Viktor Build Guide by Kinesis

Introduction

The concept of Viktor being remotely considered as a support champion is a topic still under heavy debate, especially since he is very underused in his more traditional AP mid role. Please don't downvote the guide because you believe this concept to be impractical. This guide is for demonstrative purposes to show the machine herald can be considered as an alternative to more traditional supports. That and it's fun.

Hello! I'm Kinesis and I play support more than anything on EUW, as it's my favourite role in the game to play. People consider support the most unimportant role in the game, but they are far from correct. We all know how it is as last pick in solo/duo queue. ("last pick u go support cus u low elo lol")

Viktor is heavily underplayed as an AP carry and a lot of attention has moved to him possibly being more of a support champion, with the utility he provides with Gravity Field and his ultimate Chaos Storm, as well as ever increasing AP via Evolving Technology, allowing him to focus on GP10 items. It's all up for debate, but I've found success with it. Let's get started.

Before you start, bare in mind that because I'm English, the guide is written in British English. I highly doubt that it would pose any issues, but I think it is a good idea I at least mention it.

Disclaimer: The concept of playing Viktor as a support, as I've said, is very much unheard of and under heavy scrutiny from the LoL community which has a reputation for being closed-minded. As confident as I am with this guide, I would highly recommend you keep it away from ranked for the time being.

Viktor in Context

Viktor comes with a fair amount of utility. A shield for himself using Power Transfer, his dangerous AOE stun and slow Gravity Field, a strong poke and damage dealer Death Ray, and a huge AOE silence and damage dealing ultimate Chaos Storm. What can't he do then?

• Well he certainly can't sustain his partner like Soraka, Taric, Nidalee, Sona, Kayle, or Karma can.
• He has a shield but can't give it to his partner. Lux, Karma, Janna, Morgana, Lulu, Orianna and Kayle can.
• He doesn't provide any steroids like Nunu, Lulu or Janna.
• He's not a walking CC machine like Blitzcrank, Alistar, Nautilus, Leona or Cho'Gath.
• He doesn't have any taunts like Shen and Rammus or resurrections like Zilean or Yorick.
  

Baring this in mind, this doesn't make him a bad support. It's just important to note what he's not capable of doing. If you're after one of these traits though, Viktor should probably should not be your first consideration.

AP Support vs Aura Support

So you're adamant on going Viktor Support. Awesome. There's two ways I've found to build a support Viktor, and it's very much dependent on your team composition.

The first is building GP10 then shifting into AP. Making you into a utility-heavy, mini-AP carry, designed to provide your carry with your stun and poke early game, before becoming a heavy damage dealer later on. This is how you would normally build a support Lux or Morgana, for example.

The second is to build a traditional support, heavily focused around auras and protective items. This makes you heavily resilient, but you're not capable of outputting much damage outside of the AP provided by Evolving Technology. You're a utility machine similar to more traditional supports.

9/10 you're going to want to go AP Support thanks to your amazing damage output. There are scenarios where your team is incredibly squishy (or too AP heavy) and going a more aura based support would be helpful. Whatever you feel more comfortable with. Both have worked for me.

Pros / Cons

Pros [+] Strong early game harass [+] Passive provides you with AP [+] Game changing AOE Slow/Stun with Gravity Field [+] Dangerous AOE silence with Chaos Storm [+] The best dance in the game

Cons [-] Provides no sustain for lane partner [-] Squishy early game [-] Has one less item slot, making warding harder [-] Skill shot based, stun isn't always reliable [-] People think you're trollpicking

Masteries Explanation

AP Support

An AP based support invests into Offense in addition to high investment in Utility to maximise poke and support ability early game.



My 9-0-21 suits this well in my belief allowing Viktor to harass the enemy carry early, helping you to zone and effectively reduce the enemy carry's ability to farm.

Mental Force and Arcane Knowledge ensure that your abilities hit hard early game. The added AP and magic penetration also helps against supports stacking magic resistance, which is common on champions such as Taric, and also helps against Soraka's passive Consecration. Sorcery decreases your ability cooldowns, meaning you are able to harass and peel wherever necessary.

