Vladimir - The Crimson Reaper: A Collaborative...

[quote=Janitsu][columns][space][space] [nextcol][size=6][b][color=#ffede2]________[/color][color=#C11B17] MobaFire's Vladimir Collaborative Guide[/color] [color=#ffede2]________[/color][/b][/size] [columns][space] [nextcol][img=http://www.mobafire.com/images/noavatar.png width=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol]Welcome to the fourth article in a series of upcoming collaborative guides! These articles will be made by the current [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/wiki/mobafire/ranks]Editors, Scouts, Veterans and Moderators[/url] of MobaFire and will feature champion tips and tricks. At the end of each article will be a suggested build to help you get started on the Fields of Justice. This week's champion is [[vladimir]], the Crimson Reaper! Read and enjoy! [nextcol][space][/columns] [size=6][b][color=#ffede2]________[/color][color=#C11B17]Vladimir's History[/color][color=#ffede2]________[/color][/b][/size] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=vladimir size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol]Vladimir joined the League in Season 1 and has had no reworks, but many nerfs since then. Upon release, Vlad was extremely difficult to deal with in lane - the only champion to be nerfed more than [[vladimir]] is [[irelia]]. Today, despite the many nerfs, he is traditionally picked as a tanky mage. Vladimir is best played against low-kill potential enemies top or mid lane; Vlad is a great choice due to his sustain from [[Transfusion]] and [[Tides of Blood]]. Compounding his survivability through building Ability Power, is his passive, [[crimson pact]]. He also gets survivability through AP thanks to his passive, [[Crimson Pact]]. [nextcol][space][/columns] [size=6][b][color=#ffede2]________[/color][color=#C11B17]Vladimir's Lore[/color] [color=#ffede2]________[/color][/b][/size] [columns][space][space] [nextcol]There is a temple hidden in the mountains between Noxus and the Tempest Flats, where the secrets of an ancient and terrifying sorcery are kept. The area surrounding the temple is littered with the exsanguinated corpses of those who have mistakenly wandered too close. These served only to pique the curiosity of Vladimir, when – in his youth – he trekked through these mountains during his flight from Noxus. A day earlier, the teenaged Vladimir had brutally murdered two boys of his age, for no better reason than to enjoy the intoxicating scarlet bloom that surged forth. He realized immediately that he would never be able to suppress his murderous desires, and if he remained in Noxus, his foul deeds were sure to catch up with him. Without hesitation, he abandoned the city-state, and journeyed south. The trail of bodies led him to a crumbling stone temple. Inside he found an aging monk who appraised him with eyes of pure crimson. Vladimir surprised the monk by returning the wicked gaze with zeal. Recognizing the boy’s sinister craving, the monk taught Vladimir how to manipulate and control the fluid of life, often practicing on passing travelers. When it came time for Vladimir to learn the final lesson, the monk warned that failure would result in death. Vladimir did not fail, but success bore a grisly surprise. During the ritual, every drop of the monk's blood was drawn from his body and fused with Vladimir's, imbuing him with his master's magical essence, and that of every hemomancer before him. Left alone and suddenly without purpose, Vladimir resolved to return to Noxus, demanding enrollment in the League to prove the supremacy of his craft. When the Noxian High Command observed the gruesome fates which befell the palace guards, they elected to avail themselves of Vladimir's unsavory talents. "[i]That which runs through you will run you through.[/i]" [space][space][space]- Vladimir [nextcol][space][space][space][space] [nextcol][icon=classic vladimir size=200] [nextcol][space][space] [/columns] [size=6][b][color=#ffede2]________[/color] [color=#C11B17]Vladimir's Abilities[/color] [color=#ffede2]________[/color][/b][/size] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=crimson pact size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#C11B17][b]P[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] Vladimir benefits from increased tankiness through purchasing of Ability Power items, or increased damage through purchasing health items. This means that even if you're forced to build tanky health items in a lost lane, you still increase your damage. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=transfusion size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#C11B17][b]Q[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] The health gained back has a delay unlike other health restoring effects such as spellvamp or lifesteal. [*] This ability has no cost, only a cool down, therefore many Vlad's use it to regain health back whenever necessary. [*] Try to avoid using this on minions, as it can be an effective harassment tool against your enemy for a more dominant laning phase. [*] At level 9, the cooldown of this ability is lowered enough that you can significantly chip away at the health of your opponent, or, if you're losing the lane, allow you to remain sustained. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=sanguine pool size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#C11B17][b]W[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] This ability has a very high resource cost (Vladmir uses his own health for this ability). Try to use this spell only to dodge dangerous enemy abilities, to avoid crowd control effects or if you are certain that this loss of health will not be a threat to you. [*] You cannot kill yourself by activating this spell on low health. [*] Even though are untargetable in the pool, you can still be affected by enemy obstructions (like [[Crystallize]], [[event horizon]], [[cataclysm]] etc) and damage over time effects that were cast prior to activating Sanguine Pool (like [[toxic shot]], [[malefic visions]], [[ignite]]). [*] You are untargetable by both allies and enemies. That means an ally cannot summoner [[heal]] you when you are on low health. The only allied heal that Vlad can benefit from is [[soraka]]'s [[wish]]. Other effects, like [[taric]]'s [[radiance]], [[gangplank]]'s [[raise morale]], etc is not gained if Vlad is pooled. [*] You can completely deny Zed's [[Death Mark]] if you use it before he lands on you. This might save your life since a lot of damage [[Zed]] deals comes from his ultimate. Similarly, you can dodge [[karthus]] [[requiem]]. [*] You can combo [[ghost]] and Sangine Pool for an even speedier get away. