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PSA: Varus is the ultimate counter to mages in bot lane

Verdade·1/21/2017, 12:08:33 PM·64 votes·5,287 views

Champions in bot lane countered by Varus: Ziggs Zyra Brand Velkoz Annie Soraka Sona, partially Malzahar

Why?

  1. Mages rely on potions to heal, support mages (and Ziggs) rely on their range so they won't get hit and won't need to heal. Varus' Q can deal very decent damage at long ranges, depleting their HP and potions REAL quickly
  2. Mages have naturally low base armor. This is again covered by their range, as they outrange even ADCs. However, they won't outrange Varus
  3. Varus has pretty good waveclear if he wants to, so he can match pushing power of Ziggs and it's much harder to push him into tower than any other ADC.
  4. His damage spikes early and he snowballs hard. Q with just BF takes 1/3 to 1/2 of squishy's HP
  5. Varus has really good all-in, he can lock down at pretty long range and has rather good burst. Additionaly, his E applies GW so he denies Heal pretty well.
  6. Even if he gets poked, he can easily sustain it via lifesteal (which is not an option for Ziggs) or just buy early item 3156
  7. His mana problems are pretty easily solved by buying item 1056 rather than item 1055. He loses a bit of lifesteal and AD, but gains 5 mana/CS, which coupled with Meditation mastery makes him really hard to mana-starve.

105 Comments

OurLestrade1/21/2017, 12:13:00 PM12 votes

Doran's Ring sounds like an interesting pick up for bot lane, certainly worth trying :P

Hexs Fortune1/21/2017, 3:13:01 PM10 votes

Is it finally varus time to shine?

TyrekGoldenspear1/21/2017, 1:18:22 PM9 votes

Varus: to Mages he is the Marksman's Arrow of Retribution.

Sexy Jack Rabbit1/21/2017, 3:02:34 PM3 votes

A lot of your points are exaggerated, but I see your point.

Varus deals extremely well with Mages due to his E, which inflicts grievous wounds, and as a result diminishes healing. Abusing Varus's E whenever mages use a Potion is a very good way to diminish a Mages laning phase.

Lastly don't buy Maw of Malmortius on ADCs. You are better of taking item 3814, especially this coming patch. It grants a lot more damage, a free spell shield on VERY Short CD, and Lethality. Which despite it's meh state, functions well against squishies.

Rivuo1/21/2017, 2:56:49 PM2 votes

I have to disagree. I've been trying Varus in low diamond and hes 575 range with absolutely no mobility. This makes it easy for brand or any other AP champ to land skills on him.

Even if you ult brand as varus, all he has to do is W you when you go to auto him because he can still do skills. I just dont think it's viable, Especially seein as how malzahar point and clicks on you everytime its off CD

oSEXYPLATYPUSo1/21/2017, 2:37:20 PM2 votes

i have just played cait... and rush item 3155 1st item then go into my core build of item 3031 item 3085

has worked vs ziggs every time

but im pretty sure a Morgana Sivir bot lane would be really good vs them

GigaPube1/21/2017, 8:44:28 PM1 votes

everyone thinks in preseason, because they're not watching pro games, that ADCs are trash, just because they probably played ADC at some point during that time, and probably died frequently because they arent good at kiting

now that the pros are playing, the pros are actually showing you plebs that ADCs can be good with a little bit of practice

what happens now? well now me make stupid theories based on any other little information we have from the 1st few days of gameplay we watch. so now we've seen some varus in the LCS, so now people can make the assumption that varus "IS THE ULTIMATE COUNTER TO MAGES". wait what? where the hell does this come from? wtf am i reading lmao. some people, jesus christ....

TeCoolMage1/21/2017, 4:04:03 PM1 votes

actually caitlyn also works for all points but 1, 7 and a bit of 5 with the added bonus of having better burst and late game.

Varus is better if you're really bent on shutting down a mage bot lane though. But Caitlyn works as a 'general' ADC that can do decently well against them

edit: lol downvoted for being right

ForgiveColour1/21/2017, 5:31:11 PM1 votes

dorans ring

Lmao not everyone plays in bronze kid

Elisheva1/21/2017, 6:28:27 PM1 votes

Caitlyn