Summoner's Insight is an important mastery as it reduces the cooldown of both Flash, which is your own personal getaway card and helps you to both peel for your carry whilst saving your own skin, and even getting in range for a clutch Gravity Field. It also benefits Clairvoyance by reducing its cooldown also, allowing you to check important locations more frequently.

Expanded Mind increases your base mana pool to help with your early mana problems. Since being in position is so important as Viktor, leveling Swiftness is arguably the best option, in particular before you have purchased your Boots of Speed. Alternatively you can master Meditation to bolster your mana regeneration.

As a support, you will only be killing minions when your AD carry is not around. Greed will help you finance your item purchases. Wealth will let you start with more gold, allowing you to purchase an additional Health Potion or Mana Potion.

Both Awareness and Sage will help you stay leveled and prevent you from falling too far behind. Remember it's your job to help with kills, not take them! (Unless absolutely necessary - a kill is better than not at all)

Finally, Intelligence reduces your abilities' cooldowns further, and Mastermind ensures them all important summoner spells are up and ready as frequently as possible.

---

Aura Support

The aura support Viktor will require the same quantity of Utility whilst specialising into Defense rather than Offense.



0-9-21 provides as much utility as possible whilst providing as much tankiness as possible, which is helpful early game as Viktor is naturally squishy early.

Hardiness helps protect you against strong AD carries who hit hard early game, such as Caitlyn and Graves.

Durability provides you with additional life throughout the duration of the game which naturally makes you more durable. Veteran's Scars gives you the extra 30hp at the beginning, which can make all the difference between getting away and dying to an Ignite. The single point in Resistance helps very slightly against enemy supports and AP carries.

The remainder is the Utility tree which is identical to that of the AP Support page

• Summoner's Insight most importantly reduces Flash and Clairvoyance cooldowns.
• Expanded Mind provides base mana
• Swiftness increases movement speed
• Greed provides additional gold per 10.
• Wealth increases your starting gold.
• Awareness and Sage help keep you leveled by providing bonus experience
• Intelligence provides cooldown reduction
• Mastermind reduces the cooldown of summoner spells

Runes Explanation

AP Support

Greater Mark of Magic Penetration provides important magic penetration. This makes your early spells hurt a lot more against the enemy carry and helps counter any magic resist the enemy support may be carrying. To reiterate, this helps shred Soraka's passive Consecration which provides her nearby allies with added magic resist.

Greater Seal of Replenishment

Greater Seal of Replenishment provides Viktor with significant mana regeneration. When using your abilities frequently it is very likely you will run into mana issues sooner or later. This should keep you in the lane much longer and mean you have more money to spend on Sight Wards and not on Mana Potions.

Greater Seal of Replenishment

Greater Glyph of Ability Power provides you with early ability power, meaning your Power Transfer and Death Ray hurt more in the early stages of the game.

Greater Quintessence of Gold provides you with additional gold per 10. Important when you're not farming to purchase your gp10 and expensive items such as Rabadon's Deathcap. Alternatively go for Greater Quintessence of Ability Power if you want more early AP in exchange for more dependence on your monetary items.

---

Aura Support

Greater Mark of Armor provides you with important armour needed to shrug off early attacks from the enemy AD carry.

Greater Seal of Replenishment

Greater Seal of Replenishment provides Viktor with significant mana regeneration. When using your abilities frequently it is very likely you will run into mana issues sooner or later. This should keep you in the lane much longer and mean you have more money to spend on Sight Wards and not on Mana Potions.

Greater Seal of Replenishment

Greater Glyph of Magic Resist gives you plenty of magic resist to survive against harassing enemy supports like Lux and Lulu and other AP members of the enemy team.

Greater Quintessence of Gold provides you with additional gold per 10. Important when you're not farming to purchase your gp10 and expensive items such as Randuin's Omen. Alternatively go for Greater Quintessence of Health if you want more HP in exchange for more dependence on your monetary items.

