I'm typical Vladimir player, who usually performs role of a... carry. And so, who's usually being banned in Ranked Game, too bad.

If you liked this guide, be sure to check my Twisted Fate one (Link in my Signature) and please, subscribe us top, comment below and I don't remember what Phreak actually said.

Pros:
- Amazing AP/HP/CD outcome thanks to Crimson Pact
- He is able to perfrom a role of a Carrying Mage
- Self-Healing, improved greatly with Will of the Ancients
- Sanguine Pool allows you to stay safe in most of the cases
- Transfusion is the best last hitting skill in the game due to no time travel
- Hemoplague gives you a beast advantage in team fights if used properly
- His Basic and Custom Skins are all great
- Recieves a lot of Flame after game, usual

Cons:
- Poor Movement Speed (380 with Sorc. Shoes), It's cool to have Janna in team
- His skills are not scalling with AP THAT great
- Usually targeted first due to enormous AoE damage output (Don't worry, you will kill them first)

Passive:
Crimson Pact is indeed a great Passive. 1 AP for each 40 Bonus HP and 1,8 HP for each 1 bonus AP? Back off Kayle and Akali, Vladimir came.
Nah, but now for the counting:

When it comes to bonus AP, you will usually end with about: 700-1000 AP (Items only!) or more (<-Yes, it's possible without Veigar, I will explain later)

When it comes to bonus HP, you will usually end with about: 1260-1800 HP (+500 if you have a Rylai).

It gives you a total of:
Health: 3300-4200 (1200-1900 is a Bonus from Passive)
AP: 700-1100
MPen.: 34-54 + 15%-55%
Transfusion: 600-850 + 345-480 Healing
Sanguine Pool: 480-600 + ~500 Healing
Tides of Blood: Too much Counting to be honest, the ammount is crazy on 4 stacks.
Hemoplague: Values between 600-1000

Skills you should take:

- Ghost is by far the best skill on Vlad, as he lacks speed sometimes.
- Flash if you have someone like Janna, Sivir or Nunu & Willump in your team.
- Ignite ...just take it, for obvious reasons.



Why so many of them... Heal, Clarity and Revive are a nonsense on Vladimir, the reasons are known. Fortify/Rally - designed for Tanks/Backdoorers. Smite - Junglers, you're a skill jungler. Cleanse - just no, you must play with head and time your Sanguine.
Teleport - Damn it, who needs a teleport if should stay alive, laning all the time with your heals. Exhaust, finish them before they can, if you can't, you fail. Clairvoyance, let the others take it, you're on Mid, they are supposed to warn you.

So we go with standard 9/21/0 on Vladimir. Why not 9/0/21? Because as you know, most of the "powerful" champions are usually a squishy one's ( Teemo, Twitch, Pantheon). You must outrank them. Utility gives you a bit of CD Reductions, which are nothing later, 3 % Speed? You won't go over 400, so don't trouble yourself. Improves Ghost? You will use it only to run after your enemies, so I don't see the point.

Now, what does Defensive Masteries give you? Simply, awesome survability with your HP and AP. By doing so you will become a bit tanky, meaning hard to be killed:) Especially with you Sanguine. Just try it yourself and see what miracles can 4% reduced damage do when they are trying to gank you.

x9
Greater Seal of Vitalityx9
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x3

Totally you will get awesome advantage Early-Mid-Late Game. Why?
People keep on taking HP Quints and CDR Glyphs. I say: Nonsense!
What do you prefer on a Healing-Like-Tank O Mage? Extra 75 HP or 14MPen giving you crazy hits for the whole game. Yes, that's crucial, take a look below and see.

With you Boots and Masteries you will gain 15 % MPen + 34MPen, meaning that anyone with 30-40 MPen will suffer greatly against you recieving true damage from your skills, which hurt like hell.

Magic Resist Glyphs? Call me crazy, but if you didn't noticed 9/10 of Mid Champions are AP based. Having 43 Resist at the beggining is a bit, unfair for them, isn't it?^^

Now. Why? Why there is no Rylai here?
Okay, from the beggining:
- Sorcerer's Shoes, when combined with runes give you a total of 34 MPen, considering that most of the non-tank champions get about 30-40 Magic Resist, everyone between these values will have a really hard time with you.
- Will of the Ancients, there are many reasons why I love this item. It provides extra healing with all your skills, 20% + 30AP Aura and huge boost to Transfusion (Double Ammount of Heal). TIP: Tides of Blood will heal you after getting WoTA:)
- Rabadon's Deathcap, this item outranks Rylai on Vladimir. It provides you with a lot of AP, which scales greatly later on and provides a lot of health as the game continues.
TIP: Somehow, it raises your damage to turrets.
TIP 2: One Elixir of Brilliance is hella useful with Rabadon and Ardor, buy them everytime you have a chance.

