2XKOIllaoi Guide - Moves, Combos, and Overview

Players who enjoy taking over the entire screen with their attacks should pick upIllaoi, as she's one of the most explosive Bruisers in 2XKO.

She deploys tentacles that assist her in converting her small combos into big bursts of damage. Her huge normals, tentacle follow-ups, and oppressive set-play let her take over control of the ground. Nowhere is safe from her attacks.

Illaoi's win condition is pretty much landing a single combo. Her combos can side-swap and have good corner carry that enables her to trap the opponent in the corner with her Super tentacles.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to begin your journey of mastering Illaoi in 2XKO. After reading through, you'll understand the fundamentals of her core neutral game, BnB combos, Assist strategies, mixups, and her best Champion and Fuse synergies.

If you’re struggling against her, don’t worry, you'll also learn How to Beat Illaoi as we've covered the matchup knowledge and strategies to help you keep the Kraken Priestess under control.

Tentacles

All of Illaoi's S2 Special moves will spawn a tentacle as long as they make contact with the opponent.

When at least one tentacle is on screen, herS1 Special moves will then activate the tentacles, in addition to their normal effect.

To master Illaoi, you'll need to maintain the cycle of starting with or using an S2 Special early in block pressure and combos, activating them with an S1 Special move mid combo, then finishing the combo with another S2 Special.

Doing so ensures Illaoi always has a tentacle on screen to help her create pressure and perform her highest damage combos.

How to Destroy Tentacles

Tentacles can be attacked and get destroyed with a single hit. All tentacles on screen will be instantly destroyed if the opponent manages to hit Illaoi.

Safest Options

Illaoi's safest buttons in neutral are:

• M Attack
• DownM Attack
• H Attack
• ForwardS1 Special
• S2 Special
• DownS2 Special

All of these are safe on block, come out fairly quick, and have superior range to many of the other champs in 2XKO.

DownS2 SpecialHold should only be used in neutral to check people trying to play keep away. If they are back dashing or trying to zone you, remind them that you have a full screen attack as well.

S2 Special basically free tentacle. It's quick, has good range, safe on block and spawns a tentacle to help with your continued pressure.

Cross Ups

AirS2 Special hits on both sides, and slightly alters Illaoi's momentum. It can be used to bait out an enemy anti-air, then land behind them for the hit.

AirDownH Attack hits only behing Illaoi, and be used as a crossup. Generally you'll want to pair this with an Assist attack, or it's not very difficult for the enemy to defend against.

Block Strings

Illaoi's main block string is:

• M Attack > H Attack > DownS2 Special

Which can be mixed up by not going for DownS2 Special, and instead finishing with:

• ...Overhead ( ForwardS2 Special)
• ... ForwardS1 Special
• skipping the H Attack and going straight into either high/low option.

Rekka Frame Trap

Normally, the first S2 Special leaves Illaoi -5 frames if she does nothing. Meaning it's safe on block, but the opponent gets to attack first. If you finish with the second S2 Special, the opponent is generally too far to punish (expect with far reaching fast moves like Vi's S1 Special Sup).

Keep in mind, if you are stopping after the first S2 Special and notice the opponent mashing after, you can counter hit on the next rotation with this frame trap.

• ForwardS1 Special > (pause) > S1 Special

The pause leaves just enough time for the opponent to attack, but your hit will come out first.

S2 Super

Once you've got the opponent right where you want them allow you has two main options for attack strategy on the opponents wake up.

She can immediately begin attacking or something like a DownM Attack or she can wait a second to see if the opponent goes for a roll and throw them back into the corner.

The main way players will try to counter your S2 Special Super corner set ups, is by Push Blocking.

If you think the opponent will Pushblock your initial wakeup pressure, you can use DownS2 Special after your first hit, and the tentacle from the ground will hit and knock up the opponents Assist champ.

• Great punish to make the opponent hesitant to Push Block the next sequence.
• If they don't Push Block, it's ok because you still have the pressure and have spawned a 4th tentacle!

