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Cho'Gath

the Terror of the Void

BClassic SRTopMidTank · Mage
Patch 26.19 · updated 2026-09-23

Quick build

AP Tank

Full build
TopClassic SR0/21/9 masteries
Max
FlashTeleport

First buy

  1. Sapphire Crystal
  2. Health Potion
  3. Mana Potion

The 200 mana is a down payment on Catalyst, and Cho'Gath's Frozen Heart wants a second Sapphire later.

Core

  • Rod of Ages
  • Ninja Tabi
  • Spirit of the Ancient Golem

Loadout

Top · AP Standard · 0/21/9 masteries

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Overview

Difficulty
Difficulty 4 of 10
Class
Tank, Mage
Released
· original roster

Base stats

Health
520+80
HP regen
1.67+0.17
Mana
245+40
Mana regen
1.38+0.09
Attack
58.3+4.2
Armor
26.5+3.5
MR
31.25+1.25
Move speed
345
Range
125
Attack speed
0.625+1.44%

Abilities

P, Carnivore

Description

Innate: Whenever Cho'Gath kills an enemy, it heals for 20–71 and restores 3.5–7.8 mana.

Build

Each build as its own page: AP Tank (Top) · AP Burst Mage (Mid)

TopClassic SR
Max
FlashTeleport

  1. First buy

    1. Sapphire Crystal
    2. Health Potion
    3. Mana Potion

    The 200 mana is a down payment on Catalyst, and Cho'Gath's Frozen Heart wants a second Sapphire later.

    Alternative start:
    1. Doran's Shield
    2. Health Potion
    Alternative start:
    1. Doran's Ring
    2. Health Potion, 2 of them

    Two Ruptures at 90 mana each empty most of Cho'Gath's 245 pool, and the ring shortens the wait after.

  2. Early

    • Catalyst the Protector

    Rod of Ages gains a stack per minute up to ten, so the Catalyst buy cannot dawdle; Frozen Heart later reuses a Sapphire Crystal.

  3. Core

    • Rod of Ages
    • Ninja Tabi
    • Spirit of the Ancient Golem

  4. Late

    • Frozen Heart
    • Spirit Visage
    • Randuin's Omen

  5. Full build

    • Rod of Ages
    • Ninja Tabi
    • Spirit of the Ancient Golem
    • Frozen Heart
    • Spirit Visage
    • Randuin's Omen

Runes & masteries

0/21/9 · Top

AP Standard

Marks
  • 9× +1 Magic Penetration
Seals
  • 9× +1 Armor
Glyphs
  • 9× +1.4 Magic Resist
Quintessences
  • 3× +26 Health

Page total

Armor
+9
Health
+78
Magic Penetration
+9
Magic Resist
+12.6
Summoner's WrathSummoner's WrathUp to 1 rankImproves the Summoner Spells Exhaust, Ignite, Ghost, Surge, Rally, and PromoteFuryFuryUp to 4 ranks+1% Attack Speed per rankSorcerySorceryUp to 4 ranks+1% Cooldown Reduction per rankButcherButcherUp to 2 ranksBasic attacks deal 2/4 bonus damage to minions and monsters
DeadlinessDeadlinessUp to 4 ranks+0.166/0.333/0.498/0.664 Attack Damage per levelBlastBlastUp to 4 ranks+0.25/0.5/0.75/1 Ability Power per levelDestructionDestructionUp to 1 rankIncrease damage to turrets by 5%
HavocHavocUp to 3 ranksIncreases damage dealt by 0.67%/1.33%/2%Weapon ExpertiseWeapon ExpertiseUp to 1 rank+8% Armor PenetrationArcane KnowledgeArcane KnowledgeUp to 1 rank+8% Magic Penetration
LethalityLethalityUp to 2 ranks+2.5%/5% Critical Strike Damage (5%/10% for melee)Brute ForceBrute ForceUp to 2 ranks+1.5/3 Attack DamageMental ForceMental ForceUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 Ability PowerSpellswordSpellswordUp to 1 rankDeals 5% of your Ability Power as magic damage on basic attacks
FrenzyFrenzyUp to 1 rankGrants 10% attack speed for 2 seconds after landing a critical hitSunderSunderUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 LethalityArchmageArchmageUp to 4 ranksIncreases Ability Power by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%
ExecutionerExecutionerUp to 1 rank · CapstoneIncreases damage dealt by 5% to targets below 50% Health

