Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
the Mouth of the Abyss
Kog'Maw is a ranged damage dealer who needs safe spacing and time to keep attacking. This overview keeps the explanation practical and leaves patch-sensitive numbers to Riot's structured data and the current in-game tooltip.
Usual roleBotStrengths and limits
These are kit-level patterns, not a promise that every lane or matchup plays the same way.
Kog'Maw can outrange most champions with his Bio-Arcane Barrage ability.
Use Void Ooze to set up a perfect Living Artillery.
Make the most out of your Icathian Surprise.
Kog'Maw doesn't have a good escape ability, so he is especially prone to ganks.
Run away from Kog'Maw after he dies!!!!
The range on Living Artillery increases each rank.
Practical champion reading
Use these patterns to ask better questions before choosing an item, target or commitment. They describe the kit, not a guaranteed result.
One resistance may answer only part of the kit. Check the current build and the rest of the opposing team before specialising defensively.
The threat grows while this champion can keep attacking a useful target. Break target access, create distance or use control before the repeated pattern settles in.
Ranged attacks are useful only while a safe line to the target remains. Flanks, hard control and blocked escape routes can remove that advantage quickly.
Target access and survival time usually matter more than one ambitious hit. Reposition between attacks and avoid giving up the safe damage line.
Tenacity can shorten only eligible control. Displacements, airborne effects and repeated slows need their own positioning, blocking or movement answer.
Anti-heal or anti-shielding is situational. Buy it only when the effect is materially protecting targets and your champion can apply the answer reliably.
A spell being available does not mean the complete sequence is sustainable. Watch the resource bar as well as the setup and escape cooldowns.
Defensive item reference
Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
Armour and attack reduction address repeated physical basic attacks. The passive does not reduce every physical ability.
Choose Mercury's Treads instead when magic damage or reducible crowd control across the full team matters more.Normal Draft and Ranked role map
Each lane is assessed separately. Open a role to reach its queue-specific build and matchup preparation.
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Kog'Maw is normally played Bot and does not currently have a reviewed Top route. Top usually needs independent laning, durable trading or reliable side-lane pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Kog'Maw is normally played Bot and does not currently have a reviewed Jungle route. Jungle usually needs repeatable monster clear, safe pathing and objective control without lane income. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Kog'Maw is normally played Bot and does not currently have a reviewed Mid route. Mid usually needs solo-lane safety plus wave control, roaming or reliable burst pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Kog'Maw has an established Bot carry plan that can scale through shared-lane farm and work with a Support partner.
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Kog'Maw is normally played Bot and does not currently have a reviewed Support route. Support usually needs useful engage, peel or utility while operating on low gold income. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
Kit reference
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
What it does4 seconds after dying, Kogmaw explodes, dealing true damage to surrounding enemies.
Practical readIcathian Surprise is an automatic part of the kit involving damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
What it doesKog'Maw launches a corrosive projectile which deals magic damage and corrodes the target's armor and magic resist for a short time. Kog'Maw also gains additional attack speed.
Practical readCaustic Spittle is a ranged cast involving basic-attack interaction and damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.
What it doesKog'Maw's attacks gain range and deal a percent of the target's maximum health as magic damage %i:OnHit% On-Hit.
Practical readBio-Arcane Barrage contributes basic-attack interaction and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
This effect references a maximum-health value. Check whether the current tooltip uses the caster's or the target's health before comparing damage or protection.
What it doesKog'Maw launches a peculiar ooze which damages all enemies it passes through and leaves a trail which slows enemies who stand on it.
Practical readVoid Ooze contributes a slowing effect and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
What it doesKog'Maw fires an artillery shell at a great distance dealing magic damage (increased significantly on low health enemies) and revealing non-stealthed targets. Additionally, multiple Living Artilleries in a short period of time cause them to cost additional Mana.
Practical readLiving Artillery is a ranged cast involving damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.
Levels 1–18
Base values exclude items, runes, temporary buffs and mode-specific modifiers. Cooldowns are the listed base cooldown before ability haste.
Cooldown Data Dragon 16.20.1
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.
| Level | Health | Mana | Ability milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 635 | 325 Mana | Choose the first basic ability |
| 2 | 706 | 354 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 3 | 781 | 384 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 4 | 859 | 416 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 5 | 941 | 449 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 6 | 1,026 | 483 Mana | First ultimate rank normally available |
| 7 | 1,115 | 519 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 8 | 1,207 | 556 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 9 | 1,302 | 595 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 10 | 1,401 | 635 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 11 | 1,504 | 676 Mana | Second ultimate rank normally available |
| 12 | 1,610 | 719 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 13 | 1,719 | 763 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 14 | 1,832 | 809 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 15 | 1,948 | 856 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 16 | 2,068 | 904 Mana | Final ultimate rank normally available |
| 17 | 2,191 | 954 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 18 | 2,318 | 1,005 Mana | Spend one ability point |
Choose the next question
Choose a queue-aware build, compare a lane opponent, or return to the full champion library.
