Lee Sin Build Guide by DH FrostBite

Introduction

I've used this build for quite a while now and find it very very viable but couldnt find any similar guide/build on here. So I thought I'd try posting a guide myself. I find this build useful for both normal and the more competitive ranked play.

Skill Sequence

I find that with lee you can focus on leveling any 1 of his abilities first and max that at level 9. At the moment I quite like leveling his Tempest / Cripple first. This allows a very easier setup for a gank from your Jungler. At the same time however, it reduces your early game sustain which would have been achieved if you were to level Safeguard / Iron Will. You could also focus on leveling Sonic Wave / Resonating Strike but I personally find its uses limited in the early laning phases as it is a skillshot which can sometimes be rather difficult and frustrating to land.

Runes

I find this rune setup (arm-pen red, armor yellow, magic-res blue and health-regen quints) the typical bruiser setup that I use on any other bruisers too (Irelia/Trundle/Wukong).
The Greater Quintessence of Vigor really help your sustain in the lane until you get your Wriggle's Lantern. This rune setup is of course based on my leveling Tempest / Cripple first hence missing out on a bit of sustainability.
I would recommend to use Greater Quintessence of Desolation in the case of leveling Safeguard / Iron Will first as it allows for your attacks to hit with a little bit more force.

Masteries

As masteries I find a 0 21 9 build the most viable. I like the tanky approach that this gives to my bruisers. However the 21 0 9 approach that I have seen on many other builds works just fine too.

Items

I really like to start with Doran's Shield. As most the time in the current meta you will be facing other bruisers, the armor and health regen really help you dominate your lane. I like to lane for as long as possible, with my first recall being around 2000 gold with which I would buy Wriggle's Lantern and Boots of Speed. Of course this means that you have been able to farm properly, maybe even dominated/zoned out your opponent.

If that was not the case and you have maybe been strongly supressed and subject to alot of ganks from the enemy, I usually buy the Boots of Speed upon my first recall and then start building into Wriggle's. Of course never forget to buy at least one ward upon every recall and maybe the odd health pot or 2. Especially if you have been subject to ganks already, you can be sure to expect more and warding your top lane will prevent this as long as you are aware enough of the minimap.
I find Wriggle's a genious laning item the lifesteal and 500-damage-to-minion-procs combined with his Safeguard / Iron Will allow you to lane forever and come back super quickly from ganks.

I either buy Mercury's Treads or Ninja Tabi, based on how cc heavy the enemy team is and whether the lane I am facing is against an ad based or an ap based champion.
The rest of the item build is based on a typical bruiser setup and takes into account that you are facing an ad/ap balanced team. Once you have finished all your items, i really like to sell Wriggle's and buy another situational item. A second Warmog's Armor or a Las Whisper or a The Bloodthirster are all very good choices.
Eventhough a second lategame Warmog's takes a long time to fully charge i still find very useful to buy, scaling nicely into your ad (from Atma's Impaler) and into your health regen (from Force of Nature).

Do not hesitate to alter the items purchased based on the circumstances or alter the order of purchase. If you were facing an ap character, Wit's End and Hexdrinker are very nice items to counter that. Or if you are doing exceptionally well in your lane, you might decide to skip the Wriggle's and go straight for a Bloodthirster.

Summoner Spells

I find Ignite a good accompaniment to the standard Exhaust.
Other good choices would be Exhaust, especially if you are facing ad based champs in your lane as well as when you decided not to skill your Tempest/Cripple first, or Teleport for even more farm and exp gain during the laning phase and if youre team were coordinated enough some really powerful ganks in other lanes

Hints and Tips

(to be completed)

1. One thing that is very useful when playing Lee Sin is Wards. Place them everywhere and your Safeguard / Iron Will will become a second Flash.

Summary

So this is it really. This build doesn't guarantee a successful game for you or your team. Of course the unique playing style from lee sin will have to be taken into account. It is one thing to build good items on him. But in my opinion it is far more difficult and important to master the champion himself and his abilities.
I find Lee Sin to be the best champ to take a solo lane. His 1v1 capabilities are by far more than amazing.