Varus is a poke/utility ADC. Q poke from max range chunks squishies, W blight stacks deal %HP to tanks, and R chain-roots entire teams. Versatile and always useful.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Living Vengeance
Passive
On kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Damage and Ability Power. This bonus is larger if the enemy is a champion.
Living Vengeance: kills give AS boost.
Q
Piercing Arrow
Charge · Long Range · Poke
Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
CD: 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
Q charges up for more damage and range. Full charge = massive poke from screen distance.
W
Blighted Quiver
Passive · %HP · Active Burst
Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
CD: 40 · Cost: 0
W passive: autos apply blight stacks (3 max). Abilities detonate stacks for %max HP damage. Active: next Q/E deals bonus %HP.
E
Hail of Arrows
AoE · Slow · Grievous
Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
CD: 18/16/14/12/10 · Cost: 90
E slows and applies grievous wounds. Use for anti-heal and peel.
R
Chain of Corruption
Root · Spread · Engage
Varus flings out a damaging tendril of corruption that immobilizes the first enemy champion hit and then spreads towards nearby uninfected champions, immobilizing them too on contact.
CD: 100/80/60 · Cost: 100
R roots the first target, then SPREADS to nearby enemies. Can chain-root the entire team.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then W, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q | ||||
| 2 | Take W | ||||
| 3 | Take E | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Chain of Corruption | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level W | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level W | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level W | ||||
| 13 | Level W | ||||
| 14 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level E | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level E | ||||
| 18 | E maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Duskblade of Draktharr
Lethality for Q poke damage.
3100g
Ionian Boots
CDR for Q spam.
950g
Manamune
Muramana on Q hits. Massive poke damage.
2900g
Serylda's Grudge
Armor pen + slow on Q.
3200g
Situational
Edge of Night
Spell shield.
2900g
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen vs tanks.
2900g
Guardian Angel
Revive.
3200g
Duskblade → Manamune → Serylda's. Full lethality Q poke build.
Runes
Domination Primary
Dark Harvest
Q poke procs DH on low targets.
Cheap Shot
Bonus on E/R CC'd targets.
Eyeball Collection
Free AD.
Ultimate Hunter
Lower R cooldown.
Precision Secondary
Presence of Mind
Mana for Q spam.
Coup de Grace
Execute.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Varus
01
Early Game
Q Poke, W Stacks
- Q poke from max charge range. Stand behind minions and charge.
- W stacks: 3 autos → Q detonates for %HP burst.
- E slow + grievous wounds. Use in fights for anti-heal.
- You have no escape. Position carefully.
- R at 6 = engage tool. R the carry and your team follows.
02
Mid Game
R Engage, Q Siege
- Full charge Q chunks squishies for 40-50% HP with lethality.
- R spreads to nearby enemies. Aim at grouped targets for multi-root.
- Siege towers with Q poke. Enemies can't defend.
- W active + Q deals massive %HP burst on a single target.
- E before R for guaranteed slow into root.
03
Late Game
Poke and Utility
- Q poke with Muramana + lethality = 800+ damage per hit.
- R chain-root wins teamfights. One root on 3 people = fight won.
- W blight stacks deal %HP — effective vs tanks too.
- No escape means position is everything. Stay behind your team.
- E grievous wounds counters healing comps.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Varus
Varus pokes with Q and engages with R chain-root.
1
Poke — Charged Q
Before fight
01
Full charge Q from max range.
02
800+ damage per hit at full build.
03
E slow to zone.
Q charge slows you. Don't charge in the open — charge behind your team.
2
Engage — R Chain Root
CC chain
01
R the grouped enemy.
02
Root spreads to nearby enemies.
03
E → Q follow-up on rooted targets.
3
DPS — W Stacks
%HP damage
01
Auto 3 times for W stacks.
02
Q or E detonates for %HP burst.
03
Continue Q poke between auto patterns.
R spread range is small. Enemies must be within ~500 units of each other. Wait for them to group before R.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Varus.
Basic
Q Charge
Longer Q charge = more damage + range. Full charge deals massive poke from screen distance.
Intermediate
W Blight Stacks
3 autos apply W blight. Q or E detonates stacks for %max HP damage. Essential vs tanks.
Basic
R Spread
R root spreads to nearby enemies. Aim at grouped targets for multi-root.
Advanced
W Active + Q
W active empowers next Q with bonus %HP damage. Use for massive single-target burst.
Basic
No Escape
You have no dash. Position behind your team. One misstep = death.
Intermediate
E Grievous Wounds
E applies grievous wounds. Use against healing champions (Soraka, Aatrox).
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Varus struggles against mobile ADCs who dodge Q and assassins. He excels at poking and engaging with R.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Lucian dashes your Q and bursts you.
Poke from max range. Don't let him dash in.
Samira windwalls your Q and R.
Wait for windwall to end, then R.
Kai'Sa R dives onto you.
R her when she R dashes. Root on arrival.
Wins Against
Kog can't dodge Q. R roots him with no escape.
Poke and R engage. He melts.
Jinx can't dodge Q. R roots her.
Q poke → R root → dead.
Ashe can't dodge Q and R outranges her R.
Poke freely. R when she groups.