Brace yourselves, Anivia is coming

Introduction

Anivia. I've only ever gone against her once, but since then she has become my top champion.

A rare gem in solo que, Anivia can take down champion and completely change the outcome of a team fight in an instant. Of course, building her with AD runes and a handful of Doran's Blades won't do any good for you, so I'm here to show you how I build and play Anivia to maximize her effectiveness in the field.

Other than that, just keep in mind I went about this slowly to try to be as accurate as I could for

all of you. If you see a mistake, point it out. If you have a different theory/strategy, tell me about it. If I like it I'll certainly make the change or write you your own section with credit. That said:

Pros / Cons

Pros

+ Hard to kill early with
+ Great Skill Combo
+ Good at kiting enemy champions
+ Can completely block off jungle lanes

Cons

- Low speed and health
- Weak to any jumps or dives
- Mana dependent
- Slow at taking down towers

Masteries

Runes

Precision

Fleet Footwork

Phase Rush

Most of these runes should look familiar for an AP champion. However, I do have Scaling Mana Regeneration as opposed to just flat Regeneration. My reasoning for this is good, however. By level 6 the Scaling rune will give Anivia .39 Regen/5 seconds as opposed to .41 with flat. That's only a .02 difference, and, although Anivia is mana dependent, it isn't much of a problem before level 6 and glacial storm. From that point on scaling will be better for you!

Champion Spells

As most mids seem to go, I enter the battle with and

- Well since we got it would be silly not to take ignite. It gives Anivia a chance to kill an enemy that would normally be fast enough to escape her, and get extra AP while it's on cool down.
- A lifesaving spell that allows Anivia to be a bit more aggressive if you don't plan to ward. Also useful because of how slow Anivia's movement speed is to escape a gank or a dive.

I've now tried a few times as well, in place of . Some seem to prefer this change, but I found not to be as effective. Consider when you might need to escape: Against a melee you can slow, freeze, and wall, and stay away. You can do this against a ranged too, but they may be able to get a few more hits in. Ghosting away you're still targetable and will be hit by auto attacks/skills. I find with flashing you can avoid these as you're untargetable for a time. Plus, you can hop through walls and get the extra AP while it's on cooldown. Therefore, I recommend sticking to and .

Skills Sequence/Explanation

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

- Anivia's passive. Where you would usually die, you'll instead be put into an egg for 6

seconds and hope to wait out whatever whatever killed you. Early, you'll have up to a 40 point reduction from armor and magic resistance but if there is only one champion attacking you, you'll most likely make it through. At the end of the six seconds you'll be back to your normal self with all the health the egg had left. Stay alive for another 240 seconds and you'll have your egg ready again. You can use this to be aggressive early or to lure someone into tower diving you. Against many opponents I don't even need to bring a health potion. Finally, the best part about this passive is when you chat while in it your name appears as "Eggnivia" =]

- Anivia has notably slow movement speed, and no jump to get out of trouble so this

move can be a life saver. Though it is a slow moving skill shot, it will be easy to hit someone following you with it and therefore stunning them and allowing you to escape. For increased accuracy you can reactivate it while in flight to detonate exactly where you would like it to. This can also cause double damage (once as it passes through the enemy and once when detonated once past the enemy). Finally, flash frost will chill the enemy making frostbite cause double the damage.

- Early game this wall will do little more for you than stopping an incoming gank, but it

can change the complexion of a team fight once champions are moving throughout the map. On this map you can see everywhere Anivia can block off with her wall.

None of these can be completely blocked off at its first rank but build it up and you can completely trap

or escape from someone. It does have a longer cool down than your other abilities, however, so be sure to time its use properly. Finally, you can throw a wall into an unwarded bush to can full view of it.

- Although you should pick up first, this will be your main skill and should

be maxed out first. The skill will erase bars from anyone's health bar in a second just so long as they are chilled. So how do we chill an enemy? Look up or look down. Hitting an enemy with either or will apply the chill effect on enemies. It won't last forever though so if you can't get in range quick enough, holster it and try again.

- You're at level 6, now we're talking! Your creep score (cs) will be growing steadily

now and you can really effectively kite your opponent. Inversely, you'll also be spending a lot more mana. Hopefully you've been playing conservatively with your mana up to this point if you haven't gone b. If you have, then you should have bough into improving your mana. Either way, you can place this ult so as to completely surround a new creep wave and take them all down in a matter of seconds as shown:

Also, if you've been missing your this makes it much easier to chill your opponent.

