Hey, I’m a Master-tier player with a peak of 300 LP.
I’ve been playing League for years and specialize in control mages that reward patience, precision, and smart positioning.

This guide is built to help you understand Orianna on a deeper level – not just how to play her, but how to control every fight with perfect timing.
The Ball is her weapon. Let’s use it to command the game.

Why Should I Play Orianna? Orianna is the perfect choice for players who enjoy control, precision, and macro impact. Her kit rewards intelligent positioning and consistent decision-making, with massive teamfight influence through her ultimate. Whether you want to zone, poke, peel, or engage – Orianna adapts. She shines in structured fights and thrives with smart teammates. Core Items: Archangel's Staff • Sorcerer's Shoes • Liandry's Torment • Rabadon's Deathcap • Zhonya's Hourglass • Void Staff She excels in: ✔️ Reliable waveclear & poke ✔️ Scaling teamfighting ✔️ Zone control & objective setups ✔️ Punishing positioning mistakes If you want to dominate fights before they begin – by controlling space, tempo, and pressure – Orianna is your champion. 🌀

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Pros • The Ball enables precise zoning & poke • Massive teamfight impact with a single R combo • Strong waveclear = lane control + priority • Can shield + speed allies while pressuring • Scales excellently into 5v5 macro fights • Safe laning with long range & self-peel

Cons • No dash or mobility — position is everything • Ball misplacement = zero threat • Early damage is low pre- Liandry's Torment • Vulnerable to assassins if Flash is down • High skill expression = hard to master • Needs teamfight coordination to shine

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Summon Aery gives consistent poke & shield pressure for lane control. It helps you punish short-range enemies and support your team. Manaflow Band ensures mana safety and Transcendence offers early haste spikes. Scorch burns enemies on short trades, adding early-game dominance. Second Wind reduces poke pressure in tough lanes and Overgrowth boosts scaling durability. Use Attack Speed • Adaptive Force • Scaling Health – flexible and reliable.

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This page focuses on scaling damage & ability haste. Summon Aery + Scorch applies consistent lane pressure. Manaflow Band and Transcendence smooth your early-mid transitions. Presence of Mind gives mana back on takedowns – perfect for extended fights. Legend: Haste gives permanent ability haste to accelerate your combos. Choose Attack Speed • Adaptive Force • Scaling Health unless defense is required.

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Phase Rush is perfect against divers & hard engage (e.g. Nocturne, Sylas, Diana). The MS burst after 3 hits helps you dodge, reposition, and kite safely. Manaflow Band, Transcendence, and Scorch make sure your lane phase stays active and aggressive. Presence of Mind returns mana after kills – important when you're spamming spells. Cut Down is excellent into tanky teams with HP stackers. Default shard choice: Attack Speed • Adaptive Force • Scaling Health.

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Flash is non-negotiable. It enables critical repositioning, escape, or engage combos. Whether you're flashing forward with r or dodging assassins – Flash always matters. Teleport is the most reliable secondary. It provides map control, lane tempo, and late-game macro pressure. Perfect for coordinated setups, catching waves, and scaling safely. Ignite is an aggressive option. Take it when you're confident in lane dominance or facing sustain-heavy mids like Sylas, Vladimir or Akshan. Extra kill pressure = early leads. Barrier is underrated. Great into burst matchups like LeBlanc, Zoe or Veigar. Lets you survive all-ins and bait. Ghost is a rare but spicy pick. Synergizes surprisingly well with Phase Rush for extended kiting and teamfight repositioning. Optional into comps with low CC and high mobility.

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Archangel's Staff gives scaling AP and a powerful shield. Build it early to charge Seraph's Embrace. Sorcerer's Shoes offer flat magic pen – great for early damage spikes. Liandry's Torment is your mythic of choice against tanks and extended fights.

Rabadon's Deathcap is a raw AP steroid – perfect after 2 core items. Zhonya's Hourglass saves you vs assassins and allows reactive shockwaves. Void Staff is mandatory vs MR stackers – buy it 3rd or 4th into heavy resistance comps.

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Sorcerer's Shoes for max damage. Mercury's Treads for heavy CC comps (e.g. Morgana, Leona, Nautilus). Ionian Boots of Lucidity if you want max ability haste and faster summoner cooldowns.