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=tides of blood size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#C11B17][b]E[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] When this ability is used a few times in a row, its damage, health regen and health cost increase. This is a double-edged sword, as while the amped damage is attractive, as is the increased healing and regeneration rate, make sure you can afford the increased health cost of the ability, lest you make yourself very vulnerable through killing yourself. [*] You can use this ability without a nearby target, effectively allowing you to stack it's damage. You can use this trick by stacking the damage away from the view of your opponent, and then use this ability to deal a lot of surprising damage. [*] If you are close to engaging combat and you can afford the health cost, it is worth stacking this ability to it's 4 maximum. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=hemoplague size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#C11B17][b]R[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] The 12% AoE damage amplification counts for all sources of potential surrounding damage. Whether the damage comes from Vladimir himself, his allies, or neutral creatures such as Baron Nashor, Dragon and creep camps. [*] This ability is best used during the start of an engage, as all enemies caught by the AoE will theoretically die 12% faster. [*] The damage amplification mark only lasts for 5 seconds, so it's imperative to do as much damage as possible during that time frame. [*] At the end of the 5 seconds, enemies afflicted with [[hemoplague]] are damaged; this extra damage can kill a low health target outright, depending on Vlad's AP. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [size=6][b][color=#ffede2]________[/color] [color=#C11B17]Vladimir Gameplay[/color][color=#ffede2]________[/color][/b][/size] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=count vladimir size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=4][color=#C11B17][b]Game Play[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] Vladimir has a very slow autoattack animation so you'll need some practice to successfully last hit with him. [*] Vladimir can sustain himself very easily by using [[Tides of Blood]] in moderation and using [[Transfusion]] as much as possible. Use this sustain advantage while laning and try to force your enemies to go back as often as possible to make them lose experience and gold. [*] When ganked, try to bait out their crowd control abilities before using [[sanguine pool]], if you wait long enough, they will attempt to snare/stun/root/slow you, which you can then dodge with pool for a speedy get away. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=marquis vladimir size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=4][color=#C11B17][b]Team Fights[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] As you will be naturally tanky due to [[crimson pact]], you can effectively engage fights. [*] Dive into the enemy team and land [[hemoplague]] on as many opponents as possible. Take aggro and then use [[zhonya's hourglass]] to avoid being bursted down to death instantly; keep [[sanguine pool]] for emergency escapes. Continue soaking up as much damage as possible for your team while trying to clean up after the first initiation burst, through spamming [[transfusion]] and [[tides of blood]]. [*] Remember to stack [[tides of blood]] before entering the teamfight so that you have increased health regeneration and amped damage. [*] Alternative: [icon=hemoplague] - [icon=transfusion] - [icon=tides of blood] - [icon=sanguine pool] - [icon=tides of blood] - [icon=transfusion] - [icon=Zhonya's Hourglass] - [icon=tides of blood] - [icon=transfusion] [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=blood lord vladimir size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=4][color=#C11B17][b]Item Info[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] Early game items that Vladimir uses effectively are [[haunting guise]] and [[hextech revolver]]. Guise gives Vlad an early boost in magic penetration and increases his tankiness and damage. Revolver keeps Vlad even more sustained in lane; you would upgrade Revolver into [[will of the ancients]] when appropriate. [*] Cooldown reduction is effective on Vladimir as it allows him to rotate through his spells more frequently. [[spirit visage]] increases his damage output and increases his health regeneration through use of his abilities. [*] Vladimir benefits well from items that give both health and ability power because of his passive, Crimson Pact. Such items include: [[rylai's crystal scepter]] and [[liandry's torment]]. [*] Of course, you don't need to focus on items that give both health and ability power. Other items that a good on [[vladimir]] are: [[zhonya's hourglass]], [[rabadon's deathcap]], [[void staff]]/[[abyssal scepter]]. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [size=6][b][color=#ffede2]________[/color] [color=#C11B17]Build[/color][color=#ffede2]________[/color][/b][/size] [embed=/league-of-legends/builds?c=56&m=%26tree1%3D0-0-4-1-0-0-3-0-0-0-1-3-0-0-3-1-0-3-1-1%26tree2%3D2-2-0-0-1-3-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0%26tree3%3D0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0&s1=2&s2=14&i1=113&i2=153&i3=85&i4=56&i5=107&i6=114&r1=351&r2=304&r3=263&r4=338] [columns][size=6][b][color=#ffede2]________[/color][color=#C11B17]Credits[/color][color=#ffede2]________[/color][/b][/size] [columns][list] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/jhoijhoi-52504]jhoijhoi[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/janitsu-87995]Janitsu[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/meiyjhe-295571]Meiyjhe[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/vynertje-171340]Vynertje[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/the-nameless-bard-36410]The_Nameless_Bard[/url] [/list] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/missmaw-151165]MissMaw[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/mowen-21137]Mowen[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/joxuu-207280]Joxuu[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/barbj-122246]BarbJ[/url] [/list][/columns] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][size=6][b][color=#ffede2]________[/color][color=#C11B17]Previous Articles[/color][color=#ffede2]________[/color][/b][/size] [indent][list] [*] [icon=Annie] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/forum/news/annie-the-dark-child-a-collaborative-guide-27479]Annie - The Dark Child[/url] [*] [icon=shyvana] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/forum/news/shyvana-the-half-dragon-a-collaborative-guide-27644]Shyvana - The Half-Dragon[/url] [*] [icon=caitlyn] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/forum/news/caitlyn-the-sheriff-of-piltover-a-collaborative-guide-28469]Caitlyn - The Sheriff of Piltover[/url] [space] [space] [space] [/list][/indent] [nextcol][space][space] [/columns][/quote]