Ability Sequence

AP Support

Gravity Field is your main supporting ability with Viktor and must be maxed first. If placed strategically it has the potential to stun (or at least slow) multiple members of the enemy team. It is especially effective early game at disabling those hiding in brush.

Death Ray is your main damage dealing ability and should be maxed second. Its ability to poke and slash away at enemy's health from an outstanding distance is unparalleled.

Chaos Storm like all ultimates should be leveled as quickly as possible at 6, 11 and 16. This huge AOE silence does a fantastic amount of damage when cast and then continuous to do damage as it churns. It can also be controlled and moves quicker when closer to Viktor.

Power Transfer does fair damage and returns a percentage of the damage dealt as a temporary shield. It should be maxed last since you want to max damage output with your E.

---

Aura Support

Gravity Field is your main supporting ability with Viktor and must be maxed first. If placed strategically it has the potential to stun (or at least slow) multiple members of the enemy team. It is especially effective early game at disabling those hiding in brush.

Power Transfer does moderate damage and returns a percentage of the damage dealt as a temporary shield. It should be maxed second since you want to maximise your shield efficiency.

Chaos Storm like all ultimates should be leveled as quickly as possible at 6, 11 and 16. This huge AOE silence does a fair amount of damage when cast and then continuous to do damage as it churns. It can also be controlled and moves quicker when closer to Viktor.

Death Ray is your secondary poking ability and should be maxed last. Its ability to poke and slash away at enemy's health from an outstanding distance is unparalled, but its damage is too meager very early game when not building AP considering its mana cost. Maxing it last makes the most out of Evolving Technology.

Summoner Spells

Recommended Spells

[+] Flash is your personal getaway card. It helps you in the early game when peeling for your carry and late game too. It can even get you into position to drop your combo or a Gravity Field.

[+] Exhaust is good by handicapping the enemy AD carry, helping to secure that kill during a dogfight or when your jungler comes to gank. It's also good later on in ensuring the most dangerous enemies don't escape the clutches of your Gravity Field and Chaos Storm.

[+] Heal is a fair option considering you don't provide any sustain for you carry. Some might argue there's better options but it saves lives. Don't take it if your carry is.

[+] Clairvoyance is considered by many to be a necessity to supports. It helps stop ganks, track the enemy's jungler, check for invades early game, track red/blue buffs and also check Dragon and Baron Nashor . Helpful but seen by some to be unnecessary when replaced with good map awareness and plenty of Sight Wards.

Average Spells

[*] Clarity provides additional utility to feed mana hungry AD champions such as Corki, as well as dealing with your own mana issues. You're better off with a Rod of Ages or Archangel's Staff when building AP or a Soul Shroud when building auras.

[*] Ignite does true damage and hinders healing, so it works well on AD carries with Heal or champions such as Dr. Mundo but has the potential to steal kills off your AD carry or jungler and that must be avoided

[*] Teleport could give you more map presence but is often reserved for other members of your team.

[*] Ghost provides fantastic movement speed and ignores unit collision which is helpful to get Viktor into position, but is inferior to Flash since you can't traverse over walls. As an aura Viktor, invest in a Shurelya's Reverie.

Pointless spells

[-] Smite is for junglers. Not you.

[-] Cleanse is for certain champions. The likes of Corki and Ezreal. Not the machine herald.

[-] Promote has seen some use in high level support play, but unless you want to get flamed, don't.

[-] Revive Never.

[-] Surge provides attack speed and AP. Useless on you.

The Warding Game

In the laning phase it's important to ward your lane in the right spots to prevent enemy ganks. This is exceptionally important against early gankers such as Lee Sin or Trundle.



In this image there is a ward placed in the river near the Dragon entrance and also one in Tribush. Some people choose to ward the riverbush instead, which is preference.



You may want to ward the lane brush if an enemy support is being aggressive and camping there. This is critical against champions who can severely punish any mistakes you make. Blitzcrank, Nautilus, Taric and Nidalee are examples of these.

Remember on first back to ward Dragon using a Vision Ward to make sure any enemy wards aren't present. When you feel confident that you won't be easily killed, buy an Oracle's Elixir to counterward more effectively.

