Alistar Build Guide

Alistar Build

Table of Contents

Abilities

1

Introduction

2

Skill Order for First Two Builds

3

Stable Build to Alistar

4

Refined Aggressive Alistar Build

5

Jungle Star

6

An Effective Ap Alistar Build

7

• Abilities

  [spell=Colossal Strength]

  Although it may not be noticeable early game, this passive helps you take out towers a lot faster than any regular tank who doesn't stack damage.

  Pulverize

  The Aoe of this may be small, but this spell is really effective once you have landed it.

  Headbutt

  Can be used in so many different situations.

  Triumphant Roar

  The real reason you can tank so well early.

  Unbreakable Will

  Makes him unstoppable. Removes stuns and snares (lies exhaust ftl)

• Introduction

  Hi everyone it's been awhile since I submitted a guide on Alistar ever since my "Aggressive Alistar Build". I've been keeping all of my latest builds to myself for awhile because I've been quite busy and I usually make small adjustments as I test them through my games anyways. In this guide I will be introducing 4 different builds that I have created over my experience as playing Alistar. Alistar has been my main ever since beta and still is to today.
  
  The titles for the 4 guides will be:
  Stable Build to Alistar (Cheap Tank)
  Refined Aggressive Alistar Build (Dps)
  Jungle Star (Jungler)
  An Effective Ap Alistar Build (AP)
  
  
  My Summoner name in League of Legends is "LostArc" so if you want to see these builds in action then you can add me, I don't mind showing you one of my builds while I'm on.
  
  Please refer to my old "Aggressive Alistar Build" guide for strategies on how to play Alistar, especially the "Strategies" section of the guide.
  http://leaguecraft.com/strategies/guide/3838-aggressive-alistar-build.xhtml

• Skill Order for First Two Builds

  
  
  Explanation:
  
  The real reason Alistar can tank so well during laning phase is obviously because he heals back all the damage he received over time. Therefore its important to have it at level 2 during the first 6 levels so that you can remain in lane and active. Since level 1 Triumphant Roar only heals 60 it may be wise to heal atleast 90 which is close to 100. Why not level his other spells for damage? Well most of the damage from those spells get negated alot by the early base magic resistance anyways so most of your damage output in a dual lane battle is actually from your regular attack. It's always wise to max your Headbutt before your other spells since it's gonna be used a lot for the last hits of fleeing enemy champions who your allies can't catch up to, so you want to make sure it can kill them.

• Stable Build to Alistar

  Introduction:
  Everyone who plays Alistar understands the difficulty of earning gold in a regular game. Exactly why this build will probably cover that issue by using low budget items to tank. This is a stable build for novices.
  
  Pros
  The Item cost is quite cheap
  Tanks well enough
  
  Cons
  Damage output is not that great
  
  
  Summoner Spells:
  Ghost Ghost is always a necessary spell for most champions, because of the boost of speed used to either flee or chase an enemy champion. Also helps with your auto attack on champions.
  
  Teleport The best spell for a slow champion like Alistar. Using teleport wisely is important for anyone who takes this summoner spell. This spell should be utilized only in these cases: Defending a tower, Pushing a unoccupied lane that's close to an enemy tower, ganking enemy champions by teleporting on minions or ward in a different lane. Or after retreating from a team battle with low health and blue pilling and then teleporting back into that team battle if it hasn't ended.
  
  
  Runes:
  Greater Quintessence of Desolation x 3
  Greater Mark of Desolation x 9
  -Allows for Alistar's regular attack to do good damage during laning phase.
  
  Greater Seal of Evasion x 9
  -Can help proc the Nimbleness more often.
  
  Greater Glyph of Shielding x 9
  -Helps him tank since he has low base Magic resist.
  
  
  Masteries:
  0/21/9
  http://leaguecraft.com/masteries/0000000000000001030411340301120140001000000
  
  
  Items:
  [builder=Alistar/8d6d60d09f5f17dc8abe7bcc089c316b]
  
  Item Ordering:
  Starting Items:
  If there is a jungler on the enemy team then its wise to start with these items so you can ward enemy golem. Its really important to make sure that the jungler doesn't have a good start.
  Boots of Speed
  Health Potion x 1
  Sight Ward x 1
  If there is no jungler then start with these items:
  Meki Pendant
  Health Potion x 1
  Mana Potion x 1
  During the first time you go back to shop make sure to have:
  Boots of Speed If you don't have them already and Chalice of Harmony
  Afterwards upgrade your boots to either Mercury's Treads if they have lots of CCs or Ninja Tabi if they have alot of physical DPS.
  Next start on your Aegis of the Legion Then, Sunfire Cape for some low damage output.
  Get Spirit Visage if they have alot of casters otherwise continue to get Last Whisper.
  
