09-13-2011, 06:25 AM
Core items
Tear of the Goddess
Easily the best item for Ryze, adds the largest amount of mana in the game when upgraded to Archangel's Staff. You may notice however that I wait till practically the end of the game to upgrade it. This is because the upgrade cost is 1860g and you have more important things to buy, from the upgrade you get 100-150 ap, 50 mana, and some mana regen. I didn't even mention the fact that it takes longer to fill out the bonus of 1000 mana when you upgrade since Tear gives you 4 bonus mana up to twice in a 6 second time periods and Archangels gives you 4 bonus mana up to once every 3 seconds. This may seem the same to you but Ryze is a burst caster, I sometimes cast 4 spells in the space of a second or two and no more for another 4 to 10 seconds. Therefore it is better to gain 8 mana in 3 seconds than it is to gain 4 mana in 3 seconds.
Sorcerer's Shoes
Ryze is a caster and getting more magic penetration could never be a bad thing. However in specific games with an annoying amount of magic damage enemies with CC it would be in your best interest to use Mercury's Treads instead.
Rod of Ages
Another great Item for Ryze, increases your mana, health and ap by a lot. The earlier you buy this the better, as it takes time to build up.
Glacial Shroud
Ryze's one and only CDR item, this should be gotten early too. Doesn't need to be upgraded to Frozen Heart fast unless they have a lot of physical damage.
Banshee's Veil
Great for teams with magic damage, not overly important if they have a bunch of physical damage and few annoying abilities for it to block.
Your 6th item is a situational item. Some other 6th item choices in no particular order are:
Rod of Ages, a great 6th item for games with split damage sources
Quicksilver Sash, great for games with annoying ultimates such as Malzahar's Ult
Force of Nature, in games with plenty of magic damage I sometimes buy Mercury's Treads and this to survive.
Guardian Angel, for games with a little bit of both types of damage and they will do whatever it takes to put it all on you in the first 5 seconds of a team fight.
Thornmail, I haven't had a chance to buy and test this yet but I would probably only buy it if they had 3-5 heavy hitting physical DPS.
Void Staff, if any of you were unlucky enough to get in a game where your team thinks because they have Ryze they don't need another source of damage you know this item is basically required. You must note that while you can be a carry your team should still have another physical damage carry. Having no other physical damage option means that the enemy team can and should stack magic resistance. I get this usually when I see 3+ enemies getting large amounts of magic resistance.
Zhonya's Hourglass, good if you need the active to survive team fights and maybe even the 50 armor to help screw over their physical DPS. While I have never had to I imagine a game where you were facing 5 physical DPS you could forgo Banshee's Veil in favor of Thornmail and this to reach 300+ armor and REALLY fuck them over.
Lich Bane, you'll be wondering "Why the contradiction" in a few sentences so let me get this out of the way. This item is good if you feel like enemies are escaping with low amounts of health and your speed feels lackluster. DO NOT spend the time to catch every proc, do so only when all your spells are on cooldown.
There are also items I am on the fence about, things that in some situations I can see being useful but have wasted stats or I just don't feel like testing them, I'll leave this up to you.
Deathfire Grasp, a amazing active in games where your opponents are stacking health and even if they aren't it's still great. Wasted CDR unless you rework the build somehow. If I got in a game with enemies stacking health I would get this, it just hasn't happened yet.
Will of the Ancients, having more spell vamp and not to mention you are buffing your team.
Rylai's Crystal Scepter, a slow on your spells and some health.
Tear of the Goddess
Easily the best item for Ryze, adds the largest amount of mana in the game when upgraded to Archangel's Staff. You may notice however that I wait till practically the end of the game to upgrade it. This is because the upgrade cost is 1860g and you have more important things to buy, from the upgrade you get 100-150 ap, 50 mana, and some mana regen. I didn't even mention the fact that it takes longer to fill out the bonus of 1000 mana when you upgrade since Tear gives you 4 bonus mana up to twice in a 6 second time periods and Archangels gives you 4 bonus mana up to once every 3 seconds. This may seem the same to you but Ryze is a burst caster, I sometimes cast 4 spells in the space of a second or two and no more for another 4 to 10 seconds. Therefore it is better to gain 8 mana in 3 seconds than it is to gain 4 mana in 3 seconds.
Sorcerer's Shoes
Ryze is a caster and getting more magic penetration could never be a bad thing. However in specific games with an annoying amount of magic damage enemies with CC it would be in your best interest to use Mercury's Treads instead.
Rod of Ages
Another great Item for Ryze, increases your mana, health and ap by a lot. The earlier you buy this the better, as it takes time to build up.
Glacial Shroud
Ryze's one and only CDR item, this should be gotten early too. Doesn't need to be upgraded to Frozen Heart fast unless they have a lot of physical damage.
Banshee's Veil
Great for teams with magic damage, not overly important if they have a bunch of physical damage and few annoying abilities for it to block.
Your 6th item is a situational item. Some other 6th item choices in no particular order are:
Rod of Ages, a great 6th item for games with split damage sources
Quicksilver Sash, great for games with annoying ultimates such as Malzahar's Ult
Force of Nature, in games with plenty of magic damage I sometimes buy Mercury's Treads and this to survive.
Guardian Angel, for games with a little bit of both types of damage and they will do whatever it takes to put it all on you in the first 5 seconds of a team fight.
Thornmail, I haven't had a chance to buy and test this yet but I would probably only buy it if they had 3-5 heavy hitting physical DPS.
Void Staff, if any of you were unlucky enough to get in a game where your team thinks because they have Ryze they don't need another source of damage you know this item is basically required. You must note that while you can be a carry your team should still have another physical damage carry. Having no other physical damage option means that the enemy team can and should stack magic resistance. I get this usually when I see 3+ enemies getting large amounts of magic resistance.
Zhonya's Hourglass, good if you need the active to survive team fights and maybe even the 50 armor to help screw over their physical DPS. While I have never had to I imagine a game where you were facing 5 physical DPS you could forgo Banshee's Veil in favor of Thornmail and this to reach 300+ armor and REALLY fuck them over.
Lich Bane, you'll be wondering "Why the contradiction" in a few sentences so let me get this out of the way. This item is good if you feel like enemies are escaping with low amounts of health and your speed feels lackluster. DO NOT spend the time to catch every proc, do so only when all your spells are on cooldown.
There are also items I am on the fence about, things that in some situations I can see being useful but have wasted stats or I just don't feel like testing them, I'll leave this up to you.
Deathfire Grasp, a amazing active in games where your opponents are stacking health and even if they aren't it's still great. Wasted CDR unless you rework the build somehow. If I got in a game with enemies stacking health I would get this, it just hasn't happened yet.
Will of the Ancients, having more spell vamp and not to mention you are buffing your team.
Rylai's Crystal Scepter, a slow on your spells and some health.
![[Image: ChubbsMal.png]](http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s174/havik_album/ChubbsMal.png)
Reb: ya know
Reb: I think you're a fucking moron OOC
Reb: but I have to hand it to you
Reb: you've become a really great writer