Hey guys! Ready to dive into a build guide that'll make your SB Ahri absolutely unstoppable? We're talking about a build that's all about resilience, durability, and a touch of that classic Ahri charm. Forget one-shotting; we're focusing on surviving and thriving in those intense team fights. We're talking about SB Ahri Strength of Stone and Spirit Armor! This is the build you've been waiting for, especially if you love the feeling of being a slippery mage that can take a punch (or ten). Let's get started, shall we?
Why Stone and Spirit Armor on SB Ahri?
So, why are we even considering Stoneplate and Spirit Visage on Ahri, a champion typically known for her burst damage and assassination potential? Well, the meta has shifted, and sometimes the best way to win isn't just about deleting the enemy carry in a flash. It's about staying alive long enough to make a difference, consistently landing those charm/orb combos, and contributing to the team's overall survivability. This build is designed to do just that. It converts Ahri into a formidable mage who can weave through team fights, disrupt enemies, and still dish out respectable damage while being incredibly difficult to kill. Think of her as a charming tanky mage who can survive enemy dives, and peel for her teammates. Ahri with these items becomes extremely hard to deal with because of her built in mobility with her ultimate, combined with the defensive stats from the items. She also has good self-sustain through her kit which means she can stay in fights longer, and the enemy team will be forced to focus on her. Now that sounds fun, doesn't it?
Let's face it, Ahri is no stranger to getting focused down in team fights. She's a high-priority target. But with Stoneplate and Spirit Visage, the enemies will think twice before diving on you! The added magic resistance and health from Spirit Visage combined with the active of Stoneplate make you incredibly tanky during team fights. Moreover, these items are perfect for Ahri's kit. Spirit Visage increases the effectiveness of her life steal, and Stoneplate allows her to survive enemy dives better. Both of these items also don't hinder Ahri's damage too much. This build allows you to dive into the enemy team and survive long enough to get out with the help of Ahri's ultimate. The increased durability allows her to position aggressively and make game-changing plays by landing her key charm that can change the outcome of a team fight, or even the game! This strategic shift not only increases your survivability but also opens up new strategic possibilities. Instead of relying on a quick burst, you can actively engage in team fights, draw enemy attention, and disrupt their positioning while your teammates deal damage.
Itemization: Core and Beyond
Alright, let's break down the item build, step-by-step, to give you a clear path to success. This build focuses on a strong core with flexible options to adapt to each game and opponent. We're building towards maximum durability and sustain while maintaining a damage profile.
Core Items:
- Rod of Ages: Your go-to first item. This provides mana, health, and ability power, scaling over time. The mana helps with Ahri's mana issues, the health helps with durability, and the ability power increases her damage. The scaling nature of this item makes it perfect for Ahri. It's a very cost effective item that allows you to scale well into the late game.
- Spirit Visage: This is a must-buy item for this build. It gives magic resistance, health, and increases the effectiveness of healing and shielding. The increased healing from Spirit Visage is amazing on Ahri. It allows her to stay in fights longer with her passive ability. It also gives her bonus healing when she builds other items with life steal.
- Stoneplate: Another core item. This is the pinnacle of tankiness. The active effect of Stoneplate increases bonus health, making you incredibly tanky for a short period of time. This is your key item for diving into team fights. Using this item at the right time will make you a nightmare to deal with. Stoneplate gives a large amount of armor and magic resistance which will help you mitigate the damage from enemy carries.
Situational Items:
- Mercury Treads / Sorcerer's Shoes: The choice of boots depends on the enemy team composition. If the enemy team has a lot of crowd control, Mercury Treads can be a great option. However, if you want more damage, you can build Sorcerer's Shoes for extra magic penetration.
- Zhonya's Hourglass: This item is great for surviving. If the enemy team has a lot of burst damage, Zhonya's Hourglass is a great option. The active effect can save you from diving assassins. It also provides armor and ability power to help with Ahri's damage.
- Morellonomicon: This is a great option if the enemy team has a lot of healing. The grievous wounds debuff will help you deal with the enemy team's healing.
- Banshee's Veil: This is another great item for surviving. If the enemy team has a lot of poke, or crowd control, Banshee's Veil can be a great option. It provides magic resistance, health, and spell shield to help you mitigate the damage from enemy carries.