offense0

Summoner's Resolve (1 of 1 ranks)Summoner's Resolve1 / 1 ranksImproves the Summoner Spells Cleanse, Heal, Smite, Barrier, and FortifyPerseverancePerseveranceUp to 3 ranksGrants up to +2/4/6 Health Regen per 5 seconds based on missing HealthDurability (4 of 4 ranks)Durability4 / 4 ranks+1.5/3/4.5/6 Health per levelTough Skin (2 of 2 ranks)Tough Skin2 / 2 ranksReduces damage taken from monsters by 1/2
Hardiness (3 of 3 ranks)Hardiness3 / 3 ranks+2/4/6 ArmorResistanceResistanceUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 Magic ResistBladed Armor (1 of 1 ranks)Bladed Armor1 / 1 ranksDeals 6 damage to any enemy monster that attacks you
Unyielding (2 of 2 ranks)Unyielding2 / 2 ranksReduces damage taken from enemy champions by 1/2RelentlessRelentlessUp to 2 ranksReduces the effectiveness of slows by 7.5%/15%Veteran's Scars (1 of 1 ranks)Veteran's Scars1 / 1 ranks+30 HealthSafeguard (1 of 1 ranks)Safeguard1 / 1 ranksReduces damage taken from turrets by 5%
Block (1 of 1 ranks)Block1 / 1 ranksReduces damage taken from champion basic attacks by 3TenaciousTenaciousUp to 3 ranksReduces the duration of crowd control effects by 5%/10%/15%Juggernaut (3 of 3 ranks)Juggernaut3 / 3 ranksIncreases your maximum Health by 1.5%/2.75%/4%
Defender (1 of 1 ranks)Defender1 / 1 ranksGrants +1 Armor and Magic Resist for each nearby enemy championLegendary ArmorLegendary ArmorUp to 3 ranksIncreases bonus Armor and Magic Resist by +2%/4%/6%Good HandsGood HandsUp to 1 rankReduce time spent dead by 10%Reinforced ArmorReinforced ArmorUp to 1 rankReduce damage taken from critical strikes by 10%
Honor Guard (1 of 1 ranks)Honor Guard1 / 1 ranks · CapstoneReduces damage taken from all sources by 3%

defense21

Summoner's Insight (1 of 1 ranks)Summoner's Insight1 / 1 ranksImproves the Summoner Spells Teleport, Flash, Clarity, Revive, and Clairvoyance.Wanderer (3 of 3 ranks)Wanderer3 / 3 ranksGrants +0.66%/1.33%/2% increased Movement Speed when out of combatMeditationMeditationUp to 3 ranks+1/2/3 Mana Regen per 5 secondsImproved Recall (1 of 1 ranks)Improved Recall1 / 1 ranksReduces the cast time of Recall by 1 second
ScoutScoutUp to 1 rankWards gain 25% increased vision range for the first 3 seconds after placing themMastermind (3 of 3 ranks)Mastermind3 / 3 ranksReduces the cooldown of Summoner Spells by 4%/7%/10%Expanded MindExpanded MindUp to 3 ranks+4/7/10 mana per levelArtificerArtificerUp to 2 ranksReduces the cooldown of activated items by 7.5%/15%
GreedGreedUp to 4 ranksGrants an additional +0.5/1/1.5/2 gold every 10 secondsRunic Affinity (1 of 1 ranks)Runic Affinity1 / 1 ranksIncreases the duration of neutral monster buffs by 20%VampirismVampirismUp to 3 ranks+1%/2%/3% Lifesteal and Spell VampBiscuiteerBiscuiteerUp to 1 rankStart the game with a regenerative biscuit that restores 80 Health and 50 Mana over 10 seconds
WealthWealthUp to 2 ranksIncreases starting gold by 40/75AwarenessAwarenessUp to 4 ranksIncreases Experience earned by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%Strength of SpiritStrength of SpiritUp to 3 ranksUp to +1/2/3 Health Regen per 5 seconds for each 400 Mana you possessExplorerExplorerUp to 1 rankStart the game with an Explorer's Ward.
PickpocketPickpocketUp to 1 rankGrants 5 gold (melee) or 3 gold (ranged) each time you basic attack an enemy champion (5s cooldown)IntelligenceIntelligenceUp to 3 ranks+2%/4%/6% Cooldown Reduction
NimbleNimbleUp to 1 rank · CapstoneGrants 3% increased Movement Speed

utility9

Skill order

Max order››
Skill order by level for AP Tank
Lv123456789101112131415161718
Q1Q at level 14Q at level 45Q at level 57Q at level 79Q at level 9
W3W at level 314W at level 1415W at level 1517W at level 1718W at level 18
E2E at level 28E at level 810E at level 1012E at level 1213E at level 13
R6R at level 611R at level 1116R at level 16

