by DandyGuy

[2.5a] Lucian Guide - They won't rise again

1523
0
Perfectionist
Much appreciated for making this the Guide of the Week! As promised, the Baron and mid lane match ups have started to arrive! I will be writing the rest later on. Just remember, some will call it overpowered, I call it "AD diff."
Patch 2.5a
December 19, 2021 04:09
Bot

They won't rise again

A pretty in-depth guide on Lucian from his skills, their usage, combos, build paths, laning tips, and explanations as to why the options provided are the best.

Pros

  • One of the most mobile ADCs in the game
  • High skill ceiling
  • Can solo lane well
  • One of the best kiting ADCs regardless of build path
  • Very good early game

Cons

  • You can only really build damage, aka you die easily
  • Very vulnerable in lane if dash is on cooldown
  • Hard to master/implement combos
  • Very reliant on abilities for damage

Lucian Build

Best Build Guide for Lucian

Longsword start for life
Long Sword
The "Always good" build
Navori Quickblades
Gluttonous Greaves
Solari Chargeblade
Infinity Edge
Serylda's Grudge
Guardian Angel
The "I hate solari chargeblade" build
Essence Reaver
Gluttonous Greaves
Navori Quickblades
Infinity Edge
Bloodthirster
Guardian Angel

Item Build Description

Additional information on the items

Starting items

There really isn't much to explain on this, regardless of your build or matchup, you should ALWAYS start Long SwordLong Sword


The Always good build

For starters, "Why is this always good?" This build, in comparison to any other options provided, is good regardless of what you are fighting and no matter your match up as well. Navori QuickbladesNavori Quickblades are a fantastic item for Lucian both for it's cooldown reduction and allowing you to get multiple abilities off in a fight whereas other builds only allow you to really get multiple Relentless PursuitRelentless Pursuit /dashes in a fight. Solari ChargebladeSolari Chargeblade also allows you to get 100% critical strike chance with only 3 critical strike items at the cost of needing to constantly use abilities. Paired with Navori QuickbladesNavori Quickblades for the constant ability resets and Trio'd with Infinity EdgeInfinity Edge for an extra kick in damage, you turn into a hard to kill yet turbo DPSing monster. Topped off with Serylda's GrudgeSerylda's Grudge to turn your Piercing LightPiercing Light , Ardent BlazeArdent Blaze , and The CullingThe Culling  into nasty slows that make your damage inescapable. A Guardian AngelGuardian Angel as the cherry on top in preparation for the game ending fights. As a note, you can replace Guardian AngelGuardian Angel with a Blade of the Ruined KingBlade of the Ruined King anytime GA is on cooldown.


The I hate Solari Chargeblade build

To be entirely honest, this could also be called the "I want Essence ReaverEssence Reaver !" build too, but that doesn't quite roll off the tongue as well. Essence ReaverEssence Reaver is a great item for Lucian, don't get it twisted, however in the long run, Navori QuickbladesNavori Quickblades at the time this guide is being written simply is more useful for Lucian and is also cheaper. This allows him/you to hit important item power spikes faster, playing further into Lucian's lane-bully style. If you really like Sheen procs/Spell blade styles, this is the build for you.


Build tips depending on comps

These are useful tips for considering what changes to your builds on the fly if you are fighting against comps centered around different styles of champions.

Fighting champs that heal/ SonaSona or SorakaSoraka ? - Replace Serylda's GrudgeSerylda's Grudge with Mortal ReminderMortal Reminder for healing reduction

Fighting against assassins/ ZedZed haunts your nightmares? - Upgrade your boots to a [stasis enchant] after your first item if you're worried about them or whenever you have 800 gold lying around AND go either Mercury's TreadsMercury's Treads if they are an AP assassin or Plated SteelcapsPlated Steelcaps if they are an AD one.

Fighting against hard Crowd Control? - Upgrade your boots to a Quicksilver EnchantQuicksilver Enchant after your first item if you're worried about them or whenever you have 800 gold lying around AND go Mercury's TreadsMercury's Treads to shave off some time being rooted or stunned.

Fighting a lot of AP-based champions? - Go Mercury's TreadsMercury's Treads for your boots and replace Serlyda's with a Wit's EndWit's End . That extra Magic Resist from both of those will buy you that extra health you need to survive and/or kill them before they kill you. 

