Hey guys, this is my first guide on League of Legends. Well this is just a basic guide on how I play Vladimir. With this guide, you can do INSANE amounts of damage against the squishy enemies while having a tonne of hp, topping around 4.5k - 5.6k hp. Well just give it a go and give me a +1 if you like it and give me a -1 if you think its rubbish. Also I apologize for having no pictures because im still new. Please post any opinions and critisism, as it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

REMEMBER
Your not a proper tank. Your a tank-ISH mage. With less armour and magic resist. than proper tanks, you will still be at risk of dying to a group of enemy champs. Dont rush head first into their team. Play safe, or die, your choice.

I got Magic Pen. for my marks because it helps you to get kills early game.
I got Fortitude Seals because they help with his tank side and gives him some extra AP.
The AP per lvl glyphs just give you a nice boost and give you a little extra HP on the side.
The Quints are just there to give you that little advantage early game, so you can kick some ***!

Well, thats it for my runes. Nice simple runes that really give vladimir that extra edge.

Good for Vlad

Ignite - Great for killing of those enemies and is a good combo with Hemoplague (ult)
Ghost - Helps vlad with ganking and chasing. Great with Sanguine Pool.
Flash - Very Flexible, and chosen by most. Helps with getaways or getting that last hit.

Works with Vlad

Cleanse - If you cant deal with CC's, then take cleanse. Use it with Sanguine Pool to get away.
Teleport - I find that the map mobility is nice, and gets you to were you need to be.

Bad Choices for Vlad

Heal - You heal yourself. For a lot at that. Why would you need this?
Clarity - You dont have mana. Do I have to say anything more?
Rally - Benefits melee champs more. Dont get it.
Revive - Avoid getting revive. The point is not to die. You wont need this.
Fortify - You dont benefit much from its passive. Let someone else get it.

Well I thought that the best way to go is an Amplifying Tome for the AP and one health potion.

Save up around 2000g, which will be roughly lvl 10, then recall and Sorceror's Shoes and turn your Amplifying Tome into a Medjais Soulstealer. Most champs have trouble keeping up the stacks, but to be honest with you guys, its not that hard with vladimir. Its worth the gamble.

The next big item I get is Rylai's Crystal Scepter, due to its hard bonuses and the passive bonus. Also, its a great item for kiting. The slow is just a nice addition thats great for chasing.

At this point, you should start building your Warmog's Living Armour, which gives you a nice boost in your armor and hp, as well as boosting your AP. Start with a Giant's Belt for the HP bonus and AP boost, then keep farming and killing champs until you can afford to buy the rest of warmogs.

Team fights should be erupting every few minutes now, so it's time to pull out the heavy artillery. Save up for a Needlessly Large Rod to get you started on your Rabadon's Deathcap. Once you have enough gold, get your Rabadon's. Your transfusion should heal you for loads and you should do decent damage with your other moves. Now you can dish out some serious pain.

For my last item, I chose Zhonya's Hourglass, since they had gotten rid of Zhonya's Ring, for the AP and HP, as well as the active, which can save your life when you get a little bit reckless. Providing that you are doing well with your medjais stacks, you should have around 500 - 600AP. Ouch.

Early Game

During the Early Game period, most players will be laning, farming or jungling. You should farm minions while harrasing with Transfusion. Dont use any other abilities to harras yet. Once you have your ulti, start looking for chances. If theyre around half hp, pop ghost and use transfusion on them. Then pop your ulti and ignite, and sanguine pool, once out of the pool use tides of blood and then another transfusion. If theyre not dead by then, or near a turret, back off and let them go (unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE that you can get them).

Mid Game

Around about now, there should be the occasional team fight. Just jump in and nuke the squishies. When your not nuking someone in a team fight, then farm or gank the occasional person who pushes down too far down one of your lane.

Late Game

With team fights blowing up everywere, its not really safe to go solo anymore. Stick with a teammate and lay waste to anything that stands in your way. Just focus on killing the enemy squishies and carries and let your teammates deal with the rest. Then finish off with a push into there base and destroy the nexus. VICTORY!

Here are some tips and tricks that really help me play vladimir.

1. Sanguine Poolis a great tower diving tool. Run in, hit them with transfusion and/or ulti, then pool out of range.

2. Your ultimate has a large AoE, so if they are on the edge of its range and recalling, hit them with it.

3. If your being chased by a melee champ, use your Rylai's Crystal Scepter to heal yourself with Transfusion.

Well, just try it out and tell me what you think. Leave any comments or critisism and give me a +1 if you like it or a -1 if you don't. Thanks for reading.