by MagusSzk

[2.6a] Rakan Guide - Solo Climbing with Rakan _War is in the dance_

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This guide was posted during patch 3.0
Patch 2.6a
February 04, 2022 05:48
Support

Solo Climbing with Rakan _War is in the dance_

In this guide I'll be explaining how to solo climb playing as Rakan in the support role. That means how to gain vision, how to act in lane, build strategies, macro gaming and all the good stuff.

Pros

  • High Mobility
  • Good Roamings
  • Great AP Scalling
  • Diversified Playstyle
  • Crazy Teamfight Impact
  • He is a good boyfriend :D

Cons

  • Kinda Squishy
  • High Cooldowns Early Game
  • Not The Best Early Game Damage
  • Works Better as a Secondary Engage
  • His Engage Can Be Stopped By A LOT of Skills
  • Isn't in Arcane :'(

Rakan Build

Best Build Guide for Rakan

Starting Items
Boots of Speed
Ruby Crystal
Amplifying Tome
Sapphire Crystal
Cloth Armor
Main Items For a More Supportive Playstyle
Redeeming Enchant
Locket Enchant
Ardent Censer
Protector's Vow
Randuin's Omen
Force of Nature
Other Situational Support Options
Zeke's Convergence
Hextech Megadrive
Thornmail
Athene's Unholy Grail
Oblivion Orb
Archangel's Staff
Core Items If Full AP
Rod of Ages
Rabadon's Deathcap
Protobelt Enchant
Redeeming Enchant
Shadows Enchant
Full AP For Peeling
Ardent Censer
Athene's Unholy Grail
Staff of Flowing Waters
Archangel's Staff
Morellonomicon
Crystalline Reflector
Full AP for Damage
Infinity Orb
Lich Bane
Void Staff
Seraph's Embrace
Crystalline Reflector
Banshee's Veil

Item Build Description

Additional information on the items

This will be long and I'll try to make myself as clear and helpful as possible.

You can play RakanRakan using different builds and playstyles:

You can go Full AP, building Rod of AgesRod of Ages

You can go for a supportive style, building only support and tank items (even though people sometimes build Rod of AgesRod of Ages and support items.

You can go full tank (wich I don't recommend)


Here I'm showing the two playstyles that I think are the best and more suitable for Rakan when you're playing SoloQ


                 1. The Supportive Build:

When going for this build you'll be usually starting with Boots of SpeedBoots of Speed so you can

You'll be starting Cloth ArmorCloth Armor if you're playing against a healing support like NamiNami , SonaSona or SorakaSoraka so you can rush Bramble VestBramble Vest

And, the most surprising, you can start Sapphire CrystalSapphire Crystal if you're playing against a MalphiteMalphite , so you can keep shielding your adc with Battle DanceBattle Dance anytime MalphiteMalphite tries to poke him.

 After that you'll usually go Ardent CenserArdent Censer to increase your ad teammates damage. 

 The rest you should adapt according to the game

Protector's VowProtector's Vow for extra peeling, really good when behind or when you can't build anything more optimal

Randuin's OmenRanduin's Omen against high atack speed and critical

Force of NatureForce of Nature against ap

Zeke's ConvergenceZeke's Convergence if you're really ahead

Athene's Unholy GrailAthene's Unholy Grail if you want to peel more and facing ap champions

ThornmailThornmail against healing or ad comps

Archangel's StaffArchangel's Staff if you started Sapphire CrystalSapphire Crystal

If the enemy team is full ad and they have healing you can go Bramble VestBramble Vest into Oblivion OrbOblivion Orb , this way you'll be inflicting grievous wounds when taking and dealing damage

Hextech MegadriveHextech Megadrive if you go Bramble VestBramble Vest into Oblivion OrbOblivion Orb

                    2. The Full AP build

This is a really good build for lower elos cause it allows you to carry games by yourself, however I don't recommend it in higher elos (and by that I mean above Diamond II) since Rod of AgesRod of Ages takes a lot of time to stack. However, if your adc is a XayahXayah , abuse this build maxing Battle DanceBattle Dance  

So, with this build you'll be starting Amplifying TomeAmplifying Tome against safe matchups or Ruby CrystalRuby Crystal against hard engage (like ThreshThresh and DravenDraven ) so you can rush Rod of AgesRod of Ages . You can also go Sapphire CrystalSapphire Crystal against Malphite.

After finishing Rod of AgesRod of Ages IMMEDIATELY go Rabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap , only buy Boots of SpeedBoots of Speed if you can't afford a Needlessly Large RodNeedlessly Large Rod . The reason for that is because Rakan's skills scale really well with ap. Having these 2 items you heal a lot, shield a lot and take around 70% to 90% hp of any adc (except if they build mr or health)

After finishing your two items go for Protobelt EnchantProtobelt Enchant , Redeeming EnchantRedeeming Enchant or Shadows EnchantShadows Enchant . From there you'll have two options: commit to a FULL DAMAGE BUILD or a Peeling Build

I recommend deciding based on your team's performance and if you're ahead or behind. 

