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Bot · Ranked Solo/DuoMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Brand vs Vex

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

BrandVSVex

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search every champion, choose the assigned role, then open the exact queue page.

VS
Role
Selected laneBot

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

BotBrand

Brand Bot is a player-chosen AP carry strategy. His burn and crowd control can pressure a duo lane, but the team may need sustained physical damage from another role.

Experimental route
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

Ranked Solo/Duo · Bot

Mage bottom baseline

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Experimental route
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Doran's Ring

400 gold

Provides ability power, mana regeneration and lane sustain.

1
First item

Luden's Echo

2,750 gold

Completes a stable mana-and-damage item for farming the duo lane.

2
Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

1,100 gold

Adds early magic penetration against low-resistance targets.

3
Long-range utility

Horizon Focus

2,700 gold

Rewards landing long-range abilities before the rest of the spell rotation.

4
Late power

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 gold

Multiplies the ability power from the completed core.

5
Vs resistance

Cryptbloom

3,000 gold

Adds percentage magic penetration once enemies buy resistance.

6
Repeated spell rotations

Cosmic Drive

3,000 gold

Adds movement speed and ability haste for repeated late-game spell rotations after the core is established.

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. First itemLuden's Echo
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemLuden's Echo
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemLuden's Echo
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Long-range utilityHorizon Focus
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededMage bottom baselineRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemLuden's Echo
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Long-range utilityHorizon Focus
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemLuden's Echo
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemLuden's Echo
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemLuden's Echo
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Long-range utilityHorizon Focus
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Vs resistanceCryptbloom
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsBrandBot

A spell-casting Bot route needs mana and repeated ability contact rather than a marksman attack-speed page. Heal supports the shared lane.

Ranked Solo/Duo
Primary tree

Sorcery

Arcane CometManaflow BandTranscendenceScorch
Secondary tree

Precision

Presence of MindCut Down
Summoner spells
FlashHeal
Coordinate the Support

Avoid duplicating the same defensive spell without a reason. Barrier protects the user; Heal can protect both nearby lane partners.

Cleanse is specific

Choose Cleanse only when removable crowd control is the lane or fight problem and you can use it reliably.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Kit comparison

Respect the opponent's reliable threat

Track the cooldown and range of the ability that starts their safest trade. Do not treat this page as a statistical counter claim.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Treat Vex as one part of the map state. Their Jungler, nearby waves and which teammates can move determine whether the same trade or rotation is safe.

Ability reminders

Brand reminders

  • You can deter enemies from standing near their minions by setting them ablaze, due to Conflagration.
  • You can use Brand's abilities in a variety of combinations to maximize his damage in different situations.
  • Pyroclasm bounces randomly between enemies, so try to cast it on a small group of enemies if you want to hit the same target multiple times.

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.

Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.
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.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Brand

  1. P
    Blaze

    Brand's spells light his targets ablaze, dealing damage over 4 seconds, stacking up to 3 times. If Brand kills an enemy while it is ablaze he regains mana. When Blaze reaches max stacks on a Champion or large monster, it becomes unstable. It detonates in 2 seconds, applying spell effects and dealing massive damage in an area around the victim.

  2. Q
    Sear

    Brand launches a ball of fire forward that deals magic damage. If the target is ablaze, Sear will stun the target.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7.5/7/6.5/6 · Cost 70 · Listed range (units) 1050
  3. W
    Pillar of Flame

    After a short delay, Brand creates a Pillar of Flame at a target area, dealing magic damage to enemy units within the area. Units that are ablaze take an additional 25% damage.

    Cooldown (s) 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 · Cost 60/70/80/90/100 · Listed range (units) 900
  4. E
    Conflagration

    Brand conjures a powerful blast at his target that spreads to nearby enemies, dealing magic damage. If the target is ablaze, Conflagration's spread is doubled.

    Cooldown (s) 13/12/11/10/9 · Cost 90 · Listed range (units) 625
  5. R
    Pyroclasm

    Brand unleashes a devastating torrent of fire that bounces up to 5 times off of Brand and nearby enemies, dealing magic damage to enemies each time bounce. Bounces prioritize stacking Blaze to max on Champions. If a target is ablaze, Pyroclasm will briefly slow them.

    Cooldown (s) 100/90/80 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 750

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range (units) 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range (units) 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

    Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

    Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 2000/2500/3000

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

Prioritise farm, spacing and coordination with Support

1
Lane

Match the opposing carry's income and trade when both lane partners can participate.

2
Map play

Finish the wave before rotating unless the fight is immediate and clearly reachable.

3
Fights

Stand behind allied control and build damage on reachable targets before stepping toward the back line.

Pings, movement and objectives

Brand 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.

Ahead

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.
Even

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.
Behind

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.

  1. 1
    Secure the wave

    Finish safe farm and communicate the recall or move before the objective setup begins.

  2. 2
    Enter protected

    Walk with Support or another ally and choose the side where enemy engage cannot reach you first.

  3. 3
    Set attack space

    Keep an exit route and identify the nearest target you can damage without crossing enemy control.

  4. 4
    Stay 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.

Keep preparing

Use the champion page or choose another opponent

The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.

Open full buildCompare counter options