Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +Exceptional engage and positioning control with Skill 3's knockback + stun combo, forcing enemies into unfavorable fights
- +Passive Aura stacking provides scaling armor that synergizes with defensive itemization while Skill 1 procs grant attack speed for sustained damage
- +Skill 2's armor shred enables team damage while maintaining tankiness, creating favorable stat trades against enemy frontlines
Weaknesses
- −Requires landing Skill 3 into terrain for maximum value; misuse wastes ultimate cooldown and leaves team vulnerable
- −Low base damage output means team needs carries to capitalize on engagement windows; can't solo finish low-health targets
- −Vulnerable to mobile heroes and kiting; lacks consistent gap closure without Skill 1 angle prediction
Abilities
PProtection Aura
When Qi uses an ability, she accumulates Aura stacks (max 3). Each stack grants her armor for 5s. If an ability hits enemies, her next 2 auto attacks gain 100% attack speed and deal physical damage while restoring HP.
1Starchaser
Qi dashes forward, dealing physical damage to all enemies hit and knocking them airborne for 0.5s.
2Mountain Shaker
Qi releases a shockwave, dealing physical damage and reducing enemy armor in the area for 5s (max 5 stacks).
RThe Brawler
Qi pushes all enemies back, dealing physical damage. If enemies hit an obstacle, they take additional physical damage and are stunned for 1.5s. Qi can recast to dash forward and deal physical damage (15% of HP lost).
Skill Order
Priority: R > Q > W| Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1Starchaser | 1 | · | 3 | · | 5 | · | 7 | · | 9 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
2Mountain Shaker | · | 2 | · | 4 | · | · | · | 8 | · | 10 | · | 12 | · | · | · |
RThe Brawler | · | · | · | · | · | 6 | · | · | · | · | 11 | · | · | · | 15 |
Loadout
Golden Body
Spirit
Dragon's ClawStandard Build
1
2
3
4
5
6Core Combos
Terrain Execute
RUse Ultimate to push enemies into walls/towers for stun. Follow with attack speed procs for immediate burst. Guarantees damage amplification and crowd control.
Initiation Chain
12RLead with Skill 1 to close distance and stack Aura, apply armor shred with Skill 2, then commit Ultimate if enemies bunch. Maximizes armor reduction application before engage.
Skirmish Sustain
21Open with Skill 2 to shred enemy armor and gather Aura stacks. Use attack speed procs on priority target, then Skill 1 to reset engagement angle if needed.
Gameplan
Early Game
Levels 1–6- →Farm safely and respect cooldown windows; don't force Skill 3 without terrain advantage or backup
- →Use Skill 2 to pressure enemy warriors in lane, shredding their armor to enable jungler ganks
- →Stack Aura passively during trades to build defensive scaling early; prioritize efficiency over aggression
Mid Game
Post Broken Spear- →Position Skill 3 near jungle entrances and choke points to guarantee terrain knockback value; coordinate with team for follow-up damage
- →Use Skill 2 to enable carry rotations; shred frontline armor during grouped fights to force enemy backline exposure
- →Map terrain positioning before objectives; pre-position to use Ultimate for area control rather than reactive engages
Late Game
Teamfight phase- →Become primary engage tool; identify high-value terrain knockback opportunities on carry threats before team fights
- →Maintain 3-stack Aura during objective setup; use Skill 2 rotation timing to align armor shred peaks with burst windows
- →Peel with Skill 1 if caught; don't waste Ultimate on low-priority targets—save for disruptive enemy engage rotation
Matchups
Qi gets countered by
QuillenStealth negates Qi's frontline positioning advantage; sustained true damage output ignores armor scaling entirely
FlorentinoExtreme mobility and damage reduction prevent Skill 3 knockback stun; outranges Qi's engagement window
ElsuKiting range and crowd control immunity force Qi to over-extend; armor shred doesn't mitigate ranged burst
Qi synergizes with
MgangaQi's armor shred stacking amplifies Mganga's percent HP damage; terrain knockback enables curse application window
ButterflyQi creates engage opportunities and crowd control; Butterfly's burst window aligns perfectly with Skill 2 armor shred peaks
LaurielQi's tankiness and initiation allow Lauriel safe positioning; Skill 3 stun enables guaranteed ultimate combo setup
Pro Tips
- →Predict enemy rotation patterns and pre-position near natural terrain (walls, towers) 10 seconds before expected engagement to maximize Ultimate stun probability
- →Stack Aura before major fights by using Skill 1/2 on minions or poke; enter teamfights with full passive stacks for immediate armor advantage
- →Chain Skill 2's armor shred with ally burst windows; communicate when shred is active so carries can coordinate damage timing—wasted armor reduction loses games
Qi is a high-impact engage tank whose Ultimate playmaking and armor shred utility define team fight outcomes. Pick into composition-heavy teams lacking mobility where terrain control matters; avoid blind picks into kite-heavy AD carries and elusive assassins. Current A-tier reflects her reliability but low pick rate suggests coordination-dependent gameplay that demands macro understanding.