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Rek'Sai Build Guide by

[4.21] TUNNEL SNAKES TOP LANE DOMINATION

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Rek'Sai Build Guide By Updated on

Guide Discussion (1) More Rek'Sai Guides

Spells:

Ignite

Flash

Items

Starting Items

First Back VS AD

ALWAYS RUSH

VS AP

Offensive Items

Defensive Items

Example Final Build VS AD

Example Final Build VS AP

Ability Order

Rek'Sai Passive Ability

Threats & Synergies

Threats

Synergies

Extreme Major Even Minor Tiny

Show All

None Low Ok Strong Ideal

Extreme Threats

Ideal Synergies

Fiora

Extreme

A purely skill based matchup where whoever can burst the other down faster wins. Try to avoid going in both full health, poke her down a lot first and stop her from farming constantly (Both you and her can out sustain each other in different cases)

Synergies

Ideal Strong Ok Low None

Introduction

Welcome to my guide!
I'm nchaan and I'm a Jungler/Top Laner. I main jungle but after the release of Rek'Sai, I began to play Top more often. This guide is for a Rek'Sai that is focused on a more Bruiser/Tanky Top Laner and not a full AD one. You probably don't care about the author of this guide so I'm just going to skip the rest of the introduction and continue with the guide, starting with a screencap of my games as Rek'Sai.

Pros / Cons

Pros

+ Produces a good damage output
+ High mobility with his E (Tunnels)
+ Good sustain with his Burrow Passive
+ Fast split-pusher
+ Strong in both late and early game
+ Powerful dueler

Cons

- Not the best in team fights
- Hard to comeback if shut-down early
- Not much CC (1 second knock-up)
- Prone to ganks
- Tunnel is the only initiator and escape
- Difficult to get used to and master the combo's

Masteries & Runes

Masteries

Runes

Recommended Runes

Runes

Precision

Fleet Footwork

Phase Rush

These basic runes standard for AD Top Laner champions with and as the main AD increase. is essential as early-game MR in-case you're against an AP opponent and finally for some extra armor against AD champs.

Advanced Runes

Runes

Precision

Press the Attack

Electrocute

Lethal Tempo

Predator

Instead of three , only use two but add a so your auto-attacks can also heal you, not just your burrow or Q early-game. Through the addition of four Rek'Sai can gain rage faster and heal quicker in lane but too also attack faster when dueling.

Summoner Spells

Recommended Spells

The most standard spell to help you with that extra initiate or escape when your Tunnel's aren't up. Flash helps when burrowing towards an enemy who is so close, yet so far. Always take this spell.

Ignite is useful when dueling because of the DPS which can stop heals and dispose of a fleeing opponent. Since she is a melee champion, Rek'Sai can get close enough to use ignite and it helps when inputting some extra damage to an enemy.

A summoner spell which I wouldn't normally take but is still viable with Rek'Sai. Since her is basically a teleport, you wouldn't normally use this spell. By taking you can help other lanes but you would have less dueling and assassination potential.

Not Recommended Spells

Not particularly as useful as the three recommended spells and since you have your Burrow sonic it's not very beneficial in close ranges.

Rek'Sai doesn't even utilize mana so don't even think about taking this spell. It doesn't help you in any way possible.

I wouldn't particularly recommend since Rek'Sai is going to want to burst enemies fast. Also won't be as useful as during late game when trying to assassinate or initiate fights.

Similar to and also not as beneficial as one of the three recommended spells.

Can be viable when chasing down enemies and stopping most of the damage input from them, however isn't as effective as if the opponent flashes away from auto-attack range.

Abilities Sequence & Analysis

Ability Sequence
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18

Fury of the Xer'Sai

This passive makes Rek'Sai such a high sustain champion in lane since her Rage increases at every ability use and auto-attack, she can Burrow to increase health constantly.
Whenever you have rage and need health, always stay in Burrowed form. However your Rage depletes even when full health in Burrowed form.

Queen's Wrath / Prey Seeker

This is your main damage ability which needs to be the first skill maxed out.
Since it empowers your auto-attacks you must be in range for the skill to work. It empowers three auto-attacks in an AOE strike making it perfect for clearing minions.
Since it increases AD, the damage scales onto Towers, so use your Q when you want to destroy one faster.
Whenever you get the chance always poke enemies with your Burrowed Q, when they're running away, chasing you or just walking around. This way you gain vision on them in Burrowed form while dealing damage.

