Shyvana Build Guide by ShaharKarisi

Shyvana Top Lane Guide, And How To Dominate Low-Mid Elo

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Runes: Main Tree

1 2

Precision

Conqueror

Triumph

Legend: Tenacity

Last Stand

Domination

Taste of Blood

Ravenous Hunter

Bonus:

++8 ability haste
+6 Armor
+6 Armor

Spells:

1 2

Flash

Teleport

Ranked #14 in
Jungle Role

Win 50%

Get More Stats

Items

Starting Items

Against AP

Against AD

Possible Build Paths

Optimal Early Build Path

Alternative Early Build Path

General Final Build

Other Boots

Situational Items

Offensive Items

Defensive Items

Elixirs

Ability Order

Shyvana Passive Ability

Threats & Synergies

Threats

Synergies

Extreme Major Even Minor Tiny

Show All

None Low Ok Strong Ideal

Extreme Threats

Ideal Synergies

Quinn

Extreme

Quinn does everything Vayne does but better, her mobility with her ultimate lets her farm in other lanes easily and destroy you. I'd ban 10/10 times.

Jarvan IV

Ideal

AMAZING ganks past-6. Being able to assure landing an E is incredible and Jarvan IV's consistent damage and Shyvana's burst work incredibly together. Probably the best pick with Shyvana.

PROS

+ Very strong level 6 spike
+ Split pushing queen
+ Can't go oom
+ Very strong frontline with R
+ High burst damage
isn't considered a meta top laner currently, but I believe her kill potential and kit can compete with the meta top laners. Her role as a top laner is similar to or , being a strong frontliner with an engage ultimate. doesn't do much pre-6 besides short trades with her >AA>>AA combo to burst enemies. After gaining you can go for strong all-ins and smash most enemies if you farmed correctly.

CONS

- No mobility pre-6
- No substantial CC
- Weak passive
- Can't fight ranged champions
- Low sustain early on
- Weak to ganks pre-6
Picking into top can cause your teammates to flame you in champ select, but with a little bit of training you can prove them wrong. 's clear weakness is her lack of CC (Not including 's knockback) and her lack of mobility without . Her game pre-6 is somewhat weak, but really gank prone. Try to play towards the top side of the lane to avoid her weaknesses.

SUMMONER SPELLS
-

FLASH: As is an immobile champion without , taking is really important. I don't think you're surprized that takes as is a staple summoner spell.

IGNITE: Take against champions in the tiny threat section (Such as ) for the extra damage, or against champions with high sustain like or .

TELEPORT: 9/10 times you will take . Being able to return easily to lane to not miss CS or to out of lane to help taking objectives is really useful.
Note: Only out of lane after getting and completing the full early build path, without those you won't help much.

PRECISION

works super well with as her normal combo, > AA > > AA stacks fully. The additional damage helps a ton with chewing down enemies and the slight sustain definitely won't hurt. Although the jungle build takes , I believe is much better for this build. Instead of going for one-shots or last hits, this build is meant for tanking and bursting with a full combo, therefore is the best keystone for .

is pretty straight forward. The additional gold per kill and the heals after each kill lets you carry team fights and keep chewing enemies down with the and heals.

takes 9/10 as her kit is countered easily with CC. is also viable when the enemy team lacks substantial CC. Don't only consider the enemy laner when choosing, consider the team as a whole.

is a great rune on as most of the time she is under 60% HP. is much worse on than Because you're looking to tank damage and burst in return instead of just flat out burst from afar.

takes as her secondary rune because the sustain from the and helps her a lot. is a safe pick to stay healthy (Especially in lane), and is a more offensive rune you take when you want to establish an early lead and dominate lane.

is the only viable rune as is useless, can replace for roams and only affects and the occasional . also provides the sustain needs.

's kit relays on CDR and going CDR in the runes helps a lot. As this build is meant for tanking and bursting back, taking 2 defensive stats will help you tank more (I recommend taking 1 stat for the top laner and 1 stat for the jungler as these runes will effect the most early on).

