S13 Jan 2026 Stat Buffs
Adjusted Skill Damage
Gao
(高渐离) D Mid Difficulty
Mage
Formation Mage Sustained Damage/Damage Reduction Balanced Medium
Gao
高渐离
D Mid
Difficulty Mage
Formation Mage Sustained Damage/Damage Reduction Balanced Medium
Also known as
Gao's Chinese name is 高渐离.
高渐离
Quick summary
Gao is a struggling Mid Mage who wants to play sustained damage.
Current patch decision guide
When to pick Gao, when to avoid them, and how to adapt your build.
Gao is a struggling Mid Mage who wants to win extended trades with regeneration. Public guide data shows a build using the standard mage core path, used to farm safely and rotate to side lanes when the wave allows. Pick him when the draft lets Gao reach the targets his kit is designed to threaten; avoid when the matchup denies the windows his kit needs.
Pick Gao when
- The team draft favors extended team fights where healing scales
- Your team has the structure to use his ability to farm safely and rotate to side lanes when the wave allows, since Gao delivers consistent damage output and timely roams.
- The enemy draft includes Mai Shiranui, Wukong, and Xuance, who appear in counter data as matchups Gao can pressure.
Avoid Gao when
- The enemy already builds anti-heal items, neutralizing your sustain plan
- Your team needs a jungle pick more than Gao's specialty, leaving the role unfilled if you commit here.
- A stronger pick in the same role is open and the matchup does not specifically reward Gao's Sustained Damage.
Power spikes
Early game: focus on safe lane phase and tracking jungle pressure before Gao's mid-game tools come online.
Lifesteal item online: trade patterns flip from neutral to favorable once sustain stacks with damage
Late game: cooldowns become short enough that String Bender influences every team fight rather than being a one-shot tool.
Build decisions
Default mid path
Public build data is incomplete for Gao. Use the in-game recommended preset, then adapt items based on enemy damage type and team needs.
Matchup logic
Versus anti-heal
Healing reduction items cut sustain by a large margin. Track when the enemy buys the anti-heal item and adjust your trade aggression accordingly.
Role positioning
Gao is a Mid pick whose value depends on consistent damage output and timely roams. Stick to the role plan rather than forcing fights his kit is not designed to win.
Synergies
Public synergy data lists Kui, Sun Bin, and Liu Bang as strong partners for Gao. Plan engages around Kui's setup window, then second-engage with Rock Out.
Common mistakes
- Forcing all-ins against opponents already wearing anti-heal — your healing barely activates.
- Engaging without checking enemy summoner-spell cooldowns, which often decide whether Gao's commit reaches the target alive.
- Greeding farm in mid lane while side lanes get camped — rotation timing matters more than CS lead in most matchups.
Background
Fatal Lyrist
“Alright! It's showtime!”
Originally a talented bard with a burning passion for music, Gao embarked on a new journey to find his purpose in life. When he chanced upon the Battle of Changping, the savage and bloodthirsty monsters shook the bard to his core. From that moment on, ending the war became more important than music. In order to end the war, he formed an anti-Yong alliance. By chance, he also saved Arke, an assassin who had been injured and knocked unconscious. While he heals her wounds with music, she holds nothing back in serving his cause with her sword.
- Race:
- Human
- Height:
- 178 cm
- Style:
- Sorcery
- Nation:
- Southlands
- Title:
- Wandering Musician
Source: Official Honor of Kings — canonical lore for Gao.
Base Stats
Source: in-game capture (HoK Global v11.x, 2026-04-20)Survivability
3320
Max HP
150
Phys DEF
75
Mag DEF
44
HP/5s
Offense
167
Phys ATK
5%
Atk Speed
200%
Crit DMG
Utility
370
Move Speed
640
Max Mana
16
Mana/5s
Ranged
Range
Build
How to choose a build
Start with the safe default badge if the draft looks normal, then swap to burst, anti-tank, sustain, or utility builds when the matchup clearly calls for it.
Standard build
Safe defaultStart here if the draft looks standard and you want the safest all-around setup.
#insatiable-tome →
#savants-wrath →
#void-staff →
#splendor
Arcana
#tier-list#gao#flash
Spells
Flash
Skills
passive Guitar Solo
For every 3 Basic Attacks or skills Gao uses, his Basic Attack is enhanced,dealing damage on hit.
skill1 Wild Chord
Launches musical notes that bounce between enemies, dealing damage.
skill2 String Bender
Damages and slows enemies within range. Hits on heroes restore 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.
Skins
4 skins
Dragon Onesie
Riffslinger
Aces
Metal Frenzy
Playstyle
Gao leans on Rock Out! (gains Movement Speed and damage reduction while dealing continuous damage to enemies within range). Zone with your area skills instead of walking up for basic attacks.
Patch History
S10 May 2025 Stat Nerfs
Skill 1 damage reduced
S8 Feb 2025 Stat Buffs
Increased Attack Range and Added Damage Reduction to Ultimate
Show details
"Gao needs to get close to as many enemies as possible while using his Ultimate, so we've increased his damage reduction to improve his survivability. Additionally, we've increased his range so it's easier for him to find a way to enter combat."