OVERVIEW
Illaoi is a setup Grappler who turns the stage itself into a weapon. Her tentacles attack independently, meaning opponents fight two things at once — and only one of them can be hit back.
She’s execution-light but decision-heavy: where you place tentacles matters more than what buttons you press.
TJ’s Tip
Never fight without a tentacle behind your opponent. Cornered Illaoi with no setup is the worst character in the game; set-up Illaoi is arguably the best.
TENTACLES & TEST OF SPIRIT
Tentacle Spawn (214S1) plants a tentacle that attacks when Illaoi attacks, converting single pokes into multi-hit pressure from two angles.
Test of Spirit (236S2) rips the opponent’s spirit out — damage dealt to the spirit transfers, and a slain spirit summons extra tentacles.
NEUTRAL GAME
Illaoi plays zone-building neutral: every second you survive while planting is an investment that compounds.
- Tentacle slam covers your dash-in automatically
- 5H + tentacle hit is plus enough to loop pressure
- Test of Spirit forces approach — into your tentacle field
CORE COMBOS
Button Legend
Note
Notation is preliminary — routes are being verified against the current patch and will be updated with optimized versions.
ADVANCED TECH
Mastery means tentacle geometry — spacing spawns so slams cross up, cover throws, and protect your own wake-up.
- Tentacle behind YOU deters cross-up jumpers
- Spirit kill mid-combo spawns a tentacle inside the juggle
- Tag + tentacle slam is a true sandwich blockstring
TEAM COMPOSITION
Illaoi pairs with anyone who creates knockdowns for planting time: Vi (corner carries into setup), Blitzcrank (grab grants free spawns), and Thresh (double setup nightmare comps).
VIDEO RESOURCES
Full video breakdown is in production for the channel. Until it drops, catch live illaoi gameplay and Q&A on Twitch and subscribe on YouTube so you don’t miss it.