Hello there, and welcome to the wonderful world of fiddlesticks. Today i will be showing you why fiddle is my main and favorite character in league of legends and why you should love him too. Fiddlesticks is an amazing character that most people would call OP. This is a MISTAKE do not let them get to you. Fiddle is only as OP as the player can make him. If you play fiddle wrong. you end up dead. very, very dead. On the other hand if you play fiddle right and depending on whether your team is any good you will only lose 1 out of 10 games.
Here's how to accomplish that.

=UPDATED=

Pros

Fiddlesticks is amazing early AND late game.
His drain gives you one of the best sustains of any character.
He has a fear AND a silence which makes him VERY hard to take 1v1 or even 2v1.
Its almost hard not to get penta kills.
He is a nuke for lack of a better word, if you aim his ult right everybody dies and your fed.
As soon as you hit level 6 most times your lane is done.
He is an amazing ganker.

Cons

He is VERY squishy.
You will more than likely be focused till you want to cry.
Stuns and silences will make you go into an all caps rage.
He has little to no pushing ability because he has to take out minions 1 at a time.
He is useless without mana.
It is hard not to KS.
You WILL be labeled as OP.

Fiddlesticks runes are simple: you want to have as much output as you can without running out of mana. So you first want to get 9 Greater Mark of Magic Penetration Greater Marks of Insight for magic penetration which stacks with fiddles passive so you have even more without being excessive with runes. The for the sake of not running out of mana as long as your being conservative (lets be honest there are a lot of champions out there much more mana hungry than fiddle and they will FIGHT you for the golem buff) 9 Greater Seal of Replenishment should do just fine to make sure you don't starve yourself. After that the rest is what fiddle does best: ability power. Fiddle stacking ability power makes him almost impossible to survive because of the damage output of his spells. So you want 9 Greater Glyph of Scaling Ability Power and either 3 Quints of force Quintessence of Scaling Ability Power OR 3 Quints of Potency Quintessence of Ability Power . I usually go for the latter of the 2 just to have the consistency but its entirely up to you. With this runes you have just made a valuable start to playing Fiddlesticks. :)

Now of some people its going to be hard to resist putting points into offense mostly but DO NOT DO THAT fiddle is ALREADY an incredibly high output character. Besides you'll blow all your mana in 8 spells and then have to port back constantly.
So basically every fiddle player worth their sticks will tell you to go 9/0/21
and I am not about to contradict them this is a good strategy and very standard for most casters.
Why do it like this Adreyu? Who are you to tell us what to do? STOP PLAYING GOD! WHAT HAS SCIENCE DOOOOOOONE ?!?!?
ok stop that, prepare to be schooled.

1) you are almost going to be constantly using your abilities, while you don't have the ability to spam like Skarner Skarner, chances are you will be using at least 1 or 2 every chance you get. there for you need lots of mana and regen.

2) putting some in defense can be tempting because you have such low health and no armor whatsoever but if you get focused and cant get away you'll die anyways so it doesn't really matter. Don't put points in armor. I know this is trivial but new players need to know these things.

3) Fiddle is all about having his abilities ready to use at crucial points in time, ESPECIALLY his ult because it can literally make the difference between a win or lose in a team fight, therefor you must have as much cooldown reduction as you can possibly spare.

4) Awareness is great to put points into because, as with most characters but very pointedly with fiddle, out leveling your opponent will make you incredibly hard to kill.

5) Please, please pleeeease put that 1 little point in Summoner's Insight , it may not seem useful at the moment but fiddle is so dependent on flash most of the time that extra 15 seconds off the cool down could save your life or get you a ace. Fiddle does NOT like taking damage and he REALLY doesn't like being ganked and flashing out of the way or through a wall will save you a lot of grief. Or on the other hand you Crowstorm and the other team starts to get away you flash after them and kill them all and then they rage about how fed you are ^-^ .

6) Mastermind , not much to say, great on any character but fiddle enjoys adding that to his flash cooldown and whatever other summoner spell you have.

7) Arcane Knowledge is fun because it adds even more magic penetration to your already unprecedented amount you had previously between your runes and your passive.

