Lee Sin Build Guide

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Lee Sin - Can I be blinded? DPS/Tanky DPS Guide

written by YoshiyukiSan

Lee Sin Build

Item Build for Lee Pure Sin

Item Build for Lee Hybrid Sin

Laning Phase / Tips [More to come as I figure them out]

Introduction

Lee Sin is really "different" to me. He plays really differently than other characters, and was really difficult to switch to. My first impression when I played him for the first time was that he was underpowered. After I played a few more matches though, I found him to be quite balanced. I'll try to continue to play him and find a concrete style of play. So far, I've only really played him against Intermediate Bots and have had some good success. I had over 20 kills, and over 10 assists. This is of course though only bots. I'll have to try my build against real people to see if I get success.

Please note that this guide may or may not be removed in the future when other people have posted their own builds. I had a build up for another champion previously but removed it when better, more stable builds were posted. I saw that my build wasn't up to par and removed it. If I was to modify it, I would have basically just copied their build, thus, there was no point.

Basically, if my build is legitimately good, and is received well, then it'll stay. If I see that my build is obsolete because other, more useful builds are up, it will be removed.

One more note. I'm just posting my own successes with Lee Sin. I'm sure you all have your own ideas so don't be afraid to deviate. Sometimes, I deviate off of my own build as well!

EDIT: One last note, haha. I have quite a few views, but only one comment from other person. I'd love to receive some feedback to continue to improve my guide. I'm still working on my "tips" section, it's kind of hard to figure out what to put there though. When I play, I just kinda play so it's hard to describe what I'm actually doing. I'll try to pay more attention to what I do when I play though. But yeah, if there's any suggestions or any feedback on the item choices, don't be afraid to comment! I'm going to try and be open minded to input. If you have any suggestions on more sections you want to see, go ahead and comment as well!

EDIT2: Also going to be working on a tank build sometime. I'm coming to find that Lee Sin is VERY versatile.

Abilities

Flurry

Attack Speed Buff is nice. The energy's nice too I guess, but energy regenerates pretty fast regardless. Must note however that energy WILL NOT regen fast enough for you to spam all of your skills.

Sonic Wave / Resonating Strike

Good skill. Not really all that great for harassing in the laning phase, but if your opponent ever exposes his/her ugly head, whip it on them. If you're confident, use it again to dash in and do more damage. If not, just stay were you are. Just because you hit them with it, doesn't mean you have to dash to them!

Also good for checking bushes.

Safeguard / Iron Will

VERY good skill. Unfortunately not for the shield. The shield scales with AP, which all your other skills do not scale with =(. Ah well. That aside, this skill is wonderful for escaping, or closing distance.

If you are turret diving, you can use this on a minion in range to speed up your escape. If you have an opponent just standing close to one of your minions (maybe the minion aggroed and chased, or whatever) you can pop this on that minion to close the distance, and then use something else.

The shield isn't that large, so it doesn't make that much of a difference, but I have seen that it DOES SAVE LIVES. While it mostly saves mine, it can save your ally. It'll help if your ally is getting hit by ignite or Malzahar's nightmare skill. It does block some damage, however small, it does make a difference.

Tempest / Cripple

Great in combination with your Q. Also great for pushing the minion line.

You dash in to your opponent with your Q, then you slow them with Cripple. This also reveals your opponent, so if you by chance know where they are, or have a feeling where they might be, I guess you can pop Tempest to check.

Cripple is an AoE slow and ASPD debuff, if you use it on your opponents minions, their minions will be useless, allowing you to push a lane (absent of enemy champions) much faster. Though I agree this probably isn't the best skill for "pushing" it definitely helps.

Dragon's Rage

This skill is the reason I have ghost and flash. While I will ghost and flash to get myself out of trouble, sometimes, I'll use my ghost to get myself behind the enemy champion so I can pop this on them. This'll push them into your team or your turret, they'll take massive damage.

Flash is great for repositioning-- no sane enemy will just let you waltz behind them.

With the situation reversed, if you're running away, or your ally is running away, you can hit the chaser with it to kick them away. If other chasers are trailing behind, you might be able to hit and disrupt them as well, woot! Then, after using this, you can use your W spell to catch up to your ally and get the hell away, haha.

Updates

April 2 2011: Added a "Tips" section providing some extra tips about how I actually play Lee Sin.