Boots of Swiftness are rare but work against slow-heavy comps. Plated Steelcaps can be taken if you're getting hard targeted by AD assassins or bruisers.

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Shadowflame for burst vs shield-heavy comps. Rod of Ages is a scaling + sustain alternative if you need tankiness. Mejai's Soulstealer is snowball heaven – buy if you’re ahead with 10+ stacks. Stormsurge gives high burst with bonus execute damage – niche but lethal.

Banshee's Veil vs poke or magic engage (e.g. Lux, Xerath, Ahri). Morellonomicon for anti-heal vs Sylas, Vladimir, Aatrox etc. Luden's Companion offers raw burst and poke, works well vs squishies.

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Clockwork Windup (Passive)

Orianna’s basic attacks deal bonus magic damage based on level and AP.
Each attack against the same target stacks Clockwork Winding, increasing damage (up to 2 stacks).

Whenever Orianna switches targets, all stacks reset.

Base Damage: 10–50 [+15% AP] • Max Bonus: +70 [+21% AP]

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Command: Attack (Q)

Orianna commands The Ball to fly to a target location, dealing magic damage to all enemies in its path.
It remains on the ground at that location for further abilities.

Mana Cost: 35 at all ranks
Cooldown: 6 / 5.25 / 4.5 / 3.75 / 3 seconds

✔️ No cast time – won’t cancel movement if The Ball is already attached.
🧠 Can be buffered into W/R for instant impact.
⚠️ Blocked by Yasuo Wind Wall, but not by Braum Unbreakable.

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Command: Dissonance (W)

The Ball emits a pulse, damaging all nearby enemies and creating a zone that speeds allies and slows enemies.

Mana Cost: 70 / 80 / 90 / 100 / 110
Cooldown: 7 seconds at all ranks

✔️ Instant cast – can be buffered after Q.
🌀 Boosts ally mobility, excellent for disengage & peel.
🧠 Works beautifully when timed right after Q landing.

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Command: Protect (E)

Passive: Orianna gains bonus resistances when The Ball is attached.
Active: The Ball flies to an ally (or herself), dealing damage to enemies it passes and shielding the target.

Mana Cost: 60
Cooldown: 9 seconds at all ranks

✔️ Reveals stealthed targets on contact.
🛡️ Main defensive tool – combo with R for clutch saves.
🧠 Use E + Q to reposition Ball safely while shielding.

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Command: Shockwave (R)

Orianna detonates The Ball after 0.75s, dealing magic damage and pulling enemies to its center.

Mana Cost: 100
Cooldown: 110 / 95 / 80 seconds

✔️ Strong AoE burst that turns teamfights.
🧠 Can be buffered after Q to detonate at arrival.
⚠️ If enemies blink/dash out before .75s – it won’t pull them.

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Laning Phase (Level 1–6)

Use q to last-hit and poke simultaneously — you can manipulate wave tempo by soft pushing with autos + Q poke.
Zone control starts at level 3. W into a positioned ball forces your opponent to play back or burn resources.
If you expect trades or jungle pressure, pre-position your Ball defensively and use E for self-peel.
Track mana early — avoid overusing W if not needed for trades or shoves.

🧠 Orianna wins by controlling the wave, not by solo-killing. Focus on priority and roam timers – or look for small health leads to force recalls.

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Midgame (Level 7–13)

Secure vision around objectives and setup zones 5–10 seconds before fights.
Your first two items spike hard. Look for grouped fights where you can R multiple targets.
Use Q + R buffers to catch squishies or frontline dives.
Protect your carries with well-timed E — Orianna can peel and punish at the same time.

🧠 Don’t chase kills. Your job is zone denial, space control, and disengage punishment.

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Lategame (14+)

One fight. One Shockwave. Everything can flip.
Place your Ball in terrain, in brushes, or behind the enemy front to threaten engages without committing.
Always stay behind your frontliners – Orianna needs clear vision and time to cast effectively.

If the enemy dives your ADC: E + W + R combo defensively.
If your team dives their backline: Q + R offensively from fog or flank angles.