Not worried about anyone in particular/are a beast at using mobility tools? - Upgrade your boots to a hot Protobelt EnchantProtobelt Enchant for that extra dash and extra chances to style on fools.

Lucian Runes

Best Runes for Lucian

Keystone
Conqueror
Conqueror
Domination
Brutal
Brutal
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind
Inspiration
Sweet Tooth
Sweet Tooth

ConquerorConqueror vs. Fleet FootworkFleet Footwork

If you are confident in your laning abilities and simply want more damage throughout the game, ConquerorConqueror is your go to. If you believe you're going to have a rough laning phase or are a little bit more new to Lucian, Fleet FootworkFleet Footwork is always a safe choice.


Secondary runes

Red

BrutalBrutal - Almost always useful and the best rune for being a lane bully. Champion is great, sure, but it's too risky for my liking and free stats from Brutal is free stats.

Hunter VampirismHunter Vampirism - If you think you'll have an easy lane or are confident in your solo lane skills, this can be a great rune to take as 7% lifesteal can be a life-saver at all points of the game. Can be a little difficult to get the full value in some games.

Gathering StormGathering Storm - Great for scaling but absolutely useless during lane phase, which hinders our ability to take advantage of our good early game.

Green

Bone PlatingBone Plating - Wonderful choice against assassins or champs that are very reliant on blowing all their abilities on you at once. There's a good chance this rune could save your life against bursty champions later in the game.

Second WindSecond Wind - If they're a poke-focused champion, this rune is your best friend. Can single handily get you through lane if you know what you're doing.

Hunter TitanHunter Titan - Similar to Hunter Vampirism, great to take if you are confident in your lane. 100 extra health and 20% tenacity can be the difference between life or death in certain scenarios, but it can be slightly difficult to reach the full power of this rune.

Blue

MastermindMastermind - Can work wonders if you know how to effectively use this rune, but can only be useful if you actually can go for towers and dragons/barons/rift heralds.

Hunter GeniusHunter Genius - Ability haste is great on Lucian, but this rune has the same limits as Vampirism and Titan in the sense that it can be hard to get the full value quickly if you're not familiar with concepts such as rotations.

Sweet ToothSweet Tooth - It's more healing for your only health-restoring option in lane without Fleet FootworkFleet Footwork , it's almost a minion wave worth of gold, and can allow yourself to pick up 60 gold anytime you see a free Honeydew plant. What is there not to like?

Keystone
Phase Rush
Phase Rush
Domination
Brutal
Brutal
Resolve
Hunter Titan
Hunter Titan
Inspiration
Sweet Tooth
Sweet Tooth

If you want a little more utility in your main rune and want more kiting/mobility at the cost of either more damage with ConquerorConqueror or sustain with Fleet FootworkFleet Footwork , try out Phase RushPhase Rush for a little more style in your gameplay.

Skill Order

How to distribute skill points

Lightslinger
Lightslinger - Passive
Piercing Light
Piercing Light
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ardent Blaze
Ardent Blaze
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Relentless Pursuit
Relentless Pursuit
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
The Culling
The Culling
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Summoner Spells

When to take which summoners

Flash
It's flash. Generally you should always be taking this, as it is the most flexible Summoner spell in the game. If you didn't know that, you do now at least.
Heal
The ADC special. It's never strictly bad to take heal but it's fallen out of the meta as of this guide's drafting for Barrier/Exhaust.
Barrier
A more selfish heal and arguably better than heal as of the moment this guide was being written.
Ignite
Solo-laner's delight. If you're playing a solo lane that's not a bad match up in lane, this is your kill-security.

Combos

Learn how to maximize the champions potential

Auto Attack
AA
Piercing Light
1st
Auto Attack
AA

The lane bully special

This combo is useful in lane no matter what. If you can't sneak in the first auto attack, you can opt to hit a minion with Piercing LightPiercing Light and then try to auto attack the enemy champion to get off your double shot passive.


