Ever heard someone in your League of Legends game yell "Bork lol build OP!" and wondered what they were talking about? "Bork lol" almost certainly refers to Blade of the Ruined King (or BOTRK), a powerful item that can significantly impact your champion's performance. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about this legendary item, so you can determine if it's the right choice for your next game.
At a glance:
- Blade of the Ruined King (BOTRK) provides attack damage, attack speed, and lifesteal.
- It deals bonus on-hit damage based on the target's current health, making it effective against tanky champions.
- The item also provides a slowing effect, useful for chasing or kiting enemies.
- BOTRK is best suited for champions who rely on sustained auto-attack damage.
- Understanding its strengths and weaknesses is key to using it effectively.
What is Blade of the Ruined King?
Blade of the Ruined King, often shortened to BOTRK, is a legendary item in League of Legends. It's a popular choice for AD (Attack Damage) champions who thrive in extended fights and need to deal with high-health targets. The item’s unique passive, which deals bonus damage based on the target's current health, is what makes it so devastating against tanks and bruisers.
Blade of the Ruined King: Stats and Cost
Let's break down the raw numbers. Blade of the Ruined King costs 3200 gold, a significant investment, but its stats can provide a substantial power spike.
- Cost: 3200 gold
- Attack Damage: +40
- Attack Speed: +25%
- Life Steal: +10%
Gold Efficiency Analysis
A deeper dive into gold efficiency reveals whether you're truly getting your money's worth. The total gold value from the base stats alone are valued at 2561 gold. A breakdown shows that:
- 40 Attack Damage = 1400 gold
- 25% Attack Speed = 625 gold
- 10% Life Steal = 536 gold
This indicates that Blade of the Ruined King's base stats provide around 80% gold efficiency. The real value comes from its unique passives, which are hard to quantify in pure gold terms.
Unique Passives: The Secret Sauce
The real power of BOTRK lies in its two unique passives:
- On-Hit Damage: Attacks apply an additional 9% (melee) or 6% (ranged) of the enemy's current health as physical damage on-hit. This is huge for melting tanks.
- Siphon: Your first basic attack against an enemy champion slows them by 30% for 1 second (15-second cooldown). This provides utility for chasing or kiting.
Who Should Build Blade of the Ruined King?
BOTRK isn't a one-size-fits-all item. It shines on champions who can consistently deliver auto-attacks throughout a fight and benefit from its unique passives.
Ideal Champions:
- Auto-Attack Focused AD Carries: Champions like Vayne, Kog'Maw, and Twitch love BOTRK because they can quickly stack the on-hit damage. Their high attack speed amplifies the item’s effect.
- Duelists and Split Pushers: Champions such as Master Yi, Jax, and Fiora can use BOTRK to win duels against tankier opponents and quickly take down objectives. Jax, for example, benefits immensely from the attack speed and on-hit damage to proc his passive and deal consistent damage.
- Some Fighters/Bruisers: Champions like Irelia and Bel'Veth can also utilize the item effectively.
Champions to Avoid: - Burst-Oriented ADCs: Champions like Jhin or Miss Fortune typically prefer items that enhance their burst damage, such as Infinity Edge or The Collector.
- Ability-Focused Champions: Champions who rely heavily on their abilities for damage output, such as Ezreal or Lucian, won't get as much value from BOTRK.
When to Build Blade of the Ruined King
The timing of your BOTRK purchase is crucial. Consider these factors:
- Enemy Team Composition: If the enemy team has multiple high-health champions (tanks, bruisers), BOTRK becomes a very strong option.
- Your Team Composition: If your team lacks consistent damage and struggles to deal with tanks, BOTRK can help fill that gap.
- Game State: If you're ahead and need to snowball your lead, BOTRK can provide the necessary damage to secure more kills and objectives.
- Lane Opponent: If you’re a melee champion laning against a tanky top laner, getting an early BOTRK can significantly improve your kill pressure.
