VRC.LOL

Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1

Reference patch 16.20.1

Varus ARAM · Howling Abyss

A champion-specific Howling Abyss plan with ARAM starting, shopping and teamfight rules. Summoner's Rift roles are not used here.

One shared laneOne-lane Howling Abyss preparation
Champion overview
Review patch unknownRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch
— Data Dragon
Build validation patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Howling Abyss rules

Prepare for one shared lane

ARAM removes the normal Rift role map. Build around the champion, the five-player team and the next fight instead.

01
Start together

Review rerolls and the shared bench, then leave with an opening that fits this champion and the team around it.

02
Shop while dead

You cannot Recall to buy. Plan components before leaving the shop and use each death timer deliberately.

03
Share health relics

A relic heals nearby allies after a short delay. Signal it and avoid taking the trigger when a lower-health teammate needs the area.

04
Fight with the wave

Minions create structure pressure and safer space. Clearing first can be more useful than forcing another low-health engage.

ARAM · Howling Abyss

ARAM marksman reference

Compare the opening with Riot's ARAM Recommended shop before leaving base. After that, purchases happen only while dead; the six usable inventory slots do not increase.

Death-only shopping
S
ARAM opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Hammer

950 gold

An ARAM attack-damage and sustain starter to compare with the current Recommended shop.

1
Attack-speed Boots

Berserker's Greaves

1,100 gold

Adds attack speed and movement for repeated attacks.

2
Repeated-attack core

Kraken Slayer

3,000 gold

Builds a reliable repeated-attack damage core.

3
Critical damage

Infinity Edge

3,500 gold

Increases critical-strike damage after critical chance is established.

4
Against armour

Lord Dominik's Regards

3,300 gold

Adds percentage armour penetration against meaningful armour.

5
Late sustain

Bloodthirster

3,400 gold

Adds high attack damage and sustain for extended late fights.

6
Final option

Immortal Shieldbow

3,000 gold

Completes the permanent inventory with critical strike and a low-health shield after the damage core is established.

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 healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Against armourLord Dominik's Regards
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Against armourLord Dominik's Regards
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Critical damageInfinity Edge
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Critical damageInfinity Edge
  4. Void Staff
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededARAM marksman referenceRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Critical damageInfinity Edge
  4. Against armourLord Dominik's Regards
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Against armourLord Dominik's Regards
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Against armourLord Dominik's Regards
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Critical damageInfinity Edge
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. Attack-speed BootsBerserker's Greaves
  2. Repeated-attack coreKraken Slayer
  3. Critical damageInfinity Edge
  4. Void Staff
  5. Late sustainBloodthirster
  6. Final optionImmortal Shieldbow

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsVarusHowling Abyss

The marksman page preserves sustained damage and spacing. Flash and Ghost provide two player-controlled movement tools on the narrow Howling Abyss.

ARAM
Primary tree

Precision

Lethal TempoPresence of MindLegend: AlacrityCut Down
Secondary tree

Sorcery

CelerityGathering Storm
Summoner spells
FlashGhost
Howling Abyss only

Mark and Clarity are mode-specific choices. Do not copy this pair onto a Summoner's Rift page.

Protect the next fight

Choose the second spell around access, survival and team resources rather than treating every ARAM champion as a diver.

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

Morellonomicon

Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

They burst me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

They stack magic resist

Void Staff

Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Kit reference

Varus 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

Living Vengeance

What it doesOn kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Damage and Ability Power. This bonus is larger if the enemy is a champion.

Practical readLiving Vengeance is an automatic part of the kit involving damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.

Q
Q ability

Piercing Arrow

What it doesVarus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.

Practical readPiercing Arrow is a ranged cast involving damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.

Cooldown16/15/14/13/12 secCost50/55/60/65/70Listed range925 units
W
W ability

Blighted Quiver

What it doesPassive: 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.

Practical readBlighted Quiver contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown40 secListed range750 units
Maximum-health interaction

This effect references a maximum-health value. Check whether the current tooltip uses the caster's or the target's health before comparing damage or protection.

E
E ability

Hail of Arrows

What it doesVarus 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.

Practical readHail of Arrows is a ranged cast involving a slowing effect and protection or sustain. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.

Cooldown18/16/14/12/10 secCost90Listed range925 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

Chain of Corruption

What it doesVarus 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.

Practical readChain of Corruption is part of Varus's R pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.

Cooldown100/80/60 secCost100Listed range1300 units
Champion interception

Another enemy champion can affect who receives the important hit. Check the line between the caster and intended target.

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.

Even plan

Trade around health, range and the next wave

1
Wave

Let the team clear without spending every important cooldown at once.

2
Map play

Track the shared lane, brush control and available relics rather than looking for a Rift rotation.

3
Fights

Use the champion's reliable range, protection or control before forcing a low-percentage engage.

Shared-lane plan

Varus on Howling Abyss

Read health, range, wave position and respawn timing together. ARAM has no side-lane rotation, neutral-objective setup or normal ward-control loop.

ARAM only
1
Before the fight

Clear or escort the wave, check which allies are alive and preserve enough health to use the champion's reliable range, protection or engage.

2
During the fight

Use the nearest safe target and the team's reachable follow-up. Do not cross the whole enemy formation for a single low-health champion.

3
After the fight

Push with surviving minions, take the safe structure damage available and reset only through a real death rather than donating one alone.

Keep preparing

Stay inside the ARAM ruleset

Compare another champion, review all Howling Abyss builds, or return to the champion overview. Rift lanes and counter-pick claims stay out of this mode.

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