If you're behind you should probably peel more, if you're ahead go damage, if your team isn't going well go damage, or peel if you see that you can count on them.

Peeling

Ardent CenserArdent Censer to increase your carry's damage

Athene's Unholy GrailAthene's Unholy Grail against ap and to heal more

Staff of Flowing WatersStaff of Flowing Waters to help your ap champions

Crystalline ReflectorCrystalline Reflector so you can survive against heavy ad comps

MorellonomiconMorellonomicon against healing

Archangel's StaffArchangel's Staff right after rabbadon if you started Sapphire CrystalSapphire Crystal


FULL DAMAGE >:D

Always go Infinity OrbInfinity Orb , Lich BaneLich Bane , Void StaffVoid Staff . Only delay Infinity OrbInfinity Orb if you need Crystalline ReflectorCrystalline Reflector or Banshee's VeilBanshee's Veil to survive heavy ad or ap, or if you started Sapphire CrystalSapphire Crystal and wants to upgrade it into Archangel's StaffArchangel's Staff

Rakan Runes

Best Runes for Rakan

Keystone
Electrocute
Electrocute
Domination
Weakness
Weakness
Resolve
Adaptive Carapace
Adaptive Carapace
Inspiration
Pathfinder
Pathfinder

  Take ElectrocuteElectrocute , WeaknessWeakness and PathfinderPathfinder if you're going full ap. Extra damage and mobility since you'll be delaying Boots of SpeedBoots of Speed

Take Bone PlatingBone Plating against engage and Adaptive CarapaceAdaptive Carapace against poke (since poke would always be breaking your Bone PlatingBone Plating


Keystone
Aftershock
Aftershock
Domination
Weakness
Weakness
Resolve
Bone Plating
Bone Plating
Inspiration
Pack Hunter
Pack Hunter

If you're trying to be a supporty boi take AftershockAftershock or Font of LifeFont of Life . AftershockAftershock will make you tankier and Font of LifeFont of Life will make you peel more. 

Always take WeaknessWeakness since it will increase your team's damage

Take Bone PlatingBone Plating against engage and Adaptive CarapaceAdaptive Carapace against poke (since poke would always be breaking your Bone PlatingBone Plating

You can take Pack HunterPack Hunter for snowballing or PathfinderPathfinder for better roamings

Keystone
Phase Rush
Phase Rush
Domination
Weakness
Weakness
Resolve
Adaptive Carapace
Adaptive Carapace
Inspiration
Pathfinder
Pathfinder

THIS IS THE MADLAD FULL MOBILITY RUNE SET

ONLY PLAY THIS IF YOU WANT TO ROAM A LOT AND COMPLETELY KNOWS YOUR CHAMPIONS LIMITATIONS IN ENGAGES

That said, you'll take Phase RushPhase Rush to proc it during the teamfight and charm more people using [rakan:ult]

WeaknessWeakness since it will increase your team's damage 

Take Bone PlatingBone Plating against engage and Adaptive CarapaceAdaptive Carapace against poke (since poke would always be breaking your Bone PlatingBone Plating

AND ALWAYS TAKE PathfinderPathfinder SINCE YOU'LL BE A ROAMING MACHINE


If you're going for this runepage and playstyle, take ghost instead of flash and rush Glorious EnchantGlorious Enchant first item


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
Always take flash or ghost, however, flash is easier and safer to use.
Ignite
If you're in a matchup where you have kill pressure.
Exhaust
If you don't have kill pressure, if your team has too much ignite or if you're playing against some crazy assassin or Tryndamere.
Heal
If you don't have kill pressure but also don't think you need exhaust, you're just chilling and trying to play safe.
Ghost
IF YOU'RE A MADLAD WHO WANTS TO ROAM A LOT AND KNOW EXACTLY WHEN TO GO IN AND OUT OF A FIGHT, CUZ YOU'LL HAVE NO FLASH TO GET OUT

Combos

Learn how to maximize the champions potential

Grand Entrance
2nd
Auto Attack
AA
Gleaming Quill
1st

Basic Combo

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

Same as before but dashing into an ally first

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

Same as Before but shielding your ally two times after finishing the combo.

