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Galio Build Guide by smiLiwaT

Galio - Long Forgotten Gargoyle

Galio - Long Forgotten Gargoyle

Updated on October 7, 2012
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League of Legends Build Guide Author smiLiwaT Build Guide By smiLiwaT 17 3 100,683 Views 17 Comments
17 3 100,683 Views 17 Comments League of Legends Build Guide Author smiLiwaT Galio Build Guide By smiLiwaT Updated on October 7, 2012
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Choose Champion Build:

  • LoL Champion: Galio
  • LoL Champion: Galio

Introduction

Banner made my MissMaw

Galio
One of the most underrated League champions and one of the rarely seen ones.But if people doesn't play him it doesn't mean that he's bad or useless , on the countrary he is great Tank/AP-carry/Anti-mage a t the same time and with same build.His ultimte is one of the few game changers like Curse of the Sad Mummy and Absolute Zero. His farming ability is just INSANE !!!, and lane sustain is really great. Also he can be a good support and solo laner. He got his few bad assets but you will change them with blue buff or Clarity.

When reading my guide you could listen to this music.


And probably 1 isn't enought so take listen this as well


Great songs by great artists <3
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About Galio

LORE

Long before the League's regulation of such magic, mages experimented with the creation of artificial life. Now forbidden, instilling golems with reason was once not so uncommon a practice amongst the more expert of craftsmen. One such visionary was the Demacian artificer, Durand. Peerless at crafting sentient beings, Durand's constructs served as tireless guardians for the border towns of his beloved city-state, affording them protection from their Noxian neighbors. For his own defense, however, Durand kept his magnum opus: Galio. This mighty construct forged in the image of a gargoyle kept him safe on his journeys, allowing him to perform his important work without fear of reprisal from those hostile to his homeland. That is, until dealing with his taxing sentinels finally roused the ire of the Noxian High Command.
As Durand crossed the Howling Marsh with his masterwork in tow, he was set upon by Noxian assassins in force. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, Galio looked on in horror as the murderers cut down his charge, executing him swiftly before vanishing back into the mists. Stripped of his reason for being, Galio despaired. For years he remained in solitude, standing vigil over the bones of the master he had failed to protect... a literal monument to his own everlasting shame. Then, on one nondescript day, a sad but determined yordle girl carrying a mighty Demacian crown stopped in the shadow of a great statue to rest. Hidden in plain sight from his unsuspecting visitor, Galio studied the forlorn yordle. She looked as though she too shouldered a tremendous burden. As quietly and as stoically as she had arrived, she departed in the direction of Demacia. This encounter lit a spark in Galio's eye. Remembering the cause that his master had died defending, Galio arose from his silent purgatory and followed in the wake of this brave creature. He had a new reason to live: to join the League of Legends and fight for the will of Demacia.

Videos about Galio


League of Legends - Galio Champion Spotlight

Galio - Emotes
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Pros / Cons

spaace
Pros


+ Good tank , who can't be ignored.
+ Ultimate can turn battle to your advantage.
+ Strong harassment.
+ Can walk out of team fight with full hp.
+ Great AP counter.
+ Good support
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Cons


- Really mana hungry
- Enemies can easily dodge Resolute Smite.
- Vulnerable versus AD carries
- Can be bullied early game.
- Jungler like Udyr , Trundle can make him hard times
- Underrated and rareley seen
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Runes

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Greater glyph of Shielding
Good when fighting mid versus AP, Later on you will feel the diffirence with AP and MR and in damage taken.

Greater seal of ReplenishmentGreater seal of Replenishment
One of the best type of seals in game for any AP, will be good before Chalice of Harmony.
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Greater seal of Replenishment

Greater Quintessence of Potency
Good Quintessence for AP. Start 15 bonus AP is always good.
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Greater Glyph of Warding
Good glyph versus strong early game AP heros like Brand/ Anivia

Greater mark of Insight
Mark for maximazing your early damage , your combos will take damage even versus enemies with Greater Glyph of Magic Resist.
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Summoner Spells

The viable summoner spells




Flash
It's like standard summoner spell for most champions of the League
Galio - It is good if you are a aggressive player or u are having a ganker without any reliable cc like Shaco so you can Flash + idol of duran combo to taunt enemy , then use your basic combo Resolute Smite and Righteous Gust then finish him !



