Good patterns
- Uses spells to shape space, punish predictable movement or control an approach.
- Threatens reachable priority targets through burst, mobility or an unusual angle.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Locke
the Ashen Exorcist
Locke is a burst-focused champion who looks for a reachable priority target and a route back out. This overview keeps the explanation practical and leaves patch-sensitive numbers to Riot's structured data and the current in-game tooltip.
Usual roleMid◆ClassAssassin · Mage
5DifficultyMedium · 5/10
◎Basic attacksMeleeMelee basic attacks · 125 range.
◈Damage profileMostly magic damageMost normal kit pressure is magic. Magic resistance may help, but control, penetration and true damage still matter.
#Reference patch16.20.1
Strengths and limits
What Locke does well, and what can go wrong
These are kit-level patterns, not a promise that every lane or matchup plays the same way.
Limits to respect
- Important pressure falls while key spells are unavailable or miss their intended area.
- A failed commitment can leave no clean exit and little value until cooldowns return.
- Basic attacks require close access, so enemy range, slows and displacement can deny a clean trade.
Practical champion reading
How to read Locke in a real fight
Use these patterns to ask better questions before choosing an item, target or commitment. They describe the kit, not a guaranteed result.
Primarily magic pressure
Magic resistance can reduce the broad spell profile, but positioning and cooldown tracking still decide whether the important abilities connect.
Respect both the opening burst and follow-up attacks
Surviving the first rotation is only the first check. Preserve enough distance, protection or control to stop repeated attacks after the opening spells.
Needs close access for basic attacks
Range, slows, displacement and terrain can deny the clean contact this champion wants. Plan the route in as carefully as the damage after arrival.
Threaten a reachable priority target
A clean angle matters more than attacking the nearest unit immediately. Keep an exit, reset or follow-up route in mind before committing.
Movement may be the cleaner defence
When hard control is not the main threat, distance, vision and a safe route out can be more useful than buying Tenacity automatically.
Check whether recovery changes the fight
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.
Mana and cooldowns both matter
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
What can help against Locke?
Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
DEFENSIVE BOOTS
Mercury's Treads usually fit better
Magic resistance addresses the broad damage profile, while Tenacity can shorten reducible control.
Choose Plated Steelcaps instead only when physical basic attacks from this champion or the rest of the team are the larger repeated threat.Normal Draft and Ranked role map
Where Locke fits on Summoner's Rift
Each lane is assessed separately. Open a role to reach its queue-specific build and matchup preparation.
TopUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Locke is normally played Mid 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.
JungleSecondary
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Locke Jungle is a reviewed secondary role. His clear and pursuit tools support an assassin route, while Mid remains the more established lane and weak early pathing can delay his first pressure window.
MidPrimary role
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Locke has an established central-lane plan with access to waves, both sides of the river and meaningful pressure between objectives.
BotUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Locke is normally played Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Bot route. Bot usually needs dependable duo-lane scaling and sustained damage with shared early pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
SupportUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Locke is normally played Mid 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.
Situational AP purchase
When should you buy anti-heal?
Buy healing reduction when enemy healing or regeneration is deciding fights and you can keep damaging the relevant target. Grievous Wounds reduces healing; it does not reduce shields, magic damage or crowd control.
Start with the component
Oblivion Orb can provide healing reduction without immediately paying for a completed Morellonomicon. Fit the component around your core damage, mana and survival needs; check the current queue's item tooltip.
Finish when it fits the fight
Complete Morellonomicon when its stats and slot efficiency suit your build. Do not treat it as a mandatory first item just because your champion deals magic damage.
Coordinate coverage
Multiple Grievous Wounds sources do not add their percentages together. Another reliable applier may cover the same target, but you may still need your own source for a separate fight or target.
Repeated spell damage and damage over time can maintain coverage more reliably than a single hit. Match the purchase to your actual spell access, enemy sustain and the teammates who can apply the debuff.
Will the fight last long enough?
If you die before dealing damage, you apply no healing reduction. If your target dies before healing, there is little healing to prevent. The debuff applies on qualifying damage immediately; it does not need to build up. It remains briefly after your last hit, so teammates can benefit even after you disengage.
Only healing during the active debuff counts. For example, 40% reduction prevents 80 of a 200-point heal, or 400 of a 1,000-point heal, before other modifiers. Compare that with the damage, penetration or survival you delayed; neither example guarantees a kill. Healing after the debuff expires is unaffected.
See the Oblivion Orb and Morellonomicon references for current effects and queue availability. These are situational decisions, not a measured best-build claim.
Kit reference
Locke abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Silver Stake
What it doesLocke's attacks deal additional magic damage On-Hit, increased based on enemy missing Health.
Practical readSilver Stake is an automatic part of the kit involving basic-attack interaction and damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Low-health pressure
Part of this effect becomes more valuable against a target that has already lost health; it is not the same as maximum-health damage.
Q
Q ability
Ritual Nails
What it doesLocke readies a set of Soul Nails to throw, dealing damage to and marking enemies hit. Locke can consume the marks to deal bonus damage with his attacks.
Practical readRitual Nails contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown10/9/8/7/6 secCost70Listed range950 units
W
W ability
Soul Ignition
What it doesLocke ignites his soul, gaining Attack Speed and Move Speed, and dealing damage to himself. At the end of the duration, Locke will heal back a portion of the damage he takes during the effect.
Practical readSoul Ignition contributes protection or sustain and basic-attack interaction. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown18/17/16/15/14 secCost50/55/60/65/70Listed range250 units
E
E ability
Ashen Pursuit
What it doesLocke teleports to a location before dashing to attack his next target, dealing damage to enemies passed through.
Practical readAshen Pursuit contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown10 secCost30/40/50/60/70Listed range425 units
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
R
Ultimate
Purgatory
What it doesLocke throws a binding artifact that deals damage and potentially executes enemies hit. Locke gains additional power for sealing away enemy champions.
Practical readPurgatory 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.
Cooldown120/100/80 secCost100Listed range1000 units
Levels 1–18
Locke · Health / Mana · Abilities
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
Basic abilityRitual Nails
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 110 secRank 29 secRank 38 secRank 47 secRank 56 sec
Basic abilitySoul Ignition
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 118 secRank 217 secRank 316 secRank 415 secRank 514 sec
Basic abilityAshen Pursuit
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
All ranks10 sec
UltimatePurgatory
First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.
Rank 1120 secRank 2100 secRank 380 sec
Open every levelHealth and mana from level 1 to 18
| Level | Health | Mana | Ability milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 620 | 280 Mana | Choose the first basic ability |
| 2 | 698 | 330 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 3 | 781 | 383 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 4 | 867 | 439 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 5 | 957 | 496 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 6 | 1,051 | 557 Mana | First ultimate rank normally available |
| 7 | 1,148 | 619 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 8 | 1,249 | 684 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 9 | 1,355 | 752 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 10 | 1,464 | 822 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 11 | 1,576 | 894 Mana | Second ultimate rank normally available |
| 12 | 1,693 | 969 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 13 | 1,814 | 1,047 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 14 | 1,938 | 1,126 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 15 | 2,066 | 1,209 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 16 | 2,198 | 1,293 Mana | Final ultimate rank normally available |
| 17 | 2,333 | 1,380 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 18 | 2,473 | 1,470 Mana | Spend one ability point |
Choose the next question
Turn the profile into a pre-game plan
Choose a queue-aware build, compare a lane opponent, or return to the full champion library.