Varus vs Heimerdinger

Varus
vs
29.4%

over 34 games

Heimerdinger

Hard matchup

Heavy AP damageHeavy pokeHeavy CCSplit push

Build vs Heimerdinger

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Varus: Experimental Hexplate, Dusk and Dawn, Riftmaker, Mercury's Treads, Statikk Shiv, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Nashor's Tooth, Zhonya's Hourglass.

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Experimental Hexplate
1
Dusk and Dawn
2
Riftmaker
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Statikk Shiv
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier45%
ExhaustFlash27%

Other options

Statikk Shiv
Guinsoo's Rageblade
Nashor's Tooth
Zhonya's Hourglass
Terminus
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Blade of The Ruined King
Rabadon's Deathcap
Guardian Angel
Stormsurge
PrecisionPrecision
Press the AttackPress the Attack
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Heimerdinger's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Hextech Affinity (P)

Gain Move Speed while near allied towers and turrets deployed by Heimerdinger.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
31s11s11s–
61s11s11s1m40
91s10s11s1m40
111s9s11s1m25
161s7s11s1m10
181s7s11s1m10

Playing as Varus

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Apply Blight, then a spell

    Apply Blight with your autos through Blighted Quiver (W), then detonate it with a spell: each stack deals damage based on max health and, on a champion, lowers your cooldowns.

  2. Fire early at close range

    Against a close target, fire Piercing Arrow (Q) without waiting for a full charge: charging adds damage, but it slows you in the meantime.

  3. Cut their healing with your hail

    Cast Hail of Arrows (E) on enemies who are healing or charging at you: the desecrated ground slows them and applies Grievous Wounds.

  4. Target an enemy near their team

    Cast Chain of Corruption (R) on a champion close to their allies: the corruption then spreads to nearby champions and roots them too.

Playing against Heimerdinger

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Destroy his turrets first

    Take down his turrets before you trade, with your minions' help: each H-28 G Evolution Turret (Q) builds up charge over time, then fires a stronger shot.

  2. Dodge the center of his grenade

    Get out of the center of CH-2 Electron Storm Grenade (E): that's where it stuns, and if it hits a champion, it fully charges his nearby turrets.

  3. All-in after his grenade

    Start your all-in or gank after CH-2 Electron Storm Grenade (E): it's his only stun, it has an 11-second cooldown, and he has no dash.

  4. Pull him away from his turrets

    Take your trades away from his turrets: they deactivate when he moves too far from them, and Hextech Affinity (passive) speeds him up near them.

  5. Back off from his giant turret

    Stay out of his giant turret's range for its 8 seconds: placed with UPGRADE!!! (R), it slows, deals area damage and is immune to CC.

Patch 16.21.1