Flash
Flash
Grand Entrance
2nd
Auto Attack
AA
Gleaming Quill
1st

Flash Engage

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

Highest Range Combo

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

For saving Allies

Flash
Flash
The Quickness
Ult
Grand Entrance
2nd
Gleaming Quill
1st
Battle Dance
3rd
Battle Dance
3rd

Flash R, best way to catch enemies off guard

The Quickness
Ult
Flash
Flash
Grand Entrance
2nd
Gleaming Quill
1st
Redeeming Enchant
Battle Dance
3rd
Battle Dance
3rd

Best combo for teamfighting

Rakan Matchups & Counters

Detailed information on how to play matchups and counters

Blitzcrank
Easy
Blitzcrank
Braum
Easy
Braum
Janna
Medium
Janna
Pantheon
Medium
Pantheon
Draven
Medium
Draven
Veigar
Medium
Veigar
Lulu
Medium
Lulu
Caitlyn
Hard
Caitlyn
Thresh
Hard
Thresh
Galio
Hard
Galio
Olaf
Hard
Olaf
Kennen
Hard
Kennen
Leona
Skill
Leona
Seraphine
Skill
Seraphine

If he catches your adc, you Battle DanceBattle Dance into him and Grand EntranceGrand Entrance to disengage or reengage

Rakan

Lvl 1 Strategy

If you're in a matchup where your adc won't be engaged you can wait in a bush in mid or baron lane and gank them. 

 You should only do this if:

You know that your adc won't be engaged

Your baron laner or mid laner is strong at level one, or at least has some crowd control and carry potential

If you know that the enemy laner you're ganking doesn't have a good escape and will waste flash, lose hp or die

If you started Boots of SpeedBoots of Speed

If you asked your laner in the champion select screen for it. He may think you're trolling and trying to steal his lane. You don't want a tilted teammate in SoloQ


If you don't have all the stuff checked, just don't do it

Rakan

Laning Phase

You won't do anything at level 1, except for disengaging, you'll only engage if the enemy is out of position or if your adc is a Xayah with Deadly PlumageDeadly Plumage upgraded

At level 2 you can find windows to start small trades with Grand EntranceGrand Entrance and Battle DanceBattle Dance

After level 4, try to use your Gleaming QuillGleaming Quill as much as possible for sustain.

If you manage to get your enemy's hp low enough you may be able to get a kill at level 5 with your The QuicknessThe Quickness

If you see your team needs help during a fight and you know that your adc won't be dived, just go help

Rakan

Roaming

You should always roam as RakanRakan , but when to roam? The brazilian support player Daniel Marcon says:

"Você dá roaming quando você pode"

"You roam when you can"

This means that you should only roam when you have an opportunity to do it

Your adc is farming safe? Roam!

Your jg wants to invade and you're pressuring the lane? Roam!

You recalled, your adc recalled or is farming safe? Roam to baron lane or mid lane and try to catch someone out of position!

You can roam to pressure another lane, to get vision, to get a spell or a kill, to help your jungler.


Three important things to keep in mind:

1 - You don't have to go right back to dragon lane when you recall, try to go through the jungle close to the mid lane or even throught the mid lane, so if you can make any play or if your team makes any play, you're close enough to help them.

2 - Try to always roam with your jungler, he will be your best friend

3 - Don't forget about baron lane. They don't usually expect to be ganked by a support, so you can abuse that and gank whenever you find a window.


Rakan

Objectives

Rakan is always good fighting for objectives, but try to advise your team on what objective you'd like to fight, they'll sometimes listen to you.

The order I usually follow is


Infernal Drake > Ocean Drake> Cloud Drake = Rift Herald > Mountain Drake


When fighting for an objective try to use your The QuicknessThe Quickness and Grand EntranceGrand Entrance on the most people possible and then get back to your team

You can always heal your entire team by using Gleaming QuillGleaming Quill in any epic monster, try to use this trick even if not fighting for an objective. Just walk by, use your Gleaming QuillGleaming Quill and Battle DanceBattle Dance back to heal your adc and get back to lane

Rakan

Vision

Getting vision is a big part of a support's job, you can't make plays if you don't know where the enemy is


Try to always ward the enemy jungle, ward important bushes during objectives so you'll see any enemy coming, always clear enemy wards and as soon as possible move to gain vision.

Rakan

Teamfight

Basically try to be a secondary engage if possible, if not, flash engage with your The QuicknessThe Quickness and get back to your team.

After using The QuicknessThe Quickness , just peel for your carry (and for your team, of course, but your job is to keep your carry alive, only reason you should forget him is if he's so weak that he can't deal significant damage)

Rakan

Mid and Late Game Map

Try to be close to your allies, always gain vision, always think if they're safe or not and always try to help your allies that you know may be taking risks. The most common is the adcarry, since he's really squishy. If your adc is safe (wich usually happens if the jg helps him) try to protect your splitpusher.

And when I say help, I mean stick close and out of vision, if someone wants to engage your ally disengage or counterengage them and turn the fight.

Rakan

MOST IMPORTANT

Don't tilt, if you're really stressed and tired just take your time. Go drink some water, listen to music, play something else, hug your father. No game is worth your mental health, always remember that.

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