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Vladimir

Vladimir

Top Lane AP Skirmisher

The Crimson Reaper — sustain mage-fighter that scales and punishes over-commitment

VS
Darius

Darius

Top Lane

Darius — common top-lane opponent with early skirmish pressure

Matchup Dynamics

How This Matchup Works

Vladimir vs Darius hinges on dodging one key cooldown with W – Sanguine Pool and stacking Q – Transfusion trades until level 6. The matchup pivots when Hemoplague lands on a <60% target or when Darius converts a short trade into an all‑in off wave control.

Early Game (1-5)

Darius Favored - Pivot at 3:30 when wave 4 cannon arrives; deny 5-stack bleed and step inside Q handle.

Mid Game (6-11)

Skill Matchup - Rotate on Unleashed TP (10:00); fight with item spike and Pool held for primary CC.

Late Game (12+)

Vladimir Favored - 19–35: Teamfights amplify Hemoplague value; track anti‑heal and stack Q for sustained DPS.

Key Interactions

  • Pool timing Sanguine Pool vs Darius Apprehend: Use W – Sanguine Pool during Apprehend to drop targetability and ignore displacement/slow; exit diagonally to maintain spacing.
  • Transfusion spacing vs Darius Decimate: Tap Q – Transfusion at max 600u after Darius Decimate; hold Crimson Rush for re‑engage within 1.5s while wave is neutral.
  • Tides of Blood charge discipline: Charge E – Tides of Blood 0.75–1.0s only when enemy gapclose is down; cancel early to dodge key CC, then re‑cast.
  • All‑in with Hemoplague: R – Hemoplague first; Ghost immediately; if Darius reacts with defensive tool, Pool and wait 1.0–1.5s before re‑Q to cash detonation.

Vladimir

Strengths

  • Sustain with Q – Transfusion neutralizes chip damage pre‑6
  • W – Sanguine Pool dodges key CC from Darius kit
  • Hemoplague AoE turns objective fights 19+ min

Weaknesses

  • Short trades on cooldowns; many Darius windows beat Vlad before Q2 proc
  • Grievous Wounds reduces healing during all‑ins
  • Early jungle dives (3:00–4:00) punish long cooldowns on W

Darius

Strengths

  • Darius wins short trades if key spell hits (level 2–3)
  • Better early wave control; can crash 3 waves into bounce
  • Can force early plates while Vlad is on cooldowns

Weaknesses

  • Limited sustain; extended fights after Vladimir's Pool often lose
  • Struggles into stacked waves near red side outer turret
  • Teamfights 25+ min favor Vlad if Darius lacks anti‑heal

Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL

Power Curve Visualization

Win Conditions

Vladimir's Win Condition

  • Crash Wave 3 at ~2:30 only if jungle is topside; otherwise hold freeze near tower
  • Bait Darius Apprehend or main CC, then take extended trade with Q>Q (Crimson Rush)
  • Ping 10:00 Unleashed TP; flank mid/objectives for 2+ target Hemoplague
  • Force 5v5 when anti‑heal is on cooldown or on low‑economy supports

Darius's Win Condition

  • Keep trades short pre‑6; back off after proc to deny Q2
  • Bounce wave at 3:00–3:30 and threaten dive on Vlad W cooldown
  • Rush anti‑heal and contest Herald before Vlad two‑item spike

Laning Phase Guide

Level/Phase Vladimir Darius
Level 1 Start Q – Transfusion; last‑hit only; hold wave outside tower; poke with Q when Darius uses Decimate on minions; ward river/tri at 2:20. Start your best trading tool (Decimate or Apprehend); shove first 2 waves; stand in brush to threaten level‑2 all‑in.
Level 2 Take E – Tides of Blood; thin wave to 6–7 minions; trade Q>step back when Darius key cooldown is used; avoid long trades into Crippling Strike. Unlock second gapclose/CC (Apprehend or Crippling Strike); contest push; look for short trades on Vlad Q cooldown (~9–6s).
Level 3 Take W – Sanguine Pool; hold for Darius Apprehend or jungle gank; crash 3rd wave at 2:30 if safe; reset for refill or Dark Seal. With 3 spells, threaten all‑in if Vlad wastes W; stack wave for dive 3:30 with jungler.
Level 4-5 Track Darius summoners; poke on cannon wave; if Darius misses Apprehend or Decimate, Q>E trade then disengage; ward deep at 4:00. Keep wave on bounce; harass on Vlad E charge; deny recall before 1100g component.
Level 6 All‑in when Darius <60% HP: R – Hemoplague>Ghost>step forward; Pool to dodge Darius R/CC; finish with Q (Crimson Rush) + E detonation. Answer with Noxian Guillotine; respect Vlad Pool; call jungler if Hemoplague is up; fight only with wave + summoners advantage.
Level 7-8 Ping Unleashed TP at 10:00; hold wave near tower; take short Q trades; look to dive only if jungle ready and enemy main CC is down. Push and move; hover river for Herald; punish Vlad on cooldowns; build early anti‑heal if sustain getting out of hand.
Level 9 Q max online; perma‑harass on every Q; shadow jungle for 2v2; track Darius flash timer for R>Flash angles. Respect Vlad Q rank 5; pull wave; force him to use Pool defensively before committing with Apprehend.

