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Runes 101: Beginners guide to runes

Runes 101: Beginners guide to runes

Updated on December 20, 2013
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League of Legends Build Guide Author throatslasher Build Guide By throatslasher 47 5 361,666 Views 86 Comments
47 5 361,666 Views 86 Comments League of Legends Build Guide Author throatslasher Build Guide By throatslasher Updated on December 20, 2013
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1
Chawoora (2) | August 8, 2014 5:49am
This is a great guide! It is the main guide that I used when I hit level 20 earlier this year. I now have a friend that is at level 19, so I have been doing some extra rune research. It would be awesome to see this guide tweaked for the 4.5 rune changes (patches seem to be coming fast and furious...I think that was the last rune changes).

Do people agree that the 2 basic rune pages listed are still pretty darn good? The Marks, Glyphs and Quints seem on. I could potentially see going Health Seals, but man those things are expensive...plus Armor Seals are still strong and give protection from auto attacks and minion damage.

The other pages all looks pretty viable. I know that Armor Seals are not as "must have" as before. I run MP5 Seals for AP. I run 2 Life Steal Quints for ADC like the guide says, but I know there are viable alternatives there (like Attack Speed). I also use some scaling MR Glyphs for AD/ADC. The ideal support page would use Health Seals and Armor Quints, but I play support the most and I have not been able to free up the IP needed for this change on my pages.

Quoted:
Now for the question: is it too risky to play armor-per-level seals for jungling, because of counter-junglers? Or I can go around this and get more benefits for late game?


If you want advice from an unranked level 30 player that has never jungled outside a bot game...it seems like Flat Armor would be good to protect you from monster damage early game. Flat and Scaling do level out at level 6, but Flat seems better to me. I don't know how common Flat/Scaling Health/HP5 are these days for junglers.
1
Sebuman | April 12, 2014 6:02am
First, I want to say a big "thank you" to throatslasher for writing this rune guide. :)

Now, I have a comment, about the recent armor seals nerf (and other seals buff, such as health, health-per-level, armor-per-level). I found out that I can have a better "armor+health" combination as a support player, if I swap my health quints and armor seals (78 health, 17 armor with armor marks) for armor quints and health seals (72 health, 21 armor with armor marks).

Also, I've been playing armor-per-level seals for jungling, and I assume that I'd only be more vulnerable before level 6 (when armor-per-level seals give 1 armor per rune, just like flat armor seals). And I assume that the only vulnerabilities I would have as a jungler are when ganking / counter-ganking or when the opponents try to counter-jungle me.

Now for the question: is it too risky to play armor-per-level seals for jungling, because of counter-junglers? Or I can go around this and get more benefits for late game?

Thank you again.
1
ShadowBane2243 (1) | January 17, 2014 8:12am
Krunsheer wrote:

You should really ad Greater Mark of Attack Speed. It works so well at current season with champions like: Draven, Twitch, Vi, Darius etc. especially junglers/top-laners that dont have luxury to build AS items because they are going tank straight ahead but still need some...

Got to love being Draven with 15% AS as lvl 1, and throwing triple Q at support Annie <3 ARP would be also good but AS seems way too deadly at so many occasions.

But still loved your guide and was happy to find out that I have most of the right runes already owned <3


I had previously mentioned this in this guide's comments, although my reasoning was that Nocturne's passive cool-down is reduced by AA. However, Throatslasher replied by saying that usually AD Marks will give you more damage/second than AS marks could. Not sure if it will be the same with this, but thought i'd mention since Throat hasn't responded yet.

@Vinsanity: I am not high level what-so-ever, but my suggestion would be to build at least the basic rune pages for now and try learning the various position using the free champion rotations. After the 2 basic pages, you can probably buy a couple champions in each position.

On another random note, my brother was suggested by a friend that he run AD marks AND seals. I keep telling him this is idiotic as seals are strong in defense, not offense, yet he doesn't listen to me because his friend is higher level. So can I get some people in ranked play to comment and say how little AD seals are going to do? :p
1
Krunsheer | January 17, 2014 6:40am
You should really ad Greater Mark of Attack Speed. It works so well at current season with champions like: Draven, Twitch, Vi, Darius etc. especially junglers/top-laners that dont have luxury to build AS items because they are going tank straight ahead but still need some...

Got to love being Draven with 15% AS as lvl 1, and throwing triple Q at support Annie <3 ARP would be also good but AS seems way too deadly at so many occasions.

But still loved your guide and was happy to find out that I have most of the right runes already owned <3
1
Vinsanity319 | January 1, 2014 10:41am
Hey, awesome guide, but I need some advice. I'm level 28, heading on to lvl 29 soon, and I only recently found this guide. I didn't think runes were so important before, so I only had one unfinished set made specifically for Singed (probably my fav champ). After I read the guide, I started working on the AP basic rune set, and I am realizing how expensive it is.

Recently I've kind of been getting picked on for not knowing how to play all the lanes, especially in draft, but I find this difficult if I can't buy any champions with IP, because I'm using it for runes. For instance, I tried Caitlyn (because i'm absolutely horrible at adc) out a few times when she was free, but if I can't buy her, how will I improve my adc game? The only others I have are Ashe and Tristana, and I'm not all too good with them.

So I guess I'm wondering, which is more important, the runes, or learning all the lanes. I could just grind out the IP and make a few rune pages, then work on my adc game, but that would take forever, especially with rune pages costing 6300. I appreciate any feedback.
1
throatslasher (248) | December 26, 2013 7:21am
@MAET because they're bad

@GOTT Nobody cares what you think. Go write your own ****ty guide. Maybe there's a reason you have a 1-5 kda.
1
Keniree | December 26, 2013 6:29am
Just in case anyone was wondering, these two beginner pages will cost 15375 IP to complete.
Only another 1200 to go!
1
Prophetic ShadeZ | December 24, 2013 5:06am
like the guide, really helps the beginners and introducing them to runes, riot might want to explain runes or have a suggested rune page for players like the ones you mentioned. I just hope Im still not making the same mistakes
1
Gott der 7 Meere (51) | December 24, 2013 2:55am
Downvoted until you ...

... talk about the difference between scaling and flat runes more. Many players don't understand the difference and make their biggest mistakes in this area, oblivious to the difference between strong early game pages and small buffs to late game.
... mention (Attack Speed) at least for junglers that don't scale with AD and (Scaling AP).
... include at least one as luxury rune. I strongly disagree with your comment "they don't do anything unless you crit - and dont even exist". On some champs they can be the difference between critting and not critting and really do a lot for your lane. I'm not talking about using a full page, but just one or two of these can be the surprise on any trade.

Really like your guide, and I agree with all your rune choices, but I feel the guide is incomplete still.
My favourite allround rune page witch I would recommend for new players is Marks(AD + 1 Crit) / Seals (Armor) / Glyphs(5% CDR + MR) / Quints(2 MS + X) ... but thats just my own experience :P
1
maetkong | December 23, 2013 7:59pm
good guide but where is Quintessence of Percent Health I use it for tanky top and jungle heros like shen/maokai/malp
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