VRC.LOL

Support · SwiftplayMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Brand vs Vex

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

BrandVSVex

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

SupportBrand

Brand 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

Poke 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

Zaz'Zak's Realmspike

400 gold

Turns safe champion damage into extra poke after the support quest completes.

2
First damage

Luden's Echo

2,750 gold

Adds mana and burst for repeated ranged pressure.

3
Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

1,100 gold

Adds penetration against targets without meaningful magic resistance.

4
Long-range utility

Horizon Focus

2,700 gold

Rewards landing long-range abilities before the rest of the spell rotation.

5
Vs resistance

Cryptbloom

3,000 gold

Adds percentage magic penetration once enemies buy resistance.

6
Anti-heal

Morellonomicon

2,850 gold

Applies anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeDive reaches meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive after Lux has used her binding or shield.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive after Lux has used her binding or shield.

  1. Quest upgradeZaz'Zak's Realmspike
  2. First damageLuden's Echo
  3. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  4. Zhonya's Hourglass
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Anti-healMorellonomicon
AlternativeOne spell catches meBanshee's spell shield can protect Lux from the first decisive hostile ability.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect Lux from the first decisive hostile ability.

  1. Quest upgradeZaz'Zak's Realmspike
  2. First damageLuden's Echo
  3. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  4. Long-range utilityHorizon Focus
  5. Banshee's Veil
  6. Anti-healMorellonomicon

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededPoke support baselineRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. Quest upgradeZaz'Zak's Realmspike
  2. First damageLuden's Echo
  3. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  4. Long-range utilityHorizon Focus
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Anti-healMorellonomicon
AlternativeDive reaches meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive after Lux has used her binding or shield.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive after Lux has used her binding or shield.

  1. Quest upgradeZaz'Zak's Realmspike
  2. First damageLuden's Echo
  3. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  4. Zhonya's Hourglass
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Anti-healMorellonomicon
AlternativeOne spell catches meBanshee's spell shield can protect Lux from the first decisive hostile ability.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect Lux from the first decisive hostile ability.

  1. Quest upgradeZaz'Zak's Realmspike
  2. First damageLuden's Echo
  3. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  4. Long-range utilityHorizon Focus
  5. Banshee's Veil
  6. Anti-healMorellonomicon

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsBrandSupport

Use controlled poke and preserve the cooldown that makes the next catch safe.

Swiftplay
Primary tree

Sorcery

Arcane CometManaflow BandTranscendenceScorch
Secondary tree

Inspiration

Biscuit DeliveryCosmic 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 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

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

Ability reminders

Brand reminders

  • You can deter enemies from standing near their minions by setting them ablaze, due to Conflagration.
  • You can use Brand's abilities in a variety of combinations to maximize his damage in different situations.
  • Pyroclasm bounces randomly between enemies, so try to cast it on a small group of enemies if you want to hit the same target multiple times.

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.

Dive reaches me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive after Lux has used her binding or shield.

One spell catches me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect Lux from the first decisive hostile ability.

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

Brand

  1. P
    Blaze

    Brand's spells light his targets ablaze, dealing damage over 4 seconds, stacking up to 3 times. If Brand kills an enemy while it is ablaze he regains mana. When Blaze reaches max stacks on a Champion or large monster, it becomes unstable. It detonates in 2 seconds, applying spell effects and dealing massive damage in an area around the victim.

  2. Q
    Sear

    Brand launches a ball of fire forward that deals magic damage. If the target is ablaze, Sear will stun the target.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7.5/7/6.5/6 · Cost 70 · Listed range (units) 1050
  3. W
    Pillar of Flame

    After a short delay, Brand creates a Pillar of Flame at a target area, dealing magic damage to enemy units within the area. Units that are ablaze take an additional 25% damage.

    Cooldown (s) 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 · Cost 60/70/80/90/100 · Listed range (units) 900
  4. E
    Conflagration

    Brand conjures a powerful blast at his target that spreads to nearby enemies, dealing magic damage. If the target is ablaze, Conflagration's spread is doubled.

    Cooldown (s) 13/12/11/10/9 · Cost 90 · Listed range (units) 625
  5. R
    Pyroclasm

    Brand unleashes a devastating torrent of fire that bounces up to 5 times off of Brand and nearby enemies, dealing magic damage to enemies each time bounce. Bounces prioritize stacking Blaze to max on Champions. If a target is ablaze, Pyroclasm will briefly slow them.

    Cooldown (s) 100/90/80 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 750

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

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

Brand Support map plan

Use range to earn space, then keep enough mana and cooldowns for the objective entrance.

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