How to Counter Ambessa in League of Legends

Ambessa is set to be the final champion released by Riot Games in 2024, making her debut in patch 14.22. As one of the most mobile champions in the game, Ambessa draws inspiration from champions like Kayn, K’Sante, and Zed. Her kit combines versatility and mobility, making her a formidable opponent in any game.

This guide will equip you with essential tips and tricks to counter her effectively. Understanding how to play against new champions in League of Legends is critical to success. Without this knowledge, you’ll find yourself struggling to keep up with her gameplay. By following this guide, you can mitigate her strengths and stop her from taking over your games.

Ambessa excels in all-ins, particularly against squishy champions like Teemo or champions with weak early games, such as Kayle. To reduce her kill pressure, maintain the minion wave closer to your turret.

When the wave is positioned closer to your side, she has fewer opportunities to chase or all-in you, giving you a safer environment to farm. This tactic also allows aggressive champions like Renekton or Darius to zone her away from farm and punish her when she overextends.

To control the wave effectively:

• Avoid pushing by only last-hitting minions.
• Prevent the wave from crashing into your turret, as this will cause the wave to bounce back to her side.

Ambessa thrives on punishing overextending opponents. Play respectfully by keeping the wave closer to your turret and avoid pushing too far into her territory.

Focus on last-hitting minions and avoid unnecessary trades unless the situation is favorable. If your health is low, it’s better to recall rather than stay in the lane and risk getting killed. Champions like Camille benefit from this tactic early on, as it allows them to farm safely and gain strength over time.

Unlike most champions who use mana, Ambessa relies on energy. Although she doesn’t have mana limitations, her abilities still have costs and cooldowns.

Keep track of her energy bar and cooldowns during trades. Wait for her to use an ability, then punish her during its cooldown. Additionally, dodging her key abilities will create opportunities for you to trade favorably. This strategy reduces her ability to execute her full combo, giving you the upper hand in lane.

Stopping Ambessa’s snowball potential early is crucial. Here’s how you can do it:

• Get jungle assistance: Work with your Jungler to apply pressure on her early. Proper coordination can result in kills or force her to play defensively.
• Abuse your range: If you’re playing a ranged champion, poke her whenever she approaches the wave to farm. Be sure to maintain a safe distance to avoid her all-ins.
• Invest in penetration items: Build armor penetration or magic penetration items to counter her defensive builds. Champions like Teemo can take advantage of magic pen, while AD champions benefit from lethality or armor pen.

Defensive items are essential against Ambessa due to her high burst damage and durability. Tanks and bruisers should prioritize early armor items to reduce her damage output and increase survivability.

If you’re playing a squishy champion, consider picking up items that provide additional health or resistances to mitigate her damage. Early defensive items can help you hold your ground in the lane and reduce her ability to snowball.

In team fights, Ambessa’s ultimate makes her a huge threat to isolated targets. To counter this, avoid splitting up from your team in the mid and late game.

As an ADC, ensure you always have protection from your team, as Ambessa can easily dive and eliminate you. For tanks, staying close to your teammates is equally important to soak up her damage and prevent her from targeting squishy allies.

By sticking together and playing as a cohesive unit, you can neutralize her potential to dominate team fights.

This guide covers the basics of countering Ambessa in League of Legends. As she is about to be released, these tips will prepare you to deal with her effectively. Remember that her mobility makes her a challenging opponent, but by playing smart and staying calm, you can keep her from taking over your games. Avoid overextending, manage the minion wave carefully, and coordinate with your team to minimize her impact.