| Attention |
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| Please note that this section is only an in-depth item and skill build guide and gameplay strategy for Vladimir. Readers should have an understanding of Vladimir's skills before continuing and readers looking for a basic overview, including lore, skills, skins, and stats should refer to here. Also please take into consideration that champions can be played in any fashion and any build. The item build outlined below is just a guide to build Vladimir in an efficient manner. |
Overview
 | Vladimir is a top lane AP Fighter or a middle lane mage. He has an exceptionaly strong late game as well as massive sustain in lane. This guide well cover both middle and top lane, as they are played substantially different. |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Massive Sustain
- Strong Team Fights
- Decent Damage with few items
- Great Wave Clear
- Lane Bully
- Strong Scaling Passive
Cons
- Hard to time Sanguine Pool properly
- 2 Abilities cost health
- Weak Early Game
- High Cool Downs Early Game
- Low base stats
Skills
Two of Vladimir's normal abilities cost health to cast, so because of this and the massive bully potential and sustain Transfusion (Q) brings, it should be maxed first, under any circumstances or lane and followed by Blood Tides (E) then lastly Sanguine Pool (W), with a point in Hemoplague whenever possible.
As with all level 1's, hold on to your point in case Sanguine Pool is needed to escape from a level 1 invade. If it is a normal start, begin with Transfusion (Q) to poke and sustain in lane. Depending on how the level one goes and how far pushed you are will decide if W or E should be leveled up second.
- Put a point into W if you are pushed and have no knowledge of the Enemy Jungler location.
- Put a point into E for more harass and less utility. (Be wary of their jungler location as it pushes the lane)
| Hemoplague (R) | As with all ultimates, put a point whenever possible. This skill should always be used first in team fights and when going all in as it magnifies Vladimir and his teams damage. |
| Transfusion (Q) | At early levels, it has an abnormally high cool down. However at max rank, it can be used every 4 seconds (not including CDR) granting massive poke and sustain. This should be maxed first. |
| Tides of Blood (E) | Tides of Blood costs health upon each cast, so without first maxing Transfusion, it will quickly take its toll. It also increases the healing done from Q and does high damage at low levels when fully stacked. |
| Sanguine Pool (W) | Sanguine Pool is mainly used for utility and escaping. It should be maxed last as it does not offer much early game. |
Masteries
Offensive Tree
21 points should be placed into the offensive tree. Key ones to notice are Butcher as Vladimir has a very low base attack early game as well as the bonus ability power from the Offensive Tree works well with his passive.
Defensive Tree
9 points are put into the defensive tree, with emphasis on reducing auto-attack damage to help the early game and increasing bonus health for Vladimir's passive.
Runes
Generally, Vladimir's runes well depend on whether he is played in the top or middle lane. This is because Top Lane Vladimir is more played as a Tank Fighter while Middle Lane Vladimir is an AP Carry.
Top Lane
| Movement Speed Quints 3x | Vladimir's movement is impaired when he casts a spell. This helps him keep up, escape, or chase. |
| Flat Magic Penetration Reds 9x | Top Laners are generally Fighters and Bruisers who are Tankier than other lanes. This helps hit through their MR. |
| Flat Armor Yellows 9x | Helps add durability for the weak early game Vladimir has. |
| Scaling Magic Resistance Blues 9x | Most Champions have low MR / Level. These help Vladimir scale into the late game. |
Middle Lane
| Flat Ability Power Quints 3x | Allows for more early game damage and sustain to trade. Also grants a decent amount of HP with passive. |
| Flat Magic Pen Reds 9x | Makes Vladimir's spells hurt more. |
| Flat Armor Yellows 9x | Helps add durability for the weak early game Vladimir has. |
| Flat Ability Power Blues 9x | More damage, sustain, and health to make early game easier. |
Summoner Spells
 | Flash or Ghost is almost always a must on any champion. It can be used agressively or defensively and can get you out of trouble or even save you life. |
 | Flash or Ghost is almost always a must on any champion. It can be used agressively or defensively and can get you out of trouble or even save you life. |
 | Teleport should generally be run when playing top lane Vladimir, as it allows you to have presence in the bottom lane and dragon fights. Middle Lane Vladimir has much more potential to roam rather than Teleport. |
 | Ignite can be used in the Top Lane, as it allows for extra damage. However, you lose the presence that Teleport would bring. Vladimir should generally only run ignite in the Top Lane when agaisnt a heavy heal champion, such as Mundo, Aatrox, or another Vladimir. It however, is more beneficial to run in the middle lane. |
Top Lane Item Build
As mentioned above, Top Lane Vladimir plays more of a Bruiser / Fighter role than AP Carry.
