Neeko’s passive ability, Inherent Glamour, has always been a source of creative plays, but a clever trick with her transformation mechanics has recently resurfaced.
This tactic shows just how much untapped potential lies within Neeko’s kit when used to its fullest extent, especially in high-pressure situations like tower dives.
Neeko can shapeshift into various units on the map—ranging from champions, minions, and even jungle plants like Blast Cones. While this ability is often used to deceive opponents, it also has hidden interactions that can turn the tide of a fight.
Recently, one such interaction made headlines during the Demacia Cup in a match between Weibo Gaming (WBG) and Edward Gaming (EDG).
Neeko’s Shapeshift Tank Trick in Action
During a tower dive, Hang’s Neeko shapeshifted into a cannon minion and absorbed five turret shots, allowing WBG to secure an early first blood. This tactic was possible because turret damage scaling—where consecutive shots on champions deal increased damage—does not activate when Hang is disguised as a minion.
Normally, three turret shots are enough to kill most champions early in the game. However, by posing as a cannon minion, Hang bypassed this mechanic, tanking 6 turret shots without taking the extra damage. This brilliant maneuver set up WBG for a significant lead.
This isn’t the first time Neeko’s passive has been used in such a clever way. Back in MSI 2023, Caps pulled off a similar trick against BLG, though it flew under the radar at the time.
While the mechanic seems fair on paper, it provides Neeko players with a massive advantage that is difficult to counter. One suggested solution is to force her to drop her disguise when taking turret damage. However, this might not entirely fix the issue, as her ability to manipulate turret aggro remains unparalleled.
Fortunately, Neeko’s high skill ceiling and relatively low pick rate mean this trick isn’t often exploited in regular games. Even so, it’s worth keeping an eye out for players pulling off this strat during your ranked climb.
If you encounter a player attempting this trick, consider positioning or strategies that limit her ability to shapeshift effectively during tower dives.