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Varus Build Guide by Flu0stift

I Am Forsaken...

I Am Forsaken...

Updated on May 15, 2014
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League of Legends Build Guide Author Flu0stift Build Guide By Flu0stift 8,492 Views 7 Comments
8,492 Views 7 Comments League of Legends Build Guide Author Flu0stift Varus Build Guide By Flu0stift Updated on May 15, 2014
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Introduction

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Hello people! My (nick)name is Flu and welcome to my guide to Varus, The Arrow Of Retribution.

Varus is a high damage ranged AD Carry wich has some nice CC and early game damage. He fits well with a lot of supports, and even a little lead is enough to start snowballin like a boss. Varus counters irriting Adc's like Jinx if played well, and is a master in teamfights due to his Chain of Corruption. I am pretty experienced with Varus, so i hope i can learn you how to play him BUT this does not mean i know everything about him so if u got a little tip, tell me in the discussion section and learn ME something, could be nice.

There is no guide like this one where i've putt so many work in as this one, so i hope its also one of my bests.

Enjoy the Guide!
~Flu0stift~
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Summoner Spells

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SPACE I prefer to take Flash and Barrier, just to increase my safety. Barrier is a nice shield and Flash a great gapcloser/chasing spell. Barrier can be replaced with Ignite, if u like to play even more Offensive, or just like it over Barrier. This does also fit pretty well on Varus but i'd recommend Barrier though.
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Masteries

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I dont have a lot to say on this, BUT: For masteries on Varus, i run 21/9/0, taking Attack Speed, Attack Damage, and Armor and Magic Penetration in Offense, and Bonus Health, Armor And Magic Resistance in Defence.
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Runes


I take Greater Seal of Armor and Greater Glyph of Magic Resist for defensive runes, as they help you surviving your lane better. These provide more resistance to ganks, even minions, in-lane pokes, and stuff.
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I take Greater Mark of Attack Damage, Greater Quintessence of Attack Damage and Greater Quintessence of Life Steal for offensive runes, for better poking but also survivability (sorry if spelled wrong) due to the life steal.
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Skill Sequence

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Living Vengeance


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On a champion kill or assist, Varus gains 40% attack speed for 6 seconds. On a minion or monster kill, Varus gains 20% attack speed for 3 seconds.

Piercing Arrow


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FIRST CAST: Varus begins channeling his next shot, gradually increasing the range and damage of Piercing Arrow over the next 2 seconds.

Varus can still move while channeling, but can't autoattack or use his other abilities, and his movement speed is slowed by 20%. After 4 seconds, Piercing Arrow is automatically cancelled, going on full cooldown and refunding half of its mana cost.

SECOND CAST: Varus fires, dealing physical damage to all enemies in the arrow's path, reduced by 15% per enemy hit (down to a minimum of 33%).

Blighted Quiver


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PASSIVE: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage. They also apply Blight for 6 seconds, stacking up to 3 times.

ON-HIT MAGIC DAMAGE: 10 / 14 / 18 / 22 / 26 (+ 25% AP)

Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage equal to a percentage of the target's maximum health per stack. This damage is capped at 360 against monsters

Hail of Arrows


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Varus fires a hail of arrows (obviously) that deals physical damage and desecrates the ground for 4 seconds. Desecrated Ground inflicts Grievous Wounds and slows enemy movement speed.

Chain of Corruption


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Varus flings out a tendril of corruption that infects the first enemy champion hit, dealing magic damage and rooting them for 2 seconds.
The corruption then attempts to spread towards enemy champions within 550 range, applying the same damage and root if they stay within 600 range of the infected champion for 2 seconds. The corruption will continue to spread until there are no further targets in range, but each champion may only be infected once per cast.
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Ability Sequence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
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Ability Combo


A basic lane combo for Varus is attack ur enemy with basic attacks until 3 stacks of Blighted Quiver are added, then snipe him/her with a fully charged Piercing Arrow to detonate the blight stacks.

An other thing you could do is add stacks, and then quickly shoot Hail of Arrows and Piercing Arrow. They will do a great chunk of damage together.

When going for a kill with a support like Leona, Blitzcrank or Thresh, wait untill they initiate. Once the enemy is hit by Zenith Blade, Rocket Grab or Death Sentence its ur moment to shine! Apply basic attacks while they are still CC'ed and then Hail of Arrows to slow them down. If they manage to escape, throw a Chain of Corruption and a charged Piercing Arrow. Spam basic attacks and you should be having a kill now.

When not having one of the 3 supports above, YOU have to initiate. Wait untill both of the enemys are close together and already lost some health, and throw a Chain of Corruption to snare them BOTH. Let ur support do everything he/she can and apply 3 blight stacks. Now shoot Hail of Arrows to detonate the stacks, and apply 3 more stacks followed by Piercing Arrow. If they arent yet dead use basic attacks and/or abilities that are back from cooldown.
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Itemization

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1375 Gold
We want this item for the early movement speed and great attack speed. The Homeguard Enchantment is just my preferred one because i like to get back into lane quickly.
1375 Gold

3200 Gold
We take Bloodthirster for it's high damage and soustain it provides. And because we are Adc, we will, probably, farm much. Bloodthirster gets stronger the more minions you kill, max of 30.
3200 Gold

2800 Gold
This is our first big source of attack speed and critical strike chance. It will make healing with Bloodthirster a lot faster and poking stronger.
2800 Gold

3800 Gold
The fun begins! Once u get ur Infinity Edge, ur damage output will greatly increase, along with ur critical strike chance/damage.
3800 Gold

