Skill usage Edit

• Using  Pulverize can allow Alistar to establish better positioning for  Headbutt.
  • You can use this to your advantage by using  Pulverize followed by  Headbutt to push them into your turret's firing range. Be aware that skilled players will know this gimmick and will not fall for it unless they are caught unaware.
• You can use Flash to catch your target off guard,  Pulverize/ Headbutt them into your allies/turret.
• Using  Pulverize immediately after a successful  Headbutt will apply the stun from  Pulverize. Instead of being pushed back, the target will be knocked up and stay in place. This can be useful in some chase situations (make sure you succeed or you will knock them further away), or finishing off a weakened opponent on the run. This tactic is risky, leaves you useless while both abilities are on cooldown, but is considered a staple move of Alistar and used very often in both competitive and casual play.
• In the event that a tank is running close to your target to protect them, a safer and often more useful strategy is to use  Headbutt on the tank to get you into range to  Pulverize your true target.
• Be wary when using  Headbutt because you might end up disrupting positions in a way that benefits the enemy team, particularly knocking them out of a teammate's area of effect.
• Alistar is considered a great roamer due to the fact that all he needs is his  Pulverize and  Headbutt combo to gank a lane.
• Hitting an enemy into a close-by thick wall with  Headbutt will stun them for ~1s. Reason being that they will still try to travel the distance even if a wall is in the way. Thus they will be stuck against the wall for the duration of the flight.
  • However, if  Headbutt is used near a wall, it sometimes sends the enemy onto the other side allowing them to escape.
  • This can also be used to your advantage. Sending the enemy tank or a high damage dealing carry (like Fiddlesticks after he uses  Crowstorm) over a wall can allow your team to win a 5v4 match.
  • Most walls in the jungle and river are thin, but whether they will go over them or not depends on how close they were to the wall at impact. If they are a high priority target, it may be better to keep them in the fight. A high priority threat would be neutralized if knocked over.
•  Unbreakable Will should mostly be used when turret diving or in team fights when you are being focused.
• When using  Headbutt you are always guaranteed an auto attack with it.  This allows your  Headbutt to proc items such as  Sheen. Be careful when using a Headbutt/auto right after using and auto attack, for the auto won't be guaranteed.

Build Usage Edit

• Getting Boots of Swiftness will allow Alistar to position himself better around the battlefield for  Headbutt.
• Boots of Mobility are a great option for roaming, something Alistar is good at thanks to his high disruptive power.
• Try to buy a Sheen to increase your damage and pushing capability. Getting items with auras like Aegis of the Legion or Abyssal Scepter help your entire team to push faster.
• Shurelya's Reverie helps Alistar and his team to initiate. It also helps to flee or to get in range to stun fleeing opponents.
• Thanks to Spirit Visage, Alistar can heal himself for additional 12/18/24/30/36 health with his  Triumphant Roar. Amount of boost is rather low, but it's still a great item because of cooldown reduction and magic resistance it provides.
• Chalice of Harmony is a viable early game item for Alistar during the laning phase as his abilities cost a heavy amount of mana.
  • This can be built into either  Athene's Unholy Grail or  Mikael's Crucible, depending on needs.  Athene's Unholy Grail provides CDR and AP to aid in your personal performance, and gives  Triumphant Roar more power.  Mikael's Crucible is useful in aiding your supporting role and can also allow you a second chance to escape if you are CC'd again after using your ultimate. 

Recommended builds Edit

Summoner's Rift recommended items
Starting
Essential
Offensive
Defensive
Consumables

The Proving Grounds recommended items
Starting
Essential
Offensive
Defensive
Consumables

The Crystal Scar recommended items
Starting
Essential
Offensive
Defensive
Consumables

The Twisted Treeline recommended items
Starting
Essential
Offensive
Defensive
Consumables

Countering Edit

• Stay away from his  Pulverize range to avoid his  Pulverize and  Headbutt combo.
  • When you are in your turret range, consider staying close to Alistar so that if he uses his  Triumphant Roar he will draw turret aggro because of his passive damage from  Trample. But be aware that would make you an easy target for a  Pulverize-> Headbutt combo.
• Flash can be used on Alistar to quickly get into the middle of a team, hit much of them with  Pulverize, and knock a squishy target toward his team with  Headbutt. Always spread out when you see Alistar walk toward your team.
• Beware the potential combo of canceling the knockback of  Headbutt into  Pulverize. At that note, it is safest to poke Alistar with something that is farther than the 650 ability range of  Headbutt.
• Alistar is a pure tank that naturally has a high health, armor and magic resistance. Buying items such as Last Whisper or Void Staffcan help with killing him faster.
• It is best to wait until the duration of his  Unbreakable Will wears off before continuing to attack him.
• If Alistar has already cast  Pulverize and  Headbutt, consider ignoring him if possible for the cooldowns of those two abilities are very significant - especially since spending effort to attack him may just have him reduce it with  Unbreakable Will.
  • Due to said significant cooldowns, crowd-controlling his own team as he uses  Pulverize if possible can waste the ability's synergy with his allies and leave Alistar with little else to do for his team while it cools down - as long as you yourself have other things to use while you traded cooldown(s) of your own for his, of course.
• Avoid fighting near minion waves to ensure that his  Triumphant Roar has a long cooldown.
• Position yourself in such a way that it is difficult for Alistar to  Headbutt you into a bad position that may endanger yourself.
  • However, be wary not to get in range of  Pulverize instead. Try to position yourself properly and keep distance at the same time.
• Flash or other movement abilities (such as  Arcane Shift) can help make it difficult for Alistar to land a combo on you, or make for an easier escape after he already has.