In principle, we want to maximize the Q first, as it offers very good poke and damage on a low cooldown, but we need a few points in the W at the beginning to have enough waveclear and to be able to push the opponent in. Since the W has two charges, it is possible to completely eliminate a wave with Vel’Koz very early in the laning phase. Only a few champions in the game can do this so well. However, three points in the W are already enough, which is why we focus on the Q after the first three points. As soon as the Q is maximized, we invest another two points in the W and finally maximize the E. Of course, we always skill the ult as soon as possible.

A few general tips for Vel’Koz’ abilities:

Q is Vel’Koz’s most complex ability. If you’re worried about getting ganked, it’s not a problem as you can use the Q’s very long range to farm while staying safely in the background. When you load hit with the Q, mana is refunded for each target you kill with it.

First, it’s important to understand that the range of Vel’Koz’s Q is greater if you throw it at a 45° angle instead of shooting it straight ahead. I’m not going to give a geometry lesson here, BUT:

If we throw the Q at a 45° angle, we can calculate the range by applying the Pythagorean Theorem.

Since the range of the first Q instance is 1105 and the second instance (the splitting projectiles) also has a range of 1105, the Pythagorean theorem states that a² + b² = c², where a and b are the two ranges and c is the maximum range. Since a = b, we get

2 * a² = c²

If we solve this for c, we get

c = (2*a²)^1/2 or c = root2 * a.

If we use these values, we get a maximum range of 1562.65. This means that you can hit a target from this maximum distance with a Q at a 45° angle.

If your opponent is standing between the Minions, you can also hit him by hitting a Minion standing next to him with the Q. This way, the splintering projectiles will hit the actual target, as the original target can no longer be hit.

Generally speaking, using the Q takes quite a lot of practice. A long explanation is not as helpful as “learning by doing”. So go into a normal game or into practice mode and experiment a little.

Vel’Koz’ E is a powerful tool both defensively and aggressively. You can use it to keep opponents who get too close to you at bay. However, if the E is on cooldown, you’ll have to play more passively, as you won’t have any good options to defend yourself. A common mistake made by new Vel’Koz players is to simply use the E and hope it hits, then fire the whole W->Q->Ult combo. However, this is risky as Vel’Koz is very vulnerable without his E. It’s better to use the Q for hits and use the strong slow to make sure the E hits, then finish off the combo and oneshot the opponent.

Be patient with Vel’Koz. It’s extremely stressful for your opponent to constantly dodge your Q shots, as the Q is an uncommon skillshot and you have the choice of when to reactivate the ability. This makes it unlikely that you will never hit a Q. As soon as you succeed, you can perform your combo. Even if the opponent survives, sending them to base or using up their flash is a good result as your ult has a low cooldown and you can use this option often.

Don’t be wasteful with the W and only use both charges when you urgently need them, for example to push the wave or in combat. Always try to keep one charge for emergencies in order to trigger your passive ability well.

If there are already one or two passive stacks on an opponent and you don’t have any abilities to remove them, you can extend the duration of the stacks with your auto attacks. Almost nobody knows about this mechanic, but it’s extremely useful for surprising opponents while you’re waiting for your cooldowns. Once your abilities are ready again, you can even trigger your passive ability twice without using your ult.