Ignite
Take this as your summoner , your not that mana hungry and you got no real finisher so it will fit perfectly as a finisher role. Also good mid versus healing enemies like Vladimir or good counter of Will of the Ancients


Clarity
With your runes and masteries you will have pretty decent mana regen so it wont be a big problem for you especially later when you will have blue buff or Chalice of Harmony.


The semi-viable summoner spells



Heal
This is not a bad summoner spell , but not so needed, best in 1 versus 2 lanes or in team fights. Galio can use it when ulting with low hp, and baiting enemies if they think he is low on hp


Clairvoyance
Also Galio is one of the best supports in League so if you want to be good support you must have it.

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Masteries

Deffensive


Utility masteries
  • Good Hands - As a tank you will die few times so you will have to respawn faster for initating fight or deffending base when aced
  • Expanded Mind - More mana will be a good combo with your Banshee's Veil
  • Meditation - More Mana regen will be good for your harassment and spaming.
  • Runic Affinity - When you will get your blue buff you want it to hold longer don't you.
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Galio skills



Runic Skin(passive) - This passive makes you perfect anti-ap tank it makes you like AP bruiser.
At level one can get about 50 AP with out any AP items.
Tip & Tricks


Resolute Smite (Q) - This is awesome skill, this is his main damage skill, main initiator skill, but only if you can aim it correctly.
Also Resolute smite- Is not only your biggest damage skill but good gap closer when chasing or when fleeting, just resolute smite an enemy to slow him
Tip & Tricks

  • Try to predict enemys next move including minion movement (expect if it's Fizz and then you will easily land Resolute smite.
  • Resolute smite is main part of your combo , and your main farm ability
  • Resolute smite got low CD so try to zone your enemy so he couldn't farm or get exp


Bulwark (W) - This is your main sustain and healing ability.
Bulwark-I advice you to max it last at level 13 , you may ask why ? because at mid game you can tank turrets with Bulwark spell or you can save your own life with it.
Tip & Tricks
  • When fighting in a team fight you will be full hp , so put you Bulwark on a carry to give him MR/AR and you will be healed as well.
  • After a fight or gank if your low you can rush your creep wave active Bulwark and when creeps will hit you, you will be healed , once i healed full hp.
  • Also you can Bulwark-your allied champion to save him or your self from death.


Righteous Gust (E) - Main Galio fleeting ability also important part of your main farm combo.
Galio shouldn't max Righteous Gust first only because of its low damage and small radius, but that's optional looking at wheather your goint Tanky or APish
Tip & Tricks
  • Righteous Gust - In a fight try to land it at least at 2-3 enemies so you could take off banshee veil and do damage.
  • Use Righteous Gust if you want to save your teammates from chase and make their and your chances of surviving bigger.
  • If you Flash is on CD you can use Righteous Gust for initating fight, after using Idol of Durand
Idle of Durand (R) - Your ultimate ability also it's a freaking nuke and fight changer.If your fighting 1 versus 1 don't use it immediately or if it's team fight use it to taunt at least 2-3 enemys then it's a good used ultimate! It's damage is pretty big and AP scaling is just insane !!!!
Tip & Tricks
  • Idol of Durand - Is great initiation skill, perfect for Flash + Idol of Durand combo.
  • Idol of Durand-As i said earlier in teamfights you will be focused really late so when their team is focusing your carry try to land a good Idol of Durand to taunt at least 2-3 enemies and save the carry!
  • Idol of Durand - As a taunt ability you can taunt a pushing enemy into turret so he would tank turret and damage from idon of durand


> > > >
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Core items and Explanation

Banshee's Veil
Your main core item, it makes you tanky , gives you mana and mainly it blocks 1 spell. For Galio it's viable only because of his ultima Idol of Durand, it's same as with Nunu & Willump you need to take Banshee's Veil to stop it from not getting full damage output.
Guardin angel
This item got synergy with your passive Runic Skin and ultimate Idol of Durand,from Guardian Angel you will get MR that will transform to AP, and if your casting your Idol of Durand while low on hp and you sudenlly die you will respawn and ready to kick some ***.
Athene's unholy grail
For Galio this item is just "must need" , because of Magic resist and Magic regen.
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Boot Choice

Mercury's Treads
Best choice of boots for you, give you MR and AP . Also tenacity is good for your ultimate so it can't be stoped so easily.
Ionian boots of Lucidity
Optional boots, if your fighting versus no-ap team, you will compensate with CDR on your combo and ultimate, to my mind not the best boots to get.