Power Spikes

Level Spikes

Vladimir Darius
Level Description Level Description
2 Minor Q rank 2 lowers cooldown; enable Q>back trades vs Darius 3 Major Darius gets full combo; avoid long trades without W
6 Major R – Hemoplague 4s amp unlocks kill if Darius misuses key cooldown 6 Major Darius gains kill pressure with ultimate; save Pool for execute/CC
9 Critical Q max enables sustained control; punish on every wave 11 Minor Second rank ultimate or key max increases side‑lane threat
11 Major R2 extends teamfight burst window; look for 2‑target Hemoplague

Item Spikes

Vladimir Darius
Item Description Item Description
Hextech Alternator (1100g) On‑hit burst finishes Q trades under Hemoplague Bramble/Executioner early (800g) Anti‑heal cuts Vlad Q sustain during all‑ins
Riftmaker (3300g) Omnivamp + ramping damage for extended fights on side lane Plated Steelcaps/Mercs (1100g) Shrugs off magic poke or slows/CC to force trades
Cosmic Drive (3000g) MS + haste lets you stick after Pool and kite melee Core duelist item (3000g) Opponent's first mythic spikes short‑trade damage
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600g) AP spike to 1‑shot waves and threaten carries

Best Build for Vladimir

Starting Items

Doran's Ring + Health Potion

Core Items

Riftmaker → Cosmic Drive → Ionian Boots → Rabadon's

Runes

Primary: Phase Rush, Nimbus Cloak, Transcendence, Gathering Storm

Secondary: Legend: Haste, Last Stand

Summoner Spells

Flash + Ghost

Priority Build Path

1
Riftmaker

Extended fights on side lane; omnivamp + ramp damage fits Vlad pattern

2
Cosmic Drive

Ability haste + move speed to chase after Pool and kiting melee

3
Ionian Boots of Lucidity

1100g haste spike for Q spam and lower Ghost/Flash

4
Rabadon's Deathcap

Converts HP scaling into massive burst late

Situational Adjustments

  • Zhonya's Hourglass: Versus burst or to bait crucial CC/ultimates
  • Rylai's Crystal Scepter: To stick in extended fights; synergizes with E tick and R detonation
  • Void Staff: When 2+ enemies build MR

Key Patterns

Lethal Combos

Vladimir Full Combo (Level 6+):

R – Hemoplague > Ghost > E (0.8s) > Q (Crimson Rush) > W to dodge Darius Apprehend/Noxian Guillotine > E tap > Q

Start with R for 4s amp; Pool mid-combo to dodge major CC then finish as R pops
Darius Escape/Counter Combo:

Apprehend or gapclose > primary CC > burst > ult execute

Avoid if W is down; Darius wins short burst windows early

Trading Combos

Vladimir Short Trade:

Q > back; when key cooldown down: Q > step in > E tap > walk out

Short trades deny anti-heal value; preserve W for gank/CC
Darius Quick Trade:

Hit poke/CC > 2 autos > disengage

Force Vlad to Q minions instead of champion

Lethal Thresholds

  • Vladimir Kill Range: Kill when target <60% HP at 6 with Hemoplague + Alternator; <35% later with two damage abilities ready
  • Darius Kill Range: If Vlad W on cooldown and no Ghost, many bruisers kill from ~60% with ignite
  • Critical Levels: Vlad 6/9/11; Opponent 3/6 spikes; Unleashed TP 10:00 changes map plays

Level by Level Game Plan

Level Primary Goal Lane Position Trading Opportunities Kill Windows Setup Opportunities
1 Secure safe CS Hold wave just outside tower range Q on champion only after they use main spell None unless enemy griefs Stack wave for lvl 2
2 Stabilize push Last‑hit; avoid thin waves near river Q>E tap after gapclose used Low Maintain ward at 2:20
3 Unlock safety Fight only with W available Q, then back; punish missed CC Medium if jungle present Crash 3rd wave if safe
4-5 Deny bounce dive Farm under tower; thin 1–2 melee Only after key CD used Low Track jungler path
6 Find R angle Keep long lane short R>Ghost when they <60% High with ignite/jungle Freeze then all‑in
7-8 Prepare TP plays Slow‑push cannon waves Q every cooldown Medium Rotate to Herald with prio
9+ Transition to mid Hover fog for flank TPs Long trades favor Vlad High if Flash up Track flash timers
Mid Game (11-16) Skirmish control Side lane with TP ready Bait CC with Pool then re‑engage Pick carries on timers Set vision 30s before objective
Late Game (16+) Teamfight execution Flank or front behind tank Hold R for 2+ targets Hemoplague detonation window Save W for critical CC

First Back Goals

Ideal Back (1100–1400g)

  • Hextech Alternator (1100g)
  • Control Ward (75g)

Crash Wave 4 at ~2:45–3:00 or Wave 5; base 8s then TP if needed

Standard Back (700–900g)

  • Ruby Crystal (400g)
  • Boots (300g)

After defensive Q farming under tower; avoid backing on slow push

Pressure Back (1500–1700g)

  • Ionian Boots (1100g)
  • Amplifying Tome (400g)

Post‑kill or double‑crash; walk back to hold TP

Teamfight Tips

Aspect Vladimir Darius
Primary Role AP AoE backline diver via flank TP Side‑lane bruiser/skirmisher
Target Priority Darius if isolating your carry
Enemy ADC
Enemy mid/CC support		 Vladimir if W down
Your ADC
Your mid
Objective Control Hemoplague zone on choke before 3rd/4th dragon
Force Baron with 2‑item spike		 Start Herald/Drake when Vlad recalled
Force 5v5 before Vlad R2
Positioning Enter from fog flank
Pool through first CC
Re‑enter as Hemoplague detonates		 Mark Vlad flank with control wards
Save displacement for post‑Pool re‑engage
Other Tips R>Flash to extend radius if team clumps
Pool projectile executes (e.g., Darius R edge)		 Bait Vlad Pool with feint engage; turn after it ends (2s)