by Sadczar

[2.4b] Rakan Guide - [In Depth] I need my love to hurt

1913
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Perfectionist
Rakan and Xayah got a nerf to their shield synergy in patch 2.4b but Rakan got a buff which should offset when playing rakan without Xayah
Patch 2.4b
September 10, 2021 17:57
Support

[In Depth] I need my love to hurt

Dash between your allies and enemies right to victory. in-depth guide to both tank and AP Rakan. learn the dance and carry your team to victory in the way only a Bird can.

Pros

  • One of the best engage supports when played properly.
  • Great mobility and escapes.
  • Shields and healing especially when built AP
  • Playmaker support never boring

Cons

  • Long cooldowns early
  • Squishy when built full AP
  • Difficult to learn and master
  • Difficulty in solo q if team doesn't follow engages

Rakan Build

Best Build Guide for Rakan

Starting Items
Ruby Crystal
Amplifying Tome
Boots of Speed
Full Tank Build
Rod of Ages
Gargoyle Enchant
Sunfire Aegis
Thornmail
Abyssal Mask
Frozen Heart
Hybrid tank build
Rod of Ages
Gargoyle Enchant
Rabadon's Deathcap
Zeke's Convergence
Frozen Heart
Abyssal Mask
aggressive AP build
Athene's Unholy Grail
Locket Enchant
Staff of Flowing Waters
Archangel's Staff
Harmonic Echo
Rabadon's Deathcap
ROD AP BUILD
Rod of Ages
Locket Enchant
Staff of Flowing Waters
Ardent Censer
Rabadon's Deathcap
Harmonic Echo

Item Build Description

Additional information on the items

I normally prefer to take Ruby CrystalRuby Crystal as starting item for more health in early levels. Boots of SpeedBoots of Speed are also a good first item for better move speed and faster enchant.

AP builds give stronger healing and shield but you are very squishy. if your team doesn't need a tank and needs more healing and damage go for the AP builds. 

Boot options

I strongly prefer Ionian Boots of LucidityIonian Boots of Lucidity but Plated SteelcapsPlated Steelcaps or Mercury's TreadsMercury's Treads are also viable if the enemy team is full ad or full ap/ has alot of CC. 

enchantment

Gargoyle EnchantGargoyle Enchant is my preferred go too currently, but [locket enchant] can be really good into burst comps. Redeeming EnchantRedeeming Enchant is always a viable options as well.

OTHER ITEMS TO CONSIDER

Protector's VowProtector's Vow can be a great item if you need to play safer on either tank or AP build. the ability haste it gives is not bad either. 

Zeke's ConvergenceZeke's Convergence is another solid item for both AP or tank builds especially if the enemy team is a mix of damage. If you dont have any AP damage on your team take this over Abyssal MaskAbyssal Mask

Randuin's OmenRanduin's Omen the meta right now is crit on crit on crit so this item is also a good choice if you need to negate heavy crit damages. 

Guardian AngelGuardian Angel if you still yet need more armor and you need more survivability in team fights. 

Remember to always look at what the enemy team and your teammates are building and adjust your build accordingly. Do not get stuck in the mind set of just building your loadout every game no matter what is going on. Matches are very fluid in nature and you need to be able to adapt to whatever situation comes up. 


Rakan Runes

Best Runes for Rakan

Keystone
Font of Life
Font of Life
Domination
Weakness
Weakness
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind
Inspiration
Pack Hunter
Pack Hunter

Standard rune set. Font of life triggers easily and often with your kit. 

Weakness is causes your enemies to take increased damage just for going about your normal duties in lane and in team fights. 

Second wind can be replaced with Bone PlatingBone Plating for reduced burst damage, or Hunter TitanHunter Titan if you are against heavy CC. 

Pack hunter can be switched for Hunter GeniusHunter Genius for ability haste or even PathfinderPathfinder if you want increased solo roam speed.

Keystone
Electrocute
Electrocute
Domination
Weakness
Weakness
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind
Inspiration
Pack Hunter
Pack Hunter

Aggressive rune set. Can be taken with Tank or AP builds 

Second wind can be replaced with Bone PlatingBone Plating for reduced burst damage, or Hunter TitanHunter Titan if you are against heavy CC. 

Pack hunter can be switched for Hunter GeniusHunter Genius for ability haste or even PathfinderPathfinder if you want increased solo roam speed.

 

Keystone
Summon Aery
Summon Aery
Domination
Weakness
Weakness
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind
Inspiration
Pack Hunter
Pack Hunter

Fun Rune set. Aery gives more poke in lane as well as increased shields for Allies. 

Second wind can be replaced with Bone PlatingBone Plating for reduced burst damage, or Hunter TitanHunter Titan if you are against heavy CC. 

Pack hunter can be switched for Hunter GeniusHunter Genius for ability haste or even PathfinderPathfinder if you want increased solo roam speed.