Once again:
- Rylai's Crystal Scepter, there's nothing wrong with taking it before Rabadon. Just, more AP = more pure damage, it's up to you when it come to Rylai.
- Mejai's Soulstealer, I've never been a fan of snowball items. This one seems fair on Vladimir, but you know... one Rabadon gives you more AP then 20 Mejai stacks...
- Haunting Guise, Good Early game. You can swap it later for Void Staff against heavy tanks.
- Void Staff, All against tanks, totally. No need to comment.
- Spirit Visage, At first I underestimated this item combo with WoTA but it's really nice, later you can swap it for Rabadon/Rylai
- Zhonya's Hourglass, just in case, if you want to have more AP and defensive power then this item gives you it, works great against CC teams
- Abyssal Mask, another tank-like item with awesome -20MPen Aura. With this and WoTA you will be the lord in your team, if your enemies took Mercury Treads, feel free to get this item

Which and When?
- If you feel that their DPSes are doing too well get Thornmail to just rape them.
- Randuin's Omen comes handy with it's active allowing you for a total CC during Sanguine+Ultimate combo.
- Force of Nature is a great choice if their Casters are heavy on AP f.e Veigar, and +8% to Mov. Speed, sweet on Vlad.
- Warmog's Armor Eh, oh well, I have never been a fan of this one to be honest. It's just a waste to get HP Vlad, but if you like it.

In total, my full build against normal team (2 DPS, 2 Casters, Tank; 2 of them doing well) would be:

Typical Build I play with:

@Funny, isn't it?

Of course, take your Boots and Health Potions, say "Good Luck and Have Fun" on All Chat, then head for Mid Lane.
Get on the place and just wait... for minions to get on low health, after playing many, many games you will just get used to Vladimir AA (Auto Attack) and last hit them with it, saving your Transfusion on the enemy.
Mage Minions are easier to last-hit than the Guard one's, but it's a just minimum deal.
Remember to harass your enemy once level 3 comes in, your Transfusion deals a lot of damage at that moment.
The chapter below you will see a list of possible Mid Lane enemies.

Vlad is simply, the best Mid Laner in the game. However some enemies may be difficult:
Anivia, if played right. Get boots first to avoid her attacks and harass her.
Ryze, after his "nerf" he may throw that balls like crazy on you... just play defensive.
Swain, Heal vs Heal. But he has something like Mana, so play wisely and make him lose that source.
Teemo, Annyoing Brat... he is a squisher, but he kills really fast. Just be faster and make use of Sanguine.
Ezreal, Excluding his squishness, he has long range and can harass you through your minions, take care, he is a hard one, remember to avoid his Ultimate with Sanguine, it's crucial.
Karthus, Look at Anivia and do almost the same.
Katarina, the last one. She is tough, as she has no mana as well, meaning the one who deals more damage will need to recall faster.

How to...
~1.Farm
~2.Harass
~3.Gank

AD.1 Use Transfusion on Caster Minions, they are free gold and you can finish them in few hits. When it comes to other minions just let them approach the turret and finish them with Transfusion. Use Tides of Blood on low health waves.

AD.2 Go from left/right, hit them, then repeat it, sooner or later they will start pulling off when they see, then you must "pull off" as well and get ASAP to hit with Transfusion. Mind Tricks win the Mid, the one who uses his Mind better wins.

AD.3 Ganking is a pleasure with Vladimir, but do it only after buying boots. Just approach a lane, wait for a good moment, pop in -> Ghost -> ToB + Transfusion -> Ignite -> Sanguine -> ToB + Transfusion = +xxx value gold.

First Recall:
- Be sure to buy Sorc. Boots
- If you have enough gold, buy a Hextech Revolver

Second Recall:
- Complete your Will of the Ancients
- Get a Blastin Wand, if possible

Third Recall:
- Get your Rabadon's Deathcap
- Depending on your enemy, start getting another items

Now, you need to play by yourself, relying on your common sense try countering your enemies with items you need.

Vladimir is a champion that goes unseen, when he enters, he must finish everyone off. Make sure you're not the one to initiate as surprise attack is the best way for you.

When your team starts a team fight, enter after everyone has loaded all ********ed skills.

1. Ghost on them.
2. Cast Hemoplague
3. At once, catch them up with Sanguine Pool
4. Spam your other skills and Ignite the lowest target.
5. Congrattulations, you should get a triple kill each game thanks to this strategy.

I've nothing much to tell about Late Game... really, I rarely encounter a real Lat Game with everyone boosted up as hell because they usually surrender. But anyway, repeat the Team Fights Tactic, it's the best for Vladimir, don't give time to run and you shall be rewarded.

1. Spirit Visage can be used on Vladimir to boost his Transfusion heal dramatically, as it stacks with Tides of Blood effect.

