Champion Guide

Alistar Guide

By LoLSuggest

Support

Alistar is a tanky engage support built around Headbutt into Pulverize: get close, knock the target toward your team and let Unbreakable Will absorb the return damage. He has strong level 2 all-ins, sustain from Triumphant Roar and some of the best teamfight crowd control in the game, but little mobility and a hard time against ranged supports who poke him from afar.

Recommended Setup

Our recommended Alistar build

Our recommended runes, summoner spells and items. Compare build win rates on the stats page.

Items

Starting Items

Core Items

Situational Items

Start World Atlas and a Health Potion, and buy Chain Vest with a Control Ward on your first back. Upgrade to Celestial Opposition, then build Plated Steelcaps, Locket of the Iron Solari and Redemption; take Bandlepipes instead when your ADC relies on attack speed. Solstice Sleigh with Ionian Boots of Lucidity is the alternative support line. Finish with Abyssal Mask, Kaenic Rookern or Force of Nature against magic damage, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen or Thornmail against physical damage, and Knight's Vow for a fed ADC. Run Aftershock with Font of Life, Bone Plating and Unflinching, plus Hextech Flashtraption and Cosmic Insight; Glacial Augment is the utility alternative. Take Flash with Ignite, or Exhaust against dive. Max Q, then W, then E.

Runes

Primary Tree

Secondary Tree

Summoner Spells

Skill Max Order

Strengths

Headbutt into Pulverize is a reliable engage and pick tool, especially when Hextech Flashtraption lets you start it from a brush.
Unbreakable Will makes him a sturdy frontline that can dive the enemy carry or stand on top of his own.
Triumphant Roar heals him and nearby allies after his crowd control lands, which keeps a long lane healthy.

Weaknesses

Low mobility: ranged poke supports such as Janna, Lulu, Milio and Morgana chip him down and deny his engage.
He deals little damage himself and needs his team to follow up.
He can be kited, and an engage without follow-up often leaves him caught alone.

Laning Phase

Aim to reach level 2 first and threaten Headbutt into Pulverize right away; with Hextech Flashtraption you can start it from the brush. Use Q and W in quick succession so the knock-up lands before the target escapes, and keep Trample for extending crowd control or for disengaging rather than burning it early. Triumphant Roar heals you and your ADC after your stuns and displacements, so you can win longer lanes. From level 6 Unbreakable Will makes dives and jungle ganks much stronger; stay in lane early so your support quest finishes quickly before you start roaming.

Mid & Late Game

Once your support item is upgraded, roam to mid or invade with your jungler, and use Oracle Lens and Control Wards to clear vision around dragon and the river. In teamfights either engage on a priority target with Headbutt into Pulverize or stay next to your carry and knock divers away. Use Unbreakable Will as you go in so the damage reduction carries you through, and do not engage when your team cannot follow.

Key Tips

Cast Pulverize while Headbutt is still dashing so the target is knocked up before it can react.
Headbutt an enemy into a wall to stun them briefly.
Unbreakable Will removes crowd control on Alistar, so it can also save you from a stun or root.
Engage from brush or fog of war: Hextech Flashtraption makes your W into Q range much larger.

Matchups

Matchups and synergies

Our picks for difficult opponents, favorable lanes and strong allies. Compare matchup win rates on the stats page.