Volibear Build Guide by Gramps Tewks

Introduction

Hello and welcome to Fuzzy Wuzzy ATE YOUR FAMILY; a Volibear build guide of a different color!
I'm Gramps Tewks, and I'll be your curator as we explore the possibilities of playing with this bulky, bursty punster of a champion!

Here's Phreak's Champion Spotlight:
He highlights Volibear's skillset, playstyle and team role!
Please comment and rate in the comments section below; share your experiences playing with or against Volibear and/or put in your criticism about the guide itself.

Additionally, endless kudos upon kudos to the incomparable JhoiJhoi for the template, which you can find here.

Onward, then!

Pros / Cons

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Pros + Brilliantly bulky. + Superb burst and melee damage! + Great initiator. + Puns!

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Cons - No ranged harass. (Lane with one) - Um.. gimme a sec....

Masteries

The most important Masteries reduce Volibear's Cooldowns and make him tankier.
Improve Ghost and Teleport as well!

Runes

• greater mark of desolation: Armor Penetration is extraordinarily powerful in the early-game; even a slight advantage there can easily shape the entire match.
  
  
• Greater Seal of Armor: Synergy with Hardiness !
  
  
• Greater Glyph of Magic Resist: Synergy with Resistance !
  
  
• Greater Quintessence of Health: Volibear just can't get enough Health! Feed him well.

Summoner Spells

Teleport: I used Exhaust, then realized that Volibear has built-in CC! You're a very useful bear indeed to your team with Teleport.

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Ghost: Mobility for the win! Post-nerf, Ghost > Flash

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Skill Discussion

• Chosen of the Storm: Last-ditch Health Regen!
  It's a free Heal-bait, switch, and kill!
  
  
• Rolling Thunder (Q): Hear my cry!
  Rammus-style initiation and chasing... and you've seen what that guy can do.
  
  
• Frenzy (W): Not to be confused with the Transformer.
  Frenzy is Jax's Ultimate ( Relentless Assault), but MUCH BETTER.
  This DEVASTATES people!
  
  
• Majestic Roar (E): Wake up in the mornin', feelin' like dat Aslan..
  Unless you're stacking Rabadon's Deathcaps, this is a bit of extra burst and a great slow!
  (If you are, then it's a nuke.)
  (But please don't, and here's why:)
  
  
  
  Similar reasoning applies for Majestic Roar; too expensive!
  Used with(out) permission from LoL Wiki (2011)
  
  
• Thunder Claws (R): Not to be confused with ThunderCats.
  Save it for teamfights and massive farming!

Skill Sequence

Items

• : With Regrowth Pendant, you can stay in lane as long as you want and be more aggressive!
  Regrowth Pendant is very close to being the most powerful starting item in the game.
  It essentially invalidates harass!
  
  
• philosopher's stone: philosopher's stone boosts the three resources with which you make in-game transactions.
  Significantly.
  You will have better items, lanestay, and experience than others, which WINS GAMES.
  
  
• : An excellent pickup with philosopher's stone on your first trip back.
  
  
• + : Ironically, a skull-stick and a Mario shell keep you alive!
  
  
• : A lifesaver for tanky melee champions!
  
  
• : Combined with philosopher's stone, Targon's Brace provides extraordinary survivability!
  You survive teamfights victorious, then recharge your Health on a couple minion waves!
  
  
• : Just build it.
  Volibear IS Warmog's Armor!
  Yum yum yum.
  
  
• : Very scary; very scary indeed.
  Take champs, turrets, get more Life steal, nearly double your Damage; Atma's Impaler
  
  
• : Like the Native Americans before him, Volibear uses every piece of the Buffalo.
  ...Or stat of the Spirit Visage, in this case.
  Sell Heart of Gold for it!
  
  There's the core build!
  
  philosopher's stone
  
  
• : Here's the variable item slot.
  
  If opponents build Madred's Bloodrazor, make them cry with Force of Nature!
  
  If they've got heavy AD, build Randuin's Omen from Heart of Gold!
  (Sell philosopher's stone for Spirit Visage in this case)
  
  If you're ROFLstomping and must construct additional Lolz, build Infinity Edge!
  
  
• : Finally, upgrade Targon's Brace for Armor Penetration, insane Attack Speed, and over 100 Health Regen total!
  Aaaaand it helps your team too ;)

Here's a record of the destruction the Bear can wreak:

Gameplay

Early-Game

Lane With a Ranged Champ!
That is all.

Your primary goal is to farm 725 Gold for philosopher's stone and Boots of Speed as quickly as possible, then grab Heart of Gold; afterwards, you can stay in lane and generate cashmoney for a good while!
If your partner's aggressive and harassing well, you can go for early kills!

Mid-Game

To initiate fights, use Rolling Thunder to close distance and throw, then pop Majestic Roar for Damage and slow! Auto-attack and then use Frenzy to send 'em cryin' to dey momma!

Once you have Warmog's Armor, you're a MONSTER. With Atma's Impaler, you can take down anything in your path!

Push lanes, win teamfights, and continue to Farm!

Late-Game

With Spirit Visage and Zeke's Harbinger, you're a DEMON.
Finish off the enemy team and their Nexus with your teammates!

Summary

My love for Volibear is enormous and fuzzy.
Great thanks and sincere adulation to Riot Games for bringing him into the world!

Pre-BEAR for annihilation!

~Gramps Tewks