VRC.LOL

Support · SwiftplayMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Alistar vs Senna

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

AlistarVSSenna

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

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

VS
Role
Selected laneSupport

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

SupportAlistar

Alistar has an established low-income Support plan with useful lane pressure, protection, engage or team utility.

Primary role
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

Swiftplay · Support

Engage support baseline

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

Primary role
S
Swiftplay opening · separate from item 1

World Atlas

400 gold

Starts support income and progresses into wards for the team.

1
Quest upgrade

Solstice Sleigh

400 gold

Completes the defensive support quest path for committed engages.

2
Team defence

Locket of the Iron Solari

2,200 gold

Adds an immediate team shield after you engage or peel.

3
Protect ally

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 gold

Redirects protection toward the ally most likely to carry the fight.

4
Vs attacks

Knight's Vow

2,300 gold

Reduces pressure from repeated basic attacks; skip it when attacks are not the problem.

5
Vs magic

Frozen Heart

2,500 gold

Adds dedicated magic resistance against sustained spell damage.

6
Against magic damage

Kaenic Rookern

2,900 gold

Adds dedicated magic resistance and a shield against sustained spell damage after leaving champion combat.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingApply anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.View full route

Best when: Apply anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.

  1. Quest upgradeSolstice Sleigh
  2. Team defenceLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. Protect allyIonian Boots of Lucidity
  4. Morellonomicon
  5. Vs magicFrozen Heart
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
AlternativeCrowd controlMikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.View full route

Best when: Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.

  1. Quest upgradeSolstice Sleigh
  2. Team defenceLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. Protect allyIonian Boots of Lucidity
  4. Mikael's Blessing
  5. Vs magicFrozen Heart
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
AlternativeCannot start fightsShurelya's movement speed helps the team engage or disengage when positioning is the problem.View full route

Best when: Shurelya's movement speed helps the team engage or disengage when positioning is the problem.

  1. Quest upgradeSolstice Sleigh
  2. Team defenceLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. Protect allyIonian Boots of Lucidity
  4. Shurelya's Battlesong
  5. Vs magicFrozen Heart
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededEngage support baselineRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. Quest upgradeSolstice Sleigh
  2. Team defenceLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. Protect allyIonian Boots of Lucidity
  4. Vs attacksKnight's Vow
  5. Vs magicFrozen Heart
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
AlternativeToo much healingApply anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.View full route

Best when: Apply anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.

  1. Quest upgradeSolstice Sleigh
  2. Team defenceLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. Protect allyIonian Boots of Lucidity
  4. Morellonomicon
  5. Vs magicFrozen Heart
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
AlternativeCrowd controlMikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.View full route

Best when: Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.

  1. Quest upgradeSolstice Sleigh
  2. Team defenceLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. Protect allyIonian Boots of Lucidity
  4. Mikael's Blessing
  5. Vs magicFrozen Heart
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
AlternativeCannot start fightsShurelya's movement speed helps the team engage or disengage when positioning is the problem.View full route

Best when: Shurelya's movement speed helps the team engage or disengage when positioning is the problem.

  1. Quest upgradeSolstice Sleigh
  2. Team defenceLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. Protect allyIonian Boots of Lucidity
  4. Shurelya's Battlesong
  5. Vs magicFrozen Heart
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsAlistarSupport

Catch, survive the return damage, then create another opening.

Swiftplay
Primary tree

Resolve

AftershockFont of LifeBone PlatingUnflinching
Secondary tree

Inspiration

Hextech FlashtraptionCosmic Insight
Summoner spells
FlashIgnite
Coordinate the Bot pair

Check which defensive spell the Bot partner selected before duplicating Heal, Barrier or Exhaust.

Match the lane threat

Exhaust answers a committed damage dealer; Ignite adds pressure and anti-heal; Heal protects both nearby partners.

Matchup notes

What changes when Senna is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Strategic interaction

Answer the engage

A durable front line can interrupt an approach and create space for the carry.

Mid to late

Control and protection become clearer once teams group around objectives and carries need a front line.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Keep Vex visible before committing. The second Bot-lane champion and nearby Jungler can change whether the same engage is safe.

Ability reminders

Alistar reminders

  • Using Pulverize can allow you to establish better positioning for Headbutt.
  • Move Speed is very important on Alistar. Consider which boots to buy carefully.
  • Using Flash can allow you catch your target off guard to knock them back into your allies with Pulverize and Headbutt.

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.
Crowd control

Mikael's Blessing

Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.

