Good patterns
- Threatens reachable priority targets through burst, mobility or an unusual angle.
- Combines damage and durability in committed skirmishes or extended exchanges.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Vi
the Piltover Enforcer
Vi 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 roleJungle◆ClassFighter · Assassin
4DifficultyMedium · 4/10
◎Basic attacksMeleeMelee basic attacks · 125 range.
◈Damage profileMostly physical damageMost normal kit pressure is physical. Armour may help, but check whether attacks or abilities are the main source.
#Reference patch16.20.1
Strengths and limits
What Vi 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
- A failed commitment can leave no clean exit and little value until cooldowns return.
- Can be worn down or controlled before reaching the range where the kit is strongest.
- Basic attacks require close access, so enemy range, slows and displacement can deny a clean trade.
Riot ally tips
Use these while learning the championA fully charged Vault Breaker will deal double damage. It's great for catching and finishing off fleeing enemies.
Relentless Force does full damage to anyone caught in the shockwave. Use it on minions in lane to hit enemies hiding behind them.
Cease and Desist is a powerful initiation tool, just remember not to get too far ahead of the rest of your team.
Riot opponent tips
What an opponent is told to watch forA fully charged Vault breaker deals double damage. If you see Vi start to charge you should back off or try to dodge it.
Vi will shred your Armor and gain Attack Speed if she manages to hit you three times in a row. Try not to engage in extended brawls with her.
Vi cannot be stopped while using her ult. Remember to save your displacement effects until after she's done charging.
Practical champion reading
How to read Vi 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 physical pressure
Armour can reduce the broad physical profile. Separate basic attacks from physical abilities before relying on an item passive that only affects attacks.
Track the complete ability cycle
Do not judge the champion from one button. Watch which setup, payoff and escape tools are available before choosing a trade or commitment.
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.
Identify the exact movement restriction
Tenacity can shorten only eligible control. Displacements, airborne effects and repeated slows need their own positioning, blocking or movement answer.
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 Vi?
Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
DEFENSIVE BOOTS
Neither pair is automatic
This champion is not cleanly answered by the passive on either defensive pair.
Use Plated Steelcaps for meaningful basic attacks, Mercury's Treads for magic damage or reducible control, or keep the build's normal Boots.Normal Draft and Ranked role map
Where Vi 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. Vi is normally played Jungle 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.
JunglePrimary role
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Vi has an established clear and map plan that can function without lane income while contesting camps and objectives.
MidUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Vi is normally played Jungle 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.
BotUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Vi is normally played Jungle 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. Vi is normally played Jungle 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
Vi 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
Blast Shield
What it doesVi charges a shield over time. The shield can be activated by hitting an enemy with an ability.
Practical readBlast Shield is an automatic part of the kit involving protection or sustain. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Cast commitment
This cast has a wind-up, charge or channel. Movement, interruption or a changing target state can matter before the effect completes.
Protection
The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.
Q
Q ability
Vault Breaker
What it doesVi charges her gauntlets and unleashes a vault shattering punch, carrying her forward. Enemies she hits are knocked back and receive a stack of Denting Blows.
Practical readVault Breaker is part of Vi's Q pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown12/10.5/9/7.5/6 secCost50/60/70/80/90Listed range250 units
Cast commitment
This cast has a wind-up, charge or channel. Movement, interruption or a changing target state can matter before the effect completes.
W
W ability
Denting Blows
What it doesVi's punches break her opponent's Armor, dealing bonus damage and granting her Attack Speed.
Practical readDenting Blows contributes basic-attack interaction and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Listed range750 units
E
E ability
Relentless Force
What it doesVi's next attack blasts through her target, dealing damage to enemies behind it.
Practical readRelentless Force contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cost26/32/38/44/50Listed range400 units
R
Ultimate
Cease and Desist
What it doesVi runs down an enemy, knocking aside anyone in the way. When she reaches her target she knocks it into the air, jumps after it, and slams it back into the ground.
Practical readCease and Desist is part of Vi's R pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown140/115/90 secCost100Listed range800 units
Levels 1–18
Vi · 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 abilityVault Breaker
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 112 secRank 210.5 secRank 39 secRank 47.5 secRank 56 sec
Basic abilityDenting Blows
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
CooldownRead current tooltip
Basic abilityRelentless Force
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
CooldownRead current tooltip
UltimateCease and Desist
First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.
Rank 1140 secRank 2115 secRank 390 sec
Open every levelHealth and mana from level 1 to 18
| Level | Health | Mana | Ability milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 655 | 295 Mana | Choose the first basic ability |
| 2 | 731 | 342 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 3 | 810 | 391 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 4 | 893 | 442 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 5 | 979 | 496 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 6 | 1,070 | 552 Mana | First ultimate rank normally available |
| 7 | 1,164 | 610 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 8 | 1,261 | 670 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 9 | 1,363 | 733 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 10 | 1,468 | 798 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 11 | 1,576 | 865 Mana | Second ultimate rank normally available |
| 12 | 1,689 | 935 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 13 | 1,805 | 1,007 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 14 | 1,924 | 1,081 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 15 | 2,048 | 1,157 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 16 | 2,175 | 1,236 Mana | Final ultimate rank normally available |
| 17 | 2,306 | 1,317 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 18 | 2,440 | 1,400 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.