Olaf
Build Guide by Haearnbleidd
Ragh nar Roog | Olaf OTP Top/Jg Guide | All Top Matchups And Build Paths Explained
Ragh nar Roog | Olaf OTP Top/Jg Guide | All Top Matchups And Build Paths Explained
Build Guide By Haearnbleidd
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1
120,706
Views
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Comments
36
1
120,706
Views
2
Comments
Olaf Build Guide By Haearnbleidd
120,706
Views
2
Comments
Olaf Build Guide By Haearnbleidd
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Recommended Items
Runes: Default Top
1
2
3
Precision
Inspiration
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+10-180 Bonus Health
Spells:
1
2
3
4
5
Default Top
![LoL Summoner Spell: Flash]()
![LoL Summoner Spell: Ghost]()
Flash
Ghost
Items
Meta
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2nd Item
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3rd Item
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Example Builds
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Standard Build
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Ravenous Build (Mobile)
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Ravenous Build (Immobile)
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Trinity Bruiser
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Trinity/Stride Burst
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Threats & Synergies
Threats
Synergies
Extreme
Major
Even
Minor
Tiny
Show All
None
Low
Ok
Strong
Ideal
Extreme Threats
Ideal Synergies
Vayne
Very vayne favoured, if you can predict where she q's in her R then you can win, but either way if you don't close the game in 30 minutes then you probably already lost.
Thresh
Anything with a good engage is good for olaf but a good thresh is the best support to play with, he can set up plays for you with his hook or he can throw you a lantern to surprise enemies engaging on him. Also his ult is very strong for you.
Synergies
Ideal
Strong
Ok
Low
None
Thresh
Anything with a good engage is good for olaf but a good thresh is the best support to play with, he can set up plays for you with his hook or he can throw you a lantern to surprise enemies engaging on him. Also his ult is very strong for you.
Champion Build Guide
About Olaf
Olaf's Playstyle
The Berserker's Strengths and Win Conditions
Olaf is not one of those flashy, 200-years-of-experience champions; his gameplay is most similar to Tryndamere. In the right hands, Olaf can become a 1v9 machine, especially in lower ELO where opponents struggle to kite him and he can easily win the lane.
If Olaf gets fed in the early game, he can completely dominate the mid-game and end the match before he gets outscaled by late-game carries.
Objectives
If you get fed early, Olaf can solo Baron Nashor with around 3 items at the 25-minute mark, so try to take advantage of this if you can. Even when you aren't massively ahead, you still have excellent potential to duo the objective with your jungler.
For other objectives like drakes, void grubs, herald or atakhan, Olaf can solo every one, regardless of how fed he is. Most of the time you would want to sneak an objective without the enemy knowing.
How to play Olaf
Olaf's Playstyle
Mastering these skills is crucial for consistent wins.
Olaf is a champion who wins by having more stats than the opponent, but in order to win consistently you need good decision making, matchup knowledge, and macro skills.
Axe Management (Q)
Being able to hit your Undertow and then pick it up is fundamental. Remember to not overthrow your axe so you don't have to walk too far for it. Picking up an axe refreshes its cooldown to 2.5s (reduced by Ability Haste). Don't worry, this will come to you naturally after some games, just like resetting Draven's axes.
Combat Timings & AA Resets (W)
When throwing Undertow or casting Reckless Swing, you can accidentally cancel your auto-attack. Casting them at the wrong time can also lead to not extending your ultimate. Apart from timing, you must remember that Tough It Out is an auto-attack reset. To get maximum damage, the combo is always: AA > W > AA.
Ultimate Usage (R)
Olaf's Ragnarok is the strongest part of his kit. Without it, you will just get CC'd, kited, and killed. Ragnarok gives you CC Immunity and a lot of AD. It has a very low base duration (3 seconds), but each auto-attack or Reckless Swing extends it by 2.5 seconds. To get the most value, cast it only when you know you can stick to a target (e.g., after an axe slow) or to prevent a critical CC spell that would otherwise kill you. If you misuse your ultimate, do not force a fight.
