Ryze the Rogue Mage

This is going to be a deep guide with lots of details on how to play, use and win with Ryze. The Rogue Mage. Before we start I wanna apologize for my english mistakes (but I don't think that it's gonna be that bad...). So...Ryze was my first champion and I loved him from the first time. He was one of the best AP champions. After the patch lots of people thought that he was really worse than he was before. That's mainly true...Ryze was really popular and suddenly after the patch he dissapeared! People started to ask you to change your pick in ranked games when you choose Ryze. That's totally wrong! If you play him well and use his pottencials he'll dominate the game much better than any other AP! So get a deep breath and start reading how ;)

Just a song that fits Ryze to listen while u read :)

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There are many on Runeterra who are attracted to the study of magic or, in recent times, the emerging field of techmaturgy. For most, pursuit of such knowledge is formalized in a college or university. The halls of traditional study were never for Ryze, however, who felt a more raw and primal connection to the magic of Runeterra than those who tried to teach him. He struck out on his own as a young man to discover what already called to him. Ryze traveled the world, seeking the wisdom of powerful hermits, witches, and shamans - anyone who had something to share beyond what was taught in the city-states of Valoran. When he had learned all he could from these fonts of wisdom, Ryze turned to seek the lost, forgotten, and forbidden knowledge in the world, delving into mystical worlds where others feared to tread.
Ryze's tireless searching for magical knowledge led him to an ancient form of spellcraft known as thorn magic. This art required Ryze to tattoo spells on his body, permanently infusing his being with vast arcane power and finally fulfilling his need to bond with the mystical energies of Runeterra. His travels also led him to uncover the giant indestructible scroll he now carries on his back - the purpose of the inscribed spell remains a secret only Ryze knows. He claims it is an abomination - something that he must safeguard from the world. This has piqued the curiosity of many, though no one is sure how to separate the scroll from Ryze, or if it is possible to overcome the rogue mage to do so. Since then, Ryze has joined the League of Legends to study the magical creatures and powerful will-workers that fight there, in order to complete his exploration of mystical Runeterra.

As all heroes do, Ryze, has his strong points and he suffers in others. Let's take a look:

PROS

• Cool Health amounts for a mage.
• Very good sustained magic damage during team fights.
• No mana problems.
• Good gangs.
• Nice farming skills.
• He is blue. (My favourite colour)

I'm going to explain these pros in use later on be patient :)

CONS

• Doesn't have a real escape mechanism.
• Combo changes between fights.
• Not one of the best burst damagers (Like Veigar, Le Blanc etc)

Pros > Cons??? Wow that sounds interesting! Let's get this going on!

Ok, let's talk about Ryze's spells and each one can do. How to use them and combine them is going to be explaned later on.

(Passive): Whoa! What a passive! I mean this will give u 1 free spell on each combo and make your ultimate look like it has 20 sec cooldown.

: This is your main spamming spell and brings the most damage output.

: Very and I mean VERY usefull spell. It helps chasing, escaping, ganging and damaging enemies. All in 1 button (W).

: Jumpy spell huh? In this kind of build this is not your main damaging spell and it will only deal some serius damage in team fights and at late game when you'll have the proper items. Until then we need it to lower the magic resist of our enemies and trigger our passive.

: Time for our ultimate. In my opion not one of the best ultimates in LoL but it does it's job. It's passive adds damage in our spells and it's active is used to farm, to regain health, in team fights for AoE damage or simply to trigger our passive.

Ryze's Spells combine really great and depending on the situation, they can deal tons of damage.

Why Greater Mark of Magic Penetration?
I think it's an obvious choice. Nothing better than magic penetration for Marks.

Why Greater Seal of Scaling Mana Regeneration?
I love these runes! They are gonna help you never never and never get out of mana. Trust me!

Why Greater Glyph of Mana?
Best choise for Ryze. Additional mana means more spells can be casted and of course more damage.

Why Greater Quintessence of Mana?
For the same reason as Glyphs.

Ok this is imortant to explain. My choise is Flash and Ignite.
Flash is the best Summoner spell in my opinion. It helps you chase or escape. Flashing behind a wall can save your ***! Now why Ignite? Addiotional damage and heal reduction is essential to dominate mid lane.

Let's see an example:
Your opponent is at 50% health staying back to avoid your harass feeling safe. Even if he has Flash too, you know he is dead. Flashing close to him and use Rune Prison deactivates his Flash enabling you to use your combo and Ignite him. You got yourself a kill in some seconds. That's why I love these two spells.

Now let's take a look to the rest of the spells:

: Not a bad choise instead of Ignite. You can pick this if you think you can use it better.

: This is an alternative choise for Flash. I prefer Flash because you can surprise your opponent. If Ghost suits you better then go on and choose it instead of Flash.

: This can only help you till level 10. Then it's complitely useless.

: Useless...