Auto Attack
AA
Relentless Pursuit
3rd
Auto Attack
AA
Piercing Light
1st
Auto Attack
AA

The "Why you are played mid" special

One of the reasons LucianLucian is played mid with success is that with Relentless PursuitRelentless Pursuit , you can both damage and dodge effectively, which allows you to dodge skill shots easily and kick the christ out of your opponent. This combo can really hurt at level 2 when paired with Piercing LightPiercing Light and can cheese early kills if you hit level 2 before they do.

Auto Attack
AA
Relentless Pursuit
3rd
Auto Attack
AA
Ardent Blaze
2nd
Auto Attack
AA
Piercing Light
1st
Auto Attack
AA

The optimal damage combo

This combo is optimal both for maximizing damage and maximizing the cooldown reduction on your Relentless PursuitRelentless Pursuit . This combo is one of the best for teamfights if someone on yours gets a good engage.

Ardent Blaze
2nd
Relentless Pursuit
3rd
Auto Attack
AA
Piercing Light
1st
Auto Attack
AA
The Culling
Ult
Auto Attack
AA

The "Please get away from me" combo

As an ADC, sometimes people are gonna try to run you down. If you have the items AND the confidence however, this combo is your best bet for both maximizing the chance that you live through Ardent BlazeArdent Blaze 's movement speed and doing enough damage while still running away.

The Culling
Ult
Auto Attack
AA
Relentless Pursuit
3rd
Auto Attack
AA
Ardent Blaze
2nd
Protobelt Enchant
Auto Attack
AA
Piercing Light
1st
Auto Attack
AA
Relentless Pursuit
3rd

All together now

You can hit your buttons, you know about the resets, you are confident in your movement, and you know how to use Protobelt EnchantProtobelt Enchant . This puts it all together to show off your moves in your upcoming montage. With Navori QuickbladesNavori Quickblades , you can repeat every part after The CullingThe Culling besides Protobelt EnchantProtobelt Enchant until you either die, run out of mana, or win the game. You can also simply use your dash anytime it is off cooldown instead of following a straight pattern shown here.

Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive
Lightslinger
Passive

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT LUCIAN'S PASSIVE, LightslingerLightslinger

If you have recently used an ability and Lightslinger is ready to go, if your first auto attack hits an enemy champion, the second shot will ALWAYS hit them again, regardless of the distance. This means that even if they flash away or even if YOU flash away, if you get off the auto attack, the second shot will still hit. This is important to know for securing kills in lane and in late game in tense situations.

Relentless Pursuit
3rd
Ardent Blaze
2nd
Piercing Light
1st
The Culling
Ult

One last important thing about all of Lucian's abilities

Every single ability counts as an "auto attack reset," which is a fancy way of saying that the time it takes to do another auto attack is reset to 0 anytime that you use an ability. The easy way to think of it is every time you do 1 auto attack, use one ability, then auto attack again, and repeat until the fight is over. Since every time you use LightslingerLightslinger , the cooldown on Relentless PursuitRelentless Pursuit is reduced, so use your dash as often as possible.

Lucian Matchups & Counters

Detailed information on how to play matchups and counters

Corki
Easy
Corki
Ahri
Easy
Ahri
Veigar
Easy
Veigar
Garen
Easy
Garen
Seraphine
Easy
Seraphine
Singed
Easy
Singed
Varus
Easy
Varus
Jinx
Easy
Jinx
Ashe
Easy
Ashe
Xayah
Easy
Xayah
Nasus
Easy
Nasus
Kennen
Easy
Kennen
Fizz
Medium
Fizz
Irelia
Medium
Irelia
Katarina
Medium
Katarina
Caitlyn
Medium
Caitlyn
Lux
Medium
Lux
Renekton
Medium
Renekton
Teemo
Medium
Teemo
Tryndamere
Medium
Tryndamere
Twisted Fate
Medium
Twisted Fate
Pantheon
Medium
Pantheon
Dr. Mundo
Medium
Dr. Mundo
Diana
Medium
Diana
Miss Fortune
Medium
Miss Fortune
Vayne
Medium
Vayne
Darius
Medium
Darius
Akshan
Medium
Akshan
Jhin
Medium
Jhin
Annie
Medium
Annie
Ezreal
Medium
Ezreal
Aurelion Sol
Medium
Aurelion Sol
Brand
Medium
Brand
Camille
Medium
Camille
Jayce
Hard
Jayce
Malphite
Hard
Malphite
Galio
Hard
Galio
Kai'sa
Hard
Kai'sa
Orianna
Hard
Orianna
Senna
Hard
Senna
Draven
Skill
Draven
Lucian
Skill
Lucian
Riven
Skill
Riven
Tristana
Skill
Tristana
Olaf
Skill
Olaf
Akali
Skill
Akali
Jax
Skill
Jax
Fiora
Skill
Fiora
Wukong
Skill
Wukong

