Ekko
View on Wiki
Good (7.5/10)
High Investment Required
Rare Relics OK
Ekko is a versatile and engaging champion who offers a unique playstyle centered on card manipulation and exponential growth. While he can function at lower star levels, his power floor and ceiling scale dramatically with investment, particularly his 6-star upgrade which transitions him into a top-tier threat. He is widely considered one of the most flexible champions regarding relic configurations, though some of his most effective strategies rely on specific Epic relics to achieve maximum consistency.
The High-Value Manifest Build
Shuffles level 2 champions with doubled stats into the deck. This leverages Ekko's superior Predict mechanics to find these overstatted units and bring them to the board ahead of schedule.
Reduces the cost of the champions shuffled in by Oath of the Guardians, facilitating explosive turns where multiple high-impact units are played simultaneously.- A second copy further reduces the cost of generated champions, often bringing them down to 0 or 1 mana, which is vital for maintaining tempo.
Strategy
This build is considered one of the most effective and entertaining ways to play Ekko. By using Oath of the Guardians, you bypass the standard deck limitations. Because Ekko can Predict frequently, the likelihood of drawing the doubled-stat champions is very high. At higher star levels, particularly at 6 stars, the stat doubling from Oath combined with the 6-star power creates units with overwhelming numbers that most AI encounters cannot contest.
Infinite Time Trick Cycle
Increases the density of Ekko copies in the deck and reduces the cost of his champion spell. This is essential for ensuring Ekko is always in hand and for cycling Time Trick efficiently.
Allows Ekko to strike the weakest enemy upon summon. This provides immediate board control and, more importantly, triggers Ekko's strike effect to generate more Predict opportunities.- Doubling this relic ensures that even high-health enemies are cleared on play and guarantees multiple spell generation triggers.
Strategy
This strategy focuses on Ekko's core identity as a 'printer.' By utilizing Echoing Spirit and his natural cost reduction for created cards, you can create a loop where you play Ekko, generate spells, and use those spells to find more copies of Ekko or Chronobreak. This build is highly consistent and allows you to maintain a full board while systematically dismantling the enemy's formation.
The 'Nah, I'd Win' Finisher
Allows Ekko to strike the enemy Nexus directly on play. This capitalizes on the massive stat buffs Ekko accumulates through Predictions and his 6-star power.- Vital for cost reduction and ensuring multiple Ekkos are available to keep the pressure on the Nexus.
Protects Ekko during attacks, ensuring he survives to strike and generate value without being traded down by the enemy's blockers.
Strategy
This build treats Ekko as a primary win condition. By stacking buffs on him via his star powers and then playing him repeatedly (often through Chronobreak or Parallel Convergence), you can end games through direct Nexus damage. It is particularly effective in high-difficulty adventures like Nightmares where the enemy board is too dangerous to interact with traditionally.
Other Relic Options
Can be used to reliably draw and buff specific utility cards or support champions, though it requires careful deck pruning to be effective.
Provides Overwhelm to the entire board, which is necessary for closing out games once Ekko's units have reached massive stats but lack a way to bypass blockers.
Ekko is highly compatible with most 'on summon' or 'strike' relics. While the builds above represent the strategic peak, he is one of the few champions who can perform adequately with a wide variety of rare and common relics if the player focuses on his Predict engine.
Constellation
Ekko's constellation focuses heavily on mana efficiency and stat amplification. His early upgrades establish his identity as a spell-slinger who rewards playing created cards, while his later stars move him into the realm of exponential stat growth. He is a champion whose 'fun factor' increases significantly as you unlock more of his tree, moving from a clunky early game to a fluid, high-action end game.
Branching Possibilities
When you see a unit in a prediction, grant it +1|+1.
Z-Drive Resonance
+1 Starting Mana. Your created cards cost 1 less.
Branching Possibilities II
When you see a unit in a prediction, grant it +2|+2 and a random keyword.
Sorcery
Round Start: Refill your spell mana.Review
This is a critical efficiency threshold. By granting Sorcery, Ekko can cast his generated Time Tricks and other Predict spells for free, allowing him to save unit mana for his actual champion card or support units. This significantly smooths out his turn-one and turn-two plays.
Manaflow
Game Start: Get a mana gem.Review
The additional starting mana is impactful for Ekko, especially when paired with Echoing Spirit. It allows for a turn-one Ekko play using a created copy, which immediately jumpstarts the Predict engine and puts the opponent on the defensive.
Future Firepower
When you see a unit in a prediction, double its stats.Review
This upgrade is transformative. It turns every Predict into a permanent board-wide buff, which stacks exponentially with cards like Parallel Convergence. It effectively removes the champion's traditional weakness of having low base stats, allowing his units to contest even the largest Titanic threats in the endgame.
Gameplay Tips
- Sequence Your Predicts Correctly
Always look for cards that generate further Predict opportunities first. The goal is to cycle through the deck to find Hextech Crystals or Chronobreaks. At 6 stars, the number of Predicts cast per turn is more important than the quality of the individual cards found, as each one permanently scales the board.
- The Chronobreak Pivot
Don't be afraid to let your units, or even Ekko himself, perish in combat. Finding a Chronobreak via Predict effectively restarts your turn with a full, buffed board and an extra attack token, often ending the game instantly.
- Manage Hand Space Vigilantly
Ekko generates a high volume of cards through strike effects and champion spells. Be careful not to burn your Hextech Crystals by overfilling your hand. Cast low-cost spells immediately to keep space open for high-impact generated cards.
- Synergy with Support Champions
Ekko excels with support champions that benefit from being 'printed' or duplicated. Champions like Azir or those with powerful 'on play' or 'on strike' effects thrive in an Ekko deck, especially if you are running the Oath of the Guardians build which can bring them out with doubled stats.
- Prioritize Mana Flow and Cost Reduction
Because Ekko's gameplan involves playing many cards in a single round, any power or item that offers cost reduction or refills spell mana is of the highest priority. This allows you to maintain the 'infinite' cycle and play your deck as fast as possible.