Doran's Ring Doran's Ring is a great little item for the beginning of the game which you can switch out later for something more suited to late game. But for now the ability power, health and mana regen is very welcome. especially combined with your runes and masteries gives great harass in the beginning, which if you play your cards right, will make other players afraid to even come near you.

Sorcerer's Shoes Sorcerer's Shoes Give you a little bit of movement speed which barely make a difference considering you're one of the slowest characters in the game. But they also give you 20 magic penetration to stack on top of the already ridiculous amount you have to begin with. This is invaluable early game because you will almost certainly get kills with your damage output. And remember a fed fiddle is a happy fiddle :).

Hextech Revolver Hextech Revolver what can can I say?
Most people would call it unnecessary, I call it SCREW THE RULES I HAVE SUSTAIN!
the revolver is amazing because, on top of you already ******edly powerful drain, it adds spell vamp. What does this mean? 1v1 no matter how much they attack you, your life steal is moving faster than the damage taken. But will it kill them too? YES if they are as dumb as a lot of players are they will stay there and attack you until its too late and they try and run, but unfortunately for them, drain has a lot of range and they will most likely die screaming as their soul is ripped from their bodies.... yum yum yum. It also gives you more ability power yaaay.

Archangel's Staff Originally i had Rod of Ages here but i decided to change it for max output. It gives you an extra 1000 mana on top of the 400 it gives you already plus with the 40 ability power it starts off with it grows. oh how it grows. It gives you 3% of your total mana back to you as ability power and if you do get to the full potential of the item, that's not a small amount.


Rabadon's Deathcap So lets talk about ownage factors. It HAS sadly been nerfed in the past but that still hasnt stopped it from being a weapon of mass destruction. it gives you an unprecedented 140 ability power AND wait for it, on top of that, its passive (which is unique but since none of your other items increase ability power by percent it doesnt need to stack) it increases your ability power by a whopping 30 percent! Thats not just the ability power it gives you to begin with that's ALL your ability power suddenly jumping up to astronomical heights that will literally make your enemies cower away from you when they see your build. Do NOT F*** with a fiddle sporting this deadly fashion accessory.


Next build your Hextech Revolver into a Will of the Ancients This is a great item because it helps out your team as well as you, and fiddle is nothing if not a team player.
it gives you 50 ability power plus an additional 30 and 20% spell vamp, which you can share with team mates if they are in range of you. It really helps out in team fights or ganks, and of course the spell vamp just adds to your drain.


Abyssal Mask So you've made it this far into the game, or your just so fed you can afford all these items, Abyssal Mask just adds to your killing potential. If you consider that your passive lowers nearby enemies magic resist by 10, and your shoes give you 20 spell penetration, lowering your opponents magic resist by another 20 just seems like a good idea. and it DOES stack with his passive. plus 70 ability power and 57 magic resist, your out performing pretty much any other AP character in the game. Eventually you have to consider that your spell penetration counts as damage in most cases. If they start building MR against you (which any good player SHOULD do) you NEED to be able to get through that.


Void Staff Now I've left this as an optional item for the same reason you have Abyssal Mask it gives you more Spell penetration. but as we all know its a situational thing at this point, most of the time your last item is. This is for max output but you could easily use another Archangel's Staff Rabadon's Deathcap Mejai's Soulstealer (if you feel you can get the stacks) or Morrelo's evil tome. The last i would think is the most viable because of the cooldown reduction.

Athene's Unholy Grail
If somehow you're burning through mana like a hummer then get this. But if you actually have to get this... I suggest you stop playing fiddle.

Deathfire Grasp
Basically the same as morello's with less cooldown reduction, 300 more gold and 15 less ability power. The upside is the activated ability deals magic damage to target champion equal to 30% of their current health (+3.5% per 100 Ability Power) with a miminum of 200 damage. 1 minute cooldown. Which can really mess someone up if you absolutely NEED it but otherwise i find it unnecessary, Morello's should be more than sufficient.

2 Health Potion Sapphire Crystal in the beginning if you are REALLY worried about dying. The potions should keep you alive and the crystal will give you extra mana and eventually build into your Rod of Ages, but personally i find this technique redundant at best when you have your drain. Honestly it should be enough to keep you alive especially with the boost from Doran's Ring.