Command Grab

Illaoi has a command grab if she has a tentacle on screen. Down BackS1 Special triggers her tentacle to grab the opponent if they are nearby.

Since opponents can be conditioned to block when they see Illaoi activate the tentacle, they will often be caught off guard by the grab.

Unfortunately, the move is a bit finicky and won't always grab opponents, even when visually it appears it would work. Often it's better to go for BackS1 Special instead.

You can test it out and try to find niche scenarios yourself, but it's recommended not to rely on her command grab.

S1 Super Finisher

Illaoi's rekka comes out very fast, has good range, and the first one is safe on block. It also destroys projectiles. These qualities ForwardS1 Special a solid option in neutral on its own, or out of a block string.

Even though this combo is simple, it deals good damage, and you can abuse her superior range.

S2 Super Finisher

Illaoi BnB in the corner deals high damage and sets up her S2 Special Super corner trap. This route works best if the opponent is already in the corner.

The extra Down L Attack at the end forces the wakeup, positions Illaoi outside of Getup Attack range, and in the perfect position to catch a forward recovery roll with a throw.

If the opponent tech rolls forward, you can throw them back into the corner.

• If you are mid-screen and need to carry the opponent to the corner, follow the "Ult Finisher" route below, but end it with S2 Special Super instead.

Ult Finisher

Anytime you finish a combo with AirS2 Special, you can combo into her Ult.

• This combo route is her bread n' butter mid-screen combo and has great corner carry.
• Ending options: Illaoi can also end this combo with both of her S1 Special and S2 Special Supers.

When to Forward Assist

You only want to ForwardTag if you are using 2X Assist (then follow with BackTag), or if you plan to Handshake Tag to Illaoi. Doing so allows her to activate the tentacle with one of her S2 Special moves right way.

When to Back Assist

Illaoi BackTag is one of the best Assists in the game. It reaches super far and knocks down the opponent.

In neutral, this Assist is excellent for covering your Point champs approach, or to keep the opponent in block stun so your Point can continue their block pressure, or get out safe.

Make sure you know which of your Point champs attacks can hit on the ground opponents, so you can extend the knockdown into a combo.

Double Down

The best use of Double Down for Illaoi is to start with your other champ on point and then Double Down combo into Illaoi's S2 to give her to set her up with her Corner pressure.

When Illaoi is on Point, there isn't as much benefit from having Double Down because opponents can't be hit while being tossed around by her S1 Special Super. Also you want to finish combos with Illaoi so that she can use her tentacles to pressure the enemies wake up.

Practice in Training mode with your Duo to confirm that your other Champ's Supers can combo off of Illaoi's S1 Special Super, because many will miss.

2x Assist

2X Assist is the go-to Fuse for Illaoi because it allows her to ForwardTag (which spawns a tentacle) > BackTag for the big hit that also activates the tentacle.

On block, her BackTag can also be used twice in a row because it hits hard, and reaches far enough to make contact towards the end of a block strings.

Combine her tentacles juggles, with an Assist champ whose Tag moves juggle well, and you'll also see some very long and high damage combos only possible with 2X Assist.

Moreover, having two Assists, helps Illaoi to stay on the offensive. She can keep running down the opponent, until she gets that first knockdown. Then it's her game as she looks to snowball with tentacles on every wakeup.

Freestyle

Illaoi has a hard time crossing opponents, and doesn't have the best mixup on block. Consequently, Freestyle is not a very popular Fuse for her.

If you're other champ has really good Freestyle mixups, however, then it's a worthwhile Fuse to open up your opponents and helps make up for Illaoi's weakness.

Juggernaut and Sidekick

Illaoi has slow movement, and slow attacks. Her only way dealing with projectiles is her ForwardS1 Special. These qualities make her struggle as a solo champ.

Once you do get the hit, Illaoi is one of the best snowballers thanks to tentacle oki, so don't count out these Fuses just yet! Sidekick will make your life easier, but Juggernaut can be taken if you like to gamble on a more all-or-nothing playstyle.

