As one knows, it is standard in League of Legends duels to have the AP carry go mid. But, as a Yi, you out damage them, so you not only get fed, but shutdown the other teams AP carry which will cripple them, emotionally, physically, and mentally, probably for the rest of their measly lives.

Now, in the before game champion select, you will encounter many haters. "I'm LeBlanc, shouldn't I go mid?!" "No AD mid NOOB!" To these haters, you say okay. You pick Ahri or something and at the last second switch back to Yi, because he is awesome character.

The reason Yi works mid is because he can withstand unlimited harass with Meditate, farm and keep lanes under control and harass with Alpha Strike, and do ridiculous damage on stupid squishy AP carries such as Kassadin and Morgana. If you play right and dodge skill shots, you win.

HOWEVER, there is a list of characters you will never win mid against, ever, unless they are horrible at this game.

-Xerath
-Kennen
-Ashe
-Cassiopeia

Xerath will outrange you everytime, so forget about it.

Kennen has spammable moves and ALWAYS gets away.

Ashe has amazing harass and good autoattacks, making her hard to counter

Cassiopeia's spammable moves make her IMPOSSIBLE to go against. Unless you're more awesome than me.

Other than that, you're fine!

P.S. Never try this in a ranked game. Never.

Pros

-Highest sustained carry damage in game (Probably)
-Not too squishy with lifesteal and Frozen Mallet and Madreds
-Early game harass with Double strike-Alpha strike Combo
-Amazing lane presence and tankiness with Meditate
-Best chaser in game
-Always gets out of a gank

Cons

-Still squishy
-Focused, all the time
-Stuns = Dead
-Not good for full teamfights because of the CC
-Very mana dependent, and you'll find yourself going back for mana more than health

There is a reason this whole segment is written in bold. EVERYTHING IS VITAL TO READ TO RAPE AS YI. ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY OBTAIN WUJU STATUS. YEARS OF TRAINING ACCOUNT FOR A PRO YI.


LANING: YOU GO MID. Don't let anyone else do it. This is specifically middle Yi guide with the build FOR MID. Push the lane up until your ult, exhaust, and ignite are ready and than let them push and when they do, alpha strike them, ult, and free kill. GET ALL LAST HITS. You might need a vampiric scepter early in your build if harass is tough.

If they have a jungle, you're probably fine to push a little because you always have highlander if you really need to get out of a situation.





TEAMFIGHTS: YOU GO IN LAST. Wait for those guys to waste all their sweet cc on the other carries and tanks and what*****, because you are most important character on the TEAM. You alpha on the carry, rape him to death, than focus whoever is closest.

If they have thornmail, stay away, but that's literally the only thing you have to worry about as Yi. And if you try to hit someone with a thornmail during a teamfight, you will only kill yourself because you wont be able to lifesteal enough to stay alive.

Play really offensively, because you can dive and get out easily with highlander after you get a kill. Also, you will get focused every teamfight, because everyone hates you because you have more eyes than them WHICH IS WHY IT IS PERTINENT TO GO IN LAST.


DONT BE AFRAID TO WASTE HIGHLANDER TO GET OUT OF SCARY SITUATIONS.

YOU ARE YI. CARRY DEM TEAMS.

YI IS PROBABLY THE SQUISHIEST CARRY IN THE GAME.

This is why you get Dorans blade, for the lifesteal and the health.

You need boots early for chasing down, because people will be running.

Phage for the tankiness, health, and the slow.

Frozen mallet is necessary for the slow and the tankiness.

Phantom dancer and Infinities Edge have amazing synergy and put you over 50% crit chance which is all you need. Just a vamp sceptor will be enough lifesteal for you untill late game when you need the bloodthirster.

Also, you'll need an item to counter their tanks. Madreds if they build health or Last Wisperer if they build armor.

Late game if CC is getting to you, as it probably will, sell your boots for Mercury's Treads.

And if the AP carry is really getting you down, get Wit's End to help you magic resist instead of you're anti tank item.

You go with this runes for the pwn. Your magic resist counters the AP carries you'll be versing, and your armor pen and attack speed help with early game damage and minion farm. Lifesteal quints also makes sense for lane presence

Go with the standard 21 - 9 - 0 used for most AD carries. The lil' bit of tankiness helps with harass and the 21 for the damage.

WUJU POWER IS YOUR MAIN DAMAGE MOVE. MAX IT FIRST EVERTIME, NO EXCEPTIONS EXCEPT FOR THE ONE LEVEL OF ALPHA STRIKE.

Meditate is also an awesome, totally underused move on Yi. Maxed Alpha Strike only does 300 damage, so it shouldn't be maxed till last. I max Meditate second after Wuju power, but you might need to throw a few levels of it in if you're getting out harrassed

Exhaust and Ignite for assured kills, nuff said. No one will ever get away with these spells and that's why you get them. Heal is also okay because of Yi's squishiness and it gives you the opportunity to turret dive.