Cannot start fights

Shurelya's Battlesong

Shurelya's movement speed helps the team engage or disengage when positioning is the problem.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

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

Alistar

  1. P
    Triumphant Roar

    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.

  2. Q
    Pulverize

    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) 365
  3. W
    Headbutt

    Alistar 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) 650
  4. E
    Trample

    Alistar 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) 350
  5. R
    Unbreakable Will

    Alistar 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 100

Senna

  1. P
    Absolution

    When units die near Senna, their souls are periodically trapped by the Black Mist. Senna can attack these souls to free them, absorbing the Mist that held them in death. Mist fuels her Relic Cannon's power with increased Attack Damage, Attack Range, and Critical Strike Chance. Attacks from Senna's Relic Cannon take longer to fire, deal bonus damage, and briefly grant her a portion of her target's Move Speed.

  2. Q
    Piercing Darkness

    From the twin barrels of her Relic Cannon, Senna fires a unified beam of light and shadow through a target, healing allies and damaging enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 15 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 600
  3. W
    Last Embrace

    Senna sends forth a wave of Black Mist. If it hits an enemy it latches onto them hungrily, rooting them and everything nearby after a brief delay.

    Cooldown (s) 11 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 1250
  4. E
    Curse of the Black Mist

    Senna draws the Mist she has stored in her weapon into a storm around her, embracing darkness and becoming a wraith within. Allies who enter the area are camouflaged and also appear as wraiths as the Mist shrouds them. Wraiths gain increased Move Speed, are unselectable, and hide their identities.

    Cooldown (s) 26/24.5/23/21.5/20 · Cost 70 · Listed range (units) 400
  5. R
    Dawning Shadow

    Senna calls upon the relic stones of fallen Sentinels, splitting her relic cannon into a holy array of shadow and light. She then fires a global beam that shields allies from harm, while damaging enemies caught in the center.

    The exported range is not a verified gameplay distance. Check the current ability tooltip.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100

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

Balance lane pressure with protection for the carry

1
Lane

Hold the ability that makes opponents respect your lane and trade when both Bot-lane partners are ready.

2
Map play

Recall and move on safe wave timings; an unsupported roam can cost the carry an entire wave or a dive.

3
Fights

Control one approach and keep enough protection for the enemy's most likely engage.

Pings, movement and objectives

Alistar Support map plan

Show the engage before casting it. Your best start is one your Bot carry and Jungler can reach.

Ahead

Make the lead open the map

Ping
Use On My Way before changing angle, then Assist Me on Dragon after Bot is safe to move. Use Danger if the carry starts following through an unsafe route.
Map movement
Roam after a pushed wave, shared recall or when the carry can collect safely. Deep wards still require the Jungler or another nearby ally.
Objective
Arrive early, clear the enemy entrance and hold the key engage or peel spell. Do not chase away from Dragon and hand the opponent a free route back in.
Even

Create one clear numbers advantage

Ping
Use On My Way before an engage or roam, Enemy Missing as soon as a lane opponent disappears, and Danger when your carry cannot follow.
Map movement
Leave only on a safe wave or recall timing. If the carry would lose a full wave or face a dive, stay Bot and communicate that you are not moving.
Objective
Help Bot finish the wave, then enter river with the Jungler. Set vision before starting and avoid turning an even objective into an unseen gamble.
Behind

Stop the next loss before seeking a play

Ping
Use Retreat or Danger before an ally enters darkness, Enemy Missing immediately, and Assist Me when you need company to restore defensive vision.
Map movement
Do not abandon a crashing wave or vulnerable carry. Move after the wave is stable and use the nearest safe ward line rather than forcing deep vision.
Objective
If your team cannot enter river safely, ping Retreat and trade for farm, vision or another map resource. Contest only after creating a safe route together.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

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

  1. 1
    Before the move

    Around a minute before Dragon, ping the plan, spend gold if needed and make sure Bot and Mid know whether they can move.

  2. 2
    Enter together

    Walk with the Jungler or another ally. Sweep one route, place useful entrance vision and never face-check alone.

  3. 3
    Before starting

    Check nearby waves and enemy positions. Hold the spell that either starts a reachable fight or protects your main damage dealer.

  4. 4
    During the contest

    Keep enemies away from the safe entrance, mark the reachable threat and avoid chasing so far that Dragon is left unprotected.

Later objectives: Use the same pattern for Rift Herald or Baron: communicate first, move through controlled vision with an ally, then choose engage or peel before the fight begins.

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.

Open full buildCompare counter options