Caution must also come with this ult, however, as you will push the lane faster so you must be more cautious. If I'm worried about a gank or am a bit behind you just throw this on an in coming creep wave and back up a considerable distance to stay safe. In a few seconds it will kill them all and your creeps will advance. After a few of these anyone waiting in the bushes will surely have gotten bored and shown themselves or moved on.

Items

Start

- As I've mentioned a few times, Anivia is slow. Putting some boots on the tips of your wings will make you all the faster. Unless you've decided to go super aggressive, start with the boots.

- I usually get one of these, if even, but take 3 until you get comfortable with Anivia and getting back to the turret before you'd be hit into an egg.

First Few Recalls

- An item that is important to get early. The quicker you get this the more mana you will have, faster. It does help some immediately as well with the 250 mana and 7 mana regeneration.
- Another important item to get early, perhaps even more so. This will give you a bit of everything you need to play Anivia. You'll get an AP boost, health boost, mana boost at a flat amount. Then, every minute, you'll get an additional 2 AP, 18 health, and 20 mana for 10 minutes.

- Not a lot to it, but very helpful. You'll be able to get around a bit faster and the extra 15 magic penetration will keep your damage up.

Sustaining Lane

kage's lucky pick

kage's lucky pick - I vary getting this first or , but i usually go with this to maximize the extra gold I get from it. 25 AP as well!

- A nice jump in AP as you'll have 40 coming your way. Add on 12% spell vamp and spamming on a creep wave will fill up a good portion of your health, not to mention the benefits in a team fight.

Late Game

- Now Anivia can really crush enemy champions. Suddenly you've got 50 more AP, 300 health, 15 magic penetration and best of all, the passive: Spell damage will burn off 6% of your enemy's health, and, if they're slowed, it'll take 12%! It just so happens half of your attacks slow your enemy. It might be a human mask, but it's made for this bird.
- At this point I'm sure you'll be moving as a pack so grabbing this will help everyone on your team. 30 AP and 20% spell vamp for all!
- I do hold off on this as I usually don't need the defense until this point. If you're having trouble getting killed then be sure to get this earlier. Either way buying it should turn into pretty quickly.

- Pure AP greatness. Reeling and dealing at this point, have fun bursting anyone down with a simply r-e-q combo.

Alternates

- I heard a lot about not having this in my build, so I tried it, and it works. I'm not convinced it's better than taking yet, but it is definitely a viable replacement. You get a cool 120 AP along with 50 armor, and a 2.5 second stasis (invincibility). You're build will take a bit longer without the couple of minutes with the extra gp/10, but the AP and armor do help. If you find yourself under a tower with egg ready, you're golden too. You'll have 2.5 seconds of stasis, plus an egg to hide in, meaning few champions will be able to stick under a tower that whole time and get the kill. Realize you'll be sacrificing the Spell Vamp, for you and your teammates, plus some AP for your teammates, but definitely make the switch if you like the AP and armor.

Game Strategy

Early Game

In most game's you'll start off grabbing , maybe a or two, put a

point in , and head out to help with blue. Anivia does have good reach with her auto attack so you can attack the from the other side of the trees and save some time getting back to mid. *Caution* - Anivia's basic attack is slow so be careful you don't last hit the golem, this will put your jungle way back and seriously hurt the team.

Once back at mid, start building up your cs. You will have to get used to last hitting with Anivia as she

is slower, but keep at it and you'll get the timing down. If you're going against a melee champion feel free to auto attack him when he come in to get a minion, but don't use on them yet. When you get to level 2, however, you'll have a point in and can start doing damage. I still don't advise using it often, but a / combo will do considerable damage early. Try not to be aggressive early as you will get caught by a gank. Just focus on getting your cs up and making your counterpart pay for getting too close. They will feel that frostbite.

Mid Game

While many games I don't have more than 1 or 2 kills by 15 minutes, I usually have or am close to 100

cs. In getting this, you'll have to use your a good bit, but the plus side of this is it will kite any melee champion and keep many others at bay. Mana will be important from level 6+ so be sure to get the next if you jungle doesn't really need it. (Be sure to ask, don't just take) If you haven't died, or at least have more kills than your counterpart you'll probably be a level above at this point so you can turn up the aggression. If you can get a kill you'll want to take down the turret as quickly as possible. While attacking the turret I have a specific position I like to occupy as seen:

The light blue circle is where I like to set up. The red lines are where the enemy could be coming from.

In most occasions I will end up going up and to the left if enemies start approaching as there are multiple ways of eluding an enemy that way. Otherwise you can just go right back through the center of the lane.

Late Game

Hopefully, thanks to the build, you've taken down your enemy's turret before he yours was destroyed.