Matchups

Strong against

  • TryndamereTryndamereTryndamere has to stay in melee range to build Fury, and RuptureRuptureQActive: Cho'Gath ruptures the target location after a 0.625 delay, granting sight of the area before dealing magic damage to enemies within and knocking them up for 1 second, and afterwards slowing them by 60% for 3 seconds. is a knock-up plus a 60% slow on the champion who most needs to be moving. Undying RageUndying RageRActive: Tryndamere's lust for battle becomes so strong that he becomes immune to death for 5 seconds and gains Fury. does not save him from FeastFeastRActive: Cho'Gath attempts to eat the target enemy, dealing them true damage. Against non-champions, the base damage is modified. If the target is killed, Cho'Gath gains a stack of Feast, up to 6 stacks maximum. Loses half stacks on death. Each stack of Feast grants health. afterwards.Full matchup page
  • Master YiMaster YiAlpha StrikeAlpha StrikeQMaster Yi becomes untargetable and strikes up to 4 nearby enemies, dealing magic damage. Can deal bonus damage to minions and monsters. commits Yi to the fight and Feral ScreamFeral ScreamWActive: Cho'Gath roars in a cone in the target direction, dealing magic damage to enemies hit. Enemies hit are also silenced for a duration. silences HighlanderHighlanderRMaster Yi gains Movement Speed and Attack Speed and becomes immune to slows. Champion kills refresh his cooldowns; assists refund half. out of it. Cho'Gath's stacked health means Yi runs out of window before he runs out of target.Full matchup page
  • KatarinaKatarinaDeath LotusDeath LotusRKatarina throws daggers at up to three nearby enemy Champions, dealing magic damage and applying Grievous Wounds. is a channel, and Feral ScreamFeral ScreamWActive: Cho'Gath roars in a cone in the target direction, dealing magic damage to enemies hit. Enemies hit are also silenced for a duration.'s silence stops it. Katarina has to ShunpoShunpoEActive: Katarina blinks to the target unit and gains 15% damage reduction for 1.5 seconds. If the target is an enemy, she deals them magic damage. into range of a champion whose health bar is two of hers.Full matchup page