Darius

Chip damage is the name of the game for this scary duo. Start with Darius on point, inflict wounds, then Tag in Illaoi so she can use her tentacles to rack up huge amounts of chip damage.

In the corner, an opponent with wounds being set up into Illaoi's S2 Special Super, is in a near checkmate situation. At low health their only option is to pull off a super clutch parry. Even if they have the skill for that, Illaoi can bait it with a Throw.

Additionally, between Illaoi's tentacles and Darius's wall bounce Tag, these two have no trouble creating super long and high damage combos.

2X Assist works really good if you want to focus on wound set ups, and covering each others' block strings.

Blitzcrank

Since Illaoi wants to stay close to her opponents, and opponents often try to zone her out, having an Assist champ you can pull opponents right to Illaoi is really strong.

Blitzcrank's main use is his ForwardTag to either start or extend Illaoi's block pressure. When he is on Point, Illaoi's huge Assist moves are good for covering Blitzcrank while he tries to get in.

The only downside to this team is that they share similar weakness, and will have to work extra hard to overcome keep away opponents.

The pay off is regardless of which is on Point, they'll both have crazy high damage combos when using each other's Assist to extent, and finish off with Tag launchers.

Vi

The main reason to run Vi with Illaoi is because Vi's BackTag hits OTG (on the ground) opponents. Most of Illaoi hits knock the opponent to the ground, so Vi is best champ for extending a combo where other champs cannot.

Because Vi is very mobile, and can easily cross and mixup her opponents, she's great at taking care of opening up the opponent for Illaoi.

Vi's ForwardTag also reaches far and is good for covering Illaoi's approach and keeping the advantage in block strings.

2X Assist is still best, but Double Down also works really well with Vi since you can Double DownTag from Illaoi's S2 Special.

Illaoi can Double Down Handshake Tag during Vi's S2 Special Super hit the opponent in the air, then finish with AirS2 Special> Super.

Vi also has full-screen corner carry, so using Double Down to swap to Illaoi for S2 Special Super corner set up can be a win condition for this team.

Dealing with S2 Super in the Corner

First thing to note is that the tentacles always attack in bursts, and there is a gap before the tentacles will attack again.

The best strategy to counter this set up, is to wait until the last tentacle hits, then Pushblock and immediately throw out your fastest attack that will reach Illaoi.

You can also HandshakeTag to your Assist if they are able to convert into a combo.

• When Illaoi gets hit, the tentacles disappear.

You're other best option is to forward quick rise, and hope Illaoi is not ready to throw you.

You can also try to Parry the first hit on wakeup, but this is very risky.

Jump

Her S2 Special moves all lose to jump ins. They are big, but leave her vulnerable for a good amount of time. If you jump over one, commit to the jump-in attack.

Down S2

Only Retreating Guard after she hits DownS2 Special. Trying to Retreating Guard to get out or make her whiff other moves during her block strings is extremely risky because of her DownS2 Special.

• If you Retreating Guard her DownS2 Special, you can counter hit before she recovers with fast medium ranged attacks such as Yasuo's S1 Special.

DownS2 Special Spawns a tentacle, but does not activate it. Although visually it looks like you are in danger, you get to move and attack before Illaoi recovers or can activate the tentacle. (not enough time to

How to Approach

When you want to get in on Illaoi, you can jump-in and cover you're jump with an Assist, as long as the Assist has the range to reach Illaoi, (like Jinx's rocket).

Illaoi has two useful anti-airs, but she can't deal with horizontal and areal attacks at the same time, so she'll either need to pull off a sick Parry, or more likely she'll either be hit by your Assist (best scenario, convert to combo) or she'll wait and block, which lets you get in on her.

Parry Her Slow Attacks

• Illaoi's overhead is slow and players will often charge it up before using which gives you even more time to react. Make sure you are watching for it, and let your opponent know you are ready.
• Her S1 Special reaches really far, but is slow enough to react to with a Parry.
• Parry tentacles. Her moves that activate tentacle attacks, such as S1 Special, leave a small gap between when her move hits, and when the tentacle hits. If you are ready for it, you can block her hit, then Parry the tentacle.