User blog comment:Leyrann/Hard counters./@comment-74.181.95.249-20120729215147

In my opinion a hard counter isn't about the items built, its about the kit of each of the characters.

For example, vayne does true damage every third hit and has a short range. Malphite hard counters her due to the fact that he has a huge gap closer that cc's, and can cut her attack speed thus making her silver bolts and overall dps much lower. If she tumbles for extra damage or uses her ult for damage his W more than gives him the resistsance to shurg it off and deal damage back. If she uses E then he can simlply ult to her right after she E's him (assuming hist ult is up). As you can see malph's kit can shut her kit down quickly.

Another example would be vayne vs sion. If he is AD and has high hp her silver bolts shreads him every three hits. If she is stunned by his Q and he tries to run up for damage she can just knock him away (and possibly stun depending on posisitioning). If he tries to pop his W on her then she can tumble out of the blast radius and then kite him.

I wanted to use vayne in both examples to show that she may be hard countered by one by she herself also hard counters another. I know items play a large role into the game. (such as Frozen heart counter anyone with high attack speed) But when I hear X champion hard counters Y champion, I think more of what Champion X's kit does to shut down Champion Y's kit.