I. Preface
II. Introduction
III. Skill Explanations
IV. Summoner Spell Explanations
-- Considerable Summoner Spells
V. Rune Explanations
VI. Mastery Explanations
-- Utility Tree
-- Offense Tree
VII. Core Item Build Sequence
-- Situational Items
VIII. Laning & Play Style
-- Early Game Phase
-- Mid Game Phase
-- Late Game Phase
-- Late Game Summarized
IX. Tricks & Strategies
X. Closing
XI. FAQs
XII. Change Log




Amumu is often built as a jungler, but in some games you will want to lane with him, particularly if you already have a jungler and your team needs you to take the 1v2 lane, or if you are playing with a strong support champ, like Taric or Sona, in which case you will want to share the 2v2 lane with them in order to beat the other team quite handily. Amumu has become my strongest champ through using these strategies in the lane. They will help you early any early game mana troubles and initiate well in late-game team fights. Amumu is, in my opinion, the best tank in the game, and can easily turn the tide of any game in the hands of the right Summoner.

Abbreviated Terms
AA = Auto-attack [Basic Attacks]
CC = Crowd Control [Stun, fear, slow, snare, etc]
FB = First Blood
AP = Ability Power
AD = Attack Damage
MD = Magic Damage
AS = Attack Speed
MS = Movement Speed
MR = Magic Resistance
ArPen = Armor Penetration
MPen = Magic Penetration
LS = Life Steal
SV = Spell Vamp
DPS = Strong Auto-attacker
MDPS = Strong spells; casters
CDR = Cooldown Reduction
OOM = Out of Mana
MP = Mana
HP = Health
MP Regen = Mana Regeneration per 5 seconds
HP Regen = Health Regeneration per 5 seconds
Ult = Your R ability - your ultimate spell




While a great jungler, Amumu is also a great laner. He farms well consistently throughout the game, and has great staying power in the lane through the laning phase.

Pros:
- Best initiator in the game.
- His Ultimate is versatile, serving several roles for the team, namely that of handing out beatings.
- Good farmer.
- Tank killer.
- Late game he is nigh-unkillable.
- Great for pushing opposite laners out of XP bubble.

Cons:
- High learning curve.
- Initation depends on skill shot, which is easily blocked by minions.
- Vulnerable to range carries that play smart against him.
- Ultimate is easily countered by stun or blast (ie Gragas, Tristana, etc)




Cursed Touch - This passive works very well with all of Amumu's skills, especially the combo of his Ulimate and Despair, which can wipe out a tank very quickly. This makes Amumu very dangerous in a crowd.

Bandage Toss - This skill, win used appropriately, will change the game. Why is that? You can't effectively work his Ultimate or Despair (bread and butter respectively) without a skillful handle on this ability. I the lane, this will allow you close the gap effectively to get kills with your Ultimate or with Despair pre-level 6. If you are laning with a great support, you can be more free with this skill. However, if you are laning against two, as in a 1v2 situation, then it is important to conserve this till they push you under your own tower. Against poor players, you can get away with using it to harass, but most of the time, you need to conserve it when you are in a solo lane.

For late-game iniation, you must position yourself in such a way as to miss the opposing minions, and hit the opposing tank or beefy melee. No one on your team will be able to tear down tanks like you in the later portions of the game, so targeting them is important, while your team can tear down the supporting cast. That isn't to say that you can't also kill carries and supports, but your best attributes will serve the team better when you target the tank.

In team fights, it may be better to Flash into the fight, cast your ult, and Bandage Toss those champs who are running away. Don't forget that you can also use this skill through jungle walls and even into/out of the base. These types of shots take time and experience in the game to master.

Despair - This is what makes Amumu a kill/assist master. Less-acquainted opponents will chase you around, all the while dying, without knowing why.

Despair deals damage according to a champs max health, which makes it a great killer of tanks and beefy melee types like Olaf and Garen. I will often run around in the lane next to these champs, not actually hitting them, but begging them to chase me. All the while, they are taking large amounts of damage to Despair. You have to be careful with this strategy against champs like Xin Zhao and Pantheon as they can stun/knock up, and you'll be dead before you realize. Use sense when playing Amumu, particularly early game. At level 4, when I take this skill, he become a weapon. It isn't until later, around level 11, when you will become a cold killer.

Tantrum - This skill you will build up first, as it will be your primary money maker. Select this skill early and often, and it will be worth your points. Farming with this skill isn't as easy as tossing a barrel/grenade/tornado, but with time and experience, you'll become good at last hitting with it. Most of the time, your last hitting efforts should simply be your AA, but there are those times, when you have several minions nearby with low health, that you can clean up with this skill. Use it sparingly, as it costs much mana to a non-blue buffed Amumu, but use it. Later in the game, you'll clean up with it.

Curse of the Sad Mummy - This is perhaps the best Ultimate in the game, and maybe even the best spell, even after the nerfs to AOE damage. Amumu is still the man because of this spell. It traps your oppoonents for 2 seconds, all the while damaging them. After casting, you can run around inside the circle, with your Despair toggled, and your Tantrum burning off cooldown. For 2 seconds, you become master of a small circle, and killer of all that is in it. Paired with a champ like Miss Fortune or Malphite, this Ultimate becomes an Ace in the making.

Possible uses:

Initiation - Do it in this order:

Toggle Despair to "On">Bandage/Flash in>Cast Ultimate>Spam Tantrum>Bandage Toss/Flash champs that run away.

If you follow that order, their team will die.

Protecting - You will need to use your Ultimate occasionally to protect your team. As your team is running away, slink to the rear, and cast your Ult. The other team will be stopped in their tracks. You may die from this manuever, but you will save your team, and as the tank, if you aren't doing that, what are you doing?

Kiting - In the same way, if you are being chased, it might work to your advantage to cast your Ult, which will stun your opponent for 2 second, giving you time to run away, toward your approaching teammates. One rule of thumb I live by in LoL is "NEVER CHASE". When they chase you, make them pay, and make sure your teammates know to come toward you when you are being chased.

THe last two are sub-optimal uses of Amumu's Ult, but they work in a pinch


MORE TO COME :)