Mastering the Art of Varus in League of Legends
Varus, the Arrow of Retribution, is a formidable marksman in League of Legends. With his unique kit that utilizes both his auto attacks and abilities, he can deal devastating damage from a distance while also providing utility for his team. In this article, we will be diving deep into the intricacies of playing Varus and how to master him in any game mode.
Understanding Varus' Abilities
Before we dive into the gameplay mechanics of Varus, it's important to first understand what his abilities do and how to best utilize them. Varus has a unique kit that blends both his auto attacks and abilities together, making him a versatile marksman that can deal damage both up close and from afar. His abilities are as follows:
- Piercing Arrow (Q): Varus charges up an arrow that deals damage to all enemies in a line and reduces their healing received. The longer the arrow is charged, the more damage it deals.
- Blighted Quiver (W): Varus' auto attacks apply Blight stacks to his enemies, which can be detonated by his abilities to deal bonus magic damage.
- Hail of Arrows (E): Varus fires a volley of arrows that deal damage to all enemies in a target area and slow them. Enemies hit by the arrows also have Blight stacks applied to them.
- Chain of Corruption (R): Varus fires a chain that deals initial damage and roots the first enemy hit. The chain spreads to nearby enemies, rooting them as well if they are hit.
As you can see, Varus' abilities all have unique interactions with each other, and it's important to understand how they work together to maximize his potential. For example, you can use Piercing Arrow to apply Blight stacks from long range and then detonate them with Hail of Arrows for burst damage. Or, you can use Chain of Corruption to root a group of enemies and then use Piercing Arrow to deal damage to all of them at once. Experiment with different ability combinations to see what works best for you.
Mastering Varus' Role in the Game
Now that you understand Varus' abilities, it's time to talk about how to play him effectively in different game modes. While his kit is versatile, his role on the team can change depending on the situation.
In Summoner's Rift: Varus is primarily played as an AD carry in the bot lane. This means that his main job is to deal as much damage as possible while staying alive. In the laning phase, focus on last hitting minions to build up your gold and items. Once you have some items under your belt, use your range advantage to poke the enemy laners with Piercing Arrow and try to create opportunities for kills with Chain of Corruption. In teamfights, position yourself safely behind your tanks and peel for yourself with Hail of Arrows if enemies get too close.
In Twisted Treeline: Varus can be played in multiple roles, including AD carry, top lane bruiser and AP carry. As a top lane bruiser, build items like Black Cleaver and Blade of the Ruined King to stay relevant in fights. As an AP carry, build items like Luden's Echo and Morellonomicon to deal heavy magic damage with your abilities. As an AD carry, focus on building traditional AD items like Infinity Edge and Rapid Firecannon to deal the most damage possible.
In ARAM: In this mode, Varus' role is to provide constant poke damage to the enemy team and to engage teamfights with Chain of Corruption. Stay safe behind your tank line and use Piercing Arrow to whittle down the enemy team's health bars. Hail of Arrows is also great for slowing down the enemy team's advances and creating openings for your team to engage.
Tips and Tricks for Playing Varus
Now that you understand how to play Varus and what his abilities do, here are some additional tips to keep in mind when playing him:
- Use Hail of Arrows to slow down enemies and create openings for abilities or auto attacks
- Apply Blight stacks to enemies with auto attacks and then detonate them with abilities for bonus damage
- Use Chain of Corruption to initiate teamfights or to catch out enemies who are out of position
- Practice your timing with Piercing Arrow to maximize damage output
- Stay aware of your positioning in teamfights and position yourself safely behind your tanks
With these tips and a deeper understanding of Varus' abilities and role in the game, you can now master this champion and dominate on the Rift. Good luck and have fun!
