Hi aronzei here. This is an exploration of the optimum build possible builds for hecarim. Take note of what "optimum" means for me for it will be the focal point of this - and almost all of my builds.

I've played a lot of hecarim on his free week but I've always used snowball items. Not that its bad but for me, I believe that using non snowball build is definitely a way to go. You will always die - remember that. Still this has not been used in a normal game. However I still would like people who has the guts and skills to try it out.

I am in no way saying that other builds suck. I am only saying that some items that are actually good are being overshadowed due to opinions.

With that finally done, I present to you my guide "Hecarim - Bastion of Death"

Optimization

- To optimize is to create a build using an existing hero and getting items to maximize/augment his weaknesses. Most of the time this means getting an average of 120~140+ armor/mr on a hero while still investing in damage. This requires that you first choose a hero and then try all the possible items he can use. Test it, and get watch the results.


BASTION (noun)
The noun BASTION has 3 senses:
1. a group that defends a principle
2. a stronghold into which people could go for shelter during a battle
3. projecting part of a rampart or other fortification

The bold italicized words are the goal of the build. You become the bastion of your team and become the death of your enemy. How? By tanking, sustaining and dealing damage at the same damn time. Thanks to Hecarim's kit, it is possible.

This is a pros and con of item effects on Hecarim. You can use this as a guide in choosing what items to get for Hecarim. This considers what Hecarim inherently has will have a high chance of being Subpar, and what he needs as Good.

Good + Armor + Magic Resist + Attack Damage + Ability Power + Health + Spellsteal + Mana + Movespeed + Cooldown Reduction

Subpar = Lifesteal = Mana Regen = Health Regen = Attack Speed = Magic Penetration = Armor Penetration

Bad - Critical chance

Like any good jungler, he always starts out with cloth5. If you are laning, go boots3 and go straight for Mercury's Treads.

Right now you have a higher MR. You could opt to go Sunfire Aegis before Trinity Force.

NOTE:
Sunfire cape is one of the most underrated item for Hecarim. The item is already good but the best is its magical dps. If the enemy gets too close and you pop your W, the dps will gain you about 40*0.3 per champ[no cap] per minion [capped] per tick. That's 12 or about 10 on average MR.

This combo helps you thrive in battle. Not only does it stave off tons of physical damage, it regains them while W is popped. If you however did put in a Randuin's Omen and removed let's say the Hextech Gunblade, they will definitely focus you last (ADCs).

Now, your survivability, sustain, dps and farming capability, creep waves drops like flies already. You go for Trinity Force for obvious reasons.

Next, get a little MR. You're stats are about 150ar/80mr with wriggles (30 ar). You don't need a high MR item. The lowest MR item you can get is the Maw of Malmortius and can be a good replacement for Athene's Unholy Grail however I consider Athene's Unholy Grail a better item path. Not only you can give the blue to your teammates, you get cdr that is invaluable. Or you could just keep it as Chalice of Harmony if there are little magicaldamage that the enemy team dishes. This item path increases your AP and mana sustain, that boots your W (hpsustain+ cdr+ dps+) and your ultimate also (cdr+,burst=).

At this point, you are already too tanky and have enough dps to take on 1 or 2 enemies at once depending on factors of course. You also have enough physical and magical damage that will make a pure armor or pure mr target weep to oblivion. Using statical rule on large numbers, (which LoL also uses to determine a lot of game factors) your magical and physical totals will be close to each other. You don't have true damage though other than Smite which can be only used on creeps.

If the game still does not end here, a Frozen Heart is a great addition. (mana+,armor++,cdr++) Tankier with your Q and W up all the time. Your Q at 35% cdr will go down to 0.6 sec cd at 2 stacks at 2.6 cd base. Your primary sustain W is also up most of the time at 9.1 cd base. These 2 skills are your primary skills that are needed while in a fight. E and R are used in initiation, chases and mobility.

At this point there will be 100 discrepancy with your ar and mr. I've also planned getting an Aegis of the Legion because of the mobility Hecarim. Still is within item consideration. However closing the 100 gap is nil, my best bet is you get either a Maw of Malmortius or Aegis of the Legion or Force of Nature. All are good considerations.

TL;DR?

Core Sunfire Aegis Trinity Force Mercury's Treads

Augements Aegis of the Legion Force of Nature Maw of Malmortius Athene's Unholy Grail Hextech Gunblade Randuin's Omen

That's it. Still, as more items come and more enemies come, one should always think, rethink and foresee what is needed, what is lacking and is coming.
There is always a better way. This is just a general approach - a build that has a safeguard for all probable weaknesses. In a sense, the build is like a force field that is weaker than a shield - it covers everything, just not as strong as concentrated as the frontal protection a shield provides.

Also, if you see any errors or have any suggestions in formatiing, gladly leave a message.

Lastly, thank you for reading this guide.
- Aron