If so, feel free to help out in other lanes. Though Anivia does take a bit to get between lanes, she is very effective at ganks with her multiple slows and wall. Try to stay defensive of your turret though as much of the rest of the game will take place in mid lane. It's more than likely a good idea to stay with some allies at this point as the enemy will be roaming as a team. From here on out just be sure not be caught out alone, and play as you would with any champion. By the time you get you should be shredding the health bars off. Add on your and all but the biggest tanks will be steering clear. Good luck!

Matchups

There are plenty of possible opponents to go against in mid, and some of them do drastically change the way you need to play. Unfortunately, I don't have them all listed here, but I didn't want to discuss champions I have only played against once of twice with Anivia. Look for more in updates though if I do come across them. So here is a quick run through:

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9/10

Ahri is a pain. A common trait you'll see in 7-10's here are a dive, and Ahri has a good one. She

can cast 3 times, then you, a very hard combo to escape with Anivia. You definitely need to play cautious against her. Save your so you can stun her if she tries to jump on you. You'll find an easier match-up post level 6 but focus on getting safe farm above risking yourself for any extra gain.

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7/10

Again we face a jump here in but it isn't until post level 6. Earlier than that

you should be able to win in lane. That doesn't mean be aggresive, however. Just focus on last hitting, and hitting her if she goes in for a last hit, but don't chase her to get a hit. When she uses I like to right on top of it to slow her down as well, and do some damage. Keep her dive in mind, but otherwise you should have this wrapped up.

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5/10

I can only assume a smart Anivia will have read this guide as well so difficulty depends on who

follows it more =P Mostly just think about what you're trying to do, and realize they are too. Don't get caught by and get more last hits and you should be fine. (Both of you bwahaha)

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4/10

Stay on your...wingtips(?) for this battle and you should be ok. As long as I keep moving Annie

usually has a hard time hitting me despite my slow speed. Start normal, but if you see she's having trouble hitting you feel free to be a bit aggressive. Just always keep ganks in mind, and once she reaches level 6.

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6/10

This will be a bit similar to but a bit more difficult. Again, if you can keep moving and

avoid his abilities it will make things a lot easier, but I don't find much use out of being aggressive against . I find he can quickly turn your being aggressive into your running away, so best to just be safe.

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5/10

I'm putting her at a 5 because she could be easy, but could be very tough. You need to make

sure she doesn't get strong. Before level 6 you can be a bit agressive but no need to close in, and if her comes up you might as well back off. She'll get a good dive at level 6 in so watch out, but take advantage of the lack of it before then.

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3/10

She really shouldn't be tough for you. Nothing she has counters you besides her ult slowing

you. You can buy a to counter her passive if you'd like but I rarely find the need to. Play this one as you'd like, you should be in complete control.

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10/10

From the easiest to the hardest =[ I find Fizz to be Anivia's hardest counter. Just look as his

abilities, they all work against you! is a jump, will give you damage over time, will allow him to dodge/ignore half your spells as well as escape a gank or turret dive you without getting hurt, and will be even easier for him to hit because of Anivia's slow speed. If I'm against a Fizz, I take it easy, and take no chances. Work only on getting farm and hope he pushes the lane so he can get ganked. If you find yourself able to kill him good for you, but simply not dying is a win for you here (As far as laning, not necessarily for the game as a whole.)

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6/10

While not overly hard in and of himself, you do have to watch out for his

. If you keep getting hit with them you will take damage. Even if you try, it will be hard to push your lane because of his so just chill on the lane and wait for his mistake. Also, chasing it usually a bad idea as you'll more than likely have to go through those turrets which can add up to some real damage. Play your game without worrying about him so much and you should be fine, just don't be overly aggressive.

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5/10

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7/10

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8/10

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6/10

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8/10

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7/10

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5/10

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8/10

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6/10

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7/10

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7/10

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5/10

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7/10

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9/10

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7/10

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6/10

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8/10

Conclusion

Well best of luck summoners. I'm sure this build will become your own through various mutations, but

if you got even a single rune placement out of the guide I'm glad I could help. Again, always remember: when you're in your egg, type something. You get to be Eggnivia, and that is awesome. Feel free to talk with me on here about the guide or elsewise. Get the last hitting down with Anivia and you'll be doing fine =]

Brace yourselves, Anivia is coming

Brace yourselves, Anivia is coming

Recommended Items

Spells:

Ignite

Flash

Items

Ability Order

Rebirth (PASSIVE)

Flash Frost (Q)

Crystallize (W)

Frostbite (E)

Glacial Storm (R)

Introduction

Pros / Cons

Pros

Cons

Masteries

Runes

Runes

Champion Spells

Skills Sequence/Explanation

Items

Game Strategy

Matchups

Conclusion

League of Legends Champions: