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ARAM · Howling AbyssMatchup guide

Alistar vs Xayah

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

AlistarVSXayah

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Type a name or choose from the champion list

VS
One shared lane

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.

Game patch
26.22
Recommendation patch
—
Build validation patch
16.22.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 / 16.22.1 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

Choose a champion from the Champion Cards or shared bench.

02
Shop

The shop reopens when you die. Finish buying before you leave the shop area or enter combat.

03
Health relics

Ping the relic so nearby teammates can share the healing.

04
Minion wave

Push with your minions when it’s safe to hit a turret.

Build reference

Recommendation review pending

No item reference is approved for this mode. Review starting items, replacements, runes and spells separately.

Check Riot’s Recommended shop and consider what your team needs.

Shop Data Dragon · 16.22.1

Find an item

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsAlistarHowling 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 Xayah 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

Compare engage, range, sustained damage and protection.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Check Riot’s Recommended shop and consider what your team needs.

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.
Ability reminders

Against Xayah

  • Xayah's Bladecaller will only root targets hit by 3 or more returning Feathers.
  • Long fights in the same area with Xayah will allow her to drop a lot of Feathers. Try to stay on the move!
  • Make sure you are ready when you go for the kill. Untargetability from Featherstorm can quickly turn an ambush in Xayah's favor.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Alistar

Data Dragon 16.20.1
  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

Xayah

Data Dragon 16.20.1
  1. P
    Clean Cuts

    After using an ability, Xayah's next basic attacks will hit all targets along their path and leave a Feather.

  2. Q
    Double Daggers

    Xayah throws two damaging daggers that also drop Feathers she can recall.

    Cooldown (s) 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 · Cost 35 · Listed range (units) 400
  3. W
    Deadly Plumage

    Xayah creates a storm of blades that increase her Attack Speed and damage while also granting her Move Speed if she attacks a champion.

    Cooldown (s) 18/17/16/15/14 · Cost 60/55/50/45/40 · Listed range (units) 1000
  4. E
    Bladecaller

    Xayah calls back all her dropped Feathers dealing damage and rooting enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 12/11/10/9/8 · Cost 20 · Listed range (units) 2000
  5. R
    Featherstorm

    Xayah leaps into the air becoming untargetable and throwing out a fan of daggers, dropping Feathers she can recall.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 450

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

Alistar 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

Build referenceMatchup guide