Good patterns
- Can create value through control, protection, setup or pressure that does not depend only on personal gold.
- Ranged basic attacks can contribute without entering melee distance when spacing is preserved.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Rakan
The Charmer
Rakan is a utility-focused champion whose value comes from helping allies and controlling access to a fight. This overview keeps the explanation practical and leaves patch-sensitive numbers to Riot's structured data and the current in-game tooltip.
Usual roleSupport◆ClassSupport
5DifficultyMedium · 5/10
◎Basic attacksRangedShort-ranged basic attacks; most of his threat still comes from abilities.
◈Damage profileMostly magic damageMost normal kit pressure is magic. Magic resistance may help, but control, penetration and true damage still matter.
#Reference patch16.20.1
Strengths and limits
What Rakan does well, and what can go wrong
These are kit-level patterns, not a promise that every lane or matchup plays the same way.
Limits to respect
- Reduced income makes item timing and safe cooperation more important than on a solo-lane carry.
- Needs the player to respect cooldowns, resources and the opponent's route into the fight.
Riot ally tips
Use these while learning the championRakan requires allies near him to make the most out of his tools.
Rakan's dash speeds increase with his Move Speed. Use the extra speed to surprise your enemies!
Danger is as fun as you let it be.
Riot opponent tips
What an opponent is told to watch forRakan's movement abilities forecast their destination. Try to use this to your advantage.
Champions with crowd control that can be applied quickly excel against Rakan.
Catching Rakan with no allies around severely inhibits his mobility. Try to find him alone.
Practical champion reading
How to read Rakan in a real fight
Use these patterns to ask better questions before choosing an item, target or commitment. They describe the kit, not a guaranteed result.
Primarily magic pressure
Magic resistance can reduce the broad spell profile, but positioning and cooldown tracking still decide whether the important abilities connect.
Track the complete ability cycle
Do not judge the champion from one button. Watch which setup, payoff and escape tools are available before choosing a trade or commitment.
Spacing protects repeated output
Ranged attacks are useful only while a safe line to the target remains. Flanks, hard control and blocked escape routes can remove that advantage quickly.
Enable allies and control access
Protection, setup and information can matter more than personal damage. Position so the next useful spell can reach the ally or target that needs it.
Identify the exact movement restriction
Tenacity can shorten only eligible control. Displacements, airborne effects and repeated slows need their own positioning, blocking or movement answer.
Check whether recovery changes the fight
Anti-heal or anti-shielding is situational. Buy it only when the effect is materially protecting targets and your champion can apply the answer reliably.
Mana and cooldowns both matter
A spell being available does not mean the complete sequence is sustainable. Watch the resource bar as well as the setup and escape cooldowns.
Defensive item reference
What can help against Rakan?
Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
DEFENSIVE BOOTS
Mercury's Treads usually fit better
Magic resistance addresses the broad damage profile, while Tenacity can shorten reducible control.
Choose Plated Steelcaps instead only when physical basic attacks from this champion or the rest of the team are the larger repeated threat.Normal Draft and Ranked role map
Where Rakan fits on Summoner's Rift
Each lane is assessed separately. Open a role to reach its queue-specific build and matchup preparation.
TopUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Rakan is normally played Support and does not currently have a reviewed Top route. Top usually needs independent laning, durable trading or reliable side-lane pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
JungleUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Rakan is normally played Support and does not currently have a reviewed Jungle route. Jungle usually needs repeatable monster clear, safe pathing and objective control without lane income. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
MidUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Rakan is normally played Support and does not currently have a reviewed Mid route. Mid usually needs solo-lane safety plus wave control, roaming or reliable burst pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
BotUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Rakan is normally played Support and does not currently have a reviewed Bot route. Bot usually needs dependable duo-lane scaling and sustained damage with shared early pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
SupportPrimary role
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Rakan has an established low-income Support plan with useful lane pressure, protection, engage or team utility.
Situational AP purchase
When should you buy anti-heal?
Buy healing reduction when enemy healing or regeneration is deciding fights and you can keep damaging the relevant target. Grievous Wounds reduces healing; it does not reduce shields, magic damage or crowd control.
