Buzz
Although losing Divine to Sharpshooters, overall Aphelios' strength hasn't changed much, even potentially stronger when paired with Piltover.
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Aphelios in patch 9.5
Aphelios is weaker compared to Season 9 due to the loss of the Divine trait, making it impossible to pair with Ashe for free Freljord activation, thus relying more on items. However, in terms of DPS, Sharpshooters are stronger, so while Aphelios is better at dealing with tanks, his damage output against squishier targets is weaker than before. Sharpshooters also have Gangplank for additional damage, making this build very different from the old 'Aphelios does it all' style.
Aphelios' essential items remain the tried-and-true combo of Guinsoo's Rageblade, Infinity Edge, and Bloodthirster. You can also opt for 2 Guinsoo's + Infinity or Bloodthirster depending on your preference. As for tank items, aside from basic ones like Bloodthirster, Thornmail, and Guardian's Angel, consider equipping a Phantom Dancer to mitigate armor, or alternatively, consider upgrading to Heimerdinger's Swordbreaker for armor reduction from the gunslinger trait.
Recommended cores: Freljord Emblem, Duelist's Zeal, Quicksilver, Duelist emblem/heart, Chalice of Power, Distant Friends...
Team composition and strategy
You can opt for Legendary Twisted Fate to mimic traditional Aphelios builds, Vladimir for sustain, or simply Poro for simplicity. The optimal start could be 3 Piltover similar to Zeri's Season 9 guide, however, not every match allows for 3 Piltover by round 2-1 (only play if available at round 2-1), so consider starting with any champion to 2-star early, employing a trick to intentionally lose for a secure loss streak.
Prioritize assembling Guinsoo's Rageblade and giving it to champions like Samira to maintain health. If you're not playing Twisted Fate and haven't acquired Guinsoo's yet, it's advisable to lose the first 3 rounds to pick up Recurve Bow from the carousel round, especially if you're playing Vladimir, intentionally losing 5+ rounds to optimize the power of Transfusion.
Reach level 6 by round 3-2. If playing Piltover, save money and consider leveling up at round 3-6 or later, but before round 4-1, to avoid scenarios where others heavily invest at level 7. Only invest heavily in a Level 4 Ornn if you have Immortal Resolve or Last Whisper; otherwise, aim to reroll early to form a strong composition.
If you're not playing dragons, gear up Jinx and aim for 2 Zaun + 2 Sharpshooters. An alternative, less common approach is to outfit Graves to maximize his collateral damage. If your health is low, consider rolling at level 7, aiming for Aphelios + Sejuani and upgrading other champions to 2-star for sustainability, though it's still advisable to level up to 8 to complete the full lineup.
You can complete the lineup at level 8 with a composition of 4 Sharpshooters, 3 Piltover, and 2 Duelists. If not running dragons, you can replace Ekko with Taric or Jarvan. If Sejuani isn't available, consider Shen + Taric for similar utility. Typically, an Aphelios build at level 8 will look like this.
You can perfect it with 5-cost champions like Gangplank and Heimerdinger, aiming for one armor reduction, one healing reduction, and a finishing touch for the gunslinger. You won't need a Phantom Dancer if you play this way. Late game, Gangplank can be given AP items to deal additional damage alongside Aphelios.
Aphelios is a traditional composition that's easy to play but remains strong in the current meta. TFT players, make sure to utilize it effectively for efficient rank climbing.
