i never use snowball items in ranked( you get focused too much). My situational items do well in lieu of the snowball items. i would recommend: warmogs, spirit visage, abyssal scepter, or Rod of ages. all would be good replacements.

Too risky for me I think... I don't know. I'll try it out, but I definitely wouldn't do it in ranked.

Thanks, hopefully it will be. I thought about warmog's and it would be a solid choice, especially since warmog's buff. Imo the extra 22 ap that warmog's would grant isnt on par with the 15% reduced damage from everything, but its w/e. The regen on the other hand, and the being able to keep the gained health upon death are definite pluses. Try getting the Rod of Ages.. most wouldnt consider this because it gives mana, but it also grants 105.2 AP, and 790 health. I think its worth it.

its a neat build, should bee at top imo, have jused it since i baught vlad, i just made some minor changes, i changed Leviatan for a warmogs, warmogs is almost 1400 life and almost xxx regen just after a moment, the extra life gives you ap and that could make up to the 15% dmg reduced on leavitan. And i also juse to get Ryali's before warmogs, juse to buy

amplifying book
sorceress boots
mejai's
The hp belt
Ryali's
hp belt
Warmogs

andd then same as you, if you are the only one standig after a team fight and runs away (1 chasing you) with low life you have warmogs and ryalis its: basic hit(-35% movement), transfusion (heal), and when hp is enough (warmogs regen + transfusion) you just turn around and finish them (if not juse sanguine pool to escape)

but ths build should bee 80%+ imo :) its a good one

I was using this build before I even knew about this site.. so no i didn't steal anything. I also looked at the top rated build after you posted this, and no its not the same. If you still think it is pots the link as a reply..

Cheap steal of the top rated build. Exactly the same, with less description and advice.

wow, i looked at yours, and all you changed were the runes and the mastery page.. lol
I was completing my build, after i got my 5th item.. i noticed the game would still last a while so i got an RoA.. i normally wouldn't consider this on a person with no mana but it does grant an additional 105 AP and 790 health.. which i thought was well worth it. at the end of the game i went 34-4.. had 5400 health and 800+ ap...(with elixers). Just thought i'd share..

I actually took your build made a few changes and have tried it, i've done every well, oh and I gave your build a +1 =D

http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/build/vladimir-the-clot-thickens-4200hp-800ap-28224

AH lol. Now that makes more sense. Definitely agree with that. =)

by saying, get the void staff before the scepter.. i meant the abyssal scepter not rylai's... always get rylai's pretty early

This is definitely not a beginner version for Vlad. Even for a pro Vlad it could be hard with the reliance on stacks. And in ranked it could be rough as well due to they will focus those with stacks. Which just makes sense. Other than that I would get the Scepter after Mejal's before you get anything else. The slow is so good for ganks and the stats are an instant help. The game changes for Vlad once he has the Scepter. Other than that it looks good. Unsure about how it would fare in ranked though.

As far as void staff I would say get it before the Ring... but never before the Scepter for the reasons stated above. Don't undervalue the Scepter. It is the key to Vlad ganks, kills, and survival.

For beginners playing Vlad, replace levi with warmogs and mejai's with an abyssal scepter. but be sure to grab the void staff, before the scepter.