Kog'Maw Build Guide : Diamond AP Kog'maw - Acid Reign [25.04]

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this build is broken to this day compared to the recommended items that the game suggests

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Just another small comment; it feels weird that Muramana is placed in the first slot in the 'cheat sheet' build while the text post itself says to buy Liandry's first.

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That's reasonable. The current rationale is that this is what the final build looks like (as tear is the first item, and thus Muramana is in the first slot). The Core meanwhile is the actual build order.

But that may be unnecessarily confusing. I'll get some more input and then modify accordingly; thanks for the note!

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Yeah, I personally thought it was a similar vibe to champions that end up buying Archangel's first to stack it faster as well as have an earlier powerspike rather than delaying their first item by Tear's investment cost, but then I thought 'there's no way Kog'Maw actually wants that though does he' and had to check the written order.

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Hello! Noticed your guide was generally negative about Banshee's and Hourglass, which I get behind, but what about Frozen Heart? Compared to Banshee's and Hourglass it provides mana which seems like a more significant stat for this type of build, especially with Muramana's AD conversion and reliance on Kog's ultimate.

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Hey! Frozen Heart is definitely better than the other options for the reasons you've noted, but my main hesitation with it is that it makes an already-slow build even slower. I've already occasionally considered removing Rylais (or at least putting it one spot later in the build) this season because the build isn't ramping up to relevancy fast enough. Frozen Heart then, like other really nice defensive options such as Deadmans, all fall into the issue of making the build too slow.

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That's fair. I was mainly imagining buying Frozen Heart after 3 items since that seems to be the point where your 'core' is done and you can look at alternative choices, but if the loss of damage is too significant even at that point to make up for survivability I get it.

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Interesting S14 build.

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New season, new items to take into consideration! What with Mythics being removed and Liandry's losing its mana, perhaps Malignance might find some significance? Luden's Companion seems interesting as well.

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Yes it shall be updated! Actually I just spent last night going over what Kog'maw's new build order likely looks like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbwM-ExFKsU&t=8221s

So my initial thoughts are that Malignance is worth rushing as a first item. Also after my test game with AP Kog (end of the video), Rylais will likely return to the order. It's just so hard to land multiple hits on a row if you don't have it!

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I really like this guide, but I have a question: Now that shadowflame has been released, should it not become part of the core build? It gives magic penetration in the form of the passive, it builds off of an item with an on-hit effect so building it as your second item could be good, and it gives health. Seems to me like it fits in this style of build quite well, but when should it be built (if at all)? Would be cool if you updated your guide to include shadowflame! I'd also like to know your opinion on First strike. Spellbook is great and has saved me on many occassions, but I also want to know your opinion on First strike since it could theoretically get you your items sooner.

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Season 12 itemization is upon us. Can't wait to see where Shadowflame and maybe the updated Horizon Focus may fit into the build.

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REALLY LOVE THIS GUIDE. i'M ENJOYING AP KOG SO MUCH TAHNK YOU MAN.

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Is ap kog still good? i think new presence of mind will be good on him

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Still fantastic, it spikes a bit earlier this season too at the cost of some raw mana compared to last season. I detail in the guide why I don't like Presence of Mind on AP Kog, namely that the overall mana regen it offers is generally less than Manaflow Band, and Manaflow already doesn't give enough mana for me to want.

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No reason you can't do both. Kog is mana hungry enough to make it a reasonable choice, especially with the across-the-board nerfing of mana on items. Admittedly a precision + sorcery rune distribution is completely at odds with what's stated in the guide, but that doesn't make it a bad idea. One option I don't see mentioned is phase rush, which could be great for kog since he has to stay at an appropriate distance, and it would generally help with his ability to kite and harass safely both in and out of lane. Then you take manaflow band, take transcendence to reduce the cd on your e, (it partially refunds your cds for a kill or assist after level 11 now, which is great when you consider how much power and utility his e provides) and scorch because it's the least terrible rune in that row. (who the hell takes waterwalking XD ) Then in the precision tree you take presence of mind for mana, and coup de grace because it synergizes with your ult by amplifying execution damage. The best part is that you're not giving up any damage by doing this because none of the runes listed by the guide do much for damage. (not a criticism, just pointing this out. As a side note, the clarity spell doesn't exist anymore outside aram but is still listed on the unsealed spellbook spoiler)

Or you could just swap out the resolve tree for the precision tree because adding a negligible amount of armor and HP doesn't actually help kog with being long range artillery, or even a mid-range mage. May as well have more mana and an execution damage amp instead.

