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Cho'Gath Build Guide by risingwithhope

AP Offtank Cho' gath the Solo Lane Bruiser Season 6

AP Offtank Cho' gath the Solo Lane Bruiser Season 6

Updated on July 18, 2016
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League of Legends Build Guide Author risingwithhope Build Guide By risingwithhope 29 4 1,390,923 Views 20 Comments
29 4 1,390,923 Views 20 Comments League of Legends Build Guide Author risingwithhope Cho'Gath Build Guide By risingwithhope Updated on July 18, 2016
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Choose Champion Build:

  • LoL Champion: Cho'Gath
    My standard built
  • LoL Champion: Cho'Gath
    Getting in fights
  • LoL Champion: Cho'Gath
    Damage Heavy Bruiser

Something about the author.

Currently in season 6 and hovering around plat 2 at the moment. I have played with many items builts and against many varieties champions with Cho'gath. English is not my first language so I apologize for any grammatical errors while reading this. This guide has been here since the beginning of season four. While I started it based on my game knowledge on this champ, I later started moving on towards those such as Annie, Malzahar and my vast pool of support. My Cho has been on a slump around season 5, however with the improvement on, I was able to make interesting tweaks to it.
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Why play Cho'gath?

Cho'gath is a versatile champion who can built in many ways towards your liking or to the situation. I find one of the best things about playing this champion is that you can analyze the situation and built to adapt to those problems. Although you might not necessary win the game by just itemization, with the right built and enough skill, you can ensure that you made great impact on that game. Advice to improve this guild is very welcome since I am not good at editing these kinds of things and lack enough knowledge to appeal to the audience.
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Pros / Cons

Pros

+Offers two hard ccs that are area of effect damage. One knocks enemies up and slows while the other silences. The higher level Feral Scream is, the longer the silence
+Naturally Tanky
+Can be built in anyway
+Excellent Peeler and farmer
+Usually survive the laning phase

Cons

- Rupture is hard to land
-Lacks mobility
-can be kited very easily
-not a hyper carry
-easily block by minions when farming
-Very mana hungry
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Spells

(passive)

One of the best passives in the game, it will make sure Cho'gath survives the laning phase and also become quite a force to deal with. Adding to that, this gets stronger as you level up so it a good idea to farm well with Cho gath.



What Cho gath is known for. It is difficult to land at first, but with practice, you should be able to land at least 50% of them during laning phase. With the rise of mobile champs such as Zed and Lissandra, it becomes increasingly more difficult to land so silence before applying this can ensure that it will go off. It offers a knock up and a three second slow.



Another excellent ability. At max level, it has a 2.5 second duration. Although this is not what it used to be (4 seconds at season 1), this can cripple enemy teams if use correctly especially if they spam lots of spells. At this point in the meta, it is not uncommon to take it at level 1 in most cases.



The reason why farming is so easy. Another thing people fail to realized is that this can be a bullying tool. Most champs on top lane are known to deal little but consistent damage through means like auto attacks. This is makes Cho'gath one of the highest sustain damage dealers over time top lane. The optimal way to use this is to wait for your enemy to burn most of their important spells first such as Garen's spin, Jax's jump or Shyvana's burnout. You will dominated that lane for a few seconds assuming they are not low enough to recall yet.




Ever wonder what it is like to be gobble up. Well this is what Cho does. it does at deals 1000 true damage to minions while about 300-650 against champions. What makes this even better is killing an enemy with it will grant Cho more health and a bigger size which is good for peeling for squishies. Plus this deals true damage so it ignores all the resistances that the enemy builts against you. This deals surprisingly high amount of damage which is why Cho gath is consider a bruiser instead of a true tank. Trust me, he is not one you would leave alone with your attack damage carry. It has a surprisingly low cooldown. This is also the reason why you would play Cho safe as trading yourself for one opponent is not always worth it since you have to rebuilt those stacks.
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Masteries

The new rule for a bruiser apparently seems to be to build damage first, then itemize defense. the 18/0/12 masteries ( based on position) is geared towards helping Cho's strong laning phase while also allow for late game adjustments. While you wouldn't be as tanky as one with 12/0/18 masteries, it is of little significance if you calculate the stats for it between levels 1-6. Of course that is when you compare it to the last 6 masteries points on the offensive page.


