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Hybrid Varus

LucidLunatic·1/12/2015, 5:53:37 PM·3 votes·1,475 views

Almost all of the builds/guides I see for Varus build him as straight AD, or with a Trinity Force as the only AP source, but looking at his kit I think he could really benefit from a hybrid build thanks to his W passive and AP scaling on his ult (which only has a 70 second cooldown). The % of max health in particular could really add up considering it is per stack and all of his active abilities have the potential to hit multiple champions.

I have some thoughts for a hybrid build, but also some questions, namely, how will Spellvamp treat damage from his W passive? If it works with it as single target, then it is a nice little boost, other wise not worth it.

Things to include in build: Trinity Force (best Hybrid item) Infinity Edge (still an ADC) Hextech Gunblade (?) Nashor's Tooth - (CDR is important for that W passive, getting off another round of abilities is huge) Berserker's Greaves Defensive Item

Another possible consideration would be Rageblade, particularly if losing. I'd say Essence Reaver, but I don't think he's that mana hungry. Maybe Wits End as an option instead of Nashor's Tooth.

Mostly just spitballing ideas, here. Would love to hear from someone who knows better.

5 Comments

junglerboy161/12/2015, 6:13:41 PM2 votes

RIP Guinsoo's Rageblade. Rush that on Varus and you could win any lane. Hextech Gunblade is too expensive and only becomes useful if you have a LOT of AP, it isn't as good as BotRK, even on a hybrid build. Trinity force is pretty good on him, because your standard pattern as Hybrid Varus is AA>AA>AA>Spell and repeat, meaning you can get bonus burst right after that spell cast.

I'd say hybrid Varus' core items are Nashor's and Runaan's, since you will want to build a combination of on-hit and AD damage, then Trinity force into BotRK. After that, build mpen or Berserker boots and either a defensive item or a static shiv (Static shiv gives you crit damage on autos but also the magic damage passive, as well as AS for applying stacks). If you build Shiv, don't get the AS boots.

aaronconlin1/12/2015, 7:34:08 PM2 votes

Solwolf did a Break the Meta episode of AP Varus, you could either do straight AP with Nashor's Tooth and Lich Bane, or hybrid with Trinity Force, Rageblade and of course Nashor's with some AP items. You'd also probably want a Runaan's. Basically build him like Kayle

FantasySniper1/13/2015, 2:29:08 AM1 votes

Looks good. Don't consider Rageblade a losing item, though, it's really powerful and is in fact better when ahead.

Your defensive item could be a hybrid AP item, or you could go with another Vamp Scepter. Maybe even Wit's End.