Pantheon vs Varus Counter Pick

Varus is the simpler champion to execute at a difficulty rating of 2, and the more punished for it. Attacking from 575 against 175 ought to be decisive; instead Pantheon wins 56.8% of 125 games on patch 16.13.1.

Three parts of the kit close that 400-unit gap:

• Comet Spear can be thrown rather than thrust, giving a melee fighter a ranged reply without stepping forward.
• Aegis Assault plants his shield toward the arrow, and damage from the front simply does not land while he strikes.
• Grand Starfall lands at a chosen location as a comet, and 345 move speed against 330 means the follow-up cannot be walked away from.

The durability comparison is one-sided as well. Pantheon carries 650 health and 40 armour at level 1 against 600 and 24, and the distance widens to 2,503 and 124.2 against 2,385 and 92 by level 18, with 64 attack damage against 59 on top. Real threats remain on the other side: Blighted Quiver layers magic damage onto attacks for other abilities to detonate, Hail of Arrows desecrates ground that slows and reduces self healing, and Chain of Corruption immobilises the first champion hit before spreading. Even so, a 125-game record and thin defences make Varus an awkward top lane answer to Pantheon.