The offensive page
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Runes

There are many runes could use, but these are the most optimal in most cases. Cho gath suffers from low mobility so adding Greater Quintessence of Movement Speed would help close gaps better or get away more easily. Greater Seal of Armor and Greater Glyph of Magic Resist is a given in order to make up for his weaknesses early game. Afterwards, his natural tankyiness will ensure his survival in later levels. You can also switch some runes around and add scaling ap for glyphs or seals to deal more damage for the late game. Greater Mark of Magic Penetration is consider a must according to most players and builts.
Many would say its standard, but the reason is the magic penetration offers more damage overtime compare to flat ap assuming they are marks. In addition, since you are a tank Cho'gath, you would not be building much damage. These marks will make your damage more noticeable over time.
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Skill Sequence

Taking Rupture at level 1 against most matches. Cho does not have any good escapes and landing this correctly would ensure you live to fight another day. Afterwards, it is best to max out other things such as Feral Scream and Vorpal Spikes. Although Rupture has the same mana cost throughout, it is difficult to land especially against mobile champions.
Furthermore, Feral Scream and Vorpal Spikes would ensure you will have a good Laning phase and easy harass. Plus higher level silence by leveling up Feral Scream doesn't hurt either. If you are against a heavy harasser such as Teemo, Vladimir or Elise, taking Feral Scream at level one would be a better choice. In those situations, make sure to still get Vorpal Spikes at level two and one point of Rupture.

Sometimes your matchups involve duelists who like to have duking matches with you. In this sense, maxing out Vorpal Spikes is a good decision. The extra damage from your autos would be more favorable in those sustain match ups. Examples I can think up of is against Shen, Tryndamere or Jax to a certain extent. Wit's End is a great item for those match ups if you want to become a dueling Cho'gath instead.
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Summoner Spells

Primary Spells

I put Ghost and Ignite as the summoner spells I used. However note that there are many more such as teleport and flash. It more of a personal preferences and based on how I use Cho'gath.


Offers a finishing blow and because I play Cho as a bruiser, I am very likely duke it out with the enemy top laner while they do the same against me. Note it is an offensive spell.


While many players who use Cho'gath would use Flash, I run this since it is at a lower cooldown. With the three points on Summoner's Insight , you will have about a 190 second cooldown. That's a little longer than the duration of a sight ward. So essentially if you have to use it to escape; as long as you have a ward, you can safely farm in lane till it runs out. By that time Ghost should be back up again ready to be used. It takes advantage of increase of speed from masteries of runes making Cho from an easily kited champion to a raging dinosaur charging towards the front lines. With the short cooldown this can be used to run towards a team fight halfway across a river area. Since you are building tank, you are most likely not going to bursted down right thus increasing your survival rate while closing more ground. Many say Flash is more important to close the gap better. This closes gaps, just not instantly. Those who have been taught to use Flash will need some time to adjust when using this spell. Again, Ghost is not necessary since it is a personal preference for how I play. Take note that the new Ghost now has more cooldown reduction and becomes more potent the more higher your level(more speed increase every time you level).

Other Summoner's


Use this if you want a quick getaway. As this is consider meta, most should be familiar with it since it gets you through walls and other obstacles with ease.


I would consider this one of the most skilled summoner in the game. Why? Many use it to get back to lane quickly which is good, but not it is not optimal especially if you are not being pushed out. What I noticed is that at the higher elo, most players tend to use to to get to other lanes or locations in order to save allies, secure kills or just make it a more favorable position to contest something such as dragon or baron . You can use this to tele to wards, tibbers, lanterns and other ally's objects. Keyword here is map awareness.
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Items

There is no optimal way to built or start off with Cho'gath. However it is very important to understand this section since building right could make your job easier. Although it might not necessary win you the game, it will usually ensure that you have made a mark that your enemies will not forget. Because Cho'gath is a versatile champion, he is viable with many items ranging from burst of ability damage to vast variety of tank items. In most cases Cloth Armor abilities are surpassed by Doran's Shield. There is not much reason to take it other than the fact that it builds off other stuff.


+2 pots

No longer against weaker laners. This should often be bought more than Doran's Shield due to how well it makes up for Cho's high mana spells and inability to regenerate mana very well early game. This should be used especially if the opposing laner does not auto attack much or can be fended off with early pushing.

+ pot

Possibly the best defensive start that Cho would want. It offers health, health regen and reduce damage from auto attacks. This is excellent against auto attackers like Shen who could be a real nuisance early game. If you are new to cho, building this as your first time in many cases won't hurt. At times ap champs will still auto attack you thus this will still be great due to its sustain it grants.


+ 4 pots

Use when you feel dodging skills shots, slows or having more mobility is the key to beating your laning opponents. This is especially good against Rumble does damage by slowing you and following up with his flamespitter.

Big Items

Moving on you should familiarize yourself with these items. Remember you do not have to build them in any order or require to. Build based on situation and what is needed to win the game.



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Laning Phase

In the past, I have advocated to not take Vorpal Spikes first since it pushes lane too much. However due to people improving on their abilities to push out the lane and to continue to improve on Cho's weak laning phase. I have made certain changes. However heavy harassers still require Feral Scream to deter early on.

