Vladimir Build Guide by Anvium

Introduction

Vlad is a beefy AP caster, and has amazing health regen. He's definitely one of the best AP Carries in the game, up there with Malzahar, Annie, Brand, Orianna, and Nidalee.

Pros & Cons

Runes

The runes listed above are the typical runes for any solo mid AP Carry. If you are in a dual lane (which you shouldn't be), then pick up flat AP seals. If you feel your early game isn't strong enough, pick up some health quints. The rune page I listed above though is probably optimal on vlad though since the health quints only help in early game.

Masteries

This is so self explanatory. Archaic Knowledge is a given for all AP casters, and Vlad doesn't need the extra defense. Instead, take the 21 points to Utility that don't involve mana. If you decide to take Ghost, then put a point into Haste in the utility tree instead of Blink of an Eye .

Summoner Spells

There are basically 3 spells that you can choose from. Ignite, Flash, and Ghost.

Ignite is basically mandatory for Vlad because it has amazing synergy with Hemoplague since it gives a 14% boost to any damage done to anybody infected with it. Basically it just boosts Ignite's potential by another 14%. Though it doesn't sound like much, it will finish anybody that gets away for sure since both Ignite and Hemoplague are damage-over-time spells.

Ghost should be picked up to escape with Sanguine Pool. All you do is pop a Ghost, and then a Sanguine Pool. This makes you untargetable, and probably fast enough to get away from your offender. This can also be used offensively if you're just too behind to slow somebody with Sanguine Pool, so you can catch up to the runner and slow him enough for your team to nuke him.

Flash is the best summoner spell overall, and should be pretty much used on everybody in my opinion. It doesn't have synergy with any of Vlad's skills, but it can still be used to unexpectedly Flash in and kill somebody, or to Flash out and pool away. This can also be used to Flash into a turret, burst a champion with low hp, and pool out of turret aim; or Flash over a wall. It's really versatile and great.

Skills Walkthrough

Laning Phases

You should always start with Boots of Speed and 3 Health Potions. Another popular starting build is an Amplifying Tome with one Health Potion, however, that will make your lane sustainability horrible. Starting with an Amplifying Tome basically means you're going to focus on harassment, and take shots back in exchange too. Vlad can't take the opportunity to get hit early game and has to rush that Hextech Revolver, which is why you take the defensive route with the boots and 3 Health Potions. You need the 3 Health Potions to stay in lane long enough to be able to afford a Hextech Revolver. This should be enough to get you to 1200 gold, when you recall to buy a Hextech Revolver. Once you get a Hextech Revolver, you'll practically be immovable. Your Transfusion will heal up so much, so their harassment won't get them anywhere. Also, DO NOT USE TRANSFUSION TO FARM BEFORE LEVEL 4 TRANSFUSION. You use your basic attack to farm, and harass with your Transfusion when the opponent's spells are on cool down. I've experimented with both, trust me on this one.


Upgrade your Boots of Speed to Ionian Boots of Lucidity, and invest some gold into a Spirit Visage if you're laning against an AP Caster, or if they have an AP heavy team. The Spirit Visage is just an investment for Mid Game, as it is mainly used for cool downs. Chances are you won't get far enough into the game to sell it if you do. Selling the Spirit Visage is mainly up to you, but just keep in mind that it has a great cool down reduction. After that, start building your Rylai's Crystal Scepter. Oh, and now is when you should start farming your *** off. Farming is what makes Vlad so great, and you're basically a slab of meat if you don't take advantage of that.


Once you have your Rylai's Crystal Scepter and Rabadon's Deathcap, you should be doing great in team fights. Basically in a team fight, your combo cycle would be to pop Hemoplague on 2 or more people with an Ignite on the squishiest one that has Hemoplague on. Then you focus that one person with Transfusion, Tides of Blood, and then I like to pop a Sanguine Pool to avoid all of the initial burst from everybody in the team fight, though holding it for an escape is on you. I'd recommend using the pool once you use the first 3 spells with Ignite though. Once you get up from the pool, use Transfusion, and Tides of Blood again. Basically just spam anything you have once you get up from the pool. Make sure you always open team fights after your initiator with Hemoplague for that extra 14% boost (sometimes, you ARE the initiator).

Items

The basic plan is to get beefy off of AP. Typically, at least one defensive item is always absolutely necessary, but Vlad's passive, Crimson Pact, covers this for us. The rare times I do get a defensive item, it is when the other team builds Madred's Bloodrazor, or Deathfire Grasp. If they get either or both, I build a Force of Nature. Another option is a Quicksilver Sash if the enemy team has a Malzahar, or Warwick.

Your core will always be Hextech Revolver, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Rabadon's Deathcap, and Void Staff in that order. Though it sounds like a pretty linear core and not much of a choice, I can guarantee you that this core is the optimal choice on Vlad. Let me explain. Hextech Revolver will amplify your lane sustainability by so much, and can let you regen HP in the jungle after a team fight instead of recalling. You can upgrade this later into a Will of the Ancients if you have enough gold to spare, but it should never be your priority. The priority is the Hextech Revolver for the spell vamp. Your next somewhat core item would be a Spirit Visage which is covered in the next paragraph. If you don't get the Spirit Visage, upgrade your Boots of Speed into Ionian Boots of Lucidity for the cool down reduction. After that, build a Rylai's Crystal Scepter, which is the first checkpoint to dominating late game. Crimson Pact pretty much makes Rylai's Crystal Scepter a must get item, and will give even more AP and HP than the stats say because of it. Once you pick up your Rabadon's Deathcap, you should pretty much win any 1v1 from there (even team fights since most of Vlad's abilities are AoE). Rabadon's Deathcap is a must-get item for ANY AP Carry. The reason for getting Rylai's Crystal Scepter first is to get some HP. Rushing the Rabadon's Deathcap won't give you enough HP to actually survive team fights. Then of course, Void Staff gives a lot of AP, and Magic Pen which is also a necessity for any AP Carry. You have the 6th choice to yourself when you sell your Spirit Visage, or just didn't pick one up. Keep in mind about the defensive items in the first paragraph for the 6th choice.

For starting items, I highly prefer Boots of Speed with 3 Health Potions for lane sustainability to rush that Hextech Revolver. Then depending on who you're laning with or enemy team composition, I build a Spirit Visage for the healing, cool down reduction, and magic resist. That means get a Spirit Visage if they have an AP laner or even a somewhat AP heavy team. It is up to you if you want to sell it, but just keep in mind of the stats it provides since it has great synergy with Vlad. It just isn't much of a late game item, and there might be some better choices. You may want to sell it late game if you're guaranteed the blue buff every time.

tl;dr

Farm like hell
Spam Transfusion when it's level 4
Use your pool defensively
Build AP and CDR
Hextech Revolver is amazing