigger the more champions you hit.
EThe second cast of E (snapping back) can be used as a cleanse to avoid major CC, including Twisted Fate Gold Card, Nocturne Fear, and Malzahar Ultimate.
Do not use E too early against opponents with their own dashes (like Zed W). Wait for them to use their mobility first, or you may put yourself on a timer and lose the kill.
You can use E to safely get deep vision over a wall and immediately E back to avoid danger.
RYou do not need to be right next to a wall to use R to jump it; you can be halfway from the wall and the ability will still put you over.
- R can be used as a last resort to escape, as it covers a massive distance, but it will stop short if it hits the first person encountered.