Combos · Mid

Vex combos

the Gloomist

4 Vex combos explained key by key: in which order to cast the abilities, when to use them and what each step does. The main combo is Q › E › W. Further down: every ability's cooldown, cost and range, and the skill max order measured over ranked games.

Vex combos

Written guide · based on the official ability texts

The anti-dash

When: An enemy dashes.

Your empowered ability terrifies and interrupts the dash; the applied mark deals bonus damage if consumed.

The hunting ultimate

When: A carry is visible.

Shadow Surge marks a champion then is recast to dash onto them and deal damage.

Defense

When: An enemy dives.

Personal Space gives you a shield and damages nearby enemies; Looming Darkness slows and applies Despair.

The riposte to an engage

When: An enemy dives you or your carry.

Personal Space gives you a shield and damages nearby enemies, your empowered ability terrifies and interrupts the dash, Looming Darkness slows and applies Despair.

Role in team fights

Vex protects her team from engages: her empowered ability terrifies the diving enemy, Personal Space gives her a shield, and Shadow Surge lets her finish a marked carry. She is very effective against compositions that rely on dashes.

Common mistakes

Wasting your passive empowerment.
Casting the ultimate on a target who can flee.
Neglecting the marks: they reduce the empowerment's cooldown.

Cooldowns, costs and ranges

A combo only comes back once its abilities are off cooldown: these values (rank 1 to max rank, in seconds) tell how long to wait between two combos. Source: Data Dragon 16.19.1.

Ability	Cooldown (s)	Cost	Range
Q · Mistral Bolt	8/7/6/5/4	45/50/55/60/65 Mana	1200
W · Personal Space	16/15/14/13/12	75 Mana	475
E · Looming Darkness	12	70/80/90/100/110 Mana	800
R · Shadow Surge	140/120/100	100 Mana	2000/2500/3000

Official ability descriptions

PassiveDoom 'n Gloom

Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

QMistral Bolt

Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

WPersonal Space

Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

ELooming Darkness

Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.

RShadow Surge

Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.

Skill order

Max order: Q > W > E68.8% · 32 games

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Q		●		●	●		●		●
W			●					●		●		●	●
E	●													●	●
R						●					●

The order shows which abilities reach rank 5 first; the grid shows the most-played level-up sequence with that order (measured over 40 games).

Frequently asked questions

What is Vex's main combo?

The anti-dash: Q › E › W. An enemy dashes. Your empowered ability terrifies and interrupts the dash; the applied mark deals bonus damage if consumed.

Which ability should I max first on Vex?

The most-played max order is Q > W > E (32 games, 68.8% win rate).

What is the cooldown of Vex's ultimate?

Shadow Surge has a 140/120/100 second cooldown depending on its rank.

Build, runes and counters: full Vex guide · every champion's combos · tier list