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Shyvana Build Guide by DrumsDoctor

AD Offtank "Think You're A Dragon Slayer? Come Here And Try!"

AD Offtank "Think You're A Dragon Slayer? Come Here And Try!"

Updated on September 6, 2014
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League of Legends Build Guide Author DrumsDoctor Build Guide By DrumsDoctor 10,974 Views 3 Comments
10,974 Views 3 Comments League of Legends Build Guide Author DrumsDoctor Shyvana Build Guide By DrumsDoctor Updated on September 6, 2014
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Introduction

Shyvana functions as an Off-Tank Bruiser who can do substantial damage without becoming slain, as is the general goal of League of Legends. Despite several nerfs in past patches, she still maintains a notable presence in the jungle.

I am DrumsDoctor. I don't play ranked too often. I just play League of Legends to have fun. Shyvana is my favorite and best champion and I believe to have found an extremely effective way to play her and want to share my knowledge. I've seen many summoners play Shyvana and they look like they do not know what they're doing. As much as i enjoy beating down the opposing Shyvana, I just thought I would share my findings.
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Pros / Cons

Pros Cons
  • No Built-In Sustain
  • Squishy unless built otherwise
  • Weak beginning game
  • Melee
  • Enemy team can see when Dragon's Descent is ready
  • Shyvana can't stay a dragon as long as she wants :(
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Masteries

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Skill Sequence

Ability Sequence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

I max Burnout over everything (besides Dragon's Descent) because of the AoE damage and movement speed vital to ganks. Twin Bite comes second because it scales off 100%AD and is her primary damage output. In combination with Flame Breath's mark, it does crazy burst and it can be used to take down towers as well. I max Flame Breath last because it scales off AP instead of AD like Twin Bite. I do put one point in Flame Breath because the %max health damage is extremely useful.
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Items

This item build for Shyvana is to maximize Shyvana's damage while remaining tanky. The main goal of the build is primarily defense followed by AD for Twin Bite. The secondary goal is Attack Speed for reduced cooldown on Twin Bite, longer duration for Burnout and more basic attacks during the duration the Flame Breath mark is on an enemy creep or champion. Lastly, I try to slip in movement speed where it fits for fast map coverage as well as movement speed's many other uses.

Starting Items:
Now, Hunter's Machete doesn't actually fit into the build, but it helps with early game creep damage. If you feel the need, build into Madred's Razors or Spirit of the Ancient Golem for even faster jungle clear.

First Back:

Your first back should always be Vampiric Scepter and Giant's Belt. The Vampiric Scepter is almost guaranteed to build into something you'll need. If anything else, Shyvana lacks sustain and I would highly suggest lifesteal. Giant's Belt build into Frozen Mallet.

Shyvana's "core items" are Vampiric Scepter (meaning lifesteal/sustain) as well as Frozen Mallet to aid Shyvana with AD, Health, Sustain and a gap-closing slow. Attack Speed is also important but I wouldn't deem it "core".

Late Game Items:

Item Sequence

Ravenous Hydra 3300
Boots of Mobility - Alacrity 1350
Frozen Mallet 3100
Zephyr 3000
Randuin's Omen 2700
Guardian Angel 3200

This is a basic, well built Shyvana item set. However, it is easily and encouraged to be adapted depending on the champions you're against.
Against Heavy AD:


If you're having trouble dealing with too much AD in a game, you will want to go for armor. If the ADC is the biggest problem, rush Randuin's Omen immediately after Giant's Belt or Frozen Mallet since it gives a significant boost to health.

I call the item slot right after Frozen Mallet the utility slot because I almost never actually have it as Zephyr. Zephyr is mainly their to show attack speed and movement speed as well as tenacity are good choices and Zephyr encompasses them all.

In place of the utility slot, Sunfire Aegis fits nicely in the build and against most AD champions. Frozen Heart and Thornmail are other viable options for a fed, basic attack champion (ADC usually).