2400 Gold
All the CS is urs, and u can easily take on 3 ppl at once, or at least i can if i play Varus, and dominate in the teamfights. Everyone will be blighted and take incredible damage from you.
2400 Gold

2300 Gold
The finishing touch: More damage! This is perfect in combination with the other items to push down something or defend ur base from a HUGE minion wave.
2300 Gold

2750 Gold
Take this defensive item if u prefer it over Runaan's Hurricane. I just like to play fully offensive but if u dont then change it.
2750 Gold
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Laning Phase

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In the laning phase just stay a little bit away from ur enemy and farm, its important and gives gold. Do not waste any mana by spamming Hail of Arrows or Piercing Arrow! Only use them here and there to get a giant minion wave or when ur support initiates. You could try to divide the lane in 3 parts, SAFE, WARNING and DANGER (picture at the bottom of this section). Try staying at Safe and clearing waves, looking like the Adc that does nothing but CSing and dodging Rocket Grab's and that, but u will have a nice CS lead on the enemy, equalizes a level advantage, equalizes a easy lane! Strike if u see ur moment and the 2 botlaners are in their DANGER zone (ur EASY) and use Chain of Corruption. If having Leona, tell her to use Solar Flare for a double stun on both. While stunned and immobilized u have ur chance. SPAM BASIC ATTACKS FIRST to apply Blighted Quiver. When on 3 stacks use Piercing Arrow and Hail of Arrows and maybe an Ignite if u took it. Keep attacking and the job should be done!

When ganked by a dude like Lee Sin (type of jungler wich comes in with abilitys like Sonic Wave, Elastic Slingshot,..) do ur best to juke the ability and run to ur SAFE zone. Safe has a reason, u know... When getting dived use Chain of Corruption and then some other attacks and the enemey should be slain, and u should be having a gold and level advantage on ur enemy Adc.
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Teamfights


In teamfights wait untill the whole enemy team is grouped and use Chain of Corruption. Use all of ur abilitys as much as you can and try to take down the one with the lowest health first. If everybody but the tank is dead, do a all v 1. You must get that ACE! Thanks to our item build, our damage and attack speed is so high 1 ACE is enough to push down everything and claim our victory!
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Matchups

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Abilitys










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Lucian, The Purifier

Hard




Lucian is a pretty hard opponent. Piercing Light can mess u up, he can easily chase you with Ardent Blaze, and he can dodge ur Chain of Corruption without effort, using Relentless Pursuit.
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Common Supports











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Tristana, The Megling Gunner

Hard




Tristana is really hard. Try to play agressive and build some armor, like an early Guardian Angel or some Cloth Armor. Deny her farm and try to farm urself. Dont go in as she will melt ur face.
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Common Supports











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Graves, The Outlaw

Hard




Graves is another irriting one. Try to avoid his Collateral Damage and Buckshot, and deny him farm.
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Common Supports











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Siver, The Battle Mistress

Hard




Sivir is as irriting as possible. Try to deny her farm so she wont get her Statikk Shiv too early, and dont poke! Each time u fire anything, she will use Spell Shield to block it and regain mana. Only poke if ur sure its down. Avoid Boomerang Blade.
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Common Supports











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Vayne, The Night Hunter

Easy




Only use Chain of Corruption when Tumble is on cooldown, else u will facepalm urself a lot. Beware Condemn, and deny her farm. Hard CC supports are a MUST against this one!
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Common Supports











Abilitys

league of draven!








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Draven, The Glorious

Easy




Poke him a lot so he cant stack League of Draven. Avoid Stand Aside as good as you can. When ur on low health, watch Draven's mana. If it's less then a hundred, ur fine. If its more than that, recall and constantly have ur screen set on Draven so he cant do an unexpected Whirling Death.
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Caitlyn, The Sheriff of Piltover

Easy




Caitlyn is a pretty easy one. Dodge Piltover Peacemaker and watch out for Yordle Snap Traps. When you see her use Ace in the Hole, check ur support's health. If he/she has enough, Flash behind him/her to catch the bullet. Else, run for ur life if she is far away or just accept what's going to happen.
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Common Supports











Abilitys









tag team
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Quinn, Demacia's Wings

Easy




Quinn is a easy one, if u dont let her snowball. When she gets going, u cant stop her anymore, so make sure u can get her early on in the game and start snowballing urself. Dodge Blinding Assault, wich shouldnt be a problem because its not the fastest skillshot to dodge.
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Good with Varus


Abilitys










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Thresh, The Chain Warden




Thresh is an amazing support for Varus, and even better if he can play him. Once he manages to land a Death Sentence, go in with everything you have. When he throws a Dark Passage, you dont have to bother making a play as you can click it to return to safety.
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Common Carrys











Abilitys










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Leona, The Radiant Dawn




A dream supp! Leona fits well with like every Adc in the game, and that counts Varus in. Her amazing CC combined with urs is just a dream to have. Ask her to play offensive and have a fun lane!
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Common Carrys











Abilitys










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Nami, The Tide Caller




Nami is cool! She has a lot of CC with Aqua Prison and she can heal. Her ability to slow down enemys with Tidal Wave and speed you up with Ebb and Flow. Tidecaller's Blessing improves basic attacks, and early on this can be very usefull.
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Common Carrys











Abilitys










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Lulu, The Fae Sorceress




I like Lulu a lot! Her Help, Pix! shield is OP to block enemy poke and Wild Growth can save you closely in situations u would usually die in. She can poke herself with Glitterlance, what more beside a heal would you want from a supp?
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Common Carrys











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Guide End

Thank you everybody for reading my guide! I hope you learned something about Varus!
Please comment to help me improve my guide and Cya!
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