April 8 2011: Added a "Hybrid" item build as a Tanky DPS build. Basically for games where your team has a tank, but you'd like to assist in tanking WHILE being able to dish damage.
Side Note: Still trying to expand the "tips" section, but it's difficult. I haven't been able to play Lee Sin as much as I want to because the teams I get in either don't have a tank, or have far too much melee... I'll still keep trying though.
April 8 2011: Added a "Quick Guide" for those in game needing a fast reference, or those that might have just chosen him randomly at Champion Selection.

April 9 2011: Modified the Tanky DPS build. The Tanky DPS build had a REALLY big problem early game. I got denied, HARD. x.x. So, I decided to switch it up, and start as a jungler instead. This gives a much better early game! You can build your Madred's into a Bloodrazor if you want, or just sell it late game. Either option is pretty good. I usually sell it though.

April 10 2011: Modified the Pure DPS build. Tri-Force phage proc and Frozen Mallet proc don't stack, so it's a waste. Changed the core build as well, to be a bit more flexible into the late game.
April 10 2011: Changes to the Tanky DPS build coming soon! I'm going to be doing a massive re-haul of it. Gonna do some experimenting soon when I have time! This will be edited to "Modified the Tanky DPS build." Once the Tanky DPS build has been changed!

April 12 2011: 1.0.0.115 Brand, the Burning Vengeance
Sonic Wave

* Base damage reduced to 50/80/110/140/170 from 60/90/120/150/180
* Improved the general missile usability

Resonating Strike base damage reduced to 50/80/110/140/170 from 60/90/120/150/180
Safeguard range increased by 50
Iron Will lifesteal and spell vamp percent reduced to 5/10/15/20/25 from 10/15/20/25/30

I don't see this majorly affecting my play of Lee Sin. Base damages a bit lower and lifesteal/ spell vamp a bit lower, I'll live. "Improved General Missile usability" I'm really hoping that means something good.
April 12 2011: Sorry, haven't actually had time to do the Tanky DPS rehaul, but I promise I'll work on it today once the patch finishes and I'm home from school!
Quick Guide

21/0/9: http://leaguecraft.com/masteries/3001340030330100000000000000003140100000000

and or (for jungle)

Favored Skill Build

Jungling Skill Build

Jungle Path
Twin Golems -> Wraiths -> Wolves -> Blue -> Twin Golems -> Red -> Wraiths

Core: Lee (Pure) Sin
[builder=Lee Sin/199ceed2b847c92e571a17d76e650227]

Finished (Example): Lee (Pure) Sin
[builder=Lee Sin/07a9ca33367a834f29e2d5d59c0f2e1f]
In the late game, if you don't feel Sheen is doing it for you, you can just replace it with another item!
if you build the Tri-Force, replace Frozen Mallet with the Tri-Force and replace the Sheen with a different item. Check the Lee (Pure) Sin items section for some suggestions!

Core: Lee (Hybrid) Sin
[builder=Lee Sin/3b5b04050dcf1c35bd5226b092bc88e1]

Finished (Example): Lee (Hybrid) Sin
[builder=Lee Sin/adf9f797008a567f513cd32c810e0c0a]

Basic Early Game Laning
- Harass/ Last hit with Q

Good Tips:
- Do not spam your skills! Instead, spread them out with two auto-attacks inbetween.
- If you use the first part of your ability, auto-attack two times, then use the second half, auto-attack two times, you WILL recover 40/100 of the energy used. You also recover some of the energy over time, making the regeneration quite significant!
- If your team as a Teemo, I believe you can safeguard to the mushrooms! [Same with Turrets/ Jack in the boxes/ Wards/ etc)

More to come!

If you have anything else you think would be useful in a "quick guide" please say!
Masteries + Runes

Build this how it makes sense to you. I go with a 21/0/9 though.
http://leaguecraft.com/masteries/3001340030330100000000000000003140100000000
Something like that. For now, I take cool down reduction over attack speed, that may change though.
Summoner Abilities

and

Basically just to add to his escaping utility and his positioning utility. Getting in a good position to use your ultimate WILL make a difference.
Skilling Order

Priority Q:

Priority W:
Item Build for Lee Pure Sin

CORE:
[builder=Lee Sin/199ceed2b847c92e571a17d76e650227]

Start:
or
Gives lifesteal and attack damage and health. Useful stats for the blind monk!
Get the shield if you feel that you're going to be denied that life steal and need better regen.