NOT ADVISED BOOTS


Sorcerer's Shoes
Good item versus tanky teams that deal low damage but stack MR.Good combo if you got Amumu in your team. Only adviced for a "galss cannon" build
Ninja tabi
Galio is a tank and tanks got to tank all types of damage so if you got strong AD team take Ninja Tabi,for damage and damage reduction also will go great with your Idol of Durand.

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Tanky / Offense items

Force of Nature
Good item for Galio almost a core item, but you wont buy him fighting versus AD team, Force of Nature makes you great tank and gives you damage so if you think about buying it start with Negatron Cloak.
Thornmail
But it if you got balanced team with fed carry , so when your using Idol of Durand you would deal double damage, since if your taunted you will deal only basic attacks it will deal at least minor damage to every one.
Aegis of the Legion
This item i take when supporting as Galio , it got synergy with Runic Skin and aura to all teammates, Also used for balanced teams and making you more tanky.
Quicksilver sash
For Galio this item isn't that good , so try not to use your Idol of Durand before all cc is used. Still gives you MR/AP, also good for fleeting and chasing.
Rabadon's Deathcap
Good last item for maximizing you AP and giving you more damage late game , since all your skills scale only with AP and at the end of the game you will have about 300-500 AP some times even more and that means you will do damage.
Archangel staff
Good item if your not going tank , or you are tanky enought , it will make your mana issues really minor an you will stack it really good, so you will not have any problems with mana, and bonuse AP will be good.
Will of the Ancients
Since all your skills deal magic damage your spell wamp will be good , your basic combos will heal you really well, but don't really like to take this only because you got enought healing ability with Bulwark.
Sunfire cape
Since Banshee's Veil will be your onlt HP item you will have about 2,3k HP so if you want to be tankier you can take it, it got synergy with your ults and your gigantic CDS
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About Galio Mid / Farming

Galio to my mind is one of the greates mid laners in League and i want to mention why.
  • 1st of all it's his passive Runic Skin in a good and balanced team AP carry must go mid but Galio is epic AP carry/Tank and Anti-mage in one champion .
  • His farming ability is just insane with 1 combo of 2 skills he can take out gigantic farms
  • His sustain with Bulwark is insane , from 1 minion wave you can heal at least 510 HP at rank 5
  • Galio is really mana hungry champion , but he can take it by him self easily and with full hp if you lure blue buff closer to you and leave small creeps so they would hit you , but when you use Bulwark they will heal you + blue buff.
  • Galio is really underrated so not all player will count him as a threat so they will try to be aggresuve and Galio will use it to deal massive damage.
  • Galio got 1 combo for farming and harassing - Resolute Smite + Righteous Gust.
  • Galio can carry if laning with Nunu & Willump , Amumu katarin and this combo can be late game carry.
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Supporting as Galio

Support Galio is now seen more often, and that is good, so i want to share my ideas about it.
  • If you got Galio as support take not Doran's Blade but Boots and 3x Health Potion , because he got no slow only AR/MR buff.
  • Galio support is popular for his harassment , he can camp in his bush and if enemy carry comes too close he will scare him with his basic combo.
  • Galio is also really good in fight pre level 6, put Bulwark on your carry and make your combo if carry got no MR , he will feel the damage.
  • Also Galio as a support is good for fleeting/chasing - with your basic combos you can slow enemy wile speeding up your self.
  • Post level 6 when you will have your Idol of Durand you will now get the full idea of Galio as a perfect tank and fiht changer.
  • Galio also got bad aspects - He is really mana hungry as a champion and support, he can't heal or give mana so your carry must be advanced level.
  • It's hard to push your lane if your Galio so you don't really need sight ward, but always carry few of them in invintory

So i shared my ideas about popular support Galio.
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Other Mid laners

Mordekasier - He's pain in the *** at the mid, his harassment is just 2 strong for your shield, and it won't heal all the deal damage. Mordekaiser is one of those champions why you start with null-mante and 2 Health Potion. With morde you Greater Glyph of Magic Resist will come in handy.You can't really harass Mordekaiser , because of his shield and your mana hunger, if you got blue buff you can afford to harass him and when he is low try to finish him with Idol of Durand.