Rod of Ages
Honestly just for survivability's sake not a bad item because it gives you mana and health whenever you level but this build is for max output so choose your items wisely.

Trinity Force
I'm just kidding :P don't get this you noob.

Rylai's Crystal Scepter
I've just recently switched over to this from Void Staff Void Staff not that the magic penetration of void staff isn't incredibly useful but rylai's gives your more ability power, 500 extra health, and its passive makes your spells slow enemies by 35 percent for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target spells and damage-over-time spells). This is very applicable for fiddle because he is by no means fast... Hes a scarecrow, his legs are sticks and the definitely have the mobility of sticks. So the slow is helpful because champions will more than likely not get away from your relentless onslaught at all and if your being chased fear is doubly effective as well as dark wind for getting away. Or just saving your team mates which i try to do as much as possible within my limited power to do so. besides moving targets are for poor people. And if your as fed as you should be from this guide. You have cash.

I am leaving out armor because whether you have armor or not, any situation you would need it in, you will die most likely anyways. So i wouldn't bother.

A Harmless Scarecrow
Nearby champions have their magic resist reduced by 10.
ok first of all, early game, ouch.
Its like getting free extra damage, and believe me, you need the damage.

Terrify
Strikes a target unit with fear, preventing it from taking any actions and causing it to run about aimlessly for 1 / 1.5 / 2 / 2.5 / 3 seconds.
USE THIS RELIGIOUSLY IN YOUR HARASS!!!
This is a fear, and possibly the longest fear of any champion in the game, as far as i know.
they move slower, they can't control the direction they go in, sometimes they run right at you! Which basically spells Flawless victory for you (I like to shout that whenever i kill the scorpion skin version of shen :P .. that and Fatality). It can help you run, it can help you kill, It can help you annoy the **** out of the other team until this call you a noob for killing them (this happens all to often take it as a compliment). Use fear.

Level 1: only use when you are very close to your opponent and between them and their tower if possible.
Level 2: Use it to stop them from getting away as you and your team mate or just you run up and silence and drain.
Level 3: Feel free to be at a distance because your just using it to control them and get closer and/or buy you time to do things like: Eat, drink, type, pantomime jerking off on them as to presume your victory etc.
Level 4: They aren't getting away release your arsenal of death upon their terrified faces.
Level 5: Really it's kind of OP you don't need 3 whole seconds to kill someone.

Bountiful Harvest
Fiddlesticks channels and leashes to a target for 5 seconds, dealing 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 (+45% of ability power) magic damage each second and healing himself for 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80% of the damage done. If the target leaves the range of Fiddlesticks leash, he will stop channeling.
Also use this religiously with your fear because its killing the other champion AND giving you health, and like i said most players are dumb enough to stick around until its too late.
If your low health step back and drain a minion, make sure to get ALL the minions health and notify your team mates not to kill the minion you're draining before hand.

Level 1: dominate in pre combat, harass them away from their minions and use as a sustain for yourself.
Level 2: Try and get kills but don't count on it.
Level 3: mixed with your fear and hopefully a close proximity to your opponent plus ignite and if you need it a dark wind at the end as they run. Easy kill for fiddle, Remember (say it with me) a fed fiddle is a happy fiddle :D.
Level 4: Openly attack your opponent raze their soul and life force to the ground with your ferocity.
Level 5: You are a god, nothing can stop you (exaggerating but still), The Shear force of your ability power and magic penetration reducing your enemies to dust in SECONDS.

Reap
Fiddlesticks throws a crow that strikes an enemy target, then continues to bounce from that enemy unit to another nearby enemy unit 4 times, dealing 65 / 85 / 105 / 125 / 145 (+45% of ability power) per bounce in magic damage and silencing for 1.2 seconds each strike. Dark Wind may strike the same target multiple times.
Great for cleaning up minions with low health, the silence is amazing for taking out casters and its perfect when you have 2 champions running from you just out of range of your other abilities with low health as it bounces back and forth between them till hopefully they are dead. I have gotten pentakills on several occasions just by doing this.

