While Warwick usually fills the Jungle role in League of Legends, his win percentage in the top lane is one of the best. The combination of high damage output, versatile crowd control, mobility, and built-in life steal makes him difficult to counter.
While Warwick can be just as powerful in the top lane, the build, and the order in which he builds, has to change. For example, it is not as vital to start an item like Tiamat/Titanic Hydra, since clear time isn’t as important. What is important is popping enemy champions, like League of Legends’ newest addition, Vex.
There are a few different ways to build Warwick in the top lane, but the typical route is to go with the Grasp of the Undying keystone, making Warwick a hearty bruiser in lane. While that can be very effective, it is not nearly as fun as the damage-spitting maximum life steal Warwick build. This build gives Warwick an early lead, and provides a lot of carrying potential if players run into AFK teammates in League of Legends.
Building Lifesteal Warwick in League of Legends
Warwick’s Q and R already offer a solid amount of life steal in League of Legends, and this build leans into that aspect of the champion, ensuring that his auto attacks become just as potent and beneficial as his Q.
- Primary Runes: Press the Attack, Overheal, Legend: Alacrity, Coup De Grace
- Secondary Runes: Taste of Blood, Ravenous Hunter
- Stat Bonuses: Attack Speed, Adaptive Force, any defensive bonus that works for the matchup (if unsure about the matchup, go HP)
The items that should be built are as follows, and in this order, if possible:
- Starting Items: Doran’s Blade, Health Potion
- First Item: Blade of the Ruined King
- Second Item: Divine Sunderer
- Boots: Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Other Items (Build order can vary on these):
- Titanic/Ravenous Hydra
- Spirit Visage/Wit’s End
- Thornmail/Dead Man’s Plate.
There is some flexibility with this build. Each item after the second has an alternative choice depending on how the game is going. For the Hydra item, Ravenous should be built if the enemy team hasn’t built any anti-heal, Titanic should be chosen if they have. Spirit Visage should be chosen if Warwick is dying too quickly, Wit’s End if he is having issues finishing off enemies. Thornmail should be chosen if there is healing/life steal on the enemy team, Dead Man’s plate if there is not.
the reason for each of the main items used in this League of Legends build is simple. Start with BORK for a quick power spike, making Warwick’s auto-attacks extra powerful, and giving him even more life steal. Then, Divine Sunderer to add more extra damage, a bit of health, and more healing as well. The reason BORK comes first is that it adds more damage up-front, as well as more consistent healing. The Ionian Boots of Lucidity are built to keep the Q cooldown low, giving Warwick constant bursts of heavy healing to turn fights around, and to reduce his R cooldown as well (which, with this build, is almost a guaranteed win in most even fights).
League of Legends is available on PC and MacOS.
