A powerful juggernaut, Illaoi excels at dominating melee matchups and controlling teamfights through her tentacles and Ultimate ability. Her strength lies in sustained combat and area control, making her especially effective against dive-heavy compositions.

Strengths:

• Decimates melee champions
• Excellent sustain through passive healing
• Strong teamfight presence with Ultimate
• Powerful split pusher
• Can handle multiple opponents simultaneously

Weaknesses:

• Vulnerable to ranged champions
• Heavily countered by Grievous Wounds
• Ultimate can be interrupted by displacement or polymorph
• Requires setup time for tentacles
• Limited mobility

Power Spikes:

• Level 3: Access to full basic ability combo
• Level 6: Major power spike with Ultimate
• First item completion
• Level 16: Maximum Ultimate potential

Early Game Strategy:

• Focus on farming and gold generation
• Harass with E (Test of Spirit) and Q (Tentacle Smash)
• Position tentacles strategically in lane
• Look for all-in opportunities post-level 6

Mid Game Approach:

• Split push to apply pressure
• Control objectives and jungle areas
• Set up tentacles before teamfights
• Look for picks with E

Late Game Tactics:

• Group with team for objectives
• Use fog of war for ambush opportunities
• Focus on teamfight positioning
• Maintain tentacle control in key areas
• Capitalize on sustained fights

Combat Tips:

• Wait for tentacle setup before engaging
• Use E to create pressure and zone enemies
• Combine Ultimate with E for maximum damage
• Position to hit multiple enemies with tentacles
• Sustain through passive healing in extended fights

Best Matchups:

• Melee champions
• Dive-heavy compositions
• Low-mobility targets

Counter Matchups:

• Ranged champions with mobility
• Champions with strong displacement
• Teams with heavy grievous wounds

Remember to adapt your build and playstyle based on the enemy composition and game state. Illaoi's success heavily depends on proper positioning and ability timing.

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