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Precision + Sorcery isn't a bad choice, but it's not also not my favored choice.

1. I tested Phase Rush quite a lot prior, and found it underwhelming. I couldn't get it to activate when I needed it to (except like once or twice in the laning phase), and later on in the match when it was activating, it usually made no difference in the overall outcome of a fight. It wasn't useless, but generally wasn't making a meaningful impact.

2. Kog is only mana hungry if you exceed the barrage limit regularly. Otherwise, the amount of mana with biscuits and Manamune (which is now in the build order) is enough as long as the reserve bullets aren't dipped into regularly. Getting more mana options will only allow like, 1-3 extra shots later in the match because of the sheer amount of mana it takes to dip into the reserve.

3. Clarity is an option that can be picked from Unsealed Spellbook

4. I find the opposite to be true, that the amount of mana and damage added is largely negligible enough that I prefer having 15% more effective HP instead.

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I find that the new presence of mind is a must have for me when I am in teamfights because it gives me 1 or 2 extra bullets to clean up the fight every takedown. I also use it to sustain myself in the early lane by using the w for extra range sustained poke to refill mana.

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What do you think about RoA? I do it sometimes, vs burst comps

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Not much a fan of it. It slows down an already-slow build and raw AP isn't even a great stat for AP Kog. Would rather continue building up to the more magic-pen oriented choices instead.

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Kog'maw is disgusting, although he really is an interesting champion
I didn't read your guide thoroughly because I am not planning to play this champion whatsoever, but again, I know your other guides as I have commented, so I know that this will be useful for my friends and probably will share it with them :>

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Any tips on to deal with annie? early banshees rush?

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Their ability to kill you pre-6 is pretty weak since their range is limited, which is possible to work around. By level 6, you should have enough money to go back to get a Giant's Belt (component for Rylais) which, combined with exhaust, should be enough to protect you from a flash-exhaust from them.

Without flash, their range with the ult is pretty telegraphed, and you should be able to avoid getting hit directly by it.

It takes some practice, but once you get the feel of their maximum range, they can't touch you while you continue to farm well. They also HAVE to push the wave to get their stun charges up, which is handy for you. If you want to move in for some farm, move in when they use spells to farm, since their bar will be empty for a few precious seconds. Though don't get too close!

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Thanks just need to learn my limits and theirs.

Also you said that AP Kog doesn't benefit much from AP. You wrote at a full build your AP will be around 180. I played AP kog and reached 1000AP and was able to wipe anyone before they got close to me.

My final build: Luden, Archangel, Rabs, Rylais, Morrelos, Void

Kog maw is supposed to be in the back line, so wouldn't dealing more (burst?) damage from the backline be better than sustained damage?

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No problem!

So AP Kog does benefit from AP, but benefit is relative. If you're getting AP, how much magic pen are you not getting? All the math I've done has shown that the magic pen offers superior gold/dmg compared to raw AP, and the mana regeneration of the Barrage Limit adds an additional layer of consistent poke DPS.

This doesn't mean a burst playstyle is bad, but rather a question of purpose. If AP Kog is being used primarily for their mid-range burst, why not just play Xerath who has higher base, scalings, and consistent burst range? Or Lux, for the same reasons? It isn't using Kog'maw's uniqueness to its fullest.

Again, this isn't saying burst is bad, but rather is questioning purpose. It's not a question of "is this good/bad" but rather "is this best for this purpose?" I feel Kog'maw's purpose is not maximized by just being a mid-range burst replica, and the incoming nerfs to both the blue buff's AP bonus and Void Ooze's AP Ratio will only solidify that.

Diamond AP Kog'maw - Acid Reign [25.04]

Diamond AP Kog'maw - Acid Reign [25.04]

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