Yorick.
Hey, guys! The KY Caveman here. (Kentucky. Not the Lube.)
Little background... I've been around for a while but never really done the forums. Want to say I started early 2011-2012 and started as a Teemo ADC main and slowly progressed through the jungle and mid, to where I primarily now top lane. I'm not huge in the ranked scene -- only halfway to silver 4 here. A few months ago, I started playing Yorick. Yesterday, I hit champion mastery 7; today I hit 100k mastery points (woot!). I think I want to share my opinions of him for once and then I can be off the boards again.
How to build Yorick? Rush a tear and start mana crystal+consumable pot with W for poke (lot of damage at level 1). Try and first back around 750 gold minimum for tear and long sword -- at least level 4 so you can get a QW off to start your tear right! Buy a pickaxe and normal boots. Now you are farming your tear. Get your Manamune, Sheen, Swifties, Triforce, Deadman's. Now you have options. Maw works, deaths dance is effective, mana issues? Essence Reaver. Skills from 1 -> w-e-w-q-e-r then focus r>w>e>q. Poke with W, Sustain with E, Melee with Q, R for a teammate to back you up (even if it's just your own little non-exploding Yorick Clone). Before Herald was recently buffed, I Solo'd him at 4 EASILY.
People don't know how to play against Yorick. Fair statement? I also know very well if someone decided to counter pick me, too! They either pick Trundle or Cho'Gath... Though people don't often consider Nasus or Sion. Heck, I think Irelia might be a good one due to that built in sustain. Really, that is what I find as the main counter to Yorick-- other than getting camped by the Jungler.
My question though: Why don't people play Yorick? I have a great time against the wide array of Yasuos and their rapidly fading bubbles that make them feel safe, Teemo is left shroomless, Garen never heals, Thunderlords out-damages Voli's passive, Darius can't Apprehend you forever, Assassins have to one hit you otherwise your sustain kicks in (Rengar, I'm looking at you), you cause a dive bomb when somebody dies (I use the phrases "You're dead, I didn't REZ you!" and "You have 10 seconds."), and he's supremely mobile with easy DPS in the jungle and teamfights. On top of all that, Laning is a CINCH. I had an Ekko today ask "How the hell do you play against a Yorick with all that sustain and harrass?"
He's not an effective jungler in most instances because people A.) don't try it and B.) don't know how to juggle their ghouls' aggro. His ganks yield in several flashes burned and frequently ends in a VERY powerful thunderlord proc (W, E, Q -- I call my Q a mini-Sheen... and it stacks with Sheen/Triforce). He even has recommended items in the jungle! Yorick is not a fun support. You have to be careful with your ghouls because you are not here for kills. You still need your tear of course, but it's just a little behind the time frame you get used to in top/mid lanes. On the other hand, you continue focusing your point and click W ghoul just like in the other lanes and your damage is ridiculous to the very squishy adc on the other team.
My problem with Yorick? I want a new skin. Come on, I only have the Undertaker and Pentakill. BTW, Pentakill Yorick's left wrist is hanging by a thread. Seriously, I think he had surgery and the doc forgot to put anything back in there. It's horrifying. I'm sure you'll put new skins in with the rework, but Yorick hasn't had a skin added since....He was released? Sounds about right. You know if you put in a Yorick skin people like me will buy it just because it's there (I admit I have a problem). But seriously, though, my favorite champion is getting reworked. I don't know how I feel about it, but C'est La Vie. The problem at present is the people that hear "Yorick" and immediately begin the flame wars. He's a good champion! Don't ban him or troll me just because other people don't play him!
TLDR: Yorick is Awesome. People need to actually try him out instead of just bashing him and players who play him. Give us a new skin Rito. Why don't people play Yorick? (I think I hit it all.)