  
  Tips:
  Make your Pulverizes count in a team battle, don't just use it immediately since it has a long cooldown and use your headbutt to push away champions whom you don't want to enter the team battle. If the team battles start without the whole enemy team not at the spot then position yourself in the location where they may come to aid there allies and headbutt them away from where the team battle is taking place. Your a tank that doesn't do much damage so its important that you keep it at a 5v4 if possible for team fights.

• Refined Aggressive Alistar Build

  Introduction:
  I made some improvements on this build concerning the items. In order to perform well you must be able to micro Alistar well enough so you can get all the possible auto attacks in. His Unbreakable Will allows him to tank for a good amount of seconds if used wisely even without tanking items and in addition gives him really high extra damage. This build does work well.. competitively. If you think otherwise, please make sure your main is Alistar and that you make necessary improvements on your gameplay and item decisions throughout your experience. If not then your comment is really unreliable. This is my favorite build currently.
  
  Pros
  Anti-Carry
  High Damage Output
  Very fast
  
  Cons
  Dont take full focus from the whole enemy team
  
  
  Summoner Spells:
  Ghost Although this Alistar Build, has fast movement speed, this is needed for the same reasons above.
  Exhaust Great Summoner spell used to reduce the damage done by burst damage type champions like Annie or Xin Zhao. Alistar needs this so he can make sure he can Anti-carry.
  
  
  Runes:
  Greater Quintessence of Desolation x 3
  Greater Mark of Desolation x 9
  -Allows for Alistar's regular attack to do good damage during laning phase.
  
  Greater Seal of Resilience x 9
  -So he can tank a bit of damage during laning phase.
  
  Greater Glyph of Intellect x 9
  -Since he comes very mana deficient.
  
  Masteries:
  21/0/9
  http://leaguecraft.com/masteries/3100140032330100000000000000030140001000000
  
  
  Items:
  [builder=Alistar/efc4f0d5bb781782ddc53b14ca1505e0]
  
  
  Item Ordering:
  Starting Items:
  If there is a jungler on the enemy team then its wise to start with these items so you can ward enemy golem. Its really important to make sure that the jungler doesn't have a good start.
  Boots of Speed
  Health Potion x 1
  Sight Ward x 1
  If there is no jungler then start with these items:
  Doran's Blade
  
  Then get some Boots of Speed and a Zeal
  Next upgrade your boots to Berserker's Greaves and get a Cloak of Agility when possible. Buy 2 Long Sword and then upgrade into a Phantom Dancer
  Make a Youmuu's Ghostblade only if there is only one champion on the enemy team stacking armor otherwise get a Last Whisper if 2 or more champions on the enemy team have armor items.
  Now start on your Trinity Force, your want to get Phage first and Sheen last.
  If the game continues make a Atma's Impaler.
  
  
  Tips:
  -Make sure you aren't targeting the tank if there is a fragile enemy champion close buy.
  -Your Headbutt cancel into a Pulverize is really important so practice it well.
  -Know when to use your Unbreakable Will to cancel out of a stun or snare when chasing a low health champion.
  -Don't be afraid to auto-attack them.

• Jungle Star

  Introduction:
  Are you missing a jungler in your team. You really want 2 champions to solo and still have 5 effective champions throughout the game. Well no one else is jungling so who will jungle, Alistar?? HE CANT JUNGLE THATS WHAT DISBELIEVERS SAYS. I'm sorry to tell you but yes he can and he can do golem in at least 15 secs. Alistar is my Main and I 'm always making new improvements in the champions I play. But for now I will introduce to you the "Jungle Star".
  Now whoever said Alistar can't jungle isn't a real Alistar player. Although I understand that Alistar may not be the best choice to jungle with but I'm letting you know its possible.
  
  Pros
  Able to Jungle
  Good Ganker
  
  Cons
  Bad start can ruin game
  Not so good if late game last to long
  
  Summoner Spells:
  Smite A spell which all junglers need.
  Ghost Helps him catch up to enemy champions and gank.
  
  
  Runes:
  Greater Quintessence of Alacrity x 3
  Greater Mark of Alacrity x 9
  -Since Armor Pen runes dont do so well in Jungling its best that you can attack fast.
  
