Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +Passive adaptation grants massive sustain (damage reduction) and mobility/attack speed depending on map position, enabling flexible pathing and itemization
- +Two-charge Retaliate (W) provides 0.75s invulnerability per charge with guaranteed counterattack damage, offering both defensive utility and offensive follow-up potential
- +Mark of the Hunter (R) applies true damage DoT with movement slow, and detonation upon 5 hits triggers zone control that forces enemies into poor positioning
Weaknesses
- −Passive buffs require 1.5s setup time in specific terrain types, making him vulnerable during rotations and unable to adapt instantly to ganks
- −Retaliate charges deplete quickly in prolonged fights; once exhausted, he lacks reliable defensive tools against burst-heavy assassins
- −Ultimate has long wind-up and relies on teammates to proc detonation; solo carry potential is limited if team lacks follow-up damage
Abilities
PBattle Instinct
Riktor adapts to his environment, gaining buffs based on terrain type for 1.5s. Brush: +15% attack speed. River: +20% movement speed. Normal ground: -10% damage taken. Additionally, Riktor gains a small movement speed boost while transitioning between buff zones.
1Jungle Strike
Riktor dashes forward, dealing 40 (+40% AD) physical damage, then strikes with his fanged sword for 100 (+100% AD) physical damage. His next attack becomes a smash that grants bonus magic damage. If this hits, cooldown resets immediately (cooldown: 4s). With Brush buff: enemies are knocked airborne. With River buff: increased attack range.
2Retaliate
Riktor raises his sword in defense, taking no damage or CC for 0.75s. Then counterattacks with 250 (+150% AD) physical damage. This skill can be stacked up to 2 uses. If Riktor blocks CC with this skill, the counterattack stuns enemies for 1s.
RMark of the Hunter
Riktor detonates a magic circle, marking all enemies in the area. Marked enemies take 36 (+10% AD) true damage every 0.5s and are slowed for 5s. After marked enemies are hit 5 times, the mark detonates, dealing 300 (+100% AD) bonus true damage and silencing enemies for 1s.
Skill Order
Priority: R > Q > W| Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1Jungle Strike | 1 | · | 3 | · | 5 | · | 7 | · | 9 | · | · | · | 13 | · | · |
2Retaliate | · | 2 | · | 4 | · | · | · | 8 | · | 10 | · | 12 | · | 14 | · |
RMark of the Hunter | · | · | · | · | · | 6 | · | · | · | · | 11 | · | · | · | 15 |
Loadout
Onslaught
Assassinate
Dragon's ClawStandard Build
1
2
3
4
5
6Core Combos
All-In Execute
R12Initiate with Ultimate to mark and slow enemy, Jungle Strike for gap close and breakable crit, auto-attack to proc Mark, then Retaliate to absorb counterattack damage and reset fight tempo
Defensive Counter
21Use first Retaliate charge to block burst, counter with guaranteed damage, then Jungle Strike to escape or re-engage based on opponent's positioning
Gameplan
Early Game
Levels 1–6- →Farm river and jungle early to activate River buff (+20% MS) for superior gank setup and rotation speed; stack passive before committing to trades
- →Use two Retaliate charges conservatively in lane—they're your only defensive tool; don't waste both on chip damage from poke
Mid Game
Post Broken Spear- →Spam Ultimate in mid-lane skirmishes to apply true damage pressure; coordinate with jungler to burst targets at 5-hit detonation threshold
- →Position in lane bushes to maintain Attack Speed buff, allowing you to duel ADCs and supports when they overextend
Late Game
Teamfight phase- →Play off-tank initiation—lead fights with Ultimate to mark multiple targets, then use Retaliate charges reactively against burst
- →Avoid isolated fights; Riktor needs terrain buff synergy and team follow-up to detonation to maximize damage output
Matchups
Riktor gets countered by
ArumPassive CC immunity and Petrify counter Riktor's Mark slow; her armor scaling negates his AD-based true damage
KahliiBurst poke (S2) prevents passive stacking; her mobility allows kiting Jungle Strike gap-close
Riktor synergizes with
LaurielTrue damage amplification pairs with Riktor's Mark detonation; her burst fills the 5-hit detonation window
OrmarrCC setup from Ormarr guarantees Riktor's Ultimate hits and detonation procs; combined stuns lock targets in mark duration
Pro Tips
- →Jungle Strike's bonus magic damage is true-damage-adjacent; build AD-heavy into tanks since your scalings (100% AD ratio) reward damage items over pure durability
- →Track your Retaliate charges in extended teamfights—don't burn both charges early against poke; save them for enemy assassin/carry burst windows
- →Pre-position near terrain buffs (bushes/river) before fights to guarantee passive stacking; Riktor's 69.6% winrate is inflated by passive uptime in coordinated teams
Riktor is a terrain-adaptive warrior-assassin with exceptional true-damage scaling and invulnerability stacking that dominates the current S-tier meta. Pick him into low-mobility, AD-stacking compositions where River and Bush buffs guarantee sustained uptime; avoid blind-picking into burst mages and coordinated poke comps that prevent passive cycling.