Starting Items
Depending on your matchup and to compensate for your weak early game, start off with a Dorans Shield. This can also be replaced with a Cloth Armor and 5 Potions against tougher matchups, such as Riven or Fiora. Always start with a Yellow Trinket for the ward.
Early Game Core
Vladimir benefits greatly from a Hextech Revolver. It should be the first major item you buy, as it makes it almost impossible to out sustain a Vladimir in lane and makes him able to trade extremely well, as he has the capability to heal it all back. Next, depending on how your lane is flowing, either pick up Ionian Boots of Lucidity if you are still struggling in lane for more frequent heals and harass. If winning however, pick up the Haunting Guise for more damage. It also scales well with your passive.
Final Game Build
Upgrade the Hextech Revolver into a Will of The Ancients for the CDR and Spell Vamp. In addition, to increase bulkiness, CC, and Damage, Rylais Crystal Sceptre works well, as it also scales well with Vladimir's Passive. Spirit Visage is also a must buy on Vladimir. It increases healing, which works wonders with your Q and E, as well as grants CDR, Health to scale with your passive and grants MR. Zhonyas should also be picked up. It grants armor and its Statis active works well with your W. Lastly, Guardian Angel should be the final buy, as 2 lives can make the difference and Vladimir can heal extremely fast in late game.
Middle Lane Item Build
The primary role for Middle Lane Vladimir is to act as an AP Carry. This means that durabiliy is sacrificed for higher damage output.
Starting Items
An Amplifying Tomb allows for increase in durability, greater poke, and more sustain. This allows Vladimir to trade with the enemy mid laner better. Keep in mind though, it can be swapped out for a more defensive start. As always, start off with a Yellow Trinket.
Early Core
-Refer to above-
Final Game Build
Rabadon's Deathcap is the ultimate AP boosting Item. It massively increases your AP, and due to your passive, your Health as well. It is a must buy and gives you a massive spike in damage. A Void Staff should also be picked up for the late game. It helps you ignore all the MR that is present in the late game. The items not mentioned have been previously discussed.
Situational
Defensive
Ninja Tabi and Randuins should be built against a heavy AD team, while Mercury treads and Banshees Veil should be built agaisnt a heavy CC, engagen or AP team. Warmongs, can be used in both of these situations for the extra durability.
Offensive
Sorcery Boots allow for more damage output due to its MR Penetration. Similarly, the Abyssal Sceptre has a similar effect, as it reduces the enemy MR. These should be picked up in dealing with heavy MR teams. Morellnomicon should be used if Ignite is not being run. It applies greivous wounds, which can be extremely useful agaisnt certain champions. Lastly, Liandry's Torment works well agaisnt High HP Tanks, as it deals % Health damage. In a sense, it is the BoRK for mages.
General Gameplay
Laning Phase
Vladimir has an extremely weak early game, so focus on farming and poking with Q. Aim for a Hextech Revolver on your first back, as it offers a massive power spike. Try to avoid full on fights unless your Jungler is ganking. Vladimir has very weak auto-attacks, and his Q has a very high cool down at early ranks. Be sure to drop your yellow trinket at around 2:45 as that is when most junglers will start ganking.
Once level 9, or depending on your CDR, start trading and heal it back with Q. There are very few champions that can match the sustain of Vladimir.
As always, be wary of your location and for ganks. A well-timed Sanguine Pool can make most ganks ineffective. Try to time it properly to dodge CC skills. If you are close enough to the tower, just W to make yourself untargetable and slide back to the tower. For top lane, make sure your W is up if you are in the orange or red area. This is the same for middle lane, just the zones are smaller.
Team Fights
Always begin team fights with your Ultimate. Be sure to land it on as many people as you can as it greatly increases the damage output of your team. In addition, this is where proper timing of W can make the difference. Use it to dodge the majority of crowd controls, high damage dealing spells, or to get to their back line or fall back depending on the type of Vladimir you are playing. Be sure to constantly keep your E stacks up and Q whenever possible to heal, as by this point, it should be on the 3 second cool down.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading the guide. If there is anything wrong, please feel free to let me know or change it.