Try to focus on last hitting during the early stages of the game and not harassing. Cho'gath's passive does not become significant until he pass level six. His spells also cost a lot of mana. One Rupture takes about 1/3 of your Mana bar at level 1 which takes a long times to recover even with your passive. However if the enemy aggresses on you, then using a Rupture or Feral Scream is ok. In most situations, you want to get into a state, in which the enemy laner cannot bully you without taking more damage. Cho'gath excels at counter engaging.

When reaching level six, many players will have the urge to use Feast on the enemy immediately. This is not always the optimal way and should be only done if you are very certain it would push them out of lane or secure kill. Using an early Feast on the enemy makes stacking yourself longer or nothing happens. The ideal way is to built up your stacks on minions until you have six. Afterwards, you can use it to your heart's content as there are no other options to take.

Cho'gath is an excellent farmer since Vorpal Spikes procs up his auto attacks. Try focusing on last hitting with your auto attacks. This allow the player to safe up their spells in case they want to harass or use defensively.

Use Rupture and Feral Scream to escape or secure kills.

Builting Catalyst the protector and then finishing it up into a Rod of Ages is also great. However note this is a luxury, building it while you are already losing will only hinder you further.
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Lane Match ups

This shows items you typically build when facing these heroes. While there is not necessary a best option, it mainly depends on the situation. Like I have said many times, build based on the situation.
*Difficulty levels from 1 through 10



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Ring + pots
Later items: Rod of Ages Although Garen ult Demacian Justice is based on health, if you have more health, he would require to chunk more of it before he can actually kill you, Frozen Heart, Warmog's Armor, Sorcerer's Shoes, Iceborn Gauntlet




Difficulty: 7

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting built: Doran's Ring + 2 pots spamming and shove
Later items: Abyssal Mask, Mercury's Treads, Morellonomicon if you are winning really hard, if you manage to built this while maintaining a decent advantage, Vladimir will never recover



Difficulty: 8

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot
Later Items: Ninja Tabi, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Sunfire Aegis, Thornmail



Difficulty: 2

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Ring + 2 Pots
Later items: Morellonomicon really hurts him as his reduce sustain needed to keep him in lane Frozen Heart, Mercury's Treads, Wit's End



Difficulty: 5

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting build: Doran's Shield + 1 pots
Later items: Rod of Ages, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Sunfire Aegis, Wit's End



Difficulty: 7

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Shield + 1 pot counters true damage
Later items: Rod of Ages more health, even harder to beat, Frozen Heart, Sunfire Aegis, Rylai's Crystal Scepter



Difficulty: 7

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Boots + 4 Pots or Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Abyssal Mask, Banshee's Veil, Mercury's Treads. Rylai's Crystal Scepter slow procs for heavier sustain damage.



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + Pot or Doran's Ring +2 pots play a bit safer with this
Later items: Rod of Ages Assumes you are winning so you just spam harass, don't built if you are losing since a Jax can easily counter with Blade of the Ruined King, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Sunfire Aegis, Wit's End



Difficulty: 5

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting build: Doran's Shield + pot (While the Kennen builds ap, most early game damage comes from auto giving you more sustain till your natural tankyiness takes over.
Later Builds: Abyssal Mask, Mercury's Treads
Ad: Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen



difficulty: 8

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting build: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Thornmail, Sunfire Aegis, Ninja Tabi



Difficulty: 2

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Ring +2 pots
Later items: Abyssal Mask, Wit's End, Mercury's Treads



Difficulty: 5

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Starting items: Doran's Ring + 2 pot
Later Items: Warmog's Armor, Randuin's Omen, Mercury's Treads



Difficulty: 3

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Starting items: Doran's Shield + pot (although he does magic damage, most comes from autos]]
Later items: Wit's End, Abyssal Mask, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Mercury's Treads, Rylai's Crystal Scepter



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting Build: Cloth Armor+ 5 pots Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Sunfire Aegis, Iceborn Gauntlet



Difficulty: 5

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Warmog's Armor make his low scaling damage less useful when used on you.