Level 1: Use to harass from a distance.
Level 2: You will leave it at this for most of the game until you've topped off your other abilities basically use it as a harass, a silence, and to clean up minions.
Level 3-5: Use as your ranged, damage ***** and chase spell. especially with Rylai's.

Crowstorm
Fiddlesticks targets a nearby location and then channels for 1.5 seconds; he then flashes to the target location with a flock of crows flying wildly around him for 5 seconds, dealing 125 / 225 / 325 (+45% of ability power) magic damage to all enemy units in the area each second.
At any level use this to win team fights, get pentakills, aces, save your team mates from peril, tower dive low health enemies (or high health if there's just 1 or 2), USE IT TO REIGN GODLIKE DESTRUCTION DOWN UPON THE OTHER TEAM LIKE THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT!!!.
Remember to use flash with this if you have to, try to not get stunned cause you'll lose the ult and keep the cooldown and if you can hide in the bushes to do this. I use it at level 6 to break the laning opponents will and crush them ultimately taking their tower. Also good if your safety while getting The Baron or the dragon is questionable and the whole team walks in, or your just plain greedy for kills. The correct and most useful sequence for taking out a team with your ult is: Crowstorm into the middle of a team fight or behind the enemy between them and their tower. fear and ignite one of the tougher champions that you think you can still kill if they have low health or if they just piss you off in general, drain the nearest squishy champion, make sure its the one that is causing the most grief for your team. Flash towards them if they run and are getting away. Dark wind the champion with the lowest health and clean up the last 1 or 2 with a fear on 1 and a drain on the other followed by a dark wind to the one you feared. savi? :)

Now i tend to use Flash Flash and Ignite Ignite because, for fiddlesticks, they are incredibly useful as with most champions. Flash makes sure you get away or get to the champion your killing in time because you do not move fast as I have said. And ignite is great for killing tanks or just anyone getting away with low health.

You could also use Ghost for basically the same reasons you would use flash.
Smite if you are jungling, which i dont do because I am a kill greedy ***hole, and I don't talk about it in this guide. In which case i recommend http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/build/saintvicious-jungle-fiddle-100398 which is saintvicious's build for a jungling fiddle. It works great, thanks for the guide :).
Heal If your really reckless and tend to die alot.
Clarity If you and your ally are really heavy on mana.
Exhaust For the same reasons as Flash.
Teleport Mostly for if you need to save turrets but I would leave that to the tanks.

Good lord this guide is way too long. Why are you still reading?
Anyway, try and find yourself a tank to lane with, you have that drain but its better just not to take damage.
let them harass and come in with your abilities wreaking havoc.
Or get them to bait the other team to halfway to your tower preferably and Crowstorm in killing both of them.
Team fights: try and let the rest of your team take precedent here and Crowstorm in afterwards. but remember you cant fight their team without a team so help a brotha out and make sure they get away if they need to. your fears and silences should accomplish this well enough.

All the techniques i just mentioned work for mid too. keep them away from their creeps but also away from their tower. Most mid champs won't think of you as much of a threat till after the second or third kill when their team is screaming at them to stop feeding. With your ult just wait for them to get close to your tower, stealth around to the bushes at the side and crowstorm in from behind them. if your lucky they will make the mistake of attacking you instead of running first and the tower will help you. dead champ in 3 seconds flat. call in a pusher ally to help you kill the tower. your team then loves you forever.

You suck at farming.

Stuns and silences are your worst enemies.
these are the kind of people to avoid.
e.g. Cho'Gath, Garen, LeBlanc, Kassadin, Riven etc.
You can take them, but only if you have to, or you're as reckless as I am.

In conclusion, this is Fiddlesticks, the Harbinger of Doom.
Its not just an impressive title that he has, he owns this title.
he IS the Harbinger of Doom in every way. This colossal AP giant, has the potential to single handedly change the tide of a game, and get a remorseless amount of kills. i think my record is 39 so far.
I hope I helped you today and can't wait to see you fiddles on the battlefield :).

-Adreyu

P.S. That's my summoner name if you want to add me and have any questions.