Swiftplay opening · separate from item 1
Guardian's Hammer
950 goldAdds attack damage, health and life steal for physical champions who rely on repeated basic attacks in Swiftplay.
Game patch 26.21Data Dragon 16.21.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Master Yi Top · Swiftplay
Master Yi Top is an experimental Swiftplay route supported here by a three-match private completed-game review. The observed carry items fit repeated attacks and critical strikes, but the sample is far too small to establish the role or prove a best order.
Experimental routeFaster starting rules and queue evidenceHistorical referenceRecommendation review pending
These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.
- Recommendation patch
- 16.15 Data Dragon
- Build validation patch
- 16.19.1 Data Dragon
- Item lookup patch
- 16.20.1 Data Dragon
Swiftplay · Top
Swiftplay Top crit carry
Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.
First item
Blade of The Ruined King
3,200 goldAdds percentage-health on-hit damage and sustain for extended Top-lane trades.
Boots
Berserker's Greaves
1,100 goldAdds attack speed and movement for repeated attacks and spacing.
Core
Kraken Slayer
3,000 goldAdds a repeated-attack damage core after Blade of the Ruined King.
Late
The Collector
3,000 goldAdds critical strike and execute pressure after the on-hit core is functional.
Flexible
Lord Dominik's Regards
3,300 goldAdds percentage armour penetration when targets have meaningful armour.
Final critical damage
Infinity Edge
3,500 goldIncreases critical-strike damage as the final high-income slot.
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
Complete build choices
Choose the route before play
Recommendation review pending
AlternativeToo much healingChempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.
View full route▾
Best when: Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.
- First itemBlade of The Ruined King
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- Chempunk Chainsword
- LateThe Collector
- FlexibleLord Dominik's Regards
- Final critical damageInfinity Edge
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
AlternativePhysical burstDeath's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.
View full route▾
Best when: Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.
- First itemBlade of The Ruined King
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- Death's Dance
- LateThe Collector
- FlexibleLord Dominik's Regards
- Final critical damageInfinity Edge
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
AlternativeSustained magic damageKaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.
View full route▾
Best when: Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.
- First itemBlade of The Ruined King
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- CoreKraken Slayer
- Kaenic Rookern
- FlexibleLord Dominik's Regards
- Final critical damageInfinity Edge
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
Runes and summoner spells
Runes and summoner spellsMaster YiTop
Use repeated combat and durability rather than gambling the long solo lane on one short trade.
Precision
Conqueror
Triumph
Legend: Alacrity
Last Stand
Resolve
Bone Plating
Overgrowth
Flash
TeleportTeleport preserves recalls and side-lane access. Ignite is a deliberate pressure trade-off, not a universal upgrade.
Keep the defensive secondary runes when repeated poke or one committed trade can decide the lane.
Static alternatives
Compare the problem before changing the plan
These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.
Too much healing
Chempunk Chainsword
Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.
Physical burst
Death's Dance
Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.
Sustained magic damage
Kaenic Rookern
Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.
Kit reference
Master Yi abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Double Strike
What it doesEvery few consecutive basic attack, Master Yi strikes twice.
Q
Q ability
Alpha Strike
What it doesMaster Yi teleports across the battlefield with blinding speed, dealing physical damage to multiple units in his path, while simultaneously becoming untargetable. Alpha Strike can critically strike and deals bonus physical damage to monsters. Basic attacks reduce Alpha Strike's cooldown.
Cooldown (s)20/19.5/19/18.5/18Cost50/55/60/65/70Listed range (units)600
W
W ability
Meditate
What it doesMaster Yi rejuvenates his body by focus of mind, restoring Health and taking reduced damage for a short time. In addition, Master Yi will gain stacks of Double Strike and pause the remaining duration on Wuju Style and Highlander for each second he channels.
Cooldown (s)10Cost40Listed range (units)20
E
E ability
Wuju Style
What it doesGrants bonus true damage on basic attacks.
Cooldown (s)14Listed range (units)20
R
Ultimate
Highlander
What it doesMaster Yi moves with unparalleled agility, temporarily increasing his Move Speed and Attack Speed as well as making him immune to all slowing effects. While active, Champion kills or assists extend Highlander's duration. Passively reduces cooldown for his other abilities on a kill or assist.
Cooldown (s)85Cost100
Adapt the plan
What to do when the game changes
Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.
Ahead plan
Control the side lane without donating the lead
Lane
Hold a favourable wave, pressure the enemy away from farm and keep enough vision to survive the second opponent.
Map play
Push before moving to an objective; arrive through a known route rather than giving up the wave and your shutdown.
Fights
Use the lead to occupy space for the team. Do not chase through the entire enemy formation for one target.
Even plan
Trade around the wave and your strongest cooldowns
Lane
Keep health and minions balanced so one poor trade does not decide the lane.
Map play
Move after the wave is handled and communicate if the opposing Top laner leaves first.
Fights
Choose between front-line duty, side pressure and carry access according to the champion kit.
Behind plan
Protect experience and stop the lane from accelerating
Lane
Farm near safety, avoid repeating the losing trade and ask for help only when the wave creates a realistic window.
Map play
Do not follow a stronger opponent through unseen river. Signal the move and recover guaranteed resources.
Fights
Contribute control or pressure to the nearest safe target instead of trying to repair the score alone.
Pings, movement and objectives
Master Yi Top map plan
Manage the long lane before leaving it. A useful move begins with a handled wave, a visible route and a teammate who knows you are coming.
Use the side-lane lead without donating it
- Ping
- Ping Enemy Missing when the opposing Top leaves, then On My Way before a flank or objective move.
- Stay or move
- Push the wave before moving. Stay if leaving would hand several minions or your tower back to the opponent.
- Objective
- Arrive through a known route and mark whether you are front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry. Do not enter alone before the team can follow.
Make the wave create the first move
- Ping
- Use Enemy Missing early, Danger on the route they may take, and On My Way only after your own wave is handled.
- Stay or move
- Move after pushing or on a shared recall. Do not follow through unwarded river merely because the opponent left first.
- Objective
- Tell the team whether you can move before the objective starts. Approach with vision and save the cooldown needed for the first real commitment.
Protect experience and communicate the pressure
- Ping
- Ping Enemy Missing immediately and Retreat if teammates are about to meet the stronger Top laner without you.
- Stay or move
- Do not match a stronger opponent through darkness. Clear the safe wave, then group by the shortest controlled route.
- Objective
- State early if you cannot contest. If the team still fights, provide control or protection instead of attempting an isolated flank.
Objective setup
Four calls, in order
Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.
- 1Handle the wave
Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.
- 2Signal the route
Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.
- 3Enter together
Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.
- 4Choose the job
Decide whether you are engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry before the fight begins.
Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.
Use the guide
Put Master Yi into a real matchup
Compare a specific opponent, return to the champion overview, or choose another champion without losing the queue distinction.