Hwei build guide: skill order, best runes, items to buy. How to play Hwei, new League of Legends mage champion

Riot Games introduces Hwei in December as League of Legends’ 166th champion, presenting a complex mage with an unprecedented spell-casting system. This depressive artist requires strategic thinking and precise execution to maximize his potential in matches.

Developers accurately predicted Hwei’s steep learning curve for inexperienced players, as he commands ten distinct abilities. His gameplay blends the utility control of champions like Orianna with the long-range artillery capabilities of Xerath, creating a versatile but demanding playstyle.

Hwei’s spell activation system fundamentally differs from traditional champions, requiring players to combine his Q, W, and E keys to access different spells. Each initial key press represents a “subject” category that determines the spell’s primary function, providing intuitive organization for mastering his extensive kit.

The Q-initiated combinations deliver various damage effects, W-based spells provide team utility and resource management, while E abilities offer crowd control options. The cooldown system applies only to the initial subject key, allowing strategic spell sequencing.

Advanced technique: Activating R cancels any currently selected ability, creating mind-game opportunities as Hwei’s brush changes color, forcing opponents to anticipate potential spell threats.

Passive: Signature of the Visionary

Hwei applies his artistic signature to enemy champions by damaging them with abilities. Connecting two damage-dealing spells within a short timeframe places his signature on the ground beneath targets, which detonates after a brief delay to deal area magic damage.

Subject: Disaster (Q)

This damage-focused subject category should be prioritized first in leveling order. Maximize effectiveness by combining these spells with crowd control from your E abilities or allied champions’ CC capabilities.

• QQ. Hwei creates a fiery projectile that travels in the targeted direction, exploding upon contacting the first enemy or reaching maximum range. The detonation deals base magic damage plus percentage maximum health magic damage in an area.
• QW. Hwei paints a devastating long-range lightning bolt at the designated location. After a casting delay, the bolt strikes, dealing significant magic damage. Immobilized or isolated enemies suffer bonus damage scaling with their missing health percentage.
• QE. Hwei generates a volcanic field with sequential eruptions along a path, leaving persistent lava terrain. Each explosion inflicts magic damage to struck enemies, while those standing in lava take continuous magic damage per second and experience movement speed reduction.

Subject: Serenity (W)

These utility spells provide team support and resource management benefits. Use them to survive gank attempts or rescue endangered allies. Prioritize this subject last in leveling order due to its inherently longer cooldown structure.

• WQ. Hwei paints a flowing water current in a linear path that persists for several seconds, granting movement speed boosts to Hwei and nearby allied champions.
• WW. Hwei forms a protective water pool at the target area that remains active briefly. Allies within the zone receive an instant shield that strengthens over time while remaining in the protected area.
• WE. Hwei creates three orbiting light spheres that circle him for multiple seconds. His subsequent three basic attacks or spells inflict bonus magic damage and restore mana upon hitting targets.

Subject: Torment (E)

These control-oriented abilities enable engagement initiation or defensive disruption against enemy ganks. Prioritize leveling this subject after Q completion, as cooldown reduction significantly increases E spell availability.

• EQ. Hwei launches a horrifying spectral face that impacts the first enemy encountered, dealing magic damage and inducing fear, causing affected champions to flee momentarily.
• EW. Hwei paints a deep abyssal eye at the specified location that provides vision and automatically targets the nearest visible enemy champion. Following a brief targeting period, the eye fires toward the locked champion, rooting the first enemy in its trajectory for several seconds while dealing magic damage.
• EE. Hwei creates crushing spectral jaws that inflict magic damage to struck enemies and pull them toward the impact center, applying a substantial slow that gradually diminishes.

Spiraling Despair (R)

Hwei projects a vision of absolute despair that adheres to an enemy champion for multiple seconds. The expanding vision area affects all enemies it contacts, dealing periodic magic damage. Affected champions accumulate Despair stacks over time, with each stack applying a stacking percentage slow. Upon expiration, the vision implodes, dealing final magic damage.

This represents Hwei’s most powerful ability for both engagement initiation and execution scenarios. The substantial slow effect facilitates landing subsequent spell combinations with higher accuracy.

Hwei best build order: what subjects to max first

Initiate your skill progression by maximizing Q first, as this dramatically reduces cooldowns while substantially increasing damage output. Follow with E prioritization, as its cooldown reduction alongside other stat improvements enables more frequent control spell usage. Ultimate abilities should be selected at standard level milestones (6, 11, 16), while W receives final attention in the leveling hierarchy.

Pro Tip: The Q-E max order creates optimal synergy between your damage and control capabilities, allowing you to chain spell combinations more effectively during skirmishes and team fights.

What runes to pick for Hwei

Hwei benefits from three primary rune configurations focusing on damage amplification, mana sustainability, or cooldown reduction. The final minor rune selection offers flexibility between additional armor or magic resistance, determined by your lane opponent’s damage type.

Best items for Hwei

Liandry’s Anguish stands as Hwei’s optimal mythic item choice. Additional core items appear in the accompanying visual guides. When facing multiple mages or physical damage assassins, consider substituting Rylai’s Crystal Scepter with Banshee’s Veil or Zhonya’s Hourglass for survivability.

Important: Season 2024 introduces extensive item system modifications, including mythic item removal, necessitating build adaptation as the meta evolves.

How to counter Hwei

Hwei’s primary vulnerability lies in his limited mobility options. Effective counter-picks include mobile assassins with dash abilities like Zed or Fizz. Utility mages such as Orianna or long-range artillery champions like Xerath or Ziggs also present viable options.

Realistic expectation: You may not achieve lane dominance, but can secure consistent farm and coordinate gank setups with your jungler.

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