Brand Build Guide by NoizeKill

IMPORTANT! READ!

I will not update this guide a lot, for my just-made ranked team, I am taking the Top Lane role, which is currently my favorite one. I will be creating guides for my favorite Top Laners (Nidalee, Renekton, Vladimir) in some time. I hope you don't mind, however if someone needs to be changed, I will change it.

NoizeKill

GL and HF :)

Introduction

Welcome to my newest guide, about (in my opinion) the best AP Carry in the game. Brand, the burning vengeance.

Who is Brand?

Brand is a burst, combo based AP Carry, who can disrupt and/or deal loads of damage to a single target, or a whole group of enemies. Brand's abilities get stronger the better the combos are, for example Conflagration into Sear into Pillar of Flame into Pyroclasm (I call it the combo of death) will probably insta-kill you, when the Brand player is smart. More about combos later in the guide.

Always keep in mind that Brand has a totally different playstyle than other AP Carries like Malzahar, Kassadin and Ziggs. Brand requires more skill and I advise you to first try him out before buying him, as his price is pretty high.

Pros / Cons

Pros

Amazing harrass
Can kill someone totally fed easily with one combo
He looks badass
All his abilities do damage
A great contribution to a team fight
Amazing combos through blaze
Can carry a whole team to victory
Epic voice

cons

Two skillshots which aren't hard to dodge
Hard to know where exactly to put Pillar of Flame

Runes

: Plain magic penentration. No other viable runes for an AP Carry.

greater seal of defense, as you will probably go mid lane, you will most of the time face another AP carry. This means that armor isn't necessary until mid/late game. This means that Armor p/lvl seals are better than flats. However, if you are laning against someone like Miss Fortune, Varus or Ashe, take flat armor seals.

Other viable choices: greater seal of vitality, greater seal of resielence, Greater Seal of Gold.

, you will most likely face another AP carry, so flat magic resistance will be way better than magic resistance p/lvl. However, if you prefer p/lvl so that late game AP Carries will be less of a threat, be free to choose them. I won't be stopping you (or will I?).

Other viable choices: Greater Glyph of Scaling Magic Resist, Greater Glyph of Ability Power.

greater quintessence of replenishment, Brand has really got some mana problems early game, I mean seriously, after a few combos you will just be on like 20 mana and your mana regen isn't that high. That is why you take these runes together with your masteries, that will be a free 8 MP5!

Other viable choices: Greater Quintessence of Movement Speed, Greater Quintessence of Ability Power, Greater Quintessence of Gold.

Masteries

Since the new Masteries I am too lazy to put them in, just see them and try to understand why I used them.

Items

Starting Items:

: This gives you early movement speed which makes it easier to chase an enemy, dodge skillshots or escape from your opponent. They also build into Sorcerer's Shoes later, which are really useful. The potions are just great and for sustain and for solving mana problems.

Early Game:

: Gives you that extra health, ability power and mana regeneration you really need. The boots are also great for magic penentration. Magic penentration = More damage. Always get these boots, except when there is a lot of CC on the enemy team. Then take Mercury's Treads.

Mid Game:

: This is a huge boost. In total it gives you 140 AP, but with your masteries a lot more. The Hextech Revolver also grants you 12% Spell Vamp, which is really useful for sustain. Zhonya's Hourglass's active has also saved me lots of times.

Quote from Phreak: " Zhonya's Hourglass is a burst mage's best friend."

Late Game:

: BOOM! The Rabadon's Deathcap will give you a GREAT AP boost. After Rylai's Crystal Scepter, you should have about 500 AP, if you have all masteries. It will also apply a slow on your passive, and all your spells! With Pyroclasm, you'll be able to slow the whole enemy team!
The Void Staff grants more ability power and also magic penentration. If the enemy is not building magic resistance, get another item instead, such as an Abyssal Scepter or an Archangel's Staff.
The Hextech Revolver will just be built into a Will of the Ancients. This will not make only you strong, but also allied AP Carries, casters or champions that deal magic damage in any way! By now you have a lot of AP and the enemy will fear you.

CORE



Viable Items:

: I take this item when I am completely dominating, allowing me to combo my enemy all the time. This has to solve all your mana problems.

: At the end of the game, build your Chalice of Harmony into this, when you have bought it.

: I put this item in the "Other Great Setups", the reason I don't take this all the time, is because it needs to be charged before it will become effective. If you have a charged Tear of the Goddess, take this item, maybe even two or three, as it will boost your AP a lot.

: This item is great easly game, as it will probably let you do true damage combined with your Sorcerer's Shoes. Sell this item late game for a better item.

: No. No. Just. No. It's just not worth the money, a Morello's Evil Tome would be much better for you, because you won't use Deathfire Grasp's active.

: Oh I just love this item! Ability Power, Mana Regen and CDR! When I am playing Ahri, I get two of these, one of them builds into a Morello's Evil Tome and the other one in an athenes unholy grail

Skill Explanation

: One of the best passives in the game. Your abilties deal extra damage over time and your combos have bonus effects! Just plain great.

: In my opinion this is the best stun in the game. It has a short cooldown and isn't too hard to hit. Just remember that your target has to be ablaze before it stuns. The damage provided isn't bad either.

: Your main damage output and signature spell. It deals tons of damage, especially when your target is ablaze. The only problem is that it has a small delay, making it possible to escape from. Try to put your target ablaze before using Pillar of Flame. Its best use is when your target is stunned from Sear.

