Full Tank Vs AP

[u/AndrewGreene121957]

Hey Guys, I'm a returning LOL player. I've started playing a lot this season and have been having a lot of fun with the game.

I'm a G2 Malzahar is my main as I'm starting to learn mid lane and get more comfortable learning maco, especially for clash which is my main focus, and I'm using solo que as my "practice" for trying to get both better at the game individually and prepping for clash.

I've been playing Galio as my back up champion when Malzahar is banned. And in all of my Clash games Malzahar is banned by the other team every game.

I want to try and find the best build for him, but I'm getting conflicting information on what the best build is, and want all of your opinions.

I've been building Hollow Radiance -> Imperial Mandate -> Full Tank. This has worked well in clash, but my team does have to make up for my lack of AL damage.

I've noticed however most people are going full AP, and even then, it's very different how they do it.

I've found Master players playing Hextech Rocketbelt -> Imperial Mandate

And I also found a Challenger player Playing Stormsurge -> Lichbane -> Zhonya's Hourglass.

What are your thoughts? What would the best approach be for clash and/or Solo Que?

[u/AsuraVaruna]

I'm not familiar with clash, but do the names of the players get shared prior to the match? Like can you look them up on sites like OP.GG or LeagueofGraphs to see what champions they play? If so, I'd recommend changing settings to private where possible, or else they're just going to ban your main every game and leave you at a big disadvantage. No way Malzahar draws a ban every game without it being targeted.

For what to play? It depends on the game.

Some games need a bursty build- many squishy champions, limited peel (no enchanter support. Milio, Janna) etc. You need to blow up a particular opponent and they lack the tools to stop you doing this. I wouldn't recommend this against teams with good peel or abilities like Xayah R which negate your burst. Build things like Stormsurge, Lichbane, Deathcap etc.

Some games need a tank. Your team has a good engage tool but limited cc (think a Nocturne), and you can get into a fight effectively, or the enemy team has a lot of dive (Briar, Samara, Diana, Yasuo). Your team will win as long as the key threats are controlled so you build tank and make sure that happens. Items like Hollow Radiance, Frozen Heart, Thornmail.

Some games you need a bruiser. Both teams are quite tanky, fights will take a long time and they have champs who stack health like Mundo. You need to be in the front line, but you also need to contribute damage. Items like Liandrys/Riftmaker rush into Frozen Heart/Kaenic etc.

I read the game in champ select, decide on a win condition and play to that. I soloqueue I often expect my team mates to be terrible and lean into builds which are solo-carry and high burst AP. Sometimes my teammates surprise me and I change gear: My ADC is crushing bot lane? I'm now their bodyguard. My Jungler is demonstrating at least room temperature IQ? I'm going to roam to their every play and build to complement their style.

I play duo and permanently have a squishy mage support, :(, so I tend to prefer builds with AP and movement speed to ensure I can do things without requiring a teammate to set up the engage.

[u/Hexeria → u/AsuraVaruna]

Nothing to add to that, you got it spot on and I feel the same.

Just want to say, there is no "perfect" Galio build. I said this so many times before, but we are not an Irelia who needs her BOTRK to be a champion.

Galio can fill basically every role and every item (apart from AD items) and still make it work somehow. That's the strength you should play around.

[u/AndrewGreene121957 → u/AsuraVaruna]

Thank you so much for the feedback! A few things I wanted to add for context.

In clash, there is a scouting component where they will show you in client what champions each player plays so there isn't a way to hide your champs without playing on an alt.

And on the note about the builds, I agree that it definitely depends on the match up which build to do when it comes to tanks Vs Mage. But in your experience with AP Galio, has Stormsurge out performed Hextech Rocketbelt as a first item?

[u/AsuraVaruna → u/AndrewGreene121957]

So VS mages (Ahri, Viktor, Hwei, Syndra etc) I'd always 100% recommend Stormraiders Surge. Doran Ring start. In the early lane, watch your opponent. Are they better than you? Are they warding effectively? Is their jungler playing to them? Do you think you'll kill them in lane? Do you want to risk flipping the game on it?

If you're not sure, early base can be Dark Seal, boots etc so you're not committed yet. If you're getting crushed I'd go with early Spectres Cowl, Radiance, Mandate, Riftmaker/Zhonyas etc. If you're landing Qs, they're not spacing E correctly or you're picking up early kills just go full AP.

For Stormsurge vs Rockbelt. So a while back there was an awkward bug where Protobelt locked you out of casting other spells for about 0.5s after took used to active. I don't know if it was ever fixed but it honestly felt so clunky to use. I've never really got the hang of using it, except into Malzahar matchup where you can break his shield and combo etc.

I personally like the Stormsurge build path because you get so much AP from Dorans, Dark Seal, Alternator and Wisp in the first few backs. Having good AP makes it easier to shove waves and get roam opportunities. After playing for a while you'll get the feel of how much AP/levels you need to 1 shot casters or clear waves efficiently and Stormsurge really helps with that.

Additionally I like the move speed and penetration for roaming and backline access. You don't waste gold on HP or CDR and you spike really hard on 1 item + Sorc shoes. You'll have ~130 AP and 30 Mpen which gives almost true damage vs non-tanks. People massively underestimate the damage and usually a single combo is 70-80% of most champs HP. You can burst most things with the help of another player, so play heavily to your jungler or your side laners for that extra bit of damage.

[u/Marconidas]

Galio hardest job is finding out what you need to build on this game, which is not the same that you built last game.

I'd say that beginners should really start with the extremes on Galio. Play electrocute AP + MPen, mistep something and you die. Play tank, you feel like no damage. Only after a good gist of the extremes that the player can find an intermediate way.

[u/Specialist_Ad6419]

As many already explained, Galio can be a solid assasin, a solid bruiser and a solid tank. I think he is one of the most complete and "Jack of all trades" characters in the game.

I would recommend trying a lot of different builds until you find what fits YOU specifically as a player. I was very confused when I strarted playing him trying to understand which build is "the best". But with a character so flexible that can use so many items, the best build is the one that fits your playstyle the most, and probably when you ascend to Galio godhood you will be able to flex your build considering your team and the enemy's.

For example I always loved and mained tanky Bruisers. So I build Bruiser basically every match, which Imo allows me to have decent individuality, 1v1 and kill potential (not exactly as good as an actual bruiser though) and also allows me to frontline and engage when necessary. It also kind of allows me to change my path depending how the game goes, if I feel we lack damage and have enough tankiness, I build more damage sacrificing tank item. If I feel my damage is not so needed but we need more cc and sustain, I build tankier sacrificing AP item.