The next item depends on how I'm doing in my lane. If I'm doing great, I'll lane and farm until I have enough for
and (2200 gold)
This usually doesn't happen, so...
I prioritize getting , then get whatever part of the Phage I can afford. Generally, I try to go for the but if I need more survivability, I'll get

Finish your if you haven't already, and then start finishing your boots.
if there's a lot of AP based champs
if there's a lot of AD, auto attackers
if you feel confident.

After that, I gauge what I need. If I need more HP and consistent slowing, I'll quickly push my Phage to a

If I feel that I'm chasing them down fine, and I just need more lifesteal to help me keep alive I'll make

If I feel that my passive's good enough in terms of life steal and health regen, I'll start working on the
While doing so though, I MIGHT pick up a Vampiric Scepter for some extra lifesteal.

Afterwards, I'll finish up what was left undone. (Frozen Mallet or Blood Thirster or Sheen)

After that, there are a LOT of items that you can go for. Banshee's Veil and Guardian Angel are almost never bad choices. Other items built from the B. F. Sword Are good if you need additional damage. After those first items, the build just becomes so... situational.

Doing Great, needa dish more damage:
Need damage and awesome crit values?
Opponent stacking armor?
Opponent stacking HP? [item_icon=Madred's Bloodrazor]

Having some trouble, need more survivability:
Lots of nukers?
Need to survive more in general?
Lots of AD auto attackers? /

Frozen Heart gives mana, yes, I know... BUT, it gives a massive amount of armor and an attack speed debuff. Against a team with a lot of auto attackers, it should help a lot. So the mana is "wasted", everything else is amazing!

Really long game/ lots of gold?
I have a lot of issues with Trinity Force-- especially with the MANA. This is the reason I DO NOT get one early on. Early on in the game, the mana is useless, and having any item with useless stats early game is pretty bad. If the game's gone on so long that you have nothing else to spend money on, get the Trinity Force. Late game, the wasted mana is almost negligible (to me). You'll be doing better burst damage with Sheen proc, and you'll get more AP for your shield, no matter how minuscule it is. You also get AD, AS and more HP. Since the Tri-Force's phage proc will not stack on Frozen-Mallet, it might be a good idea to pick one or the other. Frozen Mallet gives a lot more HP and a consistent slow, but Tri-Force gives extra movement-speed to cover up for the inconsistent slowing. It all depends on a matter of preference. If you're going to build for the tri-force, it's probably a good idea to just hold the Phage, rather than upgrade it to the Tri-force.

There are a lot more items you can get. If your teammates aren't getting it, go for [item_icon=Stark's Fervor] for the life steal and attack speed aura.

There are a lot of items I don't know about as well. I'll try and update with more possibilities as I come across them I guess. Feel free to experiment and post your own successes!

For pure DPS, the items are just way too situational. Unlike the hybrid build your choices and options are MASSIVE. The general route I'd take however if I was just playing pure DPS would probably look something like...
[builder=Lee Sin/07a9ca33367a834f29e2d5d59c0f2e1f]
Late game, if you find the Sheen's not doing so well, you can switch it for another item, but the sheen is a really good item in general!
For this, you can switch Guardian Angel for Banshee's.

But really though, the options are massive for the DPS build. You can do a lot of different things, and this is just one of the ways you can build Lee (Pure) Sin. If things weren't going well, I'd DEFINITELY stack more defensive items.
Item Build for Lee Hybrid Sin

CORE:
[builder=Lee Sin/73a256fc824b39c87e926400db31ef51]

Start: , 5x

Then I start building into and of course,

Complete your boots
if there's a lot of AP based champs
if there's a lot of AD, auto attackers
if you feel confident.

Build into
As a jungler, you will be consistently getting the red buff. As of such, the red buff's slow and your cripple will be enough to chase people down for now. What you need is some POW.

If I sell my Madred's Razors this is where I'd sell it. If I sold it, I'd build a if not, I'd build my Madred's Razors to a [item_icon=Madred's Bloodrazor] Take your pick. In my opinion though, Frozen Mallet has a lot more synergy with the build.

Then, usually at this point in the game, I'll need to be a bit more beefy. As an off-tank, you are either trading off your resistances for some attack, or your HP for some attack, I choose to trade off my resistances. There are two reasons.
1. The HP number appears BIG and BOLD when they look at your character's stats, the armor and magic resistance are beside it, in small numbers harder to see. Having more HP will give them a more "OMG", at least to the newer players.
2. Atma's Impaler (which you WILL be building later) As a tanky DPS, I think this item is GREAT. You build HP to make you beefy, you stack a little more armor, AND you get bonus attack damage!

