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Bot · SwiftplayMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Blitzcrank vs Vex

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

BlitzcrankVSVex

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search every champion, choose the assigned role, then open the exact queue page.

VS
Role
Selected laneBot

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

BotBlitzcrank

Blitzcrank Bot is a reviewed Swiftplay flex strategy, not an established Draft or Ranked carry lane. Hook pressure and an AP burst route can work beside a real Support, but another teammate should cover dependable sustained damage and objective pressure.

Experimental route
Historical referenceRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch
16.14 Data Dragon
Build validation patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Swiftplay · Bot

Swiftplay AP Bot Flex

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Experimental route
S
Swiftplay opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Horn

950 gold

Adds health, regeneration and broad champion-damage reduction for a durable Swiftplay opening.

1
First item

Malignance

2,700 gold

Adds mana and ultimate haste; activating Static Field on a champion creates the magic-resistance-reducing zone.

2
Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

1,100 gold

Adds flat magic penetration against targets without meaningful resistance.

3
Burst follow-up

Stormsurge

2,800 gold

Adds movement and a delayed proc only after one rotation removes at least 25% of a champion's maximum health.

4
Low-health burst

Shadowflame

3,200 gold

Increases magic damage against enemies below 40% health; it is a finishing item, not a general damage amplifier.

5
Late power

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 gold

Multiplies the ability power from the completed burst core.

6
Vs resistance

Void Staff

3,000 gold

Adds percentage magic penetration for targets who have built meaningful magic resistance.

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingChempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.View full route

Best when: Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Chempunk Chainsword
  4. Low-health burstShadowflame
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativePhysical burstDeath's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.View full route

Best when: Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Death's Dance
  4. Low-health burstShadowflame
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeSustained magic damageKaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.View full route

Best when: Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Burst follow-upStormsurge
  4. Kaenic Rookern
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey stack armourBlack Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.View full route

Best when: Black Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Black Cleaver
  4. Low-health burstShadowflame
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededSwiftplay AP Bot FlexRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Burst follow-upStormsurge
  4. Low-health burstShadowflame
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeToo much healingChempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.View full route

Best when: Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Chempunk Chainsword
  4. Low-health burstShadowflame
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativePhysical burstDeath's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.View full route

Best when: Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Death's Dance
  4. Low-health burstShadowflame
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeSustained magic damageKaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.View full route

Best when: Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Burst follow-upStormsurge
  4. Kaenic Rookern
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey stack armourBlack Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.View full route

Best when: Black Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.

  1. First itemMalignance
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Black Cleaver
  4. Low-health burstShadowflame
  5. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Vs resistanceVoid Staff

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsBlitzcrankBot

A melee Bot route must survive ranged access before committing. Conqueror supports the longer entry while Barrier protects the close-range damage window.

Swiftplay
Primary tree

Precision

ConquerorTriumphLegend: AlacrityLast Stand
Secondary tree

Resolve

Second WindOvergrowth
Summoner spells
FlashBarrier
Coordinate the Support

Avoid duplicating the same defensive spell without a reason. Barrier protects the user; Heal can protect both nearby lane partners.

Cleanse is specific

Choose Cleanse only when removable crowd control is the lane or fight problem and you can use it reliably.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Kit comparison

Respect the opponent's reliable threat

Track the cooldown and range of the ability that starts their safest trade. Do not treat this page as a statistical counter claim.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Treat Vex as one part of the map state. Their Jungler, nearby waves and which teammates can move determine whether the same trade or rotation is safe.

Ability reminders

Blitzcrank reminders

  • The 1-2-3 combo of Rocket Grab, Power Fist, and Static Field can devastate an individual opponent.
  • Using Blitzcrank's grab to pull an enemy into your tower range followed by a Power Fist will allow the tower to get several hits on them.

Static alternatives

Compare the problem before changing the plan

These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.

Too much healing

Chempunk Chainsword

Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

Physical burst

Death's Dance

Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.

Sustained magic damage

Kaenic Rookern

Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

They stack armour

Black Cleaver

Black Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.

Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Blitzcrank

  1. P
    Mana Barrier

    Blitzcrank gains a shield based on their mana when dropping to low health.

  2. Q
    Rocket Grab

    Blitzcrank fires their right hand to grab an opponent on its path, dealing damage and dragging it back to them.

    Cooldown (s) 20/19/18/17/16 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 1079
  3. W
    Overdrive

    Blitzcrank super charges themself to get dramatically increased Move and Attack Speed. They are temporarily slowed after the effect ends.

    Cooldown (s) 15 · Cost 75
  4. E
    Power Fist

    Blitzcrank charges up their fist to make the next attack deal double damage and pop their target up in the air.

    Cooldown (s) 7/6.5/6/5.5/5 · Cost 25 · Listed range (units) 300
  5. R
    Static Field

    Enemies attacked by Blitzcrank are marked and take lightning damage after 1 second. Additionally, Blitzcrank can activate this ability to remove nearby enemies' shields, damage them, and silence them briefly.

    Activate near enemies to remove their shields, damage them and briefly silence them.

    Cooldown (s) 60/40/20 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 600

Vex

  1. P
    Doom '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.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range (units) 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range (units) 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

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

    Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

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

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 2000/2500/3000

Adapt the plan

What to do when the game changes

Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.

Even plan

Prioritise farm, spacing and coordination with Support

1
Lane

Match the opposing carry's income and trade when both lane partners can participate.

2
Map play

Finish the wave before rotating unless the fight is immediate and clearly reachable.

3
Fights

Stand behind allied control and build damage on reachable targets before stepping toward the back line.

Pings, movement and objectives

Blitzcrank Bot map plan

Protect income and coordinate with Support. Your movement should follow the wave, while your pings make target choice and danger clear before the fight begins.

Ahead

Carry the lead into the next safe fight

Ping
Use Target on the reachable opponent, Danger when Support or Jungle is too far away, and On My Way after the wave is secured.
Farm or rotate
Finish the wave, recall on the item timing and rotate with protection. Do not cross river alone to save a few seconds.
Objective
Attack from the safe side of the objective and keep damaging the nearest reachable threat. Preserving the shutdown matters more than chasing.
Even

Build the item timing and move together

Ping
Use Target to align with Support, Enemy Missing when either Bot opponent leaves and Danger if an engage begins outside your safe range.
Farm or rotate
Rotate after the wave or when the objective fight is immediate and reachable. Communicate if staying for the wave is the safer call.
Objective
Enter behind vision and allied control. Keep a route away from the enemy engage before starting sustained damage.
Behind

Shorten exposure and recover guaranteed gold

Ping
Use Retreat before Support or Jungle forces a fight you cannot damage, and Enemy Missing as soon as the winning Bot lane leaves.
Farm or rotate
Avoid being first into river. Move with Support after the safe wave, or trade an unsafe objective for protected farm.
Objective
Stand beside peel and attack whoever enters safe range. Do not cross enemy control to reach the opposing carry.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

  1. 1
    Secure the wave

    Finish safe farm and communicate the recall or move before the objective setup begins.

  2. 2
    Enter protected

    Walk with Support or another ally and choose the side where enemy engage cannot reach you first.

  3. 3
    Set attack space

    Keep an exit route and identify the nearest target you can damage without crossing enemy control.

  4. 4
    Stay alive

    Continue useful damage without chasing away from the objective or donating a shutdown.

Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.

Keep preparing

Use the champion page or choose another opponent

The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.

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