: A pretty straight-forward spell. It just deals damage on your target. But when your target is ablaze, Conflagration spreads, making it really useful in teamfights.

: Deals a lot of damage, and can bounce multiple times. Try to use this is teamfights, starting on the target ablaze to make it faster.

Skill Sequence

I choose this skill sequence as it grants the best combo/burst. My prefferred combo is: Conflagration > Sear > Pillar of Flame > Pyroclasm. This combo deals a lot of damage and makes sure you hit Pillar of Flame, which is your most important ability. I max Conflagration before Sear, as it is more reliable and I only use Sear for its stun. Of course I take Pyroclasm whenever needed.

Summoner Spells

Best Summoner Spells:

: The most popular summoner spell in the game. I can see why Flash is so popular: You can Flash over walls, chase people, escape from pesky situations or assasinate someone (The latter is not likely with Brand). In the current metagame, you can see that almost anyone uses Flash as one of their summoner spells.

: This summoner spell has become really popular lately, especially for Ranged AD Carries. I just like it because it gives me that little health to escape from the terror of the enemy, or when I am really being harrassed in lane.

: Also a very popular summoner spell. I use it on almost every champion I play, except for Brand. I don't need Ignite on Brand. If my combo doesn't kill someone, I just let Blaze do the job, with help from basic attacks.

Viable Picks:

]: For when you aren't level 12 yet, take this one instead of Flash. Sometimes I prefer this, especially when I'm playing Hecarim. The boost lasts longer, making it easier to escape from more things, for a longer time. Some people take Ghost and Flash at the same time. Do that if you want to.

: If you go OOM all the time, take this one. I don't like this spell, because with a Chalice of Harmony all my mana problems are gone.

Troll Picks:

: 'Nuff said.

: It doesn't exist anymore.

: We are not going to play Dominion.

: Are you kidding me?

Laning Opponents

For all lane counters and why, go to http://championselect.com

Gameplay [Early Game]

In these sections, I will talk about how to play Brand.

Early Game

You spawn at you base, buy your Boots of Speed and potions and (probably) go mid lane.
You wait for the minions to spawn and your lane opponent to come.

Upgrade Pillar of Flame first. When your opponent is close to the ranged minions, harrass him with Pillar of Flame, also damaging the minions. Early game, Pillar of Flame + Blaze will hit for about 100 HP, which is a lot for early game. Try to last hit minions as much as possible, and cast Pillar of Flame when you see an opportunity. When on low mana, consume a Mana Potion.

You will probably have reached level 2 or 3 by now. Upgrade Sear on level 2 and Pillar of Flame on lvl 3. Try to cast Pillar of Flame into Sear on your opponent, or Sear into Pillar of Flame, for the extra damage through Blaze. Don't forget to last-hit minions, because you really need that money.

By now, you will be around level 5 or 6. Now it is time to get a kill. Use the Death Combo: Conflagration > Sear > Pillar of Flame > Pyroclasm. If you hit Sear, you will have probably killed him with this combo. Now recall to base and get your Doran's Rings and Sorcerer's Shoes when you have got enough gold.

Go back to your lane.

Gameplay [Mid Game]

Mid Game

Your opponent will be back in lane right now. Try to harrass him even more, while also paying attention to the enemy minions. When you know you can ensure a kill, use the Death Combo, or any other combo you prefer. If you are not sure you can ensure a kill, but want him out of the lane, ask your jungler for a gank, or one of the side lanes for when you don't have a jungler.

Try to get as much gold as possible for your Zhonya's Hourglass and Hextech Revolver. Also try to push the tower, because it will make it easier to kill an enemy.

When you have got enough gold for a Zhonya's Hourglass, recall back to base.
You can now stop harrassing and just go for the kills, also try to gank bot lane.

Laning phase is probably over now and you can start going to other lanes.

Gameplay [Late Game]

Late Game

There will probably be some destroyed turrets. By now, you should have about 200 AP without Rabadon's Deathcap, or 400 with Rabadon's Deathcap. Try to do Dragon/Baron with your team, so you will have an advantage in the teamfights. In the teamfights, stay a little in the back, as you are probably the squishiest champion. Try to use Pillar of Flame into Conflagration to damage as much enemies as possible.

Get your Rabadon's Deathcap if you didn't have it before.

Now you will probably start dominating, as your AP is sky-rocket-high. You can also look for over-extended enemies pushing towers or killing minions for a quick kill. Just remember that Sear is a skillshot and will damage the first enemy it hits. Try to position yourself so that Sear and Pillar of Flame will hit.

Now you should get Rylai's Crystal Scepter for the slow on all you abilities AND your passive, Blaze. If you spot someone off-guard, kill them. You are probably able to, unless they have a ****load of Mres. If the opponent is building Mres, get a Void Staff as soon as possible.

Now it is the time that an Ace will decide a game. Try to group up with the team and start killing everyone you spot, try to push mid with the whole team and try to take their buffs.

Summary

This is the end of my guide, of course I am not done yet with it! I will add pictures, a hall of fame, videos and a lot more! I will try to do it as soon as possible. Don't forget to vote or +rep me!

NoizeKill

Lately, this guide has received anonymous down/upvotes. Please leave a comment on how to improve my guide if you downvoted, or what was good about my guide if you upvoted.

Log

To Do:

- More Viable Choices
- Videos
- Pictures
- Hall of Fame