What is AoE Damage and How Does it Work?

Within the world of video games, you will come across some weird slang that you may not understand, especially if you’re a beginner. While playing League of Legends, you’ve probably seen the acronym AoE, and if you haven’t gotten deep into the game, you may not be familiar with the meaning behind it.

All of this is about to change…it’s time for you to get a grip on things and learn some real League of Legends slang, and today, I’m going to introduce you to our little (or not so little) friend, “AoE” damage. 

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What does AoE Mean?

AoE stands for “Area of Effect.” This can involve everything from casting bloodthirsty spells pulling fiery rocks from the sky to tossing grenades that really wreak havoc on the playing field.

In other words, when a spell, attack, or function by your champion has an impact on the area you’re in, rather than just affecting one or more targets, it damages the entire area. AoE doesn’t focus on targets, it focuses on the area as a whole.

Area of Effect Vs. Split Damage and Splash Damage

When it comes to splash damage in League of Legends, there’s a common misunderstanding. Many players, especially beginners, may be confused as these are two terms that are applying that several enemies are receiving damage. When looking at it this way, yes, splash damage can be thought of as a form of AoE, with the “splash area” being the “Area of Effect.”

Then, on the same note, we have a little thing called split damage. Split damage takes place when the champion shares a damage count. This idea is centered on the idea of hitting numerous champions, but in order for it to take place, it doesn’t need to be a part of an AoE. 

AoE in League of Legends

In League of Legends, depending on the type of skill the champion is using, the AoE will vary and can be executed based on invisible or invisible areas. Take the chain AoE as an example; this will affect enemy champions that are within the area of effect after it has hit a particular target.

On the same note, you have AoE that activates when your champion attacks those in the area – take Amumu’s “Curse of the Sad Mummy” as an example. 

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Types of AoE in League of Legends

In League of Legends, you have different types of AoE, which we will go over. 

Chain

This area of effect is a spell that starts off by damaging a single champion. However, if there’s another champion in the area that the chain can reach, the effect will jump to that enemy champion.

This is a good ability, but it usually only bounces a set amount of times and cannot strike the same target more than once. However, there are some exceptions to this:

• Malefic Visions – This can jump to an unlimited amount of enemy champions, as long as there is a target within reach after the current enemy has been eliminated. 
• Pyroclasm – This one is able to hit the same enemy champion more than one time.

Location-Targeted

Location-Targeted is another prime example of an AoE ability and spell. With this type of AoE, you will choose a location on the ground where you want the spell to take place. Place this around enemy champions, then click the button to start channeling/casting. All enemy champions in that area will be damaged.

Examples of Location-Targeted AoE include:

• Brand’s Pillar of Flame
• Lux’s Lucent Singularity
• Akali’s Twilight Shroud
• Singed’s Mega Adhesive
• Nasus’ Spirit Fire
• Morgana’s Tormented Shadow
• Miss Fortune’s Make it Rain
• Trundle’s Frozen Domain

Conic Area of Effect

Conic Area of Effect occurs when the spells come out and impact an area in the shape of a cone. These spells usually begin at the feet of the champion casting the spell.

Examples of a Conic Area of Effect include:

• Akali’s Five Point Strike
• Camille’s Tactical Sweep
• Annie’s Incinerate
• Aatrox’s The Darkin Blade
• Cassiopeia’s Petrifying Gaze
• Kassadin’s Force Pulse
• Corki’s Gatling Gun

Hybrid

With all of the available abilities, some are naturally destined to include more than one form of Aoe, which is where the term “hybrid” comes into play.

Some examples of Hybrid AoE include:

• Ground-Targeted+Linear: Death Ray and The Equalizer
• Ground-Targeted+Point Blank: Pounce, Crowstorm, and Rocket Jump
• Linear+Conic: Volley, Wild Cards, and New Destiny
• Liinear+Point Blank: Dice, Slice, Glacial Fissure, and Spinning Slash

Point Blank

Point-blank AoE involves casting spells without having to target a champion. Basically, you (the caster) will be the anchor of the spell. The damage of the Point Blank AoE will radiate outward, starting at the caster and end at the given range, and will affect all enemy champions in the area. 

Examples of Point Blank AoE include:

• Darius’ Decimate
• Randuin’s Omen
• Amumu’s Curse of the Sad Mummy
• Malphite’s Ground Slam
• Galio’s Shield of Durand
• Nunu’s Absolute Zero
• Nasus’s Fury of the Sands
• Vladimir’s Sanguine Pool
• Singed’s Poison Trail

Linear

With Linear Area of Effect abilities, they require a direction from the caster and will affect the area dependent on the abilities range and width. This form of AoE has many projectile-based abilities with the projective acting as the carrier for the effects. Still, some aren’t going to have these projectiles and will simply have an effect on the entire area all at once, similar to how CAoE spells are. 

Some examples of Linear AoE include:

• Leona’s Zenith Blade
• Anivia’s Flash Frost
• Sona’s Crescendo
• Lux’s Final Spark
• Xerath’s Arcanopulse

Splash

A splash AoE ability will need to have at least one champion to trigger and will affect the area around the struck champion. Mind you, the champion you targeted isn’t always going to receive damage.

Some examples of Splash AoE include:

• Jinx’s Super Mega Death Rocket
• Ashe’s Enchanted Crystal Arrow
• Kayle’s Starfire Spellblade and Divine Ascent
• Tristana’s Buster Shot
• Karma’s Defiance
• Xin Shao’s Audacious Charge
• Zilean’s Time Bomb

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Best AoE Champions in LoL

For those of you who are just getting started or would like to try out a champion who does a good amount of AoE, I’m going to introduce you to three champions. 

Morgana

Starting out, we have Morgana, the Fallen Angel. Now, Morgana is a utility mage, so naturally, you’d expect her to have a good amount of AoE damage to deal. With her W (Tormented Soil), she casts an AoE spell capable of damaging every enemy champion who is standing on top of it. When Dark Binding is used along with Tormented Soil, the enemies in the area barely have a chance to survive – this is a simple, yet effective combo that Morgana uses.

Ashe

The second champion is Ashe, the Frost Archer. Ashe has a combination of vision, CC, and AoE spells that make her great in the bottom lane. Oh, and if you like stuns, you’ll like Ashe because her ultimate just so happens to be one of the most powerful stuns in League of Legends.

Annie

The third champion is Annie, the Dark Child. Annie has an R ability, which summons her cute teddy bear named Tibbers. Actually, Tibbers is not a cute little teddy bear, it’s a demonic version of her cute little teddy bear. Tibbers is relatively tanky and does a fair amount of AoE damage, making him a very useful pet. 

Final Words

As the name suggests, Area of Effect damage or AoE will always have an impact on the area as a whole and is not aimed at a single champion. These are spells and functions that will damage the enemy champions within an area. Now that you have an understanding of AoE, don’t you think it’s time to get your game on?