How to win lane as Locke against Vladimir · Matchup data reviewed on patch 26.15
A stationary spell-battery vs a blink with an execute — survive the poke tax pre-6, then every low-HP recall becomes a Purgatory receipt.
Track: Vladimir's W — Sanguine Pool (28–16s cooldown). Untargetable dodge — bait it before you spend your kill window.
Read from Locke's seat: which stage windows this plan plays for against Vladimir.
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Even / skill | Level 1 is even as both farm with no all-in threat. |
| Level 2 | Even / skill | Level 2 stays skill-based before Vlad has Pool for safety. |
| Level 3 | Locke | Level 3 favors Locke — a clean all-in on weak, escape-less Vladimir when W is down. |
| Levels 4-5 | Even / skill | Levels 4-5 even out once Sanguine Pool gives him an escape. |
| Level 6 | Even / skill | At 6 Locke still out-duels pre-item Vlad with no ult burst yet. |
| First item | Even / skill | First item is even-to-Vlad as health-scaling and Transfusion sustain kick in. |
| Two+ items | Vladimir | 2+ items favors Vladimir — ult amp, pool immunity, and lifesteal own late game. |
At 1-2 Vlad is one of the weakest laners, self-damaging with Transfusion and lacking escape until Pool at 4; you dictate the lane and threaten every time W is down. Vladimir is very weak early and burns health on Transfusion (Q); your level 3 is a real kill window, but bait his Sanguine Pool (W) first since it dodges your combo and heals him.
The full Locke vs Vladimir report continues with the mid-game plan, the late-game and teamfight plan, every power spike to play around, and the win conditions for both sides — plus cooldown tracking and the live enemy-jungle tracker inside the app.
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No sample yet — Locke vs Vladimir has no Emerald+ win-rate data for this patch; treat it as a skill matchup and play the plan below.
Locke runs Electrocute · Sudden Impact · Sixth Sense · Ultimate Hunter · Bone Plating · Revitalize vs Vladimir.
Start Doran's Ring + 2 Health Potions and back for Oblivion Orb (≈800g) — cut the sustain before the execute war. Build Lich Bane first, then Shadowflame / Mejai's (if sealing), with Mercury's Treads / Sorcerer's Shoes.
Playing the other side? Vladimir vs Locke guide →
All Locke mid lane matchups →
More Locke mid lane matchups: vs Veigar · vs Vex · vs Viktor · vs Xerath · vs Yasuo · vs Yone
Also played in: Top Lane