Struggling to decide if Blade of the Ruined King (often called "bork league" by players) is the right item for your champion build? This item can be a game-changer, but only if you understand when and where it shines.
At a glance:
- Discover which champions benefit most from Blade of the Ruined King.
- Learn when to build it as a first, second, or later item for optimal impact.
- Understand the item's strengths and weaknesses in different lane roles.
- Get practical tips to maximize its passive and active effects.
- Address common misconceptions about Blade of the Ruined King in the current meta.
Unlock the Power of Bork: Item Stats and Core Mechanics
Let's break down what makes Blade of the Ruined King (BotRK) tick. This legendary item, costing 3200 gold, provides a mix of offensive stats designed for sustained damage and mobility. It grants:
- 40 Attack Damage: A solid baseline damage boost.
- 25% Attack Speed: Enables quicker auto-attacks and on-hit effects.
- 10% Life Steal: Provides sustain in fights and during farming.
However, the real value lies in its passive. BotRK inflicts bonus physical damage on-hit, equal to a percentage of the target's current health. This makes it exceptionally effective against high-health targets like tanks and bruisers. This on-hit damage scales with the target's current health, not maximum health, so prioritize early application.
The other passive, "Clawing Shadows", is triggered by attacking a champion 3 times, which then slows them.
Champion Synergies: Who Wields Bork Best?
Not all champions benefit equally from Blade of the Ruined King. It's primarily effective on auto-attack-focused champions who can consistently apply its on-hit effect. Consider:
- On-Hit Carries: Champions like Vayne, Varus (often built as an on-hit carry), and Kog'Maw thrive with BotRK due to their inherent ability to weave auto-attacks between abilities.
- Duelists: Irelia, Yone, and Tryndamere appreciate the attack speed, life steal, and on-hit damage for sustained fights and split-pushing.
Current win rate stats show Vayne, Tryndamere, and Varus as top performers when building BotRK, while Irelia, Yone, and Master Yi see the most pick rate with the item.
Example: Vayne's Silver Bolts synergizes beautifully with BotRK's on-hit damage, allowing her to shred even the tankiest opponents. Tryndamere benefits from the attack speed and life steal to maximize his Fury generation and sustain during his ultimate.
Lane Roles and Build Orders: Where Does Bork Fit?
Blade of the Ruined King sees play in various roles, though some are more common than others:
- Top Lane (36%): Duelists and split-pushers like Irelia and Tryndamere often rush BotRK for early game dominance.
- Jungle (26%): Master Yi and other auto-attack-reliant junglers use it for faster clear speed and dueling potential.
- ADC (24%): Vayne and other on-hit ADCs build it for sustained damage output.
- Mid Lane (19%): Less common, but assassins like Katarina can sometimes utilize it in specific matchups.
Build Order Matters: Currently, building Bork as a first or second item results in the highest win rate. The stats show that building it first or second item has virtually the same win and pick rate (22.15% winrate and 57.48% pick rate). Delaying it significantly reduces its effectiveness. That early game power spike is key.
Decision Tree:
- Is your champion auto-attack focused? (Yes -> Continue; No -> BotRK is likely suboptimal).
- Do you need sustained damage against high-health targets? (Yes -> Consider BotRK; No -> Explore other damage options).
- Can you effectively apply the on-hit passive in lane or during ganks? (Yes -> BotRK is a strong choice; No -> Re-evaluate).
Maximizing BotRK's Impact: Practical Tips
To truly master Blade of the Ruined King, consider these pointers:
- Target Prioritization: Focus on high-health targets in teamfights to maximize the on-hit damage. Tanks and bruisers are prime targets.
- Kiting and Chasing: Use the active slow to kite enemies or chase them down. It's especially effective for champions with limited mobility.
- Sustain and Duels: Utilize the life steal to sustain through trades and prolonged fights. This is particularly useful in 1v1 scenarios.
- Comboing with Abilities: Integrate auto-attacks between ability casts to consistently apply the on-hit effect.
Example: As Vayne, use Condemn (E) to create distance and then auto-attack with BotRK to kite a tank. As Master Yi, use Alpha Strike (Q) to reposition and then follow up with auto-attacks to shred your target.
Common Pitfalls and Misconceptions
Here are some frequent mistakes players make with Blade of the Ruined King:
- Building it on Ability-Focused Champions: While the attack damage and attack speed are useful, champions who primarily rely on abilities for damage will find more value in other items.
- Ignoring the Active: The active slow can be a game-changer in teamfights and skirmishes. Don't forget to use it!
- Blindly Rushing it Every Game: Analyze the enemy team composition and your champion's needs. If you're facing a low-health team, other items might be more effective.
- Overvaluing it against Squishies: While the on-hit damage still applies, it's less impactful against targets with low health. Consider other items that provide burst damage in those situations.
Bork League: Quick Answers to Common Questions
Q: Is Blade of the Ruined King good on every ADC?
A: No. It's primarily effective on ADCs who weave auto-attacks between abilities, like Vayne or Kog'Maw. Champions like Jhin or Miss Fortune, who rely more on ability damage, are better off with other items.
Q: When should I not build Blade of the Ruined King?
A: If the enemy team consists of primarily squishy targets, or if your champion relies heavily on ability damage rather than auto-attacks. Also, if you're significantly behind in lane, the gold investment may not be worth it.
Q: How does the on-hit damage interact with armor?
A: The on-hit damage is physical damage and is therefore reduced by the target's armor. Consider building armor penetration items if you're facing heavily armored opponents.
Q: Does the life steal apply to the on-hit damage?
A: Yes, the life steal applies to the on-hit damage from Blade of the Ruined King. This provides significant sustain in prolonged fights.
Triumphs and Tribulations: Case Snippets from the Rift
Snippet 1: The Irelia Split-Push. An Irelia player rushed BotRK in the top lane against a tanky Maokai. The early dueling power allowed her to gain a significant lead and dominate split-pushing, constantly pressuring the enemy base. However, she struggled in teamfights where focus fire prevented her from consistently applying the on-hit effect.
Snippet 2: The Vayne Hyper-Carry. A Vayne player built BotRK as her first item and shredded through the enemy team's frontline in teamfights. The combination of Silver Bolts and BotRK's on-hit damage made her virtually unstoppable against tanks and bruisers. However, she was vulnerable to assassins who could quickly burst her down before she could apply the life steal.
Snippet 3: The Master Yi Skirmisher. A Master Yi player built BotRK to skirmish early with the enemy jungler. The attack speed and on-hit damage allowed him to defeat a high-health Sejuani early and snowball his advantage, demonstrating the item's early game effectiveness.
Putting It All Together: Your Bork League Playbook
Here's your actionable guide to mastering Blade of the Ruined King:
- Assess Your Champion: Is your champion auto-attack focused?
- Analyze the Enemy Team: Are they primarily high-health targets?
- Consider Your Build Order: Rushing BotRK is often optimal, but consider the specific game situation.
- Practice Active Usage: Don't forget to use the active slow to kite or chase.
- Prioritize Targets: Focus on high-health targets in teamfights.
- Adapt Your Build: If the enemy team composition changes, adjust your build accordingly.
By understanding the nuances of Blade of the Ruined King, you can unlock its full potential and dominate the Rift. You can dive deeper into the entire "bork league" meta by taking a look at Learn about Bork Lol here.
Now go forth and conquer, armed with the knowledge to wield the Blade of the Ruined King effectively.