Against Heavy AP:

Likewise for teams saturated with AP, build magic resist. In your utility slot or if you have no more use for your lifesteal item (usually late game), swap for Maw of Malmortus, Mercurial Scimitar or Wit's End if the team is squishy and you want to jump in for the kill. In place of Randuin's Omen and the Guardian Angel, Spirit Visage, Banshee's Veil or Locket of the Iron Solari might be useful.

Other Useful Items:

Against Tanky Foes:

Swap out Ravenous Hydra for a Bloodthirster and Zephyr for Blade of the Ruined King to shread their health down.

Boots:

Now boots don't matter too much, just build based on what you're up against as is the general consensus of this guide. Mercury's Treads, Boots of Swiftness, Ninja Tabi and Ionian Boots of Lucidity are all acceptable options. Enchantments however, are a matter of personal preference.

Other Utility Slot Items:

Just some other options for the utility slot. Trinity Force has like everything so yeah. Warmog's Armor works too.
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Using Shyvana's Kit

Ability Run Down:

Shyvana basically gains passive defense which doubles in dragon form. In a previous patch, when Shyvana was in dragon form, Dragonborn used to double all bonus armor and magic resist. That nerf was probably why she was put down to 4800 IP.

Twin Bite causes Shyvana's next basic attack to strike twice, dealing bonus damage on the second hit. Dragon Form: Twin Bite deals damage to multiple targets by cleaving all units in front of Shyvana.

Burnout gains Shyvana movement speed and deals AoE magic damage. Dragon Form: Burnout scorches the ground in a path Shyvana travels on and damages enemies that stand in it, much like Rumble's ultimate, The Equalizer.

Flame Breath does magic damage in a line trough several targets. Targets hit will be marked and subsequent basic attacks ( Twin Bite counts) will do %max health damage to the target. Dragon Form: Flame Breath fires projectiles in a cone in front of Shyvana, applying the same mark to all targets hit.

Shyvana's ultimate flies her to a target location, dealing damage to all units hit and knocking all units hit towards the target location. Dragon's Descent turns her into a dragon and she gains bonus defenses and her abilities gain special effects.

**Important Ultimate Information**

DO NOT BE AFRIAD TO USE Dragon's Descent. The cooldown is so low, and easy to get back up, there's no excuse not to use it. Don't be afraid to use it as an escape: Fly over a wall and activate Burnout to discourage chasers and flee far away. Some death's are inevitable but at least you will have died in a glorious state ;)

Ganking:

When ganking, make sure to sweep the bush you're entering from for wards first if your lens isn't on cooldown. Initiate with Flame Breath for the mark right off the bat. Immediatly activate Burnout and spam Twin Bite. Basic attacks deal extra damage because of Flame Breath, extend the cooldown of Twin Bite and extend the duration of Burnout. Use Dragon's Descent whenever. I like to use it to dive a turret if they're low enough as well as the over-the-wall escape. There's really not much else to say besides make sure to get as many possible basic attacks in before the mark wears off.

Special Tip for Twin Bite:


Twin Bite is an auto attack reset. So to maximize damage output, activate Twin Bite directly after using a basic attack. This gets you one attack from the auto attack and two from Twin Bite in the space of almost one auto attack.

Poking with Shyvana is difficult considering she is melee, but Burnout makes it possible to get some damage in without too much retaliation. Use Flame Breath to mark the enemy, Burnout in and Twin Bite then dip out of there with the remaining Burnout duration.

Teamfights:

Until the team fight initates, poke around with the E>W>Q combo. Shyvana's role in teamfights is to tank the blunt of the damage and keep the enemy attackers away from allied glass cannons (ADC's and APC's). Dragon's Descent soaks up damage, hurts several champions at once, and draws the aggro away from the squishies.
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Conclusion

This basically sums up Shyvana, the Half-Dragon. I hope this guide was helpful in at least one way. Thank you for the view if anything else :) Have a nice day!
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League of Legends Build Guide Author DrumsDoctor
DrumsDoctor Shyvana Guide
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"Think You're A Dragon Slayer? Come Here And Try!"

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