Tank Varus Build

ARAM Build Guide for champion Varus and build Tank.

Tank Varus build with runes and items. Tank Varus guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Tank Varus build in League of Legends Patch 14.21!

Updated: 2024-05-16 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Giant's Belt should be final item in your build.
Ruby Crystal should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Varus ability Blighted Quiver should be leveled first.
W
Varus ability Hail of Arrows should be leveled second.
E
Varus ability Piercing Arrow should be leveled third.
Q
Final items
Mercury's Treads should be final item in your build.
Heartsteel should be final item in your build.
Overlord's Bloodmail should be final item in your build.
Kaenic Rookern should be final item in your build.
Thornmail should be final item in your build.
Titanic Hydra should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Grasp of the Undying from Resolve tree.
Minor rune Precision.
Summoner spells
Pick Ghost as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

Tank Varus Runes

Resolve
Resolve major tree Grasp of the Undying rune.
Resolve major tree Aftershock rune.
Resolve major tree Guardian rune.
Resolve major tree Demolish rune.
Resolve major tree Font of Life rune.
Resolve major tree Shield Bash rune.
Resolve major tree Conditioning rune.
Resolve major tree Second Wind rune.
Resolve major tree Bone Plating rune.
Resolve major tree Overgrowth rune.
Resolve major tree Revitalize rune.
Resolve major tree Unflinching rune.
Precision
Precision minor tree Absorb Life rune.
Precision minor tree Triumph rune.
Precision minor tree Presence of Mind rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Alacrity rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Haste rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Bloodline rune.
Precision minor tree Coup de Grace rune.
Precision minor tree Cut Down rune.
Precision minor tree Last Stand rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How to play

General
  1. You rush Heartsteel.
  2. After Heartsteel, you can rush Titanic Hydra (more fun, damage and some survi) AND/OR Sundered Sky or just go full tank - depending on if you are behind and if your team needs more damage.
  3. Sundered Sky is very good damage item for this build. It scales off your HP (so Grasp, Heartsteel, Overgrowth). It gives damage and pretty good sustain in fights. Remember to switch targets to maximize the effect!
  4. This is auto attack oriented Varus build, so do it! Especially if running with Titanic Hydra and Sundered Sky as well.
  5. Guardian's Horn is a surprisingly good item for its price. You can keep it for a very long time (or even have it as 6th item).
  6. Triumph is better (heal + gold), but if you want to have easier time with your mana, go Presence of the Mind.
  7. You need to adapt your items to the game. Enemy team heavy on AP? Buy MR. They heavy on AD? Buy Armor. You need some damage? Well buy that.
  8. Remember to consume your Heartsteel procs!
  9. Remember to consume your Grasp of the Undying procs!

Tips and Tricks

General
  1. You can R, then Flash to catch unsuspecting enemies and to engage fights! It works forward, backward and sideways.
  2. You can start casting Q and Flash during casting to reach enemies that are super far away.
Riot
  1. An early point in Blighted Quiver helps harass enemy champions and get killing blows on minions.
  2. During short range fights it's sometimes best to fire Piercing Arrow quickly, rather than charging it to full power.
  3. Try to take advantage of Piercing Arrow's very long range to snipe at enemy champions before a fight or as they're trying to flee.

Skill Order

  • Varus [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Piercing Arrow
  • Varus [object Object] ability.
    W
    Blighted Quiver
  • Varus [object Object] ability.
    E
    Hail of Arrows
  • Varus [object Object] ability.
    R
    Chain of Corruption

Items

Starting items
Giant's Belt item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Starting items vs poke
Guardian's Horn item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Boots
Ionian Boots of Lucidity item.
Plated Steelcaps item.
Mercury's Treads item.
Rush this
Heartsteel item.
Dmg items
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Titanic Hydra item.
Wit's End item.
Overlord's Bloodmail item.
Runaan's Hurricane item.
Sundered Sky item.
Blade of The Ruined King item.
Good tank items
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Warmog's Armor item.
Fimbulwinter item.
Good MR items
Force of Nature item.
Spirit Visage item.
Kaenic Rookern item.
Good Armor items
Thornmail item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Frozen Heart item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Situational items
Zeke's Convergence item.
Knight's Vow item.
Trailblazer item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Elixir of Iron item.
Elixir of Wrath item.
Example final build
Mercury's Treads item.
Heartsteel item.
Overlord's Bloodmail item.
Kaenic Rookern item.
Thornmail item.
Titanic Hydra item.