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General Tips

✔️ Use Q+W to instantly apply Aery + damage + zone
✔️ Always hold R in early trades – you only get one
✔️ Think 3 seconds ahead: “Where will the fight be?” – not “Where is it now?”
✔️ Orianna’s value = how much space you control, not how many kills you get
✔️ Keep your Ball active on the map - idle Ball = no threat

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In this section, we’ll go over some key mechanics and micro-tips that make Orianna effective at every level of play.
While she isn’t the most mechanically demanding mage, mastering these tricks will separate you from the rest.

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Flash → R Engage
The classic play: Flash → Command: Shockwave instantly.
Great to punish immobile carries or initiate fights unexpectedly from fog of war.
Aim for grouped targets and follow up with Command: Dissonance for full impact.

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Shockwave → Flash (Animation Transfer)
A more advanced variant: Cast Command: Shockwave → then Flash during the windup.
This makes your R land instantly where you Flash, leaving no time for reaction.
Use this for surprise combos or to outplay mobile targets.

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Q → W Poke
Orianna’s bread-and-butter trading tool.
Command: Attack → Command: Dissonance → AA for efficient poke and lane control.
Use this to harass melee mids or force waves under tower.

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E → R Defensive Peel
When an ally is being dove, cast Command: Protect → Command: Shockwave directly on them.
This interrupts divers and protects your carry from follow-up.
Follow with W to zone enemies.

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Ball Positioning Fundamentals
Always track the ball’s location – idle ball = no threat.
Place it near chokepoints or enemies to create pressure.
Use Command: Attack behind the frontline to zone carries or force awkward movement.

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Maximize Passive Damage
Clockwork Windup empowers Orianna’s autos.
Weave AAs between spells to boost DPS – especially in extended fights or duels.
Perfect for finishing kills when spells are on cooldown.

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Combo Variations
Adapt your execution depending on range, pressure and threat level:

• Standard Trade: Command: Attack → Command: Dissonance → AA
• All-In Combo: Command: Attack → Command: Shockwave → Command: Dissonance → AA
• Defensive Peel: Command: Protect → Command: Shockwave → Command: Dissonance
• Flash Engage: Flash → Command: Shockwave → W → AA
• Zone Setup: Q (into brush/terrain) → W → wait → R

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Objective Control with The Ball
Use Command: Dissonance + Command: Shockwave to zone enemies away from Dragon or Baron.
Place the ball between them and the pit, and threaten engages while your team secures the objective.

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Synergy Champions
Orianna pairs well with:

• Jarvan IV – Ball delivery + Cataclysm = guaranteed Shockwave
• Malphite – Wombo-combo teamfight god
• Wukong, Vi, Rakan – Engage tools that dive deep and deliver your ball directly onto the backline
• Shaco – Stealth Q lets him deliver the ball undetected for surprise Shockwaves

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Thanks for reading my Orianna guide!
Whether you're a seasoned control mage player or just discovering her potential, I hope this helped you understand her depth and strength in every stage of the game.

Orianna rewards positioning, discipline and teamfight planning – all of which make her an incredible pick for players who enjoy calculated, high-impact plays.
Her kit may seem simple at first, but the mechanical ceiling and macro depth are endless.

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If you have feedback, suggestions or questions – leave a comment!
I update this guide regularly with every major patch and love hearing from other Ori mains.
If this guide helped you – feel free to give it an upvote ♥

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09.05.2025
• Fully rebuilt for Patch 25.09
• Removed Mythics – new core items added
• Added: Runes, Abilities, Gameplay, Mechanics
• New video links & synergy section
• BBCode visual overhaul: columns, icons, color alignment

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11.09.2019
• Planned full rewrite
• Items & runes updated
• Texts and synergy/counter sections pending

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23.11.2016
• Updated summoner spells
• Champion counter list revised
• Item build path restructured
• Preseason 7 runes/masteries adjusted

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07.02.2016
• Runes, items and masteries adapted to current meta

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28.12.2015
• Preseason changes implemented

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21.12.2014
• Adjusted runes, masteries & items

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09.12.2014
• Minor formatting & tweaks

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20.10.2014
• Swapped Barrier for Heal
• Updated rune page

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19.10.2014
• Guide released

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