Not sure where to ward? This map will help you.
(I use it in all my guides.)

As a support it's your job to put the majority of the wards down on the map. But it's not just your job alone. Encourage your entire team to ward.

• Your jungler should be placing the next highest amount of wards. Covering important objectives, such as Baron Nashor and both his and his enemy's blue and red buffs.
• Your mid carry should ward both sides of their lane to prevent ganks
• Solo top should always ward their river and tribush to prevent ganks

Remember to always keep Dragon and Baron Nashor warded. If you can, try timing when they're due to respawn!

Evolving Technology

Thanks to Viktor's passive Evolving Technology - he starts with a unique item. The main disadvantage as a support Viktor is you have one less slot for Sight Wards.

The item provides additional AP as you level. Allowing you to focus more on your gold items. Later this item can be built into an Augment, which enhances your abilities significantly and it's a good idea to do so early. It cannot be sold

This upgrade affects your Power Transfer giving you 30% increased movement speed on hit - the item also grants you 220 health and 6 health regen per 5. I've never seen this used on Viktor, not really suggested.

The most important augment for a support Viktor, regardless whether you're building AP Support or auras. it grants you an extra 30% cast range for your Gravity Field meaning you can drop it whilst staying far away from danger. The item itself provides you with +200 mana, +10% cooldown reduction and 5 mana regen per 5 which help you repeatedly use your abilities.

If you're playing Viktor as a mid AP carry. You pick this. Without a doubt. It enhances your Death Ray, causing it to ignite enemies dealing 30% extra damage for 4 seconds. It also gives you an additional 45 AP. Since you're focusing on utility with Gravity Field, it's not suggested.

Items

Like all standard supports, you open with a Faerie Charm, three Sight Wards, two Health Potions and a Mana Potion. You'll also start with The Hex Core thanks to your passive.

Alternatively you can start with a Vision Ward to counterward your opponent. This is absolutely crucial when playing against Evelynn, Twitch or Shaco since they have the ability to show up out of nowhere.

When playing against Rengar ensure you have Vision Wards in place before he reaches level 6. If he's jungling you can track his location using Clairvoyance. This is because he will likely gank using Thrill of the Hunt which leaves you very much disabled.

Your Faerie Charm is built into a Philosopher's Stone to start providing you with necessary gold per 10. Follow this with a Boots of Speed. This makes up your core build before splitting off into either AP or Aura. Remember to always buy Sight Wards and Vision Wards! (Also consider buying an Oracle's Elixir if you're confident)

AP Support

• Kage's Lucky Pick come next to give you more AP and more importantly, gp10.
  
  
• Augment: Gravity to enhance your Gravity Field and provide you with much needed CDR and mana.
  
  
• Ionian Boots of Lucidity give you increased CDR to help you spam your abilities - alternatively you could go with Sorcerer's Shoes for more damage.
  
  
• Rylai's Crystal Scepter provides you with plenty of health for sustain, AP and the all important slow, which works great in conjunction with all your abilities.
  
  
• Deathfire Grasp grants you further AP and CDR - most importantly is its active which will help you take out tanky enemies and add to your burst.
  
  
• Rabadon's Deathcap grants you massive AP and multiplies your AP by 30%. Watch them quake in fear.
  
  
• Will of the Ancients grants you with AP and grants your team both AP and spell vamp. This will benefit an AP heavy team including yourself. It also saves your AP carry the hastle of buying it.
  
  
• Finalise your build with elixirs. Elixir of Fortitude grants you added health and autoattack damage. Elixir of Brilliance grants you further AP and CDR. Elixir of Agility grants you attack speed and critical strike. (OP on Viktor right?)
  
  
• You should buy an Oracle's Elixir early on to counterward. Ensure you at least have one endgame.

---

Aura Support

• Heart of Gold to provide extra health and gp10.
  
  
• Kage's Lucky Pick for further gp10 and AP.
  
  
• Augment: Gravity comes next to benefit your Gravity Field, CDR and mana.
  
