Vex vs Vladimir Counter Pick

648 games on patch 16.13.1 is enough to call this settled: Vex loses at 46.9%. Vladimir is one of the few mid picks with no mana bar, running instead on Crimson Rush while Transfusion steals life from its target, so the attrition plan that works against most mages simply has nothing to drain.

Crimson Pact converts every 30 points of bonus health into 1 ability power and every point of ability power into 1.6 bonus health, which means Vladimir buys offense and defense with the same gold. That starts from 2,470 health at level 18 against 2,358 before items compound the effect. Sanguine Pool removes him from targeting for two seconds, and the timing of Shadow Surge, a mark followed by a recast dash, is precisely what a two-second untargetable window defeats. Vex holds 100 units of reach, 550 against 450, and Doom ‘n Gloom fears on an empowered basic ability, though he has no dash for it to interrupt. Hemoplague then amplifies all incoming damage across an area before detonating, punishing the short trades she needs to win. Movement speed of 335 against 330, attack damage of 54 against 55 and base armor of 23 against 24 leave the opening minutes effectively level, which is why his passive economy decides the rest. A difficulty rating of 7 makes him demanding to pilot, and that remains the realistic opening for the losing side.