Weak against

  • VayneVayneSilver BoltsSilver BoltsWPassive: Vayne's basic attacks on-hit and Condemn apply a stack of Silver Bolts for 3.5 seconds, refreshing on subsequent applications, expiring upon attacking a new enemy, and stacking up to 3 times. The third stack consumes them all to deal bonus true damage, with a minimum threshold. Silver Bolts is capped at 200 damage against monsters. takes a percentage of Cho'Gath's health every third hit, so FeastFeastRActive: Cho'Gath attempts to eat the target enemy, dealing them true damage. Against non-champions, the base damage is modified. If the target is killed, Cho'Gath gains a stack of Feast, up to 6 stacks maximum. Loses half stacks on death. Each stack of Feast grants health. stacks make him a bigger target rather than a tougher one, and CondemnCondemnEActive: Vayne fires a heavy bolt at the target enemy that deals physical damage and knocks them back 475 units, though not through terrain. If the target collides with terrain, they take the same physical damage and become stunned for 1.5 seconds. answers the RuptureRuptureQActive: Cho'Gath ruptures the target location after a 0.625 delay, granting sight of the area before dealing magic damage to enemies within and knocking them up for 1 second, and afterwards slowing them by 60% for 3 seconds. range.Full matchup page
  • Kog'MawKog'MawBio-Arcane BarrageBio-Arcane BarrageWActive: For 8 seconds, Kog'Maw's basic attacks gain bonus range and deal bonus magic damage, capped at 100 against monsters. is percent-health damage at a range Cho'Gath cannot answer, and Living ArtilleryLiving ArtilleryRActive: Kog'Maw shoots acid from a great distance that lands after 0.6 seconds at the target location, dealing magic damage to all enemies hit and granting sight of them for 4 seconds. Champions hit by Living Artillery take increased base damage. Each subsequent Living Artillery cast within the next 6 seconds costs an additional 40 mana, capping at 400 mana per cast. keeps hitting him while he walks toward it.Full matchup page
  • TeemoTeemoToxic ShotToxic ShotEPassive: Teemo's basic attacks are empowered to deal bonus magic damage on-hit and inflict poison. poison: The target takes magic damage every second over 4 seconds. Subsequent inflictions refresh the duration. chips a percentage of a very large health bar for free, Blinding DartBlinding DartQActive: Teemo shoots a dart at the target enemy that deals magic damage and blinds them for a duration. turns off Vorpal SpikesVorpal SpikesEToggle: Cho'Gath's basic attacks each launch a volley of spikes in a line, dealing magic damage and applying spell effects to enemies hit., and Noxious TrapNoxious TrapRActive: Teemo tosses a poisonous mushroom to the target location that becomes stealthed after arming over 1 second, lasting for up to 10 minutes and granting sight of its surroundings. Teemo periodically stocks a Noxious Trap charge, up to 3. The mushroom will explode upon enemy contact, inflicting poison to nearby enemies and slowing them for 4 seconds, as well as revealing them. covers the ground Cho'Gath has to cross.Full matchup page
  • WarwickWarwickHungering StrikeHungering StrikeQActive: Warwick swipes at the target enemy, dealing magic damage and healing himself for 80% of the damage dealt. Against enemy champions, Hungering Strike's base damage changes to the highest between the flat value or a percentage of the target's maximum health.'s percent-health damage and permanent sustain shrug off RuptureRuptureQActive: Cho'Gath ruptures the target location after a 0.625 delay, granting sight of the area before dealing magic damage to enemies within and knocking them up for 1 second, and afterwards slowing them by 60% for 3 seconds. trades, and Infinite DuressInfinite DuressRActive: Warwick blinks to the front of the target enemy champion and channels for 1.5 seconds, gaining 30% life steal for the duration, dealing magic damage 5 times (each hit applies on-hit effects) and suppressing the target for 1.8 seconds. locks Cho'Gath up the moment he oversteps.Full matchup page
  • KayleKayleKayle harasses from range while Cho'Gath has to land skillshots to answer; Righteous FuryRighteous FuryEActive: For the next 10 seconds, Kayle becomes a ranged champion with 525 range and her basic attacks deal bonus magic damage on-hit. Nearby enemies also take magic damage. whittles down the FeastFeastRActive: Cho'Gath attempts to eat the target enemy, dealing them true damage. Against non-champions, the base damage is modified. If the target is killed, Cho'Gath gains a stack of Feast, up to 6 stacks maximum. Loses half stacks on death. Each stack of Feast grants health. stacks and InterventionInterventionRActive: Kayle bathes the target allied champion or herself in holy light, rendering them invulnerable for 2.5 seconds. blanks his one all-in window.Full matchup page

Classic vs modern12 base-stat shifts

Base-stat shifts12
Base health
Classic: 520Current League: 644
Health per level
Classic: 80Current League: 94
Health regen
Classic: 1.67Current League: 9
Base mana
Classic: 245Current League: 270
Mana per level
Classic: 40Current League: 60
Base attack damage
Classic: 58.3Current League: 69
Attack damage per level
Classic: 4.2Current League: 0
Base armor
Classic: 26.5Current League: 38
Armor per level
Classic: 3.5Current League: 4.5
Base magic resist
Classic: 31.25Current League: 32
Magic resist per level
Classic: 1.25Current League: 2.05
Base attack speed
Classic: 0.625Current League: 0.658

Skins

  • Cho'Gath

  • Jurassic Cho'Gath

  • Battlecast Prime Cho'Gath

  • Prehistoric Cho'Gath

  • Dark Star Cho'Gath

  • Toy Terror Cho'Gath

History & Notes

Released 2009-06-26, one of the original forty champions. Classic freezes the kit at patch 3.13.24; the modern game still runs its descendant. Riot's next 3 balance steps after the freeze are listed below.

Changed after 3.13

  1. V3.15
    • Rupture, Tooltip corrected to state slow duration is 3 seconds and not 1.5
  2. V4.5
    • Stats, Base armor increased to 23 from 19.
  3. V4.8
    • Feast, Cast range increased to 175 from 150.
    • Feast, Cast time reduced to 0.25 seconds from 0.5
Contributors
Reio