Baiting & Low HP Fighting
You can bait enemies into thinking they can kill you when you're low, only to turn and kill them with your Tough It Out shield and massive lifesteal. The combination of your passive (Berserker Rage), W, R, and the Last Stand rune is incredibly dangerous for your opponents.
Example: At level 3, with a Doran's Blade, one cast of Undertow and Reckless Swing, you have about 200 DPS against an enemy with 40 armor. If they have less than half HP and can't burst you down instantly, you will almost always win the all-in fight.
Build Paths
Olaf's Build Paths
Stridebreaker Path
Stridebreaker is one of the best items for Olaf. It gives you everything you need - Attack Damage, Attack Speed, Health, Move speed, Slow and wave clear. General use case is for team comps where you can be easily kited. A good rule for picking Stridebreaker is when they have 3+ ranged or 3+ dashing champions, or when they have a high priority target who you want to get on and kill as fast as possible like a fed ADC.
Ravenous Path
Ravenous Hydra gives you a lot of power early, however if you can't force a snowball you will get outscaled very quickly. This build path also loses a lot of power by enemies buying early anti heal. It works perfect into team comps where you can stick to someone and auto-attack them on repeat. Having Hydra completed gives you a lot of 1v1 and 1v2 pressure early - you can use it to your advantage by proxying and baiting enemy ganks when you know you can win.
Trinity Path
I'd say that this path is currently the best if you know what you are doing - this build heavily depends on landing your Q's. You sacrifice a bit of waveclear by not buying Hydra early, however, in exchange you get a lot of versatility. You have great split push because you get towers fast (you can cast your Q freely to proc Spellblade), you have good burst as well as DPS which you can use to either go more of a frontline build or you can build more offensively to kill their main carry. Overall it's a very underrated item on Olaf, but you have to know how to use its full potential.
Build Options
Olaf Itemization Guide
Core Items
These are the foundational items for almost every Olaf build.
Death's Dance
Death's Dance is the perfect option for Olaf, no matter the build. You can always fit it, even against heavy AP teams. In 90% of your games, you should build it 2nd, as its value overshadows almost every other item. It synergizes perfectly with Olaf's playstyle by helping you survive burst, extending your time on low HP where you are strongest. In extended fights, you can heal back the staggered damage, further increasing your survivability.
Sterak's Gage
Sterak's Gage is another item that gives Olaf immense survivability and extends his time at his strongest moment. It's best suited as a 3rd or 4th item because its bonus AD scales with your level. It's a very well-rounded item for Olaf and fits into almost all builds.
Sundered Sky
While not as mandatory as the other two, Sundered Sky is a great and flexible addition that enables incredible plays. It shines in teamfights where you can easily proc its passive on multiple enemies. Pick it when you need quick sustain after taking burst; it's great when paired with Death's Dance or Sterak's Gage and Spirit Visage.
Offensive Options
Select these items to augment your damage based on the enemy team composition.
Experimental Hexplate
After recent buffs, this item has become quite strong, especially when paired with Ravenous Hydra or Trinity Force. It's less useful in a Stridebreaker build, but it can still be a valuable tool against ultra-mobile teams with multiple dashes.
Overlord's Bloodmail
A pure stat-stick that is great for Olaf, granting you a solid mix of damage and health. This item is excellent when snowballing and is best paired with Sterak's Gage for maximum health scaling and extended life on low HP.
Black Cleaver
A supportive item. While you don't fully utilize its stacking passive due to your E's true damage, it's still a great purchase into tanky compositions where you want to help your team shred through them. Combined with your Q, you provide 44% armor shred.
Blade of the Ruined King
While not a standard item for Olaf, it gives you a big advantage against health-stacking champions like Cho'Gath, Dr. Mundo, or Sion. You should only buy this when they don't have a lot of armor or when your teammates have already bought Black Cleaver.
Spear of Shojin
Olaf isn't heavily dependent on ability haste, but he is still an ability-based bruiser. After recent changes, it also increases your E damage. It has the same problem as Hullbreaker or Experimental Hexplate in that it often gets overshadowed by other options, but it remains a viable choice.
