TL;DR
- Vex’s passive punishes mobile champions by marking dashes and empowering her abilities
- Her ultimate Shadow Surge provides reset potential similar to Pyke and Katarina for teamfight dominance
- Proper ability sequencing can chain fear effects and maximize damage output
- Positioning and timing are critical for executing successful all-in engagements
- Mastering Gloom detonation timing separates average from exceptional Vex players

The long-awaited debut of Vex is nearly upon us, offering League enthusiasts their first comprehensive examination of the capabilities belonging to this latest champion addition. As a seasoned game analyst with over five years of League expertise, I’ve witnessed numerous champion releases, but Vex brings a uniquely strategic anti-mobility toolkit that will reshape mid-lane dynamics.
This melancholic yordle officially launches on Thursday, September 23, providing the community several weeks for thorough testing within the Public Beta Environment beforehand. Vex represents the inaugural yordle introduction since Kled’s arrival in 2016, positioning herself as a formidable presence that opponents will dread encountering throughout Summoner’s Rift.
Within Vex’s ability set, participants will discover an array of shadowy and somber spells that align perfectly with her thematic identity. While most of Vex’s skills maintain straightforward mechanics, they possess undeniable teamfight impact when deployed with precision and foresight.
Passive – Doom N’ Gloom
Doom: At consistent intervals, Vex channels the power of Doom, enhancing her subsequent basic skill to disrupt enemy dashes while applying fear to affected targets. This mechanic creates significant counterplay against highly mobile champions like Yasuo, Irelia, and Lee Sin, forcing them to reconsider engagement timing.
Gloom: Whenever opponents execute dash or blink maneuvers within proximity, they receive Gloom markings. Vex’s following auto-attack against marked foes inflicts bonus magic damage while partially refreshing Doom’s cooldown timer. Strategic players can leverage this to maintain nearly permanent anti-mobility pressure against composition-dependent teams.
Q – Mistral Bolt
Vex propels an energy wave forward that inflicts magic damage to all enemies along its trajectory. Following initial travel distance, the projectile accelerates while narrowing its area of effect. Mistral Bolt triggers Gloom detonation on all marked targets it contacts, making it your primary farming and poke tool during laning phases.
W – Personal Space
Vex generates a protective shield while emitting a circular shockwave around her position, dealing magic damage to surrounding enemies. Personal Space activates Gloom detonation on all marked opponents within its radius, serving as both defensive mechanism and close-range burst option.
E – Looming Darkness
Shadow, Vex’s constant companion, travels to a designated location while expanding in scale during movement. Upon reaching the target area, Shadow deals magic damage, applies movement speed reduction, and marks all struck enemies with Gloom, establishing zone control and setting up subsequent ability combinations.
R – Shadow Surge
Shadow surges forward, marking enemies and dealing magic damage to the initial champion target impacted. Following successful contact, Vex may reactivate Shadow Surge to teleport to the marked opponent, inflicting additional magic damage. This engagement tool shares mechanical similarities with other reset champions while introducing unique yordle-flavored execution.
Should the marked target be eliminated within the brief window after suffering Shadow Surge damage, Vex can cast this ability again during the subsequent few seconds. This reset mechanism enables skilled players to chain eliminations in teamfight scenarios, though proper positioning remains paramount to avoid unfavorable engagements.
The standout feature of Vex’s kit undoubtedly resides in her ultimate, Shadow Surge, which already demonstrates formidable potential for outplay opportunities. While this ability doesn’t necessarily introduce groundbreaking innovation compared to recent champion releases, it grants Vex reset potential during large-scale engagements. Similar to other champions including Pyke and Katarina, reset mechanics represent exceptionally powerful tools that provide players creative freedom to accumulate highlight-reel moments.
Optimal Combo Sequence: Begin with E to apply Gloom, follow with Q to detonate while closing distance, activate W for shield and additional detonation, then execute R for the finishing engagement. Remember that proper class selection principles apply to ability sequencing as well.
Common Rookie Mistakes: Overcommitting with ultimate without proper vision, mismanaging passive cooldowns, and failing to account for enemy summoner spells during all-in attempts.
For those seeking comprehensive strategic frameworks, our Complete Guide offers additional insights into advanced gameplay mechanics that translate well to League strategy development.
Action Checklist
- Practice passive timing against dashing champions in training mode
- Learn reset conditions and timing windows for ultimate chains
- Study matchups against popular mobile champions
- Develop Gloom management strategies for different game phases
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Riot Games reveals the abilities of next LoL champion Vex Master Vex's dark yordle abilities with expert strategies, combo guides, and tactical insights for League dominance