MID/DRAGON LANE

Literally don't get poked out by Phosphorous BombPhosphorous Bomb , be careful on fighting him in his Gatling GunGatling Gun and respect the package in teamfights, and you kinda just light his block up. In lane, his only tool to get away from you is ValkyrieValkyrie and it has an almost half a minute cool down at level 1 AND is his last maxxed ability, so if it's on CD, abuse him. Late game his Missile BarrageMissile Barrage will hurt if he can land them, but you can even avoid those if you're good enough.

Lucian

Lane phase

The most important thing about your laning phase in general in dragon lane is assessing the kind of lane you're going into. For example, if you have a SorakaSoraka on your team and the enemy dragon lane consists of DravenDraven and LeonaLeona , you are playing into a bully/kill lane. Their whole thing will be for you to make a mistake so LeonaLeona can root, stun, and watch you get axed to death by DravenDraven . So your goal will be to take trades you can and let SorakaSoraka attempt to poke them out with her abilities and heal any small hits and trades DravenDraven gets off. 

Another example is if you're fighting say EzrealEzreal and LuxLux and your support is LuluLulu . Neither of these champions in the early game can afford to take super extended fights, but their poke game is very strong, whereas LuluLulu can both poke back and provide you shields while also having either CC or attack speed/movement speed with WhimsyWhimsy , so it's all about taking fights when you can and playing around not just their cooldowns, but yours and LuluLulu 's as well.

Lucian

Laning/general tips

  • Use Piercing LightPiercing Light 's long range to poke out your lane opponent whenever you can. Throw the LightslingerLightslinger at them as well if you can swing it.
  • Relentless PursuitRelentless Pursuit is best saved to avoid the enemy's skill shots so you can then retaliate with more damage, but it can be used for nasty quick trades if you believe you can get away with it.
  • Get a ward in the brush closer to their tower in lane to alleviate some pressure that comes from not knowing their exact positioning. This can be priceless against supports like LeonaLeona , ThreshThresh , and BlitzcrankBlitzcrank .
  • If you are ever trying to clear/shove a wave as fast as possible, try to aim your Piercing LightPiercing Light to hit as many minions at once as possible. If the wave hasn't met your minions yet, all 4 of them will be perfectly lined up to hit them all at once.
  • Remember that The CullingThe Culling also counts as an ability for LightslingerLightslinger , so you can potentially cancel the ult early for another double shot if they flash, dodge, or position around it. You would be surprised how often that can be a life saver in certain situations.
  • Use your wards in general, please.
  •  Ardent Blaze reveals enemies hit, so you can use this to check brushes/fog of war for bad guys.
  • Your Piercing LightPiercing Light has a longer and wider hitbox than you think, try it out often in lane to learn how cheesy this ability can be.
Lucian

Outside of lane/Late game

As you are the ADC, you never want to be the first one to go in for a big fight. That is the rest of your team's job, your job is to follow up and survive to be able to do as much damage as possible. Keep in mind whether or not you can see people that are important to be aware of, such as enemy assassins, enemy engage champions, or anyone that can practically kill you if they catch you. Relentless PursuitRelentless Pursuit will mainly be used to either kite people out or to avoid skill shots that could get you killed if they hit you, you always have your boots enchantment and your summoner spells as a backup should anything go wrong. Be careful on taking fights when said spells or enchantments are on cooldown, as things such as most assassin ults will come back before your [stasis enchant] does. Remember to watch for minion waves stacking to keep your towers, especially your base ones, from getting destroyed by 5 cannons. 

Comments
Look at the nice things other people said!
You must be logged in to comment
No Comments yet