Defensive Options
Build these to counter specific threats and enhance your survivability.
Spirit Visage
Your main Magic Resist item. It synergizes incredibly well with your passive lifesteal and W's active heal. You generally want to build it as a 3rd or 4th item against AP threats. Until then, sitting on a single MR component is usually sufficient.
Maw of Malmortius
A great item, but only into heavy AP compositions. Only buy this against 4 or more AP threats and pair it with another MR item. Otherwise, the combination of Sterak's Gage + Spirit Visage or Force of Nature will outperform it.
Randuin's Omen
An excellent option into critical strike-based teams. Buy this when the enemy team has two or more crit champions, or if a single crit-based champion is extremely fed.
Force of Nature
A great option against damage-over-time (DoT) magic damage or heavy AP comps. It provides a large amount of magic resist and valuable movement speed to stick to your targets.
Jak'Sho, The Protean
This item gives you a ton of resistances, making it a great choice when you want to build as offensively as possible without sacrificing too many item slots on dedicated tank items.
Niche & Situational Items
These items can be powerful in the right circumstances but are not for every game.
Hullbreaker
Good for split-pushing. Olaf can proc its passive quickly with his high attack speed, but it often gets overshadowed by other, more teamfight-oriented options. Only build this when you intend to split-push exclusively.
Thornmail
You should generally stick with an early Executioner's Calling or Bramble Vest for anti-heal and sell it late game if a teammate has Grievous Wounds. If no one else can apply it, Thornmail is your only real option, as other anti-heal items are bad on Olaf (with the possible exception of Chempunk Chainsword against heavy AP healers).
Zeke's Convergence
Surprisingly, this can be a good item for Olaf, especially with a Ravenous Hydra build, as it provides both armor and magic resist, plus a slow on your ultimate. Its main problem is that it gets outscaled very quickly.
Warmog's Armor
Honestly, this can work when paired with Overlord's Bloodmail, as the two items combined give you a ton of health and AD. The only problem is that you can only use its passive to the fullest extent when you have a blue buff or other mana regeneration sources.
Early Game (Top)
Early Game & Laning Phase
Olaf has one of the best level 1s in the entire game. Only champions that can consistently kill him 1v1 at level 1 are Trundle, Urgot, and Jax. Matchups like Darius, Riven, and Sett are skill-based, while Tryndamere can win if he gets lucky critical strikes.
Use this knowledge to your advantage. You can go with your jungler to invade their topside jungle, help them snowball, or set up an early level 3 gank for your lane.
When You Win the Early Game
In matchups you win, be as aggressive as possible. Poke them with your abilities and contest every single minion. Shove the third wave and recall. When you get back to lane, the wave should be pushing into you. If the enemy recalled, freeze the wave. If they stayed, run them down with your item and health advantage.
Controlling the Freeze: While freezing, just last-hit minions. If the enemy walks up to farm, you can all-in them or trade a large chunk of their HP for that one CS. Deny them farm and experience whenever possible.
Diving: When the wave is pushed under their tower, you can poke with Q and E from outside of tower range. Only dive when you are certain you can kill them in one combo (Q > AA > W > AA > E > AA) and you know they have no CC or dashes available. A failed dive will force you to burn Flash or die.
When You Lose the Early Game
In tough matchups, you mostly want to farm safely with your Q and wait for the wave to push into your tower. If you must take damage to get a CS, try to mitigate it with your Tough It Out shield. Freeze the wave near your tower to make the enemy vulnerable to ganks. If your jungler isn't coming, just farm safely until you hit level 6. Once you have Ragnarok, you should be able to run down most opponents.
Tough It Out shield. Freeze the wave near your tower to make the enemy vulnerable to ganks. If your jungler isn't coming, just farm safely until you hit level 6. Once you have Ragnarok, you should be able to run down most opponents.
From this point, the game plan is similar to a winning lane, with one key exception: you must play safely when Ragnarok is on cooldown. When it's available, look for opportunities to freeze, trade, and run them down.
Ragnarok is on cooldown. When it's available, look for opportunities to freeze, trade, and run them down.