Morgana - So talking about Morgana , your harassment can't keep up with her spell wamp so try to take Mercury's Treads and then only dodge Dark Binding then you can easily kill her, also if she tries to harass you with Tormented Shadow just Bulwark so you wouldn't lose too much hp, an her Black Shield can really counter you becuase of her damage and slow ignore from Resolute Smite.


Vladimir - Vladimir got nerfed again. So i don't know what to write here, harass him , don't let him get Will of the Ancients and when fighting Ignite him so he won't spell wamp.


Lux - She is just on annoying champion using her Lucent Singularity she can harass you and if she uses her passive Illumination she can deal great damage ! You wont really feel all her damage if you will buy MR, with blue buff you got more chances of harassing her that she will harass you.


Anivia - Yeah Anivia is my main AP carry, so i know all about her and i deffinetly know how she rapes Galio even your MR wont save you, her harass is stronger and if you think that you might killed her your wrong only because of her Rebirth. So don't waste your ultimate if she got Rebirth

Gragas - This hilly-billy , isn't really a big threat you will think of getting fast boots, since both of you are pushers your lanes will be 60 % empty and you both will be waiting creeps. Gragas is like mirror of you , your ultimates are similar and you got similar uses of it.


Akali - About this ninja , she is really over nerfed but still , she can kick your *** at mid. When she casts her Twilight Shroud she is not only stealthed but gains MR so if you got no blue buff don't really attack her.

Caitlyn - This is really rare champion what you can see mid but if she comes she will give you hard times , because you will stack MR not AR so she will deal you damage, but still you can harass her really well and if you land few of your combos right she can become and easy kill for you, also her damage will be good for you when you will use Idol of Durand so she would deal damage to her self.


Kassadin - This is one of the rare champions that can beat the **** out of you. You may ask how does Kassadin counters Galio because you will give him stacks for his Force Pulse. Try to take his blue buff and he will be harmless. Your combos will be not enought for him since he can silence you and his silence CD is lower that Resolute Smite.


Ashe - To my mind she is and easy kill for almost any mid laner, her damage is really low early, mana costs are big and sustain minor, you will kill her in 99% if she won't have Flash. Also you will counter her volly if you will stand correctly behind your creeps


Cassiopeia - About this snake, since she is really scary AP carry you will want to focuse of ruining her early game so call ganks on her , because it will be really hard to kill her 1 versus 1, both your ultimates are game changers but her deals a lot more damage and if she uses her ultimate after stuning you she can continue hitting you but when you use Idol of Durand you cant use skills.


Brand - You really can counter him , since you counter all AP carries and he is like Cassiopeia - DANGEROUSE , so try to dodge his Pillar of Flame and harass him because your combo is harded to dodge.


Karthus - His harassment is really stong and way stonger then yours. You should try to dodge his Lay Waste but if you will jump on him he will probably melt your HP with Defile and Lay Waste, because it's hard to doge Lay Waste in close combat , also his Wall of Pain will be as a finisher followed up with Lay Waste.


Katarina - About her , you will 90% kill her because when she uses Shunpo you can land your combo to harass her , and she wont deal enought damage to harass you with her Bouncing Blades.

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Summary

This is my guide on playing Galio, at mid of Summoner's Rift.He's a perfect tank and mid laner and one of those champions that can beat the **** out of anyone!!!
He is really underrated and forgotten so we need people to see him in new light and .


Im just a simple guy from LATVIAso im playing on EU/W server , if you want to invite me my summoner name is - smiliwat.
Visit my Lee Sin guide
Three Lanes of Lee Sin- Jungle , Solo , Mid
.

Also visit slydunan Ryze Guide if you want to know how to rape Galio mid.
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Credits

Thanks to all these people
  • jhoijhoi - For her guide - How to make a Guide.
  • Catway - His my brother and he helped me by bringing me tea.
  • MissMaw - For makeing visual materials specialy for me <3
  • Thanks to LOLWIKIA and DEVIANTART
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Change Log

2012/02/26 - Build created
2012/02/27 - Added sections - "Supporting as Galio"
- Added visual materials
- Edited "other mid laners" - Kassadin , Akali.
- Guide name changed from -Underrated Gargoyle *In Deaph by smiLiwaT. to Long Forgotten Gargoyle
2012/04/06 - Build edited and un archivated/
- Added now build "glass cannon"
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