Gao
Gao: For every 3 Basic Attacks or skills Gao uses, his Basic Attack is enhanced,dealing damage on hit.
Build core
Rush Insatiable Tome, Boots of Resistance, Savant's Wrath, then complete Void Staff, Staves of Sorcery, Splendor
Combo
Wild Chord → String Bender → Rock Out! → weave basic attacks
Draft
Gao excels into Mai Shiranui, Wukong, Xuance. Avoid blind picking into Li Xin, Kaizer, Dun without team peel.
Best Build for Gao
End-game item order with gold costs and slot notes. Purchase path may differ in-match.
Build philosophy
Gao benefits from Magic attack, Cooldown reduction, Penetration — match items and runes to kit scaling.
Passive: For every 3 Basic Attacks or skills Gao uses, his Basic Attack is enhanced, dealing damage on hit.
Arcana: Prioritize runes that boost Magic attack, Cooldown reduction, Penetration for this hero's passive and skill scaling.
| # | Item | Gold | Stats | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Insatiable Tome | 2,060g | Magical Lifesteal | Fits Magic attack priority — Passive - Arcane Conversion — Every 2% Magical Lifesteal grants an extra 1% Cooldown Reduction. |
| 2 |  Boots of Resistance | 700g | Shortens CC | Fits Movement speed priority — Passive - Swift — Grants 50 Movement Speed. |
| 3 |  Savant's Wrath | 2,140g | Greatly boosts MATK | Fits Magic attack priority — Passive - Doom — {ap} +30% |
| 4 |  Void Staff | 2,040g | Anti-tank | Fits Magic attack priority — Passive - Devastation — Magical Pierce +45% |
| 5 |  Staves of Sorcery | 2,080g | Enhances BA | Fits Magic attack priority — Passive - Savagery — The next Basic Attack within 5s after casting a skill deals (180–360 + 40% {ap}) extra magical damage. |
| 6 |  Splendor | 2,080g | Temp. invincibility | Temp. invincibility supports your Magic attack focus. |
Best Arcana & Spells
| Slot | Choice | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Nightmare | Recommended for Mage Mid Lane |
| Spell | Flash | Adjust Purify/Execute based on enemy dive. |
Skill Order
Skill 2 → Skill 1 → Rock Out! (max Skill 2 first)
Max primary utility/damage skill first, then Wild Chord, and Rock Out! on cooldown.
Combos
1. Standard trade
Wild Chord → String Bender → Rock Out! → weave basic attacks
When: Mid Lane skirmish or objective fight
Abilities
Passive
Guitar Solo
For every 3 Basic Attacks or skills Gao uses, his Basic Attack is enhanced, dealing damage on hit.
Skill 1
Wild Chord
Launches musical notes that bounce between enemies, dealing damage.
Skill 2
String Bender
Damages and slows enemies within range. Hits on heroes recover Health, and he gains damage reduction during the dash.
Ultimate
Rock Out!
Gains Movement Speed and damage reduction while dealing continuous damage to enemies within range.
Counters & Matchups
Gao is strong into
Pick Gao when the enemy drafts these heroes.
Gao struggles into
Avoid Gao or ban these when they appear on the enemy team.
Playstyle & Ranked Tips
Laning Phase
Control first wave without taking free poke. Roam after pushing wave 2–4 to side lanes with your jungler.
Teamfight Role
Poke from max range before objective. Save hard CC for enemy dive or your carry peel window.
High Rank (Diamond+)
Gao sits at Tier B globally (50.9% WR). In high rank, pick only into favorable matchups or when you have a dedicated pocket pick.
vs Similar Heroes
- Gao vs Daji (Mage, Tier S+): Daji is 2.4% pick / 51.0% WR. Daji wins 0.1% more often globally. Choose Gao when you need Mid Lane identity; choose Daji for Mid Lane comfort.
- Gao vs Angela (Mage, Tier S+): Angela is 2.3% pick / 51.8% WR. Angela wins 0.9% more often globally. Choose Gao when you need Mid Lane identity; choose Angela for Mid Lane comfort.
FAQ
What is the best Gao build?
Recommended: Insatiable Tome, Boots of Resistance, Savant's Wrath, Void Staff, Staves of Sorcery, Splendor.
How to counter Gao?
Pick Li Xin, Kaizer, Dun. Strong into Mai Shiranui, Wukong, Xuance.
Is Gao good in current season?
Gao is Tier B Mage with 50.97% win rate, 0.46% pick rate, and 0.06% ban rate (Camp HOK international).