Start with the component
Oblivion Orb can provide healing reduction without immediately paying for a completed Morellonomicon. Fit the component around your core damage, mana and survival needs; check the current queue's item tooltip.
Finish when it fits the fight
Complete Morellonomicon when its stats and slot efficiency suit your build. Do not treat it as a mandatory first item just because your champion deals magic damage.
Coordinate coverage
Multiple Grievous Wounds sources do not add their percentages together. Another reliable applier may cover the same target, but you may still need your own source for a separate fight or target.
Repeated spell damage and damage over time can maintain coverage more reliably than a single hit. Match the purchase to your actual spell access, enemy sustain and the teammates who can apply the debuff.
Will the fight last long enough?
If you die before dealing damage, you apply no healing reduction. If your target dies before healing, there is little healing to prevent. The debuff applies on qualifying damage immediately; it does not need to build up. It remains briefly after your last hit, so teammates can benefit even after you disengage.
Only healing during the active debuff counts. For example, 40% reduction prevents 80 of a 200-point heal, or 400 of a 1,000-point heal, before other modifiers. Compare that with the damage, penetration or survival you delayed; neither example guarantees a kill. Healing after the debuff expires is unaffected.
See the Oblivion Orb and Morellonomicon references for current effects and queue availability. These are situational decisions, not a measured best-build claim.
Kit reference
Rakan 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 / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Fey Feathers
What it doesRakan periodically gains a shield.
Practical readFey Feathers is an automatic part of the kit involving protection or sustain. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Protection
The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.
Q
Q ability
Gleaming Quill
What it doesFlings a magical feather that deals magic damage. Striking a champion or epic monster enables Rakan to heal his allies.
Practical readGleaming Quill contributes protection or sustain and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown11/10/9/8/7 secCost45Listed range850 units
W
W ability
Grand Entrance
What it doesDashes to a location, knocking up nearby enemies on arrival.
Practical readGrand Entrance is part of Rakan's W pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown14/13/12/11/10 secCost50/60/70/80/90Listed range600 units
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
E
E ability
Battle Dance
What it doesFlies to an allied champion granting them a shield. Can be re-cast for free for a short duration.
Practical readBattle Dance contributes protection or sustain. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cost40/45/50/55/60Listed range650 units
Protection
The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.
R
Ultimate
The Quickness
What it doesGains Move Speed, charming and dealing magic damage to enemies touched.
Practical readThe Quickness contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown130/110/90 secCost100Listed range150 units
Levels 1–18
Rakan · Health / Mana · Abilities
Base values exclude items, runes, temporary buffs and mode-specific modifiers. Cooldowns are the listed base cooldown before ability haste.
Cooldown Data Dragon 16.20.1
Basic abilityGleaming Quill
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 111 secRank 210 secRank 39 secRank 48 secRank 57 sec
Basic abilityGrand Entrance
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 114 secRank 213 secRank 312 secRank 411 secRank 510 sec
Basic abilityBattle Dance
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
CooldownRead current tooltip
UltimateThe Quickness
First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.
Rank 1130 secRank 2110 secRank 390 sec
Open every levelHealth and mana from level 1 to 18
| Level | Health | Mana | Ability milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 610 | 315 Mana | Choose the first basic ability |
| 2 | 681 | 351 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 3 | 756 | 389 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 4 | 834 | 428 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 5 | 916 | 470 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 6 | 1,001 | 513 Mana | First ultimate rank normally available |
| 7 | 1,090 | 557 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 8 | 1,182 | 604 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 9 | 1,277 | 652 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 10 | 1,376 | 702 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 11 | 1,479 | 754 Mana | Second ultimate rank normally available |
| 12 | 1,585 | 807 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 13 | 1,694 | 863 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 14 | 1,807 | 920 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 15 | 1,923 | 978 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 16 | 2,043 | 1,039 Mana | Final ultimate rank normally available |
| 17 | 2,166 | 1,101 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 18 | 2,293 | 1,165 Mana | Spend one ability point |
Choose the next question
Turn the profile into a pre-game plan
Choose a queue-aware build, compare a lane opponent, or return to the full champion library.