PASSIVE
ABILITY

Dragonborn (Passive): I'm gonna be honest, is kinda iffy. The bonus damage to Drakes only matters early on because a little later into the game you can solo Drakes anyway, and since you won't help take objectives this early, it won't matter. The bonus Armor and Magic Resist from the Drakes is also bad as some champions with better passives have higher base Armor and Magic Resist.

Twin Bite (Q): is possibly one of 's greatest abilities. The ability to clear wards level 1 with the animation cancel and double AA is amazing, so early on just sit in pixel bush until the minion wave reaches the inner turret. 's cooldown is reduced by 0.5 seconds when you AA and it's an AA animation cancel, so bursting a marked target after landing is a piece of cake. This ability counts as an AA so don't use it under 's or 's block/dodge domes.

Burnout (W): makes an area where you damage enemies and grants movement speed, the duration increases when you damage enemies, up to 4 seconds. You'll use for the movement speed rather than the damage simply because the tick speed is slow and the damage is barely noticeable.
Note: Don't use to clear the wave. It's inefficient as the tick speed is low and you'll usually need it to chase someone/run away.

Flame Breath (E): is 's key ability to win lane. Not only does pass through minions and lets you clear the wave incredibly fast level 1, the mark effect (When collides with an enemy champion it marks them and your AA deals more damage to them) lets you trade more efficiently. In lane look for pokes with while clearing the wave and past-3 follow up with an AA>>AA combo to chunk the enemy laner.

Dragon's Descent (R): is 's strongest ability, especially as it empowers 's abilities. In lane you'll use as a gap closer or to escape risky 2v1s. is a strong engage ultimate late game and in the mid game you can use it to from behind and use to demolish the enemies. In Drake form, cleaves on hit instead of double AAing, 's area becomes larger and explodes on impact.

STARTING ITEMS & EARLY ITEMS

REFILLABLE POTION
is ESSENTIAL for the early game. The heals really matter for 's early game, as she gets poked easily. Even if you start with and a , get it as your first buy.
Note: Try to stay under 60% HP for so don't use it when you aren't low.

DORAN'S SHIELD
You'll usually start against AP matchups and when you want to stay longer in lane without recalling. The health regen helps you stay healthy in lane without .

CLOTH ARMOR
You'll start when the enemy team is AD or there's both an early game top laner and an early gank jungler (For example: & ).

EARLY BUILD PATH
You'll usually rush for the early resistance and grievous wounds and then build >> for 30% CDR early on. Sell in favor of afterwards as loses it's effectiveness around this time. Alternatively you'll start instead of against full AP teams, and if you need the grievious wounds get afterwards.

OPTIONAL BOOTS

MERCURY'S TREADS
While buying boots that aren't isn't optimal ( really needs the CDR), sometimes when going against CC heavy teams won't be enough, so taking is a viable option.

NINJA TABI
You'll usually take for its stats and not its passive (Usually against full AD teams) but you can also take it against AA heavy matchups like and destroy lane with the combined passives of & .

CORE ITEMS

DEATH'S DANCE
is OP for as it's passive makes you tank for a longer time, and as all you do is tank and burst back, this is amazing. The 15% heal from all damage dealt lets you heal back more than you take with passive. The defensive stats, damage and CDR are a perfect combo for what needs.

SPIRIT VISAGE
is an item meant for sustain and sustain only. All the defensive stats and increased healing makes for a great combo with passive, and the 10% CDR doesn't hurt either.

BLADE OF THE RUINED KING
The extra damage helps 's burst and the active helps you chase enemies.
Note: Don't take my word for it, but I think normal form activates 's passive twice.

STERAK'S GAGE
As is pretty tanky (Especally in Drake form), the bonus damage from is pretty nice. Lifeline will trigger a lot as you are the frontliner of the team, so picking this is a no brainer.

THORNMAIL
is a better so it's really good for you. If the enemy team isn't AA reliant you're better off with one of the replacements.

OFFENSIVE ITEMS

WIT'S END
I'd call a semi-core item, as its a viable replacement for when going against AP heavy teams or when your mid-laner fed a burst mage like or .

BLOODTHIRSTER
On the rare, rare occasion that you're somehow on a 2000G+ lead from the enemy team's most fed player, taking instead of is an option, as the extra sustain and amazing damage will help you dominate team fights easily and hyper-carry the game.