: Jungling Ryze? Hahaha no ty!

: Not that bad choise. It can used only to escape. Flash or Ghost can be used to chase or escape so I think we don't need Cleanse

: Lots of people believe that this is a very good choise. I don't. You don't need mana. After the first return to the base this spells gets useless. You want to spend a Summoner Spell for the first 5-6 levels? Hmmm no...

: You are not support...

: Ryze is very good defender. So this MIGHT be usefull of a defensive situation, but still we have better choises.

: Of course not...let someone else take it instead...

: I'm not gonna discuss that...I can't figure out why this spell even exists...

Now we'll check out our masteries' choises.

OFFENSE
Is anything here to explain? I think this choises are normal...

DEFENSE
Here it is a really good trick going on. strenght of spirit is by far one of the best masteries to choose for Ryze. It is going to provide you with enough health regen to stay at your lane. Now on top of that calculate the bonus heal eatch time you get a level by Catalyst the Protector. Just OP.

UTILITY
Most of people would choose instead of . Do you really think that 3 mana per 5 sec is better than 5% more experience? The answer is simple: NO! You are not going to have mana problems after you get Tear of the Goddess. Our runes, [[Archangel's Staff] and the ridiculous amounts of mana are going to ensure us that mana will not be any problem!

After lots of games and tries I ended up with this build. It will keep you alive and push your damage to maximum.

Starting Items
+ 2 x

Sapphire Crystal is the best item to start. More mana = more spells + more damage. Health Potion with help you stay at mid till you have 950 gold. Then recall.

Early Game
Catalyst the Protector

This is how your inventory should look till now.

Mid Game


This is how your inventory should look till now.

Late Game


Inventory complited!

Details
Some people might say: "Where is your Rod of Ages?" or " Rabadon's Deathcap on a mana build?". Here is your answers:
[*] I believe that Banshee's Veil provides more defense that Rod of Ages. Blocking a spell might save your life!
[*] Ryze's spells scale with both mana AND ability power. If we stick to mana your Overload and Rune Prison will be more powerfull you are right. BUT with Rabadon's Deathcap + Will of the Ancients+ Archangel's Staff+ the extremely high amount of your mana will give you a really good amount of AP. This will increase the damage of Overload and Rune Prison AND it will make your Spell Flux to deal some decent damage! 3 spells are better that 2! try it out ;)

I will divide this section into 3 situations that you might find yourself into:

1) Ranged Solo Fight
Here, you and your opponent are not close. It means that you barely reach him with your spells. The best spell combo here to bring the most damage output is:
Rune Prison (immobilize him so you can reach him with your spells) >> Overload (damage)>> Spell Flux (reducing his MR) >> Desperate Power (trigger once more your passive) >> Overload (damage)

2) Close Solo Fight
Here, you and your opponent are close. It means that you don't afraid of his escape. The best spell combo here to bring the most damage output is:
Overload (damage)>> Spell Flux (reducing his MR) >> Rune Prison (immobilize him so you get time to throw more spells) >> Overload (damage) >> Desperate Power (trigger your passive) >> Overload (damage)

3) Team Fight
Here, you are in a team fight. The best spell combo here to bring the most damage output is:
Desperate Power (make your spells AoE) >> Overload (damage the most dangerous) >> Spell Flux (reducing MR) >> Overload (damage the most dangerous) >> Rune Prison (immobilize the most dangerous) >> Overload (damage the most dangerous)

Continue the rotation of these combos depending on the situation.

Note
If you see lots of creeps comming don't think it twice. Activate Desperate Power >> Overload >> Spell Flux >> Rune Prison >> Overload. All creeps will be dead. Farming is the best way to get ahead of your opponents.

I devide all champions that you might face at mid into three categories depending on the difficulty you'll have to win against them:

Easy Enemies
These enemies can easily get handled. Spamm your Overload as much as possible and don't let them get close. You win. Remember: THE KEY IS TO HARASS Here it is the list:


Normal Enemies
These enemies isn't not so easy. You must be more carefull when you spamm. Try the simple 3 spell combo and run back ( Rune Prison >> Spell Flux >> Overload). Harass when you are ready to do it again. Remember: THE KEY IS TO HARASS. Here it is the list:


Hard Enemies
These enemies are really tought. Now we change our plan. Focus on farming. Last hit to the max. Use Overload to finish off creeps you can't kill with hits. Keep your Rune Prison to save yourself from them if needed. Remember: THE BEST ATTACK IS THE DEFENSE! PLAY SAFE! Here it is the list:


Use your mind to spamm safely or turn into farming depending on your opponent! Ask for help or go gang if needed.

Ryze is a very underestimated champion. Follow this guide and change you mind about him!

Plz comment and vote.
If you have anything to ask just do it and an answer will come!


Have Fun dominating with Ryze, the Rogue Mage!

See you around summoners ;)