Varus Build
the Arrow of Retribution
One of the ancient darkin, Varus was a deadly killer who loved to torment his foes, driving them almost to insanity before delivering the killing arrow. He was imprisoned at the end of the Great Darkin War, but escaped centuries later in the remade flesh of two Ionian hunters—they had unwittingly released him, cursed to bear the bow containing his bound essence. Varus now seeks out those who trapped him, in order to enact his brutal vengeance, but the mortal souls within still resist him every step of the way.
The most played Varus Top build on patch 26.21 runs Press the Attack with Triumph, Legend: Alacrity and Last Stand, plus Bone Plating and Overgrowth from the secondary tree. Take Flash and Exhaust. Start with Doran's Bow and Health Potion, then build Experimental Hexplate, Dusk and Dawn and Nashor's Tooth, followed by Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap and Jak'Sho, The Protean. Max W (Blighted Quiver) first, then Q (Piercing Arrow), then E (Hail of Arrows). It has a 46.6% win rate and a 0.8% pick rate.
Runes
Primary
Press the Attack
Hitting an enemy champion 3 consecutive times deals bonus damage and amplifies your damage until you leave combat with champions.
Press the Attack
Hitting an enemy champion with 3 consecutive basic attacks deals 40 - 160 bonus adaptive damage (based on level) and amplifies your damage dealt by 8% until you leave combat with champions.
Triumph
Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold.
Triumph
Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant an additional 20 gold. 'The most dangerous game brings the greatest glory.' —Noxian Reckoner
Legend: Alacrity
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed.
Legend: Alacrity
Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks). Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Last Stand
Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.
Secondary
Bone Plating
After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage. Duration: 1.5s Cooldown: 55s
Bone Plating
After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage. Duration: 1.5s Cooldown: 55s
Overgrowth
Gain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you.
Overgrowth
Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8. When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.
Summoner Spells
Flash
Cooldown 300s
Flash
Cooldown 300s
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Exhaust
Cooldown 240s
Exhaust
Cooldown 240s
Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Skill Priority
WBlighted Quiver
Cooldown 40s
Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
QPiercing Arrow
Cooldown 16/15/14/13/12s · 50/55/60/65/70 Mana
Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
EHail of Arrows
Cooldown 18/16/14/12/10s · 90 Mana
Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
Item Build
Full build 18,950gStarting Items
Doran's Bow
400g
Doran's Bow
- 8 Attack Damage
- 15% Attack Speed
- 1.5% Omnivamp
Ă—2Health Potion
2 Ă— 50g
Health Potion
Consume Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
Core Build
1Experimental Hexplate
3,000g40 AD · 20% AS · 450 HP
Hexcharged · Overdrive
Experimental Hexplate
3,000g- 40 Attack Damage
- 20% Attack Speed
- 450 Health
Hexcharged Gain 30 Ultimate Ability Haste. Overdrive After casting your Ultimate, gain % Attack Speed and % Move Speed for 8 seconds.
2Dusk and Dawn
3,100g300 HP · 60 AP · 20 AH · 20% AS
Spellblade
Dusk and Dawn
3,100g- 300 Health
- 60 Ability Power
- 20 Ability Haste
- 20% Attack Speed
Spellblade (0s) After using an Ability, your next Attack deals bonus magic damage and heals you for On-Hit and then applies On-Hit effects an additional time.
3Nashor's Tooth
2,900g80 AP · 50% AS · 15 AH
Icathian Bite
Nashor's Tooth
2,900g- 80 Ability Power
- 50% Attack Speed
- 15 Ability Haste
Icathian Bite Attacks deal bonus magic damage On-Hit.
4Zhonya's Hourglass
3,250g105 AP · 50 Armor
Time Stop
Zhonya's Hourglass
3,250g- 105 Ability Power
- 50 Armor
Time Stop Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
5Rabadon's Deathcap
3,500g130 AP
Magical Opus
Rabadon's Deathcap
3,500g- 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
6Jak'Sho, The Protean
3,200g350 HP · 45 Armor · 45 MR
Voidborn Resilience
Jak'Sho, The Protean
3,200g- 350 Health
- 45 Armor
- 45 Magic Resist
Voidborn Resilience After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
Abilities & Skill Path
Living Vengeance
On kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Damage and Ability Power. This bonus is larger if the enemy is a champion.
QPiercing Arrow
Cooldown 16/15/14/13/12s · 50/55/60/65/70 Mana
Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
WBlighted Quiver
Cooldown 40s
Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
EHail of Arrows
Cooldown 18/16/14/12/10s · 90 Mana
Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
RChain of Corruption
Cooldown 100/80/60s · 100 Mana
Varus flings out a damaging tendril of corruption that immobilizes the first enemy champion hit and then spreads towards nearby uninfected champions, immobilizing them too on contact.