Just a question for whoever reads this. Vladimirs recommended start item is Dorans shield, which gives 80 hp and hp regen. his passive makes it so that shield gives 80 HP and 2 AP. Dorans ring gives 60 hp 15 ap and mana based stats. Vlads passive makes it 81 hp and 16.5 ap. Amp tome gives 20 ap, passive making it 28 hp and 20 ap. Which is the best starting item on vlad? Raw numbers shows Ring is the most "efficient" but Dorans shield provides passive regen.
I go boots and pots on Vlad.
I find that I'll usually take Cloth Armor (vs AD) or Boots of Speed (vs AP) as my starting items. They give you useful stats early, build into core items, and provide a lot of sustain during early laning phase.
You don't really need early damage on Vladimir, but you need to be able to get gold and levels early game. Cloth Armor helps mitigate burst damage and Boots of Speed help you kite or escape your enemies while providing 5/4 health potions.
Doran's Shield is nice against passive lanes, but I find that it doesn't really provide enough immediate sustain if you get chunked from a gank or something. If you are too low, you can't approach the minions to heal without risking death.
I would highly recommend against taking Doran's Ring. You have no use for the mana sustain and it delays your core items.
Boots or Cloth Armor, and health pots. Health Pots bc HP is your resource and your die condition. Boots because avoiding skill shots and positioning for last hitting is ideal. Cloth Armor for high thread ad champs, gives you the space you need to farm into a decent recall item. If you want any kind of early dmg on Vlad put on AP quints and Reds.
NEVER Doran's ring, it offers far too much in terms of wasted stats. The mana restore is about 15-20% of the cost, and Doran's shield offers AP, more health, and more HP regen (which is effectively killing two birds with one stone, giving you more resources to cast with and more sustain in lane against poke. If you are going into a strong lane where you can hold your own with ease, getting the amp tome for an early revolver rush is a good option, and dorans shield is best against harder matchups where you need the anti poke mechanism and extra sustain+health.
