Mid · SwiftplayMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1
Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.
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Role fit
MidAlistarAlistar is normally played Support 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.
These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.
Unreviewed route
Alistar is normally played Support 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.
A different lane's items are not relabelled as correct. Role income, map access and starting rules can change the whole purchase order.
Champion guide SupportRunes and summoner spells
Control Mid range, mana and wave timing before committing to a longer exchange or roam.
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Manaflow Band
Transcendence
Scorch
Inspiration
Biscuit Delivery
Cosmic Insight
Flash
TeleportIgnite supports a short kill window; Teleport supports recall and map timing; Barrier protects against immediate burst.
A more aggressive spell pair does not replace safe wave timing, river vision or an escape route.
Matchup notes
Track the cooldown and range of the ability that starts their safest trade. Do not treat this page as a statistical counter claim.
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.
Static alternatives
These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.
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
Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1
Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1
Alistar charges his roar by stunning or displacing enemy champions or when nearby enemies die. When fully charged he heals himself all nearby allied champions.
Alistar smashes the ground, dealing damage to nearby enemies and tossing them into the air.
Cooldown (s) 14/13/12/11/10 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 365Alistar rams a target with his head, dealing damage and knocking the target back.
Cooldown (s) 14/13/12/11/10 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 650Alistar tramples nearby enemy units, ignoring unit collision and gaining stacks if he damages an enemy champion. At full stacks Alistar's next basic attack against an enemy champion deals additional magic damage and stuns them.
Cooldown (s) 12/11.5/11/10.5/10 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 350Alistar lets out a wild roar, removing all crowd control effects on himself, and reducing incoming physical and magical damage for the duration.
Cooldown (s) 120/100/80 · Cost 100Vex 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.
Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.
Cooldown (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range (units) 1200Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.
Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range (units) 475Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.
Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 800Fire 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) 2000/2500/3000Adapt the plan
Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.
Push safely, then threaten vision, a side lane or the enemy jungle without abandoning free farm.
Reach river first with your Jungler and preserve the cooldown needed if the opponent contests.
Pressure a valuable target while respecting the control that can end your lead.
Trade when your key ability and minion position favour you; an even lane does not require a forced solo kill.
Move on a completed wave and return before several waves are lost to the tower.
Position for the champion's reliable damage or control instead of beginning with the lowest-percentage spell.
Use range, tower space and vision. Do not contest every last hit if it opens another kill.
Ping missing early and take the safe route; blindly matching a stronger roam can lose two positions.
Group around your most dependable control and damage rather than searching alone for a comeback.
Pings, movement and objectives
Mid can reach either side, but the wave pays for every move. Communicate the opponent first, then move only when the route and destination are credible.
Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.
Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.
Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.
Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.
Decide whether you are engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry before the fight begins.
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
The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.