Then, just like before, here is where I build
After that, I'll take an .

[builder=Lee Sin/b5ec0c2a5a0b6ff9ca9425926d47fdb9]

For your last item, you have quite a few options.

/ / [item_icon=Force of Nature] / /

Final Build Examples:
[builder=Lee Sin/bbae04b2fbca95a7cd6148ea4c24e0c3]
Laning Phase / Tips [More to come as I figure them out]

In the early laning phase, I mostly use my Q to last hit/ harass. More so on the harassing. However, if I'm being denied my last hits, I will pop my Q on a minion. If the minion doesn't die, I'll wait for its health to be low enough and kick my way in. This can be a bad idea if your laning counterparts are paying attention, so I usually prefer to just get the minion with the skillshot.

Though I prefer to use Q on my opponent to close the distance and do some damage, it's entirely possible to hit a minion close to them instead, then hammer them with physical attacks, then safeguard away to your own minion in the distance. This can be a method of harassment if your opponent is hanging back passively behind the minions where your Q won't reach.

I just read about this awesome thing in another guide. YOU CAN SAFEGUARD TO WARDS. Therefore, if you're not a jungler, and not building Wriggles, you should buy wards. IT SUCKS to be in a situation where you're trying to escape and you can't safeguard to anything, so just throw a ward, and safeguard to it instead! Whoever thought of this was brilliant o_o.

IF you want to push your lane forward: Cripple the majority of your opponent's minions and safeguard the minion that has the most aggro on it. Your opponent's minions will attack slower doing less DPS, and your minion tanking those hits will live longer, your minions will push like crazy! I usually only do this if my opponents are absent from the lane.

Do you need to run away and there's a neutral monster on the other side of the forest? Use Q on it and dash to it, through the wall. If you're running, you want have the time to kill it, but oh well? You got away, and your opponent's probably angry, haha. You can also use this when your opponent(s) have left the lane. You can quickly shoot your Q in there and farm whatever neutral monster buff and quickly come back. Generally, this would be used most if you're mid. The wraiths are REALLY accessible if you're mid. However, I don't usually play mid, but if you are put there for whatever reason and you're doing well, why not? ;)

This was mentioned in the summoner spotlight, but to maximize the potential of your passive, try and hit your opponent two times before activating the next part of the ability. The only real exception is your Sonic Wave / Resonating Strike. So if I was to use Tempest, I would try to get two auto attacks in before using Cripple. I don't ALWAYS do it, but I do it when it's possible.

My harassment combo: (If they're stupid enough to step out into the open and let you hit them with your Q, aka, they're getting cocky.) Q -> Q -> Auto attack (at lease once, if you can make it, twice) -> safe guard to one of your minions in the distance, or a ward if the ward is available.

Diving Turrets
NOTE: THIS WILL NOT WORK EARLY GAME. DO NOT TURRET DIVE EARLY GAME WITH LEE SIN, PLEASE.
Q -> Q -> W (on self) -> (optional) Auto attack -> E -> Auto attack -> E
If you're diving the tower, they should be dead before you finish the combo, actually, right around where you use Tempest. Well, so long as you're diving mid-game with more than half your health when you dive, you should be okay. If you kill them with just Q -> Q, use W on the farthest ally minion accessible, or a ward to get out. Anyway, the reason why diving early game is NOT a good idea.

This doesn't quite relate ONLY to Lee Sin, but it's a good mentality to have while playing League of Legends. The whole point about killing your enemy is to set your lane, and yourself ahead of that enemy in terms of experience and gold. In the early laning phase, you and your opponent will likely be the same level, unless either has been denied experience. Now, at equal levels, the respawn time is the same. When you turret dive your opponent at a low level as a squishy, you will most likely die. Before your enemy died, they most likely put up a fight. The turret kills you, and your opponent gets a kill, making it 1:1. You may think the ground would be even, but no, I'm here to tell you that it is not. Your enemy died first, and at the same level, will respawn first, and will thus return to the lane first. This will result in more last-hits, and exp, putting him ahead. League of Legends is a game where advantages snowball, even that small advantage of a few extra minion kills and exp could roll and grow, so don't let it happen. If the other side of the lane does attain some sort of advantage, call your mid or someone else over for a gank to SHUT THAT ADVANTAGE DOWN. In strategy games, every second counts.

More to come!