Burrow / Unburrow

A useful ability to see champions when out of range in vision or when in the Fog of War.
Requires a lot of attention which can take some time to get used to. You don't need to constantly look for footsteps but use them to your advantage by using a Burrowed Q for vision or to Tunnel towards an enemies path.
Always stay in Burrowed form to see any potential ganks when out of wards or from invisible champions. Additionally, also to always be prepared to Tunnel towards an enemy and knock them up or to Tunnel away from one.

Furious Bite / Tunnel

Furious Bite deals damage based on the amount of Rage Rek'Sai has therefore it is best suited to be used when you have a full bar of Rage.
Similar to Volibear and his Frenzy ; when dueling with no Rage, the opponent might run away or kill you before you have a full bar. You can use Furious Bite before having a full Rage as part of a combo to deal more burst damage.
One of the best initiation/escape abilities, Tunnel can help you get closer towards your enemy or run away from one. It should be noted that YOU ARE STILL TARGET-ABLE WHEN TUNNELING.
Use an existing Tunnel to surprise your enemy when they are in the process of destroying one. This is a good tactic since the opponents will tend not to destroy tunnels as frequently in fear you'll be going through the other end.

Void Rush

Level up your ult as soon as possible not for the Active ability but for the Passive where you get 20/40/60% attack speed which is enormously useful in fights.
Use your ult when you want to get back to lane fast since there really is no other use for it. If possible, try to make tunnels in others lanes after backing then ult back top to have a larger network of tunnels to ult to.
Try not to ult into an area blindly since tunnels don't give vision and you could potentially ult to an tunnel next to the entire enemy team without knowing.

Ability Combo

W, Q, E, W, Q, E
, , , , ,

First start with when use your as an extra AP poke, continue by using as a gap closer, then when relatively near them to knock-up, use for the main damage and end with a .

Items

Core Items

Other guides tend to rush as part of 's core build but it leaves him squishy, whereas tri-force provided AD, AS, AP and Health. Also with tri-force, you can catch up with fleeing enemies faster with its passive whereas with Hydra you couldn't.

The standard second tier boots if the enemy team consists of more AD, which is usually the case. If your lane opponent is AD when the majority of them are AP, buy anyway since you won't fight the others until late-game where you'll probably have another MR item already.

Although isn't the first core item to be bought, is still an essential core item. One of the only items which provides a large AD output and Lifesteal Percentage. Useful in AOE damage and burst.

One of the best defensive items to get, provides armor and health as well as a good AOE active to slow enemies in a teamfight or during a chase. If your team already has an overabundance of these, buy instead.

A good defensive and offensive item providing extra Health, AD and Armor Pen. One of the best and most efficient ways to cut through enemies with high Armor.

Another defensive item to avoid getting too squishy late game. is important due to its increased healing ability passive when Burrowed as well as providing Health & MR.

A replacement for when against an AP champion, is a good dueling item since it provides both AD and MR as well as a shield to help when you are low.

The alternative second tier boots for AP champions. Since it provides cheap MR early-game, you can last longer when getting poked.

Build Order

Recommended Build Order

Starting Items
OR

The most standard starting items build, and three 's for sustain and a good damage output if you know your lane opponent can harass you a lot. An alternative starting build is a and one , however only if against an enemy where you know you don't need the sustain to beat.

First Back

After your first back, make sure to get for some good damage output and health together with the passive to help give you some extra Movement Speed when fighting. Also buy some 's for some sustain in lane if you get poked and after a duel. Also remember to NEVER STOP BUYING WARDS so you can keep track of any blind spots in the fog of war when laning. Your support shouldn't be the only one warding

Basic Item Purchase Sequence

Buying first is a must as the first item and continue with buying against an AD opponent. With , you need some health so you can take more hits and is useful when dueling since the opponent will be more intimidated. By purchasing next, it gives that extra AD and Lifesteal which will help sustain in lane even more together with the AOE damage to clear minion waves faster. Complete the with randiun's omen and complete the with . The game may not even last this long but if it does, continue with and finally .

Tunnel Placements

Here are some ideal placements for tunnels to to. These are not mandatory or essential but are helpful when travelling around.

Blue circles are for the Blue (Bottom) Side.

Red circles are for the Red (Top) Side.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although is a hard champion to master she can deal tons of damage while being a mobile tank if you follow this build. The only thing to keep in mind is her lack of vision when Burrowed since it can **** you over very easily. This guide was purely for a Top Lane Tanky Bruiser champion and isn't a mandatory build to follow; other players may and can play her differently but this is how I would do it.
Thanks for reading through the entire guide and good luck with !