- Void Staff: This is a great item for dealing with tanks. If the enemy team has a lot of magic resistance, Void Staff is a great option. It provides magic penetration to help you deal with the enemy's magic resistance.
This item build is all about adaptation, so don't be afraid to tweak it based on the game.
Runes and Summoner Spells: Powering Up the Build
Let's talk about runes and summoner spells, because even with the right items, you need to equip your Ahri with the right tools. The correct runes and summoner spells can amplify your strengths and compensate for weaknesses. Finding the perfect runes and summoner spells can make a big difference in your gameplay. Your rune setup should focus on both survivability and damage.
Runes:
- Primary Rune: Arcane Comet - This rune will allow you to deal extra damage when you hit the enemy. This is a great rune that will help you poke the enemy down in lane.
- Secondary Runes: Celerity + Gathering Storm - Celerity gives you movement speed, which synergizes with Ahri's mobility, and Gathering Storm helps you scale your damage in the late game.
- Alternative Rune: Electrocute - If you are playing in a more aggressive style, you can take Electrocute for more burst damage in lane. This rune is more effective in the early game compared to Arcane Comet.
Summoner Spells:
- Flash: Always take Flash; it is a must-have for almost every champion. It is an essential tool for escaping, engaging, and making plays.
- Ignite/Teleport: Ignite for more kill potential in lane. Teleport is a great option for split pushing, and getting back to lane faster.
Gameplay Strategy: Surviving, Engaging, and Dominating
Now for the fun part: How do you actually play this build? Don't expect to one-shot enemies; the core strategy is about staying alive, disrupting the enemy team, and consistently applying damage. It's a more patient and tactical approach than a classic burst build.
Laning Phase:
- Early Game Focus: Prioritize farming and scaling. Use your spells to safely clear waves and poke down enemies. You're not looking for early aggression unless your lane opponent makes a significant mistake. Focus on last-hitting minions so you can get your core items as quickly as possible.
- Poke with Q: Use your Orb of Deception (Q) to farm from a distance and chip away at enemy health. This is your main way of dealing damage. Also, always aim for the return damage to maximize your damage.
- Charm for Setup: Use your Charm (E) carefully. Look for opportunities to land it on enemies who are out of position, setting up ganks or securing kills. Don't just throw it out randomly, as it is your primary engage tool. You can also use your charm to help you escape from a gank.
Mid and Late Game:
- Team Fight Engagement: In team fights, your role is to be a disruptive force and a damage dealer. The key is to position yourself in a way where you can land your Charm (E) consistently. Use Stoneplate when you're diving into the enemy backline to survive and deal damage. Use your ultimate to weave in and out of fights, dodging enemy abilities and repositioning.
- Peeling for your carries: If your team is ahead, and your carries are strong, consider peeling for them by using your charm on enemies that are diving on them. This will make them more resistant to enemy dives, making them harder to kill.
- Objective Control: Help your team take objectives. Use your mobility to help your team, and use your damage to secure objectives quickly. After all, team fights are important, but the game is decided on objectives.
- Prioritize Objectives: Help your team take down objectives, especially dragon control and Baron control, as the bonus from these objectives will give you a significant advantage.
Pros and Cons: Is This Build For You?
Let's weigh the pros and cons of this unconventional approach to Ahri.
Pros:
- Increased Survivability: Significantly harder to kill in team fights.
- Consistent Damage: You can stay in fights longer and dish out more damage over time.
- Disruptive Potential: Can easily charm and disrupt enemies.
- Adaptive: Can adapt to different team compositions.
Cons:
- Lower Burst Damage: You won't be one-shotting enemies.
- Requires a Different Playstyle: More patient and tactical.
- Item Costs: The items can be expensive, especially in the early game.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Tanky Charm
So, there you have it, guys! SB Ahri with Stoneplate and Spirit Visage. It might not be the flashiest build, but it's a powerful way to play Ahri in the current meta. Try it out, experiment with the item choices, and adjust to your play style. This build emphasizes the importance of strategic itemization. Remember, success in League of Legends is often about adaptation, so be ready to adjust your build and playstyle based on the needs of your team and the specific challenges you face. Whether you're looking to climb the ranked ladder or just have some fun in normal games, this build provides a fresh and engaging way to experience Ahri's unique style. Good luck on the Rift, and have fun charming your way to victory!
