Varus vs Olaf

Varus
vs
39.4%

over 33 games

Olaf

Hard matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh burstHeavy poke

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Olaf

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

Recommended items for Varus: Experimental Hexplate, Dusk and Dawn, Riftmaker, Plated Steelcaps, Zhonya's Hourglass, Nashor's Tooth, Statikk Shiv, Terminus.

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
Zhonya's Hourglass
5

Summoner spells

ExhaustFlash53%
FlashHaste36%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Zhonya's Hourglass
Nashor's Tooth
Statikk Shiv
Terminus
Guinsoo's Rageblade
Shadowflame
Seeker's Armguard
Jak'Sho, The Protean
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

Olaf's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Berserker Rage (P)

Olaf gains Attack Speed and Life Steal based on his missing Health.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s16s11s–
69s16s11s1m40
99s15s11s1m40
119s14s11s1m30
169s12s9s1m20
189s12s7s1m20

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 Olaf

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge his axe

    Dodge Undertow (Q): it's his only slow, and without a dash, he can only reach you on foot.

  2. Trade while his axe is away

    Take a trade when his axe has landed far from him: until he picks it up, Undertow (Q) keeps its 9-second cooldown.

  3. No long trades when he's low

    Avoid long trades when he's low on health: Berserker Rage (passive) gives him attack speed and life steal based on his missing health.

  4. Save your CC for after Ragnarok

    If you have CC, save it for after Ragnarok (R): while it lasts, no CC stops him, and it has a 100 to 80 second cooldown.

Other Varus matchups

Patch 16.21.1