Matchup

Ornn
Ornn
63%
37%

vs

49.1%

over 784 games

Varus
Varus
64%
36%
Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHeavy pokeCountered by spell shield

Skill matchup

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Varus

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Hollow Radiance
1vs AP
Jak'Sho, The Protean
2vs Hybride
Thornmail
3vs Hybride

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Kaenic Rookern
5vs AP

Summoner spells

41285%
4148%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Unending Despair
5vs AD
Sunfire Aegis
vs AD
Frozen Heart
vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Knight's Vow
vs AD
Iceborn Gauntlet
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Kaenic Rookern
5vs AP
Force of Nature
vs AP
Abyssal Mask
vs AP
Spirit Visage
vs AP

Other options

Protoplasm Harness
Survival
Fimbulwinter
Survival
Zeke's Convergence
Tank
Heartsteel
Survival
Warmog's Armor
Survival
Tear of the Goddess
Locket of the Iron Solari
HP
Quicksilver Sash
85.7% WR7 games
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
DemolishDemolish
Bone PlatingBone Plating
OvergrowthOvergrowth
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Attack SpeedHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
OrnnOrnn
VarusVarus
Favorable
Favorable
Passive

Varus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Living Vengeance (P)

On kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Damage and Ability Power. This bonus is larger if the enemy is a champion.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
316s40s18s
614s40s18s1m40
912s40s18s1m40
1112s40s18s1m20
1612s40s14s1m
1812s40s10s1m

Playing against Varus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Varus has NO mobility: assassins and engages kill him easily.

2

His R root spreads: spread out when an ally is rooted to avoid the chain.

3

Charged Q slows him: engage while he's charging to catch him immobile.

4

Cleanse or QSS cancels his R root — essential for carries.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026