Difficulty: 5

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + 2 pot
Later items: Iceborn Gauntlet, Sorcerer's Shoes, Wit's End



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Frozen Heart, Mercury's Treads, Boots of Swiftness,



Difficulty: 7

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Frozen Heart, Abyssal Mask, Ninja Tabi, Warmog's Armor



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Abyssal Mask, Mercury's Treads, Frozen Heart Despite being ap, most of her damage comes from attack speed when she is in her spider form Spirit Visage



Difficulty: 4

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Abyssal Mask, Mercury's Treads, Liandry's Torment (Shreads health, buy if he builds lots of mana), Spirit Visage



Difficulty: 7

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Ninja Tabi



Difficulty: 3

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Iceborn Gauntlet, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Mercury's Treads,



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot (Despite being ap, most damage from autos)
Later items: Abyssal Mask, Spirit Visage, Mercury's Treads, Randuin's Omen



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + 5 pots most of damage comes from spells, not his poor scaling autos
Later items: Frozen Heart, Mercury's Treads (Reduce his Cripple Duration) Randuin's Omen, Sunfire Aegis, Wit's End, Iceborn Gauntlet



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Ring + pot (mana for silences)
Later items: Banshee's Veil, Ninja Tabi, Iceborn Gauntlet, Randuin's Omen



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Frozen Heart, Rylai's Crystal Scepter



Difficulty: 4

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Morellonomicon, Mercury's Treads, Randuin's Omen (For his auto's later on), Wit's End



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Liandry's Torment, Mercury's Treads, Ninja Tabi, Boots of Swiftness, Wit's End, Sunfire Aegis



Difficulty: 5

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Shield + 1 pot,autoss still do most of the damage early game. Even when built ad, she still does ap
Later items: Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Ap: Abyssal Mask, Mercury's Treads



Difficulty: 4

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Ring
Later items: Morellonomicon, Abyssal Mask, Mercury's Treads,
Boots of Swiftness, Liandry's Torment



Difficulty: 7

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Wit's End, Ninja Tabi, Thornmail



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Thornmail, Ninja Tabi, Wit's End



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: [[Doran's Ring]+ 2 pot
Later item: Abyssal Mask, Liandry's Torment, Wit's End, Mercury's Treads, Sunfire Aegis



Difficulty: 7

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Sunfire Aegis, Ninja Tabi



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting time: Doran's Ring + 2pot (mainly for sustain her autos can hurt a bit)
Later items: Randuin's Omen, Mercury's Treads, Ninja Tabi
Ap: Abyssal Mask,



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Sunfire Aegis, Thornmail, Ninja Tabi



Difficulty: 7

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Spirit Visage, Randuin's Omen, Sunfire Aegis, Mercury's Treads



Difficulty: 5

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Randuin's Omen, Frozen Heart, Sunfire Aegis, Thornmail,
Ninja Tabi, Wit's End



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Boots + 4 pots
Later items: Frozen Heart, Sunfire Aegis, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Randuin's Omen



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item : Doran's Shield+ 1 pots
Later items: Frozen Heart, Sunfire Aegis, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Randuin's Omen



Difficulty: 6

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting items: Doran's Ring + 2 pots

Later items: Mercury's Treads, Abyssal Mask, Spirit Visage (if you take too much poke)



Difficulty: 3

Spoiler: Click to view


Starting item: Doran's Ring + 2 pots
Later items: Wit's End Banshee's Veil Abyssal Mask Mercury's Treads Liandry's Torment



Spoiler: Click to view


Starting built: Doran's Shield + pot
Later items: Frozen Heart, Wit's End, Mercury's Treads
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Team Fighting

Always remember you are the team' tank. While you can initiate, ideally Cho'gath excels at peeling for you squishes. Unless your damage dealers are not dealing enough to beat the other team, then it is better to charge for their damage dealers. However in most cases. peeling is best when playing this champion.

Try to position yourself in front of your damage dealers. Your job is soak up whatever skill shot, damage the opponent throws at you ensuring that your carries will survive and clean up. As he is not a true tank, make sure to take just enough damage to survive since dying would result in a loss of stacks. However dying is sometimes unavoidable so if you traded yourself for two opponents, it is worth it as your stack will built up fast especially with cooldown items.

In teamfights, make sure to land your ruptures and feral screams on the enemy squishes especially Katarina who can destroy teams if given the chance. Your Feast should be used on the most disruptive target usually the squishy or a annoying tank who keeps aiming to attack your squishes. Applying auto attacks are also nice. If the teamfights become very long, Wit's End can make your autos even scarier. Another tactic is standing on top of your squishes (make sure they are not aoe) as Cho's hit box is very large making it difficult for enemies to click on them.

This is a sample of what a tank to do.


Noticed anything? Well it does helped to be a fed Cho gath but here are a few key things to note.

* Staying front of the team.
Spoiler: Click to view

*Being as obnoxious as possible.
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* Back the hell up when you done your job
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Closing Thoughts

I apologize since I have not had the time to edit this guide. I had personal stuff to do yet also reworking on my mechanics. Very soon I will be working on an annie guide since I have a recorder again. Be sure to check that out if you are interested. http://www.mobafire.com/edit/guide?guide_id=473033

-Tank you ~no pun intended
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