Skill Order

How to distribute skill points

Fey Feathers
Fey Feathers - Passive
Gleaming Quill
Gleaming Quill
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Grand Entrance
Grand Entrance
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Battle Dance
Battle Dance
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
The Quickness
The Quickness
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Summoner Spells

When to take which summoners

Flash
Its Flash you know it. you love it. you need it
Ignite
for aggressive lanes or lanes where you know you can get early kills. also helps in heal heavy lanes
Heal
take [heal] if your ADC doesn't and you aren't taking [ignite]
Exhaust
better than [barrier] given you already provided massive shields if your ADC takes [heal] but you don't want [ignite].

Combos

Learn how to maximize the champions potential

Battle Dance
3rd
Grand Entrance
2nd
Auto Attack
AA
Gleaming Quill
1st
Battle Dance
3rd

Your standard engage combo. This lets you close the gap, shield your ally as well as heal your ally if you land your Gleaming QuillGleaming Quill and get out of the fight back to safety. 

Battle Dance
3rd
Grand Entrance
2nd
The Quickness
Ult
Auto Attack
AA
Gleaming Quill
1st
Battle Dance
3rd

This is the standard combo but includes your ultimate for more of an All in engage. you can also throw [ignite] into the chain if you take [ignite] as a sum. 

Flash
Flash
The Quickness
Ult
Grand Entrance
2nd
Battle Dance
3rd

[Flash] then [Rakan:ult] to gather all enemies into an area then use Grand EntranceGrand Entrance for the knock up. Great alternate team fight engage. 

Rakan Matchups & Counters

Detailed information on how to play matchups and counters

Braum
Easy
Braum
Lux
Easy
Lux
Janna
Easy
Janna
Teemo
Easy
Teemo
Blitzcrank
Medium
Blitzcrank
Leona
Medium
Leona
Senna
Medium
Senna
Ahri
Medium
Ahri
Olaf
Hard
Olaf
Kennen
Hard
Kennen
Alistar
Skill
Alistar
Lulu
Skill
Lulu

Your Grand entrance get past Braums shield as its an AOE ability. 

Rakan

With Xayah

if you are ADC locks in XayahXayah you get some increased stats on your abilities. you get increased shielding with Battle DanceBattle Dance . Fey FeathersFey Feathers allows RakanRakan and XayahXayah to join their recalls. when XayahXayah begins her recall make sure and protect her till its nearly done then join the recall. 

Rakan

Early Game

Just as you would as a jungler in champ select and the loading screen make mental notes on how your lane should play out, and determine whether or not you believe its a lane you can snowball through or will you need to play safe and scale up to the late game. also make a note of whether or not the enemy support is a roaming support and be ready to try and match their roams if you can to support your other lanes rather than give the enemy team a free gank. 

As with any engage centered support you have to play more safe in the first couple levels. level 1 I like to take Grand EntranceGrand Entrance and get quick trades as well as stop the enemy from engaging on your ADC. level 2 you can take either Grand EntranceGrand Entrance or Gleaming QuillGleaming Quill depending how the lane is going. remember to look for your Jungler in river around scuttle spawns as well as roaming to your mid laner if they need help and you have priority and can afford to leave your ADC. 

If playing a Rod of AgesRod of Ages build try and get this item ASAP as it is a scaling item. It is very easy to get this item before the first dragon spawns. Coordinate with your ADC to recall with enough time to gain priority in your lane for dragon fights, so that you can apply vision in the drake pit and clear vision in river. Changes in how the drakes and herald spawns have caused a bit of a difference in whether or not your jungler will go for the first dragon or attempt to take the herald. Keep an eye on your jungler's pathing to make sure you can rotate to assist where possible. You're not just the support for the ADC but for your team as a whole. 

Rakan

Mid Game

If you are able to take the first tower early make sure to keep the lane pushed while assisting the other lanes. Don't take the tower then immediately allow the enemy dragon laners to take your tower. if you can safely roam to assist other lanes this will give your ADC some good solo XP in the lane while keeping it pushed toward the tier 2 tower and beyond. 

in the mid game you really need to make sure you are grouping and rotating towards where team fights will break out around objectives to be the engage for your team. Grand EntranceGrand Entrance is such a good knock up and peel in team fights that it can quickly change the tide of the fight. team fights are where your practice with aiming your Battle DanceBattle Dance will come in handy to shield your allies that are being engaged on. after your core tank items you become quite tanky in battle and if you've built a Bramble VestBramble Vest item it becomes a problem for enemy melee champs. 

Rakan

Late Game

Late game is more of the same as mid game group with your team to be the engage and shields. keeping applying and clearing vision in the river and enemy jungle if it is safe to do so. if you are unable to group with your team stay with whoever the carry is for the team in the game. In low elo especially during the latter game farming and objective control sometimes breaks down and it becomes just an all out ARAM down mid. stay on your team to farm and pressure lanes and keep an eye on when objectives are coming up to help rotate towards those objectives. 

Rakan

Patch changes

Patch 2.4b

Grand EntranceGrand Entrance Base damage: 70/140/210/280 → 80/150/220/290

Battle DanceBattle Dance  Bonus shield amount when cast on Xayah: 200% → 125%

The QuicknessThe Quickness  Movement speed: 50& → 60%



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