How to Effectively Use Blade of the Ruined King
Once you've built BOTRK, here's how to maximize its impact:
- Prioritize Auto-Attacks: BOTRK's primary strength lies in its on-hit damage. Focus on weaving auto-attacks between your abilities to maximize damage output.
- Utilize the Slow: The Siphon passive can be used to kite enemies, chase down fleeing targets, or peel for your teammates. Don't forget to use it strategically!
- Target High-Health Enemies: Focus your attacks on the enemy team's tankier champions to maximize the on-hit damage. While squishies may take damage, it's the tanks that are most vulnerable to BOTRK's effects.
- Positioning is Key: Like any ADC item, proper positioning is crucial. Stay safe in team fights and avoid getting caught out of position. Let your tanks engage and provide you with an opportunity to deal damage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Building BOTRK Against Squishy Teams: If the enemy team is primarily composed of squishy targets, other items that provide burst damage or critical strike chance may be more effective.
- Ignoring Positioning: BOTRK won't save you if you're constantly getting caught out of position.
- Underestimating the Slow: The Siphon passive can be a game-changer, but many players forget to utilize it effectively.
- Building BOTRK as a First Item on All Champions: While an early BOTRK can be good in certain circumstances, it's not always the best choice. Consider your champion, the enemy team composition, and the game state before rushing it.
Understanding BOTRK's Impact on Team Fights
In team fights, BOTRK can be a powerful tool for shredding through the enemy frontline. By focusing your attacks on the enemy tanks and bruisers, you can quickly whittle down their health bars and make them easier to kill. The slow effect can also be used to peel for your teammates or kite enemies who are trying to engage.
What are the Alternatives to Blade of the Ruined King?
If BOTRK isn't the optimal choice, consider these alternatives:
- Kraken Slayer: A great option for dealing true damage to tanks, especially if you already have a lot of attack speed.
- Infinity Edge: Ideal for maximizing critical strike damage against squishy targets.
- Phantom Dancer: Provides increased attack speed and movement speed, useful for kiting and dueling. More on the Bork League are often compared to Phantom Dancer in terms of their utility.
- The Collector: A strong choice for executing low-health enemies and snowballing your lead.
Common Questions and Misconceptions
Q: Is BOTRK good on every ADC?
A: No. BOTRK is best suited for ADCs who rely on sustained auto-attack damage.
Q: When should I build BOTRK?
A: Build BOTRK when the enemy team has multiple high-health champions, or when your team needs help dealing with tanks.
Q: Does BOTRK work on abilities?
A: No, BOTRK's on-hit damage only applies to auto-attacks.
Q: Is it worth rushing BOTRK as a first item?
A: It can be, but it depends on the champion and the matchup. Consider your options carefully.
Q: What's the difference between BOTRK and other lifesteal items?
A: BOTRK provides a combination of attack damage, attack speed, lifesteal, and on-hit damage, making it a unique and versatile option.
Blade of the Ruined King in the Meta
The popularity and effectiveness of BOTRK can fluctuate based on meta shifts and balance changes implemented by Riot Games. It's always important to stay up-to-date on the latest patches and professional builds to determine if BOTRK is currently a strong choice. Pay attention to which champions are being picked in professional play and whether they are incorporating BOTRK into their builds.
A Pro Tip for Mastering BOTRK
A crucial skill for maximizing BOTRK's effectiveness is attack-moving (also known as orb-walking or stutter-stepping). This technique allows you to move between auto-attacks, maximizing your damage output while maintaining a safe distance from enemies. Practice attack-moving in the practice tool to improve your mechanics and become a more effective ADC.
Final Thoughts: Mastering the Blade
Blade of the Ruined King is a powerful item, but it requires understanding and practice to use effectively. By considering the factors discussed in this guide, you can make informed decisions about when and how to build BOTRK, and ultimately improve your performance in League of Legends. Now go forth and dominate the Rift, one auto-attack at a time! Always remember to adapt your builds based on the specific game you are in, and never be afraid to experiment to find what works best for you.