Thornmail Master Yi Build

Thornmail Master Yi build with runes and items. Thornmail Master Yi guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Thornmail Master Yi build in League of Legends Patch 26.4!
TLDR















Thornmail Master Yi Runes





















Optional Summoner Spells
Exhaust
Defensive option. Exhaust for peeling against enemy divers and assassins and protecting your carries.
Ghost
Ghost for extra mobility - great for chasing down fleeing enemies or staying on top of slippery AD carries.
Ignite
Offensive option if you are feeling spicy. Grievous Wounds + some damage. Good in early fights and you can score some kills, but reduces your going-in potential. Especially later.
Optional Runes
Presence of Mind
Triumph is better overall (heal + gold), but if you want to have easier time with your mana, go Presence of Mind.
How it works
- You rush Thornmail and stack as much Armor as you can.
- You become auto-attackers' worst nightmare.
- Hit or miss. Works great if the enemy team is full of physical damage and auto-attackers. Less effective against full AP - but still viable since players auto attack anyway.
Champion
- This build is about Meditate (W). You go in, they focus you, you use W and soak tons of damage and you do tons of damage while doing that.
Playstyle
Rush Thornmail to punish all enemies who auto attack you.
Stay in fights - the more they hit you, the more they hurt themselves.
Adapt: if they are heavy AP, pivot to regular tank items.
How to play
Thornmail Master Yi
- Invoke chaos in teamfights. Run around fights. Alpha Strike (Q) around. Run into enemy. Get focused and then use Meditate (W).
- Watch out for enemy CC. You can wait for their CC, then use Meditate (W). Or alternatively, use Meditate (W), they will interrupt it right away and then you Alpha Strike (Q) out.
- The more people you tag by dealing damage to them either directly or with Thornmail, the more resets during fight you get.
- If an enemy team has tons of interrupts, just play a normal Master Yi tank version, because you are gonna get frustrated a lot.
- There are two mandatory items for this build. Catalyst of Aeons lets you constantly use W in fights (it drains % max mana per second) and Thornmail, which lets you damage your enemies while they try to kill you.
- You don't need boots for this build, however, if you want to boost your damage, get Sorcerer's Shoes. It will buff your Thornmail damage, Sunfire Aegis damage and Jak'Sho, The Protean damage.
- You can sell Catalyst of Aeons late game.
Getting started
- Start with Bramble Vest and Ruby Crystal. Rush Thornmail #1, then keep stacking Armor items.
- This build is aimed to counter AD comps. Since you don't know the enemy team before loading in, you need to adapt. If they are heavy AP, you can just fall back to a regular tank build.
During fights
- Stay in the middle of fights as long as possible. The more enemies hit you, the more damage Thornmail reflects.
- Randuin's Omen is great for engagements - it slows enemies on activation and reduces their crit damage.
- Late game, you can consider selling boots for a 6th item - for even more sweet Thornmail damage!
Runes
- Remember to consume your Grasp of the Undying procs!
- Triumph is better overall (heal + gold), but if you want to have easier time with your mana, go Presence of Mind.
Tips and Tricks
Champion
Alpha Strike (Q)
- You can dodge a lot of skillshots with Alpha Strike (Q). Even global ultimates, if you time it properly. Activate it just as the ability is about to hit you.
- You can use Alpha Strike (Q) to drop turret's aggro. That's very important during dives!
- Use Alpha Strike (Q) to poke enemies standing near minions - the ability will bounce to nearby targets, letting you harass safely from a distance. Works with your Wuju Style (E) as well as with On-Hit items!
- By using Q on a dying minion - if the minion dies mid-cast - you won't teleport. This can be useful to baiting enemies as well as dishing out some poke with Q.
- Alpha Strike (Q) can be used to escape by targeting nearby minions or enemies - you're untargetable during the cast, which can help dodge key skill shots or buy time for cooldowns and allies.
Wuju Style (E)
- If you are sure you are gonna hit someone with Q, you can activate Wuju Style (E) mid-flight for additional poke damage.
Riot
- If you're in a lane against ranged players, leveling up Meditate can allow you to stay in the lane longer and gain levels faster than they will.
- Wuju Style is very strong early for last hitting minions.
- Try using Alpha Strike on a minion in front of an enemy champion so you are placed at a safe distance at the end of the spell.
Skill Order
- Alpha Strike
Q
- Meditate
W
- Wuju Style
E
- Highlander
R
Items


































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