2. Will of the Ancients is very effective on Vladimir with high AP, since it will increase the amount healed with Transfusion as well as adding a healing component to the rest of his abilities. Interestingly, for the Spell Vampirism statistic, Transfusion is considered a single-target ability, not receiving the 2/3 healing reduction (i.e. 6.6% instead of 20%) penalty for multi-target abilities, contrary to Rylai's Crystal Scepter.

3. Rylai's Crystal Scepter is a great item for most casters, but Vladimir will get even more from it due to his passive: the scepter will grant 644 HP and 92.5AP instead of 500 HP and 80 AP. Keep in mind, as of patch V1.0.0.111, none of Vladimirs abilities will trigger the 35% movement speed reduction; all four of his abilities are considered "multi-target" spells, including Transfusion, since it deals damage to your enemy and heals you shortly after, thus all of Vladimirs abilities will only reduce movement speed by 15%.

4.Using Sanguine Pool at the right moment can dodge spells like Enchanted Crystal Arrow, Trueshot Barrage, Requiem, Absolute Zero, Monsoon, Death Lotus, Time Bomb, and Explosive Cask.

It will also dodge abilities that are not skill shots such as Dazzle, Cryptic Gaze, and Petrifying Gaze.

Sanguine Pool does not cancel Bountiful Harvest, Soul Shackles, or Decrepify; it also will not prevent the stun from Event Horizon.

5.While specifically noted that Crimson Pact will not stack with itself, any Ability Power gained through Crimson Pact will be affected by Rabadon's Deathcap. The ability power added in this way will be converted into Health through Crimson Pact.

V1.0.0.111:

* Crimson Pact bonus ability power gain reduced to 1 ability power per 40 bonus health from 25 health.
* Sanguine Pool
o It no longer grants a speed bonus on use.
o It fixed a bug where Turrets would sometimes idle while Vladimir was pooled.
o It fixed a bug where it would occasionally not properly draw aggro upon exiting his pool.

V1.0.0.110:

* Sanguine Pool:
o Slow percentage reduced to 40% from 50%.
o Slow duration reduced to 1 second from 1.5 seconds.
* Tides of Blood health cost reduced to 30/40/50/60/70 from 30/45/60/75/90.

V1.0.0.106:

* Hemoplague:
o Base damage reduced to 150/250/350 from 200/300/400.
o Ability power ratio reduced to 0.7 from 0.75.
o Damage amplification effect changed to 14% at all ranks from 10/14/18%.
o Cooldown increased to 150/135/120 seconds from 120.
* Fixed a bug where Tides of Blood was not providing Vladimir with enough increased regeneration and healing.
* Fixed a bug where Tides of Blood did not deal full damage if you had 4 stacks before casting.

V1.0.0.105:

* Transfusion will now heal Vladimir even if the target is spell immune.
* Hemoplague will no longer damage enemies if it is dispelled.

V1.0.0.102:

* Sanguine Pool
o Damage per second changed to 20/33.75/47.5/61.25/75 retaining the same overall damage.
o Duration reduced to 2 seconds from 2.5.
o Slow duration increased to 1.5 seconds from 1 second.
o Fixed a bug where it wasn't dealing enough damage.

V1.0.0.101:

* Crimson Pact no longer heals Vladimir when his ability power increases.
* Fixed a bug where Transfusion was not restoring enough health from Spell Vamp.
* Fixed a bug where Transfusion's tooltip showed it restoring less health than it did.


V1.0.0.100:

* Hemoplague's debuff will now grant assists even if it does not deal damage to the target.

V1.0.0.99:

* Transfusion cast range reduced to 600 from 650.
* Tides of Blood:
o Buff duration increased to 10 from 8.
o Cast range increased to 620 from 570.

V1.0.0.98:

* Crimson Pact tooltip now displays stat bonuses.
* Sanguine Pool cooldown increased to 26/23/20/17/14 from 25/22/19/16/13.
* Tides of Blood:
o Health cost reduced to 30/45/60/75/90 from 40/55/70/85/100.
o It is now blocked by spell shields.

* Vladimir's basic skin slightly resembles the appearance of the Elder Vampire from Disciples II: Dark Prophecy.
* Vladimir's Count skin is a reference to Count Dracula from Bram Stoker's Dracula.
* Vladimir's Marquis skin is likely a reference to Lestat de Lioncourt, the antagonist/protagonist vampire from Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series of novels.
* Vladimir's Nosferatu skin is a reference to the movie of the same name, the very first vampire motion picture ever made in 1922.
* The Vladimir Vandal skin is a possible reference to the vampires from the movie The Lost Boys who would commonly ride around on motorcycles and dress in punkish attire.
* Since I have a Custom Skin here, it reffers to Alucard from Castlevania, and it's based on Marquis Skin.

Vladimir's name is likely inspired by Vlad the Impaler, the 15th century Romanian Prince that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. It should be noted that Vladimir is Slavic name (Vlad comes from Vlada- meaning reign and mir meaning world).

"Go ahead, be negative. You'll be just my type." ~ Vladimir