  
• Mercury's Treads provide you with magic resistance and tenacity to avoid getting CC'd. You can always get Ionian Boots of Lucidity or Boots of Mobility if you prefer.
  
  
• Glacial Shroud provides further CDR but also important armour and mana.
  
  
• Shurelya's Reverie grants health, health regen and mana regen. Its active is also very useful for escaping and initiating.
  
  
• Aegis of the Legion gives you much added resilience in all areas, and provides allies with an aura, granting them with bonus armour, magic resistance and attack damage.
  
  
• Frozen Heart builds upon Glacial Shroud, whilst also slowing the attack speed of nearby enemies. Effective at reducing the effectiveness of the enemy AD carry.
  
  
• Randuin's Omen builds further sustain. Its active allows you to almost entirely disable the enemy AD carry and bruiser for a few seconds.
  
  
• Elixir of Fortitude, Elixir of Brilliance, Elixir of Agility and Oracle's Elixir to finalise the build.

Situational Items

As a support there may be times where you should consider alternative items to suit the game, so here are some alternative items.

AP Support

• Augment: Death - If your team already consists of a lot of CC and are having no trouble locking the enemy down, this might be a better choice of your Gravity Field is going underused and you need more firepower in your Death Ray.
  
  
• Abyssal Scepter - Provides magic resist but also lowers the magic resist of enemies nearby and helps both you and your AP teammates wreak havoc.
  
  
• Void Staff - Provides useful magic penetration if the enemy is stacking magic resistance.
  
  
• Rod of Ages - Provides health and mana as well as an ever increasing amount of AP. Worthwhile if you find yourself short of mana or require extra resilience.
  
  
• Archangel's Staff - A definite solution to any mana issues and provides plenty of AP based upon your mana pool but you need to spam your abilities to get the most out of it
  
  
• Athene's Unholy Grail - Grants AP, magic resist and a huge amount of mana regeneration. A fantastic item on Viktor.
  
  
• Zhonya's Hourglass - Provides temporary invulnerability via its active and gives you a lot of added AP and armour. A great choice.
  
  
• Lich Bane Brings much more damage, movement speed and mana to the table. Viktor is a burst mage and benefits heavily from this.

---

Aura Support

• Deathfire Grasp will bring you additional AP and CDR but more importantly its powerful active can bring down powerful tanks such as Malphite.
  
  
• Soul Shroud is a great item built from Mana Manipulator which grants nearby allies CDR and mana regen. This works good for mana hungry champs, such as Anivia, Sivir and Gangplank.
  
  
• Locket of the Iron Solari provides protection to nearby teammates whilst active, which absorbs some of the damage taken. It also provides good health regen. A must have against Karthus and his Requiem.
  
  
• Abyssal Scepter lowers enemy magic resist, whilst giving you some of your own. Also provides you with AP and makes your team's AP carry more dangerous.
  
  
• Zeke's Herald is great for AD heavy teams, providing them with additional attack damage and life steal. Increases your health and CDR too.
  
  
• Tiamat because splash lasers are amazing right? I'm just joking don't buy this.

Conclusion and Thanks

Viktor is never a usual sight in the mid lane, let alone as a bot lane support. His kit allows him to support his carry before transforming into either an AP monstrosity or a team assisting aura mule.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this guide. It's been fun writing and doing a lot of research into it.

One desperate reminder, please don't downvote the guide because it's different or because you don't like it. If you don't think this is viable, then that's okay. Just bring constructive criticism and we're friends.

Oh, and if you haven't played Viktor as an AP mid. Do so. It's fun.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments. I'll be writing guides on other support champions, common and unorthodox, in the future.

Keep on supporting!

Note: Thanks again to Flatline-lol for the warding map. Thanks also to IceCreamy for the incredibly comprehensive columns guide. Finally thanks to Bast Kitty for having the only support Viktor guide on Mobafire, which inspired me to write my own.

Changelog

Author's note: I'm only listing major changes in this log. I won't bother to add small typos, grammatical or formatting errors that I come across, I correct those silently.

• 20-09-2012 - Guide released