Legendary items in League of Legends are the backbone of a champion's build, providing core stats and unique passive or active effects. Synergizing these Legendary items effectively is crucial for maximizing a champion's power and adapting to different game situations. The right combination can unlock a champion's full potential.
Understanding Legendary Items
Legendary items are the standard tier of powerful items available in the shop. Unlike Mythic items, you can build multiple Legendary items. Each Legendary item offers a combination of stats (e.g., Attack Damage, Ability Power, Health, Armor, Magic Resist, Attack Speed) and often a unique passive or active effect.
The Importance of Synergies
Synergy refers to how well different items work together, either with each other or with a champion's kit. Building items that complement each other creates a more potent and efficient power curve.
- Stat Synergies: Some stats naturally work well together. For example, Attack Damage and Critical Strike Chance are core for many Marksmen, while Ability Power and Mana Regeneration are vital for Mages.
- Passive/Active Effect Synergies: The true depth of itemization lies in combining unique effects. For instance, an item that grants bonus movement speed on takedown can synergize with an item that provides a burst of damage after a dash.
Common Legendary Item Synergies by Role/Champion Type
| Champion Type | Key Stats | Synergistic Legendary Items | Synergy Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marksman (AD Carry) | AD, Crit, Attack Speed | Infinity Edge + Essence Reaver | IE amplifies crit damage, while ER provides mana sustain and AD based on mana. |
| Mage (Burst) | AP, Mana, Ability Haste | Zhonya's Hourglass + Shadowflame | Zhonya's provides stasis for survival, while Shadowflame amplifies damage against low-health or shielded targets. |
| Fighter/Bruiser | AD, Health, Resistances, Ability Haste | Black Cleaver + Sterak's Gage | BC reduces enemy armor and provides AD/HP, while Sterak's provides a shield when low health. |
| Assassin | AD, Lethality, Movement Speed | Serylda's Grudge + Youmuu's Ghostblade | Serylda's provides armor penetration and a slow, while Youmuu's offers active movement speed and lethality. |
| Tank | Health, Resistances, Cooldown Reduction | Thornmail + Randuin's Omen | Thornmail applies Grievous Wounds on auto-attacks, and Randuin's reduces incoming damage from auto-attacks and critical strikes. |
Adapting Your Build
The most effective item builds are not static. They must adapt to the specific game you are in:
- Enemy Team Composition: If the enemy team has a lot of magic damage, prioritize magic resist items. If they have many tanks, build armor penetration or percentage health damage.
- Your Team's Needs: If your team lacks engage, consider items with movement speed buffs or crowd control. If you need to peel for your carries, build defensive items.
- Game State: If you are behind, you might need defensive items to survive. If you are ahead, you can afford to build more aggressively to close out the game.
Itemization Order
The order in which you build items matters. Completing a Mythic item first is standard, but the subsequent Legendary items should be chosen strategically based on immediate needs and power spikes. For example, a Marksman might build an early component for Infinity Edge before finishing another item if they need the critical strike damage boost.
Mastering Legendary item synergies is a continuous learning process that involves understanding item effects, champion kits, and the dynamic nature of League of Legends matches.