  Greater Seal of Evasion x 9
  -Can help him dodge damage when Jungling.
  
  Greater Glyph of Shielding x 9
  -Since your gonna have blue buff, its better to get some runes to help your survivability later in the game.
  
  
  Masteries:
  9/11/10
  http://leaguecraft.com/masteries/3010400100000001030401200000030140002000000
  
  Skill Order:
  
  It's important to level your Triumphant roar second in order to jungle.
  
  Items:
  [builder=Alistar/c6399e0d3568b5dbbb4d9fcc2a2a2e0f]
  
  
  Item Ordering:
  Starting items:
  Cloth Armor x 1
  Health Potion x 5
  
  Next change your Cloth armor into Madred's Razors and get a Boots of Speed if possible.
  Finish into a Wriggle's Lantern, and start on Trinity Force. Get your Sheen first and then upgrade your boots into Mercury's Treads. Before finishing your Trinity Force make sure to get a B. F. Sword instead for extra damage. Finish your Infinity Edge. Then start on your Guardian Angel. If you find it to difficult to get enough gold for it make an Aegis of the Legion first instead.
  
  
  Tips:
  Jungling:
  Start off at golem, Initialize the battle with the golem with your Smite, and Pulverize immediately. Wait till you receive the first hit from golem on you to start your Health Potion, continue auto attacking golem and spamming pulverize. After finishing the golem area level up your Triumphant Roar instead. Then proceed to the wolf pack, spam Triumphant Roar as much as possible while jungling with blue buff on. It is possible to get Lizard buff after the wolf pack if you want to gank mid early, but only do so if the enemy champion mid doesn't have Flash. Otherwise continue with the regular jungling routine and ganking lanes when possible.

• An Effective Ap Alistar Build

  Introduction:
  This build has been used a lot recently but I still laugh at people who attempt to play Alistar as AP when their micro ability with him is poor. Although he can do a lot of damage as AP its also really important for you to be able to play him well otherwise..your gonna do your team no good. My ability to micro Alistar is top notch.. SO i really only suggest that you use this build after playing Alistar for a good amount of time.
  
  Pros
  Good against Champions without any extra Health items
  Good amount of healing rate
  High Damage with spells
  
  Cons
  Has to kite when Unbreakable Will is on cooldown.
  Not a Tank
  
  Summoner Spells:
  Flash A spell which can help situate him in range for his spells and as well as help him escape.
  Ghost Also another spell that can be used to help him escape and set up his spells.
  
  
  Runes:
  Greater Quintessence of Swiftness x 3
  -To help Alistar set his spells better.
  
  Greater Mark of Insight x 9
  -To make sure his spells do decent damage.
  
  Greater Seal of Evasion x 9
  -So he can dodge some damage early since he will be fragile
  
  Greater Glyph of Intellect x 9
  -An extra 101 mana can do him good since he only starts with 225 mana.
  
  Masteries:
  9/0/21
  http://leaguecraft.com/masteries/1003400100000000000000000000030140032031301
  
  
  
  Explanation:
  You want to make sure his damage spells are maxed out first so you can deal the most damage as AP Alistar. It's always wise to keep atleast one level in Triumphant Roar so you can stay in lane longer. Its best to max headbutt first since it has a lower cooldown and can deal more damage.
  
  
  Items:
  [builder=Alistar/7bce5023e23e2fd47d028c2f39cfd964]
  
  Item Ordering:
  Starting Items:
  If there is a jungler on the enemy team then its wise to start with these items so you can ward enemy golem. Its really important to make sure that the jungler doesn't have a good start.
  Boots of Speed
  Health Potion x 1
  Sight Ward x 1
  Otherwise:
  Boots of Speed
  Health Potion x 2
  Mana Potion x 1
  
  Then lane as long as possible and try to get a Needlessly Large Rod.
  Then upgrade you boots into Ionian Boots of Lucidity.
  Afterwards finish your Rabadon's Deathcap.Then get a Giant's Belt for more survivability.
  Next start making your Deathfire Grasp. Next finish your Rylai's Crystal Scepter
  or get a Void Staff instead if the enemy team is stacking Magic resist. If the game
  continues then start making a Zhonya's Hourglass.
  
  Tips:
  -Very important to use Unbreakable Will wisely.
  -Make sure you can perform all of Alistar's stunts well..(Strategies section of old guide)
  -Kite well and spam your heal.
  -Know when to retreat.