MORTAL REMINDER
When you're against a full AP team and you started with the alternate path, is a good replacement for . You can also take it (Like but way more often) when you have a big established lead on the enemy team for the armor penetration and grievous wounds.

GUARDIAN ANGEL
You'll take when your team as a whole wins, and you know they won't die without you. is a "get out of jail card" for when you aren't the hyper-carry, but you also can't really die.

DEFENSIVE ITEMS

MERCURIAL SCIMITAR
You'll take for the against CC heavy teams, usually paired with and . You'll usually take it instead of . Although it IS the last item in your build, buying an early when in need is optimal.

MAW OF MALMORTIUS
When paired against AP heavy teams or against fed burst mages (Once again, champions such as /), taking will help you stay longer in the fight cause of the shield and sustain. is a replacement for .

ADAPTIVE HELM
(Just like ) is a semi-core item, as it's a replacement for when the enemy team has damage over time champions like , or .

FROZEN MALLET
can replace when you are further behind than your team, as the CC it provides can make you helpful in fights instead of weighing your team down.

ELIXIRS

ELIXIR OF WRATH
Buy elixirs only when you built every item in your set, or you can't buy anything substantial and the next team fight can define the game. is great when you wanna output more damage and stay longer in the enemy line with the sustain it provides.

ELIXIR OF IRON
The buying circumstances for are the same as , but you'll usually buy it when you're behind your team and you don't want to feed and cause the game to become in the enemy team's favor.

ITEM IMPORT

Item Set

Your early game starts in champion select. DON'T BLIND PICK . IS a strong champion, but when she gets countered, the game can be over for your team. Remember, there is a reason why isn't a top laner. If you did pick into a matchup that I considered major or below, you're fine. Ask your support to play an enchanter like or a high CC support like to set up kills for you later on or help you stay longer in a fight. You start 10/10 because of it's great wave clear and pokability. Up until level 3, look for pokes with while clearing the wave and play towards the top side of the lane to escape ganks. Keep for running away and don't use it on the wave. After level 3 you can look for short trades (Only after landing ) with an AA combo, or if you can even add another AA. After level 6 keep for safe all-ins (Only after completing the early build path), escaping ganks, or running away when low. Don't help with objectives early on as you need to win lane and farm. Doing the first Herald solo is an option, so if you're winning lane, do it.

After completing the early build path and unlocking , you're looking to roam a whole lot and gank from behind with 's dash, or . Your job in the mid-game is to help secure objectives while keeping lane pressure. Optimally by now you have a plate or 2 down, so look for a whole turret destroyed. After establishing lane dominance and getting (Or even if your CS is on point), you can look for mid-game team fights and carry them. If you have an enchanter support such as or , you can look for 2v4s with and decent healing from your support. If the game went clean by now, it's probably an FF for the enemy team, as in the late game they won't be able to defeat you.

If you dominated the early game, in the late game you will be the team hyper-carry frontline. If the early game went bad but your team still wins the game, you'll try to set up kills for your carry. Either way, your team will need you for team fights. If you are falling behind, try to take Drakes solo when your team distracts them to do something instead of feeding. Optimally, you want a cloud soul for the MS in Drake form. You don't want to die in the late game without a as you are an important win-con. Even late on, you really want to keep killing minions or clearing camps to be able to constantly be on an elixir of choice (/) and to be able to switch items if the enemy threat changes. After buying , , and being halfway through , around level 13 you can solo , so if it comes to it, you can solo it. Your job is to engage the fights with and let your team set up kills for you with their CC and the support's buffs (If it is an enchanter support). You can split push easily with and win most 1v2s. Make sure your team provides enough pressure for the enemy team to not be able to send more than 2 players against you.

First of all, thanks for reading my guide! I hope you learned something new. I'd love to hear your feedback. To refresh your memory here's a TLDR:
1) Play safe till 3, trade after 3, and go for a fight after 6.
2) When using to roam, come from behind, and use .
3) Try to be the frontline of your team and be the one that engages.
4) Try to replace items constantly to keep up with the situation.
5) Try to take objectives as much as you can.
6) Avoid CC at all costs!
That's it (I think). Have a great day!