Early Game
Mid game/Teamfights
End game
Items Explained
Masteries Explained
Runes Explained

As Ryze, you are one of the weakest early game champions in the game, this is because of the high mana-cost of your spells, the low base hp Ryze has and the low damage of your spells when compared to the damage of enemy spells amplified by their ap runes.

Because of how weak you are, your main objective would be to get as much gold as possible to prepare for the mid--late game, you can accomplish this by playing extremely passive at the start of the game, and utilizing the gold/10 from your masteries/runes. Try to avoid harassment from your enemy's, and stand-by for ganks from your jungler.

By the mid-game you should have atleast finished your Rod Of Ages, at this point your fighting ability is extremely potent as you have a lot of hp and damage. Once you've reached level 6-9 look for opportunities to roam/teleport gank bot or toplane, only use your teleport on botlane as most ganks toplane with teleport are bound to fail.

You should be able to duel your enemy mid and come out on top if they haven't gotten ahead of you somehow (killed your allies, a much larger amount of cs than you).

Compared to other champions, Ryze doesn't get a large boost of damage from runes, this is because he cannot utilize ap runes.

For Ryze I take a mixture of magic resit and magic penetration blues, these provide durability againt your lane enemy and some extra damage.

There are only a few viable options for Ryze to take for example:

My personal favourite Spell Vamp runes these runes provide early sustain and utility, they synergise with your ultimate to provide a massive amount of healing.

The only other option to Spellvamp runes

Arcane Mastery
When Ryze casts a spell, all other spells have their cooldown reduced by 1 second.

Gives you the ability to spam spells, and shapes your spell combo.


Overload
(Passive): Ryze gains 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 % cooldown reduction.

(Active): Ryze throws a charge of pure energy at an enemy unit, dealing 60 / 85 / 110 / 135 / 160 (+40% of ability power) magic damage plus additional damage equal to 6.5% of Ryze's maximum mana.

Your main ability, it gives you cooldown reduction and allows you to stack your tear, you max this first for the cdr and its damage.


Rune Prison
Ryze traps an enemy unit, preventing them from moving for .75 / 1 / 1.25 / 1.5 / 1.75 second(s) and dealing 60 / 95 / 130 / 165 / 200 (+60% of ability power) magic damage plus 4.5% of Ryze's maximum mana.

A nice cc spell which does good damage, you wouldn't max this second unless under certain conditions, e.g. you need the extra root duration to lock-up enemys.


Spell Flux
Ryze unleashes a bouncing orb of magical power which bounces to enemy units or himself, up to 5 times (for a total of 6 hits). Each bounce deals 50 / 70 / 90 / 110 / 130 (+35% of ability power) (+1% of maximum mana) magic damage and reduces the target's Magic Resistance by 12 / 15 / 18 / 21 / 24. Prioritizes enemy champions.

The reason you do most of your damage, this spell reduces magic resist and works extremely well with your ultimate, also in ideal conditions it would bounce more than once against the enemy, doing a lot of damage. You max this second because of it's magic resist reduction and its superior damage to your w.

Ryze's kit is extremely different to every other champion, to do the most possible damage, you need to use your spells in the right order.

For example

The most AOE damage/healing you can possibly to is with this combo (use this if you get a good position in fights/teamfights):

Q---> E---> R---> Q---> W---> Q

While you have a Q and E mid air you activate your R, this allows you to throw another Q and use your W while your ult is up. What this does it gives you the AOE+Spellvamp bonus on 3 Q's rather than one or two in standard combo.

The most single-target damage:

Q---> R---> Q---> E---> Q---> W---> Q


Always start with W if you think your enemy will run/can escape.