How to win lane as Locke against Illaoi · 50.5% win rate over 499 Emerald+ games · Updated 2026-07-27
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Even / skill | Level 1 is even — no tentacles up yet, both trade basics. |
| Level 2 | Even / skill | Level 2 stays skill as her W sustain matches your P chip. |
| Level 3 | Even / skill | Level 3 is even — her tentacle trades offset your E gap-close. |
| Levels 4-5 | Even / skill | Levels 4-5 remain skill-based about dodging Test of Spirit. |
| Level 6 | Even / skill | Level 5 is even until your ult comes online. |
| First item | Locke | At 6 you're favoured — E escapes her R and Purgatory executes her. |
| Two+ items | Even / skill | 2+ items returns to skill as her R field wins the stationary brawl. |
Levels 1-4 are skill and it's all about the tentacles: Illaoi's Tentacle Smash (W) and Harsh Lesson (E) out-trade you and her passive sustain refills whatever your P Silver Stake chips away. Dodge her Test of Spirit skillshot, poke when tentacles are on cooldown, and don't get greedy in melee.
The full Locke vs Illaoi 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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Playing the other side? Illaoi vs Locke guide →
All Locke top lane matchups →