Annie Build Guide by shiftK

Introduction

This is a guild for advanced Annie Player.
Basic Understanding:
[*] The primary mission of Annie is to take down enemy AD Carry and Caster.
[*] Annie is Squishy and would like to hide behind the tank.
[*] You are using smart cast and can launch all your skill within 0.2 second

This is my real game play video recorded by 'fettaffe', who play as enemy Varus. The eye of your foe is a good perspective to review how you play.

using build 1

!!!!!!!!!!VIEDO!!!!!!!!!!

The final fight would illustrate the build part, introduction, and unique skill-flash.

While I am writing this guild, I got a 6 win streak inrank game with Annie in NA rank.(total 7 win streak in rank game with Annie and Saroka.)
using build 1

using build 2

Unique Skills

Charge 3 instead of 4 Pyromania

Annie the Dark Child/Strategy from LoL wiki

Especially when you got Sivir and Nocturne as an opponent.

Double AoE Stun within 5 second while early team fight

How?

Assuming that you are using smart cast and you've got -38.91% CDR (The total cost of -38.91% is 250 golds)
from blue buff Crest of the Ancient Golem -20%& Elixir of Brilliance-10%& Greater Quintessence of Cooldown Reductionx3=-4.91%&( Sorcery at Rank 4/4 -4%

When you see a team fight is coming, you should always get your stun Pyromaniaready.

At second 0.0-0.1, you luanch Summon: TibbersR, stunning your foe, Pyromania back to 0. At the same time you luanch IncinerateW(CD=4.89sec), DisintegrateQ(CD=2.44sec), IgniteF, now your Pyromania climb to 3. You know that you have 1.75sec(or less)to hide behind your tank after the nuke combo above.
Don't press E the Molten Shield.
At second 2.54, DisintegrateQ hit the foe closest to you and your Pyromania is 4 now, AOE stun ready.
At second 4.99, IncinerateW ready, AOE stun again.
STUN THEM, double AOE stun complete.
Don't wait, at second 5.00, DisintegrateQ and Molten ShieldE is up. Press these.

Aggressively burn your first Ignite in 2:45-3:15

After the leash at 1:55, you would back to mid lane and try to last hit that 6 minions .

Most of the time Annie would climb to level 2 faster than her opponent. Within 2:45-3:15, Annie would get her Disintegrate and Incinerate and the first stun Pyromania ready. Let's get close and stun with Disintegrate then follow up by auto-attack+ Incinerate+ Ignite+auto-attack.

This mini nuke combo 90% set your foe back at once and win the first hp exchange.
Ignite would be back at 5:45-6:15, meanwhile you would have your Summon: Tibbers up, you ult nuke combo is ready.

The Summoner Spell 'Flash', range:400

Try some champion who can spam flash, this would help you know more about FLASH.
Pounce range:375 Cooldown: 3.5 seconds
90 Caliber Net range:400
Quickdraw range:425
Spirit Rush range:450
Arcane Shift range:475
Deceive range:500
Riftwalk got 700 range, not a good idea for practice FLASH.

Fully Utilize Summon: Tibbers Range

Summon: Tibbersgot total 750 range(Range to center of summon's AoE~600+Radius of Summon's AoE:150) to hit, with you flash range:400, total 1150. Use it for catching low hp champ.

Skill Sequence

Unlike most of the guild, Molten Shield would be ready at level 10 instead of level 4 here.

Early game +50 damage is the only reason. Incinerate(Magic Damage: 80 / 130 / 180 / 230 / 280 (+0.75 per ability power)) would upgrade at level:2-4-8-12-13 (not like the common way 2-8-10-12-13)


Compare with 2-4-8-12-13 and 2-8-10-12-13 sequence of Incinerate
Level 4 +50(130-80) damage
Level 5 +50(130-80) damage
Level 6 +50(130-80) damage
Level 7 +50(130-80) damage
Level 8 +50(180-130) damage
Level 9 +50(180-130) damage

2-4-8-12-13 would sacrifice stun Pyromania charge speed from level 4-9, that could be crucial for gank and anti-gank. Your jungler may have to wait at bush for 4-12 second for the gank.

Champion Dynamics

As a midfielder, these are the guys you may face:
Skill shot type: Ahri, Brand, Kennen, Lux, Morgana, Twisted Fate, Xerath, Ziggs.
I would love to lane against the champio above before level 6. For 2 reasons:
1. All of their main spell take longer CD than Annie Q do.
2. Skill shot is easy to dodge. (All about positioning, I can't tell.)
(method A) try to move as a big 'S' or 'Z', or even flash to them(not directly ok?) when they use skill shot to initiat a fight, they will just miss it and take a long cool down.
(method B) hide behind your minions and make a move if needed. For instant, Brand Conflagration is up and minion next to you is ablaze-ing.

AoE spell type: Cassiopeia, Cho'Gath, Gragas, Heimerdinger, Mordekaiser, Viktor. Some of them have AoE CC spell, as Annie is a super squishy champion, get a single controlled could lead to death, dont get close.

Flasher type: Akali, Fizz, LeBlanc, Master Yi(AP). You should have you stun ready, dont Press W or R first, the key is DisintegrateQ, that stun can lead to IncinerateW, good hp exchange.