[quote=jhoijhoi]Probably should have waited to see if everyone else was happy with my edits :/[/quote]

[quote=Janitsu][quote=jhoijhoi] Probably should have waited to see if everyone else was happy with my edits :/ [/quote] You didn't remove any information and you only added some and from what I read there wasn't anything "wrong" with the explanations. And I think that no one has anything against though :p[/quote]

[quote=jhoijhoi]There are a few typos I didn't see when editing :/[/quote]

[quote=Vynertje]I´m a bit late to this but I´d suggest flash+ghost summoners. It's what most high elo vlads run (Source: Youngbuck in LCS)[/quote]

[quote=NateDog13][quote=Vynertje] I´m a bit late to this but I´d suggest flash+ghost summoners. It's what most high elo vlads run (Source: Youngbuck in LCS) [/quote] I agree with this, definitely a thing that works well.[/quote]

[quote=BarbJ]We didn't make a section for Summoner Spells only, but [[Barrier]], [[Flash]], [[Ghost]], [[Heal]], [[Ignite]], and [[Teleport]] are all viable to take on Vlad. It really comes down to individual top lane / mid lane matchup and your preferred playstyle.[/quote]

[quote=The_Nameless_Bard]am I the only one who doesn't understand why the listed build has no sorc's or void in it? @-@ like, that makes basically no sense.[/quote]

[quote=BarbJ]We didn't make a section for boots only, but Sorc shoes, Ninja Tabi, Merc Treads, and Lucidity Boots are all viable to take on Vlad. It really comes down to individual top lane / mid lane matchup and your preferred playstyle.[/quote]

[quote=jhoijhoi][quote=The_Nameless_Bard] am I the only one who doesn't understand why the listed build has no sorc's or void in it? @-@ like, that makes basically no sense. [/quote] You had ample time to bring this issue up in the forum before the article was released. Did you make a comment about it there prior to release?[/quote]