Varus vs Kog'Maw ADC Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Champion

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Varus

VS

ADC

Kog'Maw

Varus vs Kog'Maw

Confidence highUpdated Jun 7, 2026

Overview

Varus wins short trades by landing poke and blight stacks before Kog'Maw can retaliate.
Kog'Maw scales harder in extended fights, so Varus must pressure early and control wave states.
This lane turns on Varus's ability to punish Kog'Maw's last-hit attempts during poke windows.

Trading pattern

Step forward to auto and detonate blight stacks when Kog'Maw is locked into cannon minion last hits if support threat is low.
Use (E) slow on Kog'Maw when he tries to walk up for CS to extend poke and prevent safe farming.
Avoid trading when (W) is active and his support controls brush or engage zones.

Danger windows

Avoid charging (Q) when Kog'Maw's support can immediately follow with engage or crowd control.
Respect (W) active window where his range and DPS spike; step back to prevent burst trades.
Be cautious when (R) is down, as Varus lacks mobility and is vulnerable to hard engage.

Early game

Use the first three waves to thin the wave and create angles for charged (Q) poke on Kog'Maw.
Punish Kog'Maw's CS attempts on caster minions when his support cannot immediately trade back.
Avoid charging (Q) near enemy engage range or when your support is too far to follow up.

Power spikes

Level 6 (R) adds pick threat and peel; hold (R) to punish Kog'Maw's immobility or stop enemy engage.
First completed damage item strengthens poke and wave pressure; use this to force Kog'Maw off waves before dragon.
(W) uptime is his main DPS window; avoid extended fights when it is down to maintain lane control.

Win conditions

Convert poke damage and blight stacks into forced recalls or health deficits to crash waves for plates.
Use (R) pick threat with support follow-up to secure bot priority and dragon vision control.
Build early item spikes into sustained poke to deny Kog'Maw safe scaling and secure objectives.