Thornmail Neeko Build

Thornmail Neeko build with runes and items. Thornmail Neeko guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Thornmail Neeko build in League of Legends Patch 26.5!
TLDR















Thornmail Neeko 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.
Demolish
If you are into taking objectives, you can consider taking Demolish rune. Usually it is worth it and lets you push turrets quicker. Utility slash team oriented option.
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
- Your Shapesplitter (W) procs all items like Sunfire, Thornmail, Unending Despair.
- You send your Shapesplitter (W) clone into enemy team to farm that sweet damage. Every auto attack enemies use on the clone will trigger your Thornmail. If they stay near the clone effects like Sunfire Aegis or Unending Despair will damage them as well..
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 Neeko
- You are a very good engager, thanks to Pop Blossom (R). Look for opportunities to initiate fights for your team.
- You can max Shapesplitter (W) if you want to go full on sending clones fantasy. Otherwise max Tangle-Barbs (E) for CC and Blooming Burst (Q) for damage.
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!
- You can use Bandlepipes to give your whole team an attack speed boost whenever you CC enemies. Great synergy with auto attackers.
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
Shapesplitter (W)

- You can use your Shapesplitter (W) to prevent tons of enemy skillshots, trigger enemy traps and check bushes!
- You can improve your Neeko's game immediately just by changing direction before using Shapesplitter (W). Pretend that you are going one direction, just to W into another. This confuses enemies and can also help with surprise engages with Pop Blossom (R)!
Pop Blossom (R)

- To elevate your Neeko's game, when you want to R Flash combo, make sure to do it at the very last frame of Pop Blossom (R) animation, so enemies won't have any time to react.
Riot
- You can set her passive to use hotkeys in the options menu. The default is Shift+F1~F5
- Try to use Inherent Glamour sparingly, ineffective uses will put enemies on the alert.
Skill Order
- Blooming Burst
Q
- Shapesplitter
W
- Tangle-Barbs
E
- Pop Blossom
R
Items




