Others: Sion, Vladimir, Fiddlesticks, Karthus, Malzahar, Galio, Ryze.
Sion: If he is an AD Sion, you may use your spell to break his Death's Caresswithin first 4 second, when he can't donate his shield. Remember you can harss him hard before level 6 with you abilities, even your auto-attack, after an AD Sion reach level 6, be careful of his Cannibalism, which can make him stun and dive. His stun Cryptic Gaze is just range 550, you may stun him first.If he go for AP, wait for his Death's Caressexplode, then get close for HP exchange.
Vladimir: that is why Annie need some spell vamp. remember to use your DisintegrateQ to stun or he just Sanguine Pool to dodge all your spell. Stun first and hit. Although he may dodge DisintegrateQ with stun, you stun is still on, just wait for his body and IncinerateW stun him, follow by DisintegrateQ. Nice HP exchange.
Karthus: Not a good idea to exchange with him when he reach level 3. Always remember his Wall of Pain range 1000, when you fall back and he wall on you, he jungle will take you out first. For Requiem, I've low hp in a game and run out from Karthus, he ult me, and I realize that I can't escape from that, so I flash to him and use 2 spell to charge a stun and stunned him. Then I run again and was saved, btw, my jungler arrive after that and killed him.

Counter type(which means I dont know what to do with after level 6):
Kassadin, LeBlanc, Veigar. Before level 6, Annie can harss them hard. Please leave me a message if you know what to do with them with Annie. I would love to learn that.

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Enemy jungler:
Shaco:most likely come out from bush besides middle road. There would be an orange somke come out. Just run to the opposit side at once.
Udyr, Rammus: They can run fast, probably come out from your back, don't over extend when you have no idea where they are.
Nocturne: always get your Pyromania ready at 3, so that when he come with Shroud of Darkness, you can use Disintegrate to break it first and charge the stun Pyromania to 4, follow by Incinerate.
Alistar's Headbuttrange 650, which means he can attack before you fight back(your Disintegrate and Incinerate Range 625), Run and don't wait for that 2 CC ability ( Headbutt and Pulverize).
Fiddlesticks: Go for him at 6:45-7:10 in his blue. You may wait in his bush and nuke him down. Buff and 300 golds is yours, for he is as squichy as Annie does.

Runes

Nothing specially but 3 Greater Quintessence of Cooldown Reduction. I don't want Greater Quintessence of Cooldown Reduction nor Greater Quintessence of Ability Power
Basic CDR: -8.91%
Runes CDR: -4.91% ( Greater Quintessence of Cooldown Reduction x3 )
Masteries CDR: -4% ( Sorcery at Rank 4/4)
Disintegrate CD = 4 >>> 3.6 sec

I want one more hit within 3.6 sec., this can ensure a kill. This is Disintegrate 165(+0.7) when you hit the other mid.

Items

Will of the Ancients: Spell Vamp for sustainability in laning phrase and team fight.
1.When you are low in hp and dying, use your spell you attack, that save your life.
2.Spell vamp keep you in range in a fight, you don't have to run too far.
3.Monster. a.You may solo blue buff. b.when your team are doing Baron , Will of the Ancients works for long fight.
Void Staff: Magic Pen. better then flat MR reduce when their MR reach more than 80. take this staff and trade for Mercury's Treads.
Deathfire Grasp is an late game items to take down their AD carry or Mage, most likely their HP is lower than 2300, a shot from Deathfire Grasp plus alll your Spells can surely take 1 down in a second.

Claculation on CDR

Basic CDR: -8.91%
Runes CDR: -4.91% ( Greater Quintessence of Cooldown Reduction x3 )
Masteries CDR: -4% ( Sorcery at Rank 4/4)
Disintegrate CD = 4 >>> 3.6 sec
Incinerate CD = 8 >>> 7.3 sec
Molten Shield CD = 16>>>14.6 sec
Summon: TibbersCD =120>>>109.3 sec

Advanced CRD
1.Buff CDR: -20% ( Crest of the Ancient Golem )
-20%-8.91%=-28.91%
Disintegrate CD = 4 >>> 2.8 sec
Incinerate CD = 8 >>> 5.7 sec
Molten Shield CD = 16>>>11.4 sec
Summon: TibbersCD =120>>>85.3 sec

2. Items CDR: -10% ( Elixir of Brilliance)
-20%-8.91%-10%=-38.91%
Disintegrate CD = 4 >>> 2.4 sec
Incinerate CD = 8 >>> 4.9 sec
Molten Shield CD = 16>>>9.7 sec(it last for 8 sec., which mean Molten Shield always up)
Summon: TibbersCD =120>>>73.3 sec

3. Items CDR: -15%( Deathfire Grasp). You are not always going to have Crest of the Ancient Golem , so the 15% Deathfire Grasp is needed.
which is -8.91%-10%-15%= -33.91%
Disintegrate CD = 4 >>> 2.6 sec
Incinerate CD = 8 >>> 5.3 sec
Molten Shield CD = 16>>>10.6 sec
Summon: TibbersCD =120>>>79.3 sec

Bug

If your Summon: Tibbers is up and last hit Crest of the Ancient Golem , Crest of the Ancient Golem just gone, neither on Annie or Summon: Tibbers. So don't let Summon: Tibbers last hit Crest of the Ancient Golem . You may try it in your game-play.