Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1
Doran's Bow
400 goldThis is the most-supported Draft/Ranked starting item in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Compare its durability, sustain and damage trade-off before leaving base.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Varus Bot · Normal Draft
Varus has an established Bot carry plan that can scale through shared-lane farm and work with a Support partner.
Primary roleStandard Summoner's Rift preparationHistorical 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
- 16.16 Data Dragon
- Build validation patch
- 16.19.1 Data Dragon
- Item lookup patch
- 16.20.1 Data Dragon
Normal Draft · Bot
On-hit marksman
Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.
First item
Statikk Shiv
3,000 goldThis item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.
Boots
Berserker's Greaves
1,100 goldThis is the most-supported Boots choice in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot; change it when the opposing damage or crowd control calls for a different defence.
On-hit core
Guinsoo's Rageblade
3,000 goldThis item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.
Second core
Terminus
3,000 goldThis item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.
Flexible defence
Bloodthirster
3,400 goldCompletes the six-item inventory with high attack damage and sustain for extended late fights.
Attack speed and safety
Phantom Dancer
2,650 goldMove through units.
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.
- First itemStatikk Shiv
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- Morellonomicon
- Second coreTerminus
- Flexible defenceBloodthirster
- Attack speed and safetyPhantom Dancer
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.
- First itemStatikk Shiv
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- Zhonya's Hourglass
- Second coreTerminus
- Flexible defenceBloodthirster
- Attack speed and safetyPhantom Dancer
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.
- First itemStatikk Shiv
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- On-hit coreGuinsoo's Rageblade
- Banshee's Veil
- Flexible defenceBloodthirster
- Attack speed and safetyPhantom Dancer
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.
- First itemStatikk Shiv
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- On-hit coreGuinsoo's Rageblade
- Void Staff
- Flexible defenceBloodthirster
- Attack speed and safetyPhantom Dancer
Runes and summoner spells
Runes and summoner spellsVarusBot
Preserve firing space and turn longer fights into sustained damage.
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Presence of Mind
Legend: Alacrity
Cut Down
Sorcery
Celerity
Gathering Storm
Flash
BarrierAvoid duplicating the same defensive spell without a reason. Barrier protects the user; Heal can protect both nearby lane partners.
Choose Cleanse only when removable crowd control is the lane or fight problem and you can use it reliably.
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.
Ahead plan
Protect the carry lead and finish the next objective
Lane
Pressure farm with your Support while keeping the wave and river warded; two opponents can still punish an isolated carry.
Map play
Move after the wave is secured and attack the objective from a position your team can defend.
Fights
Deal damage to the closest safe target and preserve the shutdown. The lead matters only while you remain alive.
Even plan
Prioritise farm, spacing and coordination with Support
Lane
Match the opposing carry's income and trade when both lane partners can participate.
Map play
Finish the wave before rotating unless the fight is immediate and clearly reachable.
Fights
Stand behind allied control and build damage on reachable targets before stepping toward the back line.
Behind plan
Keep collecting safe gold and shorten dangerous exposure
Lane
Farm near tower or with nearby allies. Give up isolated minions instead of offering another kill.
Map play
Avoid being first into river and trade an unsafe objective for income when the team cannot contest.
Fights
Wait for enemy cooldowns and attack whoever enters your safe range; survival creates more damage than a desperate flank.
Pings, movement and objectives
Varus Bot map plan
Protect income and coordinate with Support. Your movement should follow the wave, while your pings make target choice and danger clear before the fight begins.
Carry the lead into the next safe fight
- Ping
- Use Target on the reachable opponent, Danger when Support or Jungle is too far away, and On My Way after the wave is secured.
- Farm or rotate
- Finish the wave, recall on the item timing and rotate with protection. Do not cross river alone to save a few seconds.
- Objective
- Attack from the safe side of the objective and keep damaging the nearest reachable threat. Preserving the shutdown matters more than chasing.
Build the item timing and move together
- Ping
- Use Target to align with Support, Enemy Missing when either Bot opponent leaves and Danger if an engage begins outside your safe range.
- Farm or rotate
- Rotate after the wave or when the objective fight is immediate and reachable. Communicate if staying for the wave is the safer call.
- Objective
- Enter behind vision and allied control. Keep a route away from the enemy engage before starting sustained damage.
Shorten exposure and recover guaranteed gold
- Ping
- Use Retreat before Support or Jungle forces a fight you cannot damage, and Enemy Missing as soon as the winning Bot lane leaves.
- Farm or rotate
- Avoid being first into river. Move with Support after the safe wave, or trade an unsafe objective for protected farm.
- Objective
- Stand beside peel and attack whoever enters safe range. Do not cross enemy control to reach the opposing carry.
Objective setup
Four calls, in order
Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.
- 1Secure the wave
Finish safe farm and communicate the recall or move before the objective setup begins.
- 2Enter protected
Walk with Support or another ally and choose the side where enemy engage cannot reach you first.
- 3Set attack space
Keep an exit route and identify the nearest target you can damage without crossing enemy control.
- 4Stay alive
Continue useful damage without chasing away from the objective or donating a shutdown.
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 Varus into a real matchup
Compare a specific opponent, return to the champion overview, or choose another champion without losing the queue distinction.