Hey. Thanks for the well thought-out criticism. What I aim to do with Rammus is a very valid question that I don't exactly go too far into in-guide.

The item set at the top of the page is sort of silly. That system is okay for DPS and such, but it doesn't reflect the adaptability needed for a tank. You can't field the same six items every game and win (Something you obviously are aware of), but listing six items is all but a must for Mobafire.

The guide is written mainly for solo games. While, idealy, your team would have a jungler and a solo top, most in the public setting simply don't. In my opinion, there are better Junglers to have on your team than Rammus (But admittedly, not too many better gankers). There are also many better Support!Tanks. ( Alistar says hello.) This build primarily gives an insight into the nature of a certain way to play him: I.E.: A no-holds-barred unkillable monstrosity that can be just about anywhere at any time, something all Rammi aim to be.

shurelyas reverie is a wonderful item I often take if I find myself being hammered early game and need even more health-regen to lane longer, though I'm usually wary of GP10 items as it takes so long for them to pay for themselves.

You say the only viable way to play Rammus (non-jungle) is as a support, but I disagree. There are better junglers/gankers ( Shaco, Warwick, etc) and Alistar(Slight heal, tons of CC, awesome Ult) is simply a better tank/support combo.

There are better jungle guides, and I don't find jungle-play as exciting and fun as laning, so I didn't write a jungle guide for him, nor do I jungle with him.

Actual matches are very rarely as formulaic as 'Solo top, jungler ganks at six minutes, solo mid, carry and support bottom.' You know this, I don't mean to patronize at all. If they were, League would be amazingly boring with everyone running the same five characters instead of playing the champions they like the way that they like to.

I just like to have fun, and figured other people might like to play the way I do.

As for the viability of my playstyle, my results show I didn't get hammered too hard.

Oh, and Tornmail is only my first item if I find myself against strong AD early game, and if it lacked the damage-return, I'd disregard it entirely most of the time.

Thanks again for the criticism, and GL and HF!

I'd be happy to make you a sig if you needed one for the conditions of my sig below!

And the +1

Interesting guide. I have a few pointers and questions.

Primarily my question is: What the heck are you doing? You never mention exactly WHAT role you're taking in the game. You're obviously not jungling because no smite and it's written like a lane guide--So are you solo top, supporting, or (:x) midding?
If it's solo top, don't even bother with Rammus like that. He will get completely dominated, zoned and then crushed while getting absolutely no farm. If it's mid, you have the exact same problem. Thus, the only viable way to play a non-jungle Rammus (not doing a troll build, obviously) is as a support.

If you're supporting, you'll want to actually build to support, instead of just building tanky. I'd suggest instead of flash/ghost, going flash and Heal. This will allow you to give a little back to your AD, and also bait. You should also build a core Shurelya's Battlesong if you're going to play a support rammus, because it gives you a GP10 core that works off your opener ( Regrowth Pendant is a viable opener) and gives you the super-duper needed health.

If you're supporting, I'd suggesting staying away from "greedy" items. Let me explain--Thornmail in and of itself helps you and only you--they have to attack you for it to work. if they just ignore you, it's wasted gold. Warmog's helps you and only you--it lets you soak more damage, but doesn't benefit anyone else directly. Stick to items that help the team as a whole--Again Reverie is a great choice there, as it's pretty cheap and has such an amazing active. Aegis of the Legion is another awesome choice, as it gives you health (Rammus bread and butter) as well as an aura to keep your team alive a little more. More importantly, if you're supporting, you're not going to get CS, so expensive items aren't really happening unless you happen to get fed. Stick to Gold/10 items and buff items to help your team. You can also try being a prick early game, and going for fast powerball leveling (Powerball -> Taunt -> powerball -> powerball or something) and harassing with that heavy early nuke--it's very gambly though.

Now, again, even for just a straight Rammus build, I take issue with your items and runes. Rammus has the absolute best steroid in the game for armor and MR, which at rank 5 pushes him into high diminishing returns almost by itself. Your runes are completely armor (your glyphs are only giving you a total of +6 armor!) which isn't really helpful past the first minute or so into the game. You're better off getting powerball -> Curl -> taunt -> taunt so you can benefit from that instant steroid in lane if you need to, then using your runes on more useful things (Armor pen or attack speed reds, or even magic pen reds so your R hits a bit harder. CDR or magic resist blues, even mana regen scaling blues.) You're also literally rushing for an armor item--arguably the worst item for Rammus in the entire game. Health is the best stat for Rammus, as it gives him more effective resistance than any armor stacking usually does--dropping an early 2k on an item that gives absolutely no health, and only has a passive that helps against specific enemies, and then only if they're fed! An early Heart of Gold deals with both of these--GP10 needed, and health. Reverie helps this too by being cheap and helpful.

I'm giving you an upvote, because you worked a lot on this guide and you definitely have some good ideas to start, but you need to work more with Rammus's kit, instead of trying to go straight armor. Take a look at the diminishing returns on armor, then consider that Rammus gets a +150 natural from his W--With your current setup, while curled, you have over 500 armor! You need to think more towards effective resistance, versus actual resistances. If you really want to play a support Rammus (it's a fun challenge!) you need to think more about operating with low gold and helping with buff items for your team--and of course, keeping your carry alive ;)

Rammus is annoying.
Nice guide.

Rammus has a passive that gives him damage by building armor. I like your build. Two things I would change: Rammus is a jungler by heart. Pick up smite as a summoner and it is easy going. You become more of a threat ganking with red buff. Also, change your moarks to something other than magic resist. Rammus does not need alot of it and his abilities need armor. When in a team fight, taunt the enemy mage/ap. This will cause him to be focus down by your team and also no magic damage will be going your way. It is a win-win.

Some thoughts for the future.

Thanks for the critique! I tend to build Rammus as a pure tank; kills aren't as much a priority as saving my teammates are, but you do have a point. I'm thinking of adding an Atma's Impaler somewhere. It'd stack really well with my health, and benifit my armor, too. Thanks for the tip, and I'll check out your guides.

u need to have a dps item in your build somewhere, or you will just be ignored because after u taunt and roll u do basically no more damage. rammus has a shield skill anyways, unlike tanks like dr. mundo and amumu, u shud be fine without all defense items. as long as u don't 5vs1 :)

if I made sense, check out my guides below in return! and rep me! :)

Hey! I've got some more material in the works for an update tomorrow. Keep posted!