Early Game (Jg)
Olaf Jungle Guide
Recommended Ban: Kayn
While specific jungle matchups aren't as critical, Kayn is a highly recommended ban. It's not because of his damage, but because of his extreme mobility and his ultimate. His ult duration is exactly 2.5 seconds, which is the exact duration your ultimate is extended by an auto-attack. This means he can perfectly time his R to wait out your Ragnarok. Furthermore, you can't keep up with his ganking tempo through walls, which creates a big problem for your team.
Jungle Philosophy: Get Ahead, Stay Ahead
Olaf has one of the best level 1s as a jungler. The only way for Olaf to win in the jungle is to secure a level and gold advantage. Otherwise, you become useless as you will be easily kited and shredded by laners.
Early Game Pathing: The Invade
As Olaf, you almost always want to invade. While invading bot side is an option, invading the enemy's top side is often better, as most junglers start bot for a stronger leash. If you confirm the enemy jungler started on the other side of the map, take their Blue & Gromp or Red & Krugs. Afterwards, path back to your own jungle for a full clear and take the Scuttle Crab when it spawns. Make sure to ping your top laner that they are at risk of being ganked.
Ganking & Objective Control
Ganking: After your full clear, look for a lane that is pushed into your side. Starting on your top side jungle allows you to path down for an early bot lane gank. Pop Ghost, and if the enemy bot lane is pushed up, it's almost always a guaranteed kill. Prioritize bot and top; mid lane is difficult for Olaf to gank, especially against mobile assassins like Zed or Qiyana.
Objectives: Prioritize getting an early Drake. You can often force it at level 4 or 5 when you know the enemy jungler is pathing away from it. If you know the jungler is bot side, you can trade the objective by taking the Voidgrubs. After you hit level 6, play around your ultimate's cooldown. Force objectives when it's up, especially after a successful gank or killing the enemy jungler.
The Golden Rule
Olaf wins by having more farm, XP, and gold than his enemies. Prioritize farm and objectives over forced ganks that are 50/50. Gank only when you are certain it will result in a kill.
Mid Game
Mid & Late Game Playstyle
Note: Top and Jungle playstyles merge from this point on, with the only difference being Smite.
The mid game is Olaf's most important moment in the game; that's where you shine the most. Your performance here often decides the outcome of the match.
The Juggernaut: Playing From Ahead
After a good laning phase, the mid game is your playground. Once you have three items, you are too tanky and deal too much damage for most champions to handle. You want to play for picks, push waves, and take towers to generate as much gold as possible. Use your lead to feed your team's scaling champions (like Vladimir, Kayle, or Kassadin). Force objectives and look for opportunities to take an early Baron Nashor around 20-25 minutes. This will skyrocket your team's lead and make sieging towers much easier.
The Disruptor: Playing From Behind
Olaf is not the best champion when playing from behind, but he still provides value. Your role shifts to that of a second support or disruptor. Try to create plays for your fed teammates and apply as much pressure as possible. For example, if both teams are grouped mid, you can split-push a side lane to draw attention and take towers, forcing the enemy to react and breaking their formation.
Key Takeaway: Top Lane's Role
Olaf Top is essentially a second jungler and a split-pusher in the mid game.
Late Game
If you got this far into the game, you already got outscaled. If your team doesn't have any late game champion, you are fucked.
If your team has a late game champ, stick to the playstyle, let your team do their job. Take every opportunity for catching someone, one mistake can decide the whole game. Don't run 1v5 into enemy team as you could in mid game. Play for your team and try to punish every mistake enemy team does. Try to get on their adc so their whole team prioritizes you instead of your adc.
If your team has a late game champ, stick to the playstyle, let your team do their job. Take every opportunity for catching someone, one mistake can decide the whole game. Don't run 1v5 into enemy team as you could in mid game. Play for your team and try to punish every mistake enemy team does. Try to get on their adc so their whole team prioritizes you instead of your adc.
Haearnbleidd
Olaf Guide
Ragh nar Roog | Olaf OTP Top/Jg Guide | All Top Matchups And Build Paths Explained
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