Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +Energy system creates exponential damage scaling—enhanced autos from Skill 1/2 apply deadly passive effects when conditions are met
- +Ultimate provides invulnerability during cast and armor penetration boost, enabling aggressive repositioning and guaranteed Skill 2 follow-ups
- +Excellent kiting and engagement with mobility from Skill 3 (untargetable dash) combined with knockups from Skills 1/2
Weaknesses
- −Energy dependency means low early game damage without stacked mechanics—vulnerable before level 4 during engages
- −No hard CC; reliant on knockups for control, making him susceptible to enemies with CC immunity or shields
- −Ultimate has long cooldown; timing is critical as he lacks reliable escape without Skill 3
Abilities
PFlash of Inspiration
Each time Yan uses Skill 1 or 2, he gains 1 stack of energy. When 2 stacks are accumulated, his next auto attack is enhanced and triggers additional effects based on the previously used skill. If the enhanced attack hits an enemy, Yan's attack speed increases and he recovers HP.
1Splash Ink
Deals damage and slows enemies. Auto attack buff: Yan jumps and charges forward, slamming the ground ahead to deal damage and knock enemies airborne.
2Splash Ink
Deals damage and slows enemies. Auto attack buff: Yan jumps and charges forward, slamming the ground ahead to deal damage and knock enemies airborne.
RCoiling Dragon
Yan dashes forward in a curved path (cannot be targeted during this). Deals damage to enemies he passes through. Auto attack buff: Yan charges at enemies, dealing bonus damage and triggering Skill 2.
1Coiling Dragon
Yan dashes forward in a curved path (cannot be targeted during this). Deals damage to enemies he passes through. Auto attack buff: Yan charges at enemies, dealing bonus damage and triggering Skill 2.
1Crushing Mountain
Yan unleashes power (immune to crowd control during cast) and unlocks Skill 3 Stage 2, entering enhanced state. LV 1: Increases armor penetration and enhances Skill 1 and 2 damage. LV 2: Enhanced auto attacks hitting enemies extend buff duration and allow multiple uses of Skill 3 Stage 2. LV 3: Enhanced auto attacks grant 1 stack of energy.
1Crushing Mountain
Yan unleashes power (immune to crowd control during cast) and unlocks Skill 3 Stage 2, entering enhanced state. LV 1: Increases armor penetration and enhances Skill 1 and 2 damage. LV 2: Enhanced auto attacks hitting enemies extend buff duration and allow multiple uses of Skill 3 Stage 2. LV 3: Enhanced auto attacks grant 1 stack of energy.
Skill Order
Priority: R > Q > W| Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1Splash Ink | 1 | · | 3 | · | 5 | · | 7 | · | 9 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
2Splash Ink | · | 2 | · | 4 | · | · | · | 8 | · | 10 | · | 12 | · | · | · |
RCoiling Dragon | · | · | · | · | · | 6 | · | · | · | · | 11 | · | · | · | 15 |
Loadout
Awake
Spirit
Dragon's ClawStandard Build
1
2
3
4
5
6Core Combos
Energy Stack Burst
12RStack 2 energy charges with Q+W before engaging. During teamfight, trigger enhanced auto after W, then ult for armor pen burst damage on isolated targets or low-HP enemies
Repositioning Kite
R12Use ult for invulnerability and engage, Q for knockup, Flicker away to reset positioning, then W to secure damage while escaping. Effective against melee-heavy comps
Dash-In Combo
R12Ult into backline, immediately Q for knockup and energy gain, auto-attack into W for second knockup. Devastating against clustered enemies
Gameplan
Early Game
Levels 1–6- →Farm safely, avoid unnecessary trades—energy scaling is weak pre-4. Use Skill 3 only for escaping ganks or securing kills
- →Group for objective trades once ult comes online; your mobility allows vertical map rotations
Mid Game
Post Broken Spear- →Focus on energy stacking in skirmishes before committing ult—two consecutive skill rotations guarantee an enhanced auto with lethal effect
- →Position as initiator in chokepoints where knockups force clumping; coordinate with CC-heavy supports for guaranteed follow-up
Late Game
Teamfight phase- →Abuse ult invulnerability timing to dodge crucial enemy abilities (Ult channels, CC chains) before bursting with Q+W combos
- →Peel for carries when behind; your knockup chain prevents all-ins. If ahead, dive squishy targets with ult-Q-W rotation for guaranteed kills
Matchups
Yan gets countered by
ArumHis shield blocks enhanced auto effects and his CC/damage reduction invalidates Yan's energy-based burst windows
MalochSuperior tankiness and sustain; his crowd control easily negates Yan's mobility and prevents effective energy stacking rotations
TeemeeShield and invulnerability deny Yan's damage output; crowd control chain prevents escape via Skill 3
Yan synergizes with
- MerinisMerinis' healing amplifies Yan's survivability during extended teamfights while Yan's knockups guarantee Merinis combo follow-ups
RazBoth deal burst damage and create chaos; Raz's CC chains combo perfectly with Yan's knockup sequence for guaranteed target deletion
LaurielLauriel's stun confirms Yan's close-range Skills 1/2, and dual burst dealers delete isolated targets before enemies reposition
Pro Tips
- →Energy timing is everything—never waste both energy charges on single targets. Preserve one charge for next fight or to guarantee enhanced auto for repositioning
- →Ultimate invulnerability frames are 0.5s; use this to bait enemy burst abilities, then counter-engage immediately with Q for guaranteed knockup hit
- →Against enemies with shield items (Aegis, Medallion), prioritize armor pen from ult before rotating into backline. Prevents wasted damage on shields
Yan is a high-skill mobility warrior best into squishy-heavy comps where energy stacking and repositioning pressure wins teamfights. Currently underutilized (2.1% pick) despite S+ tier status, indicating meta shift favoring tankier initiators; pick into uncoordinated solo queue teams where burst rotation goes unpunished.