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ARAM · Howling AbyssMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Galio vs Sona

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

GalioVSSona

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search any two champions. ARAM uses one shared lane, so no Rift role selection is required.

VS
FormatOne shared lane

Choose two champions from the list.

ARAM context

One shared lane, one champion-specific plan

The page uses ARAM starting, shopping and teamfight rules. Its internal build source is not shown as a Rift assignment.

Howling Abyss
Review patch unknownRecommendation review pending

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

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

Howling Abyss rules

Prepare for one shared lane

ARAM removes the normal Rift role map. Build around the champion, the five-player team and the next fight instead.

01
Start together

Review rerolls and the shared bench, then leave with an opening that fits this champion and the team around it.

02
Shop while dead

You cannot Recall to buy. Plan components before leaving the shop and use each death timer deliberately.

03
Share health relics

A relic heals nearby allies after a short delay. Signal it and avoid taking the trigger when a lower-health teammate needs the area.

04
Fight with the wave

Minions create structure pressure and safer space. Clearing first can be more useful than forcing another low-health engage.

ARAM · Howling Abyss

ARAM tank reference

Compare the opening with Riot's ARAM Recommended shop before leaving base. After that, purchases happen only while dead; the six usable inventory slots do not increase.

Death-only shopping
S
ARAM opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Horn

950 gold

An ARAM health and regeneration starter to compare with the current Recommended shop.

1
Physical-defence Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

Adds movement and basic-attack defence against physical pressure.

2
Mixed resistance

Jak'Sho, The Protean

3,200 gold

Adds mixed resistance during extended fights.

3
Armour and wave control

Sunfire Aegis

2,800 gold

Adds health, armour and close-range wave control.

4
Against magic damage

Kaenic Rookern

2,900 gold

Adds dedicated magic resistance against sustained spell damage.

5
Against critical strikes

Randuin's Omen

2,700 gold

Adds armour and critical-strike protection against attack-heavy opponents.

6
Health and recovery

Warmog's Armor

3,100 gold

Completes the permanent inventory with health and recovery after the resistance core.

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 healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Void Staff
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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 neededARAM tank referenceRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Void Staff
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsGalioHowling Abyss

ARAM rewards reliable access to clustered fights. Mark helps a melee front liner enter; Flash preserves a separate escape or reposition.

ARAM
Primary tree

Resolve

Grasp of the UndyingFont of LifeConditioningOvergrowth
Secondary tree

Precision

TriumphLegend: Haste
Summoner spells
FlashMark
Howling Abyss only

Mark and Clarity are mode-specific choices. Do not copy this pair onto a Summoner's Rift page.

Protect the next fight

Choose the second spell around access, survival and team resources rather than treating every ARAM champion as a diver.

Matchup notes

What changes when Sona is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Shared-lane interaction

Compare reliable reach and repeatable value

Track which champion can apply damage, control or protection without crossing the enemy team's safe space. ARAM does not turn this kit comparison into a lane-counter claim.

Team context first

Rerolls, allied range, engage and protection can matter more than either champion in isolation.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Use the champion-specific ARAM build as a starting reference, then check the current Recommended shop, your five-player composition and the next available death shop.

Ability reminders

Galio reminders

  • You can release Shield of Durand even while crowd controlled.
  • You can use the minimap ally icons to cast Hero's Entrance.
  • You can use the step back from Justice Punch to dodge enemy spells.
Ability reminders

Against Sona

  • Spread out when you see Sona so she can't make your entire team dance.
  • Kill Sona first, as she will heal up her team if left alone for too long.

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.

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.
They burst me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

They stack magic resist

Void Staff

Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

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

Galio

  1. P
    Colossal Smash

    Every few seconds, Galio's next basic attack deals bonus magic damage in an area.

  2. Q
    Winds of War

    Galio fires two windblasts that converge into a large tornado that deals damage over time.

    Cooldown (s) 11/10/9/8/7 · Cost 60/65/70/75/80 · Listed range (units) 825
  3. W
    Shield of Durand

    Galio charges a defensive stance, moving slowly. Upon releasing the charge, Galio will taunt and damage nearby enemies.

    Range changes as this ability charges. Check the current ability tooltip; the listed value is not its full range.

    Cooldown (s) 18/17/16/15/14 · Cost 50 · Listed range (units) 275
  4. E
    Justice Punch

    Galio will briefly step back and charge, knocking up the first enemy champion he encounters.

    Cooldown (s) 11/10/9/8/7 · Cost 50 · Listed range (units) 650
  5. R
    Hero's Entrance

    Galio designates an ally's position as his landing spot, granting all allies in the area a magic shield. After a delay Galio smashes down location, knocking up nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 180/160/140 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 4000/4750/5500

Sona

  1. P
    Power Chord

    Accelerando: Sona gains non-Ultimate ability haste permanently for her basic abilities as she uses her abilities well, up to a cap. Beyond that cap, further successful uses reduce her ultimate's remaining cooldown instead. Power Chord: Every few spell casts, Sona's next attack will deal bonus magic damage in addition to an additional effect based on what basic Ability Sona last activated.

  2. Q
    Hymn of Valor

    Sona plays the Hymn of Valor, sends out bolts of sound, dealing magic damage to two nearby enemies, prioritizing champions and monsters. Sona gains a temporary aura that grants allies tagged by the zone bonus damage on their next attack against enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 8 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 825
  3. W
    Aria of Perseverance

    Sona plays the Aria of Perseverance, sending out protective melodies, healing Sona and a nearby wounded ally. Sona gains a temporary aura that grants allies tagged by the zone a temporary shield.

    Cooldown (s) 10 · Cost 80/85/90/95/100 · Listed range (units) 1000
  4. E
    Song of Celerity

    Sona plays the Song of Celerity, granting nearby allies bonus Move Speed. Sona gains a temporary aura that grants allied champions tagged by the zone bonus Move Speed.

    Cooldown (s) 14 · Cost 65 · Listed range (units) 430
  5. R
    Crescendo

    Sona plays her ultimate chord, stunning enemy champions and forcing them to dance and dealing magic damage to them.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 900

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

Trade around health, range and the next wave

1
Wave

Let the team clear without spending every important cooldown at once.

2
Map play

Track the shared lane, brush control and available relics rather than looking for a Rift rotation.

3
Fights

Use the champion's reliable range, protection or control before forcing a low-percentage engage.

Shared-lane plan

Galio on Howling Abyss

Read health, range, wave position and respawn timing together. ARAM has no side-lane rotation, neutral-objective setup or normal ward-control loop.

ARAM only
1
Before the fight

Clear or escort the wave, check which allies are alive and preserve enough health to use the champion's reliable range, protection or engage.

2
During the fight

Use the nearest safe target and the team's reachable follow-up. Do not cross the whole enemy formation for a single low-health champion.

3
After the fight

Push with surviving minions, take the safe structure damage available and reset only through a real death rather than donating one alone.

Keep preparing

Stay with Howling Abyss information

Open the complete ARAM build or compare another champion. Rift role counters are intentionally kept out of this page.

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