UpMatched 
Vladimir
Top Lane AP Skirmisher
The Crimson Reaper — sustain mage-fighter that scales and punishes over-commitment
VS
Renekton
Top Lane
Renekton — common top-lane opponent with early skirmish pressure
Matchup Dynamics
How This Matchup Works
Vladimir vs Renekton 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 Renekton converts a short trade into an all‑in off wave control.
Early Game (1-5)
Renekton Favored - Pivot when his Fury < 50; avoid W stun by Pooling the animation.
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+)
Skill Matchup - 19–35: Teamfights amplify Hemoplague value; track anti‑heal and stack Q for sustained DPS.
Key Interactions
- Pool timing Sanguine Pool vs Renekton Slice and Dice: Use W – Sanguine Pool during Slice and Dice to drop targetability and ignore displacement/slow; exit diagonally to maintain spacing.
- Transfusion spacing vs Renekton Cull the Meek: Tap Q – Transfusion at max 600u after Renekton Cull the Meek; 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 Renekton 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 Renekton kit
- Hemoplague AoE turns objective fights 19+ min
Weaknesses
- Short trades on cooldowns; many Renekton 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
Renekton
Strengths
- Renekton 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 Renekton 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 Renekton Slice and Dice 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
Renekton'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 | Renekton |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Start Q – Transfusion; last‑hit only; hold wave outside tower; poke with Q when Renekton uses Cull the Meek on minions; ward river/tri at 2:20. | Start your best trading tool (Cull the Meek or Slice and Dice); 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 Renekton key cooldown is used; avoid long trades into Ruthless Predator. | Unlock second gapclose/CC (Slice and Dice or Ruthless Predator); contest push; look for short trades on Vlad Q cooldown (~9–6s). |
| Level 3 | Take W – Sanguine Pool; hold for Renekton Slice and Dice 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 Renekton summoners; poke on cannon wave; if Renekton misses Slice and Dice or Cull the Meek, 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 Renekton <60% HP: R – Hemoplague>Ghost>step forward; Pool to dodge Renekton R/CC; finish with Q (Crimson Rush) + E detonation. | Answer with Dominus; 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 Renekton flash timer for R>Flash angles. | Respect Vlad Q rank 5; pull wave; force him to use Pool defensively before committing with Slice and Dice. |
Power Spikes
Level Spikes
| Vladimir | Renekton | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Description | Level | Description |
| 2 | Minor Q rank 2 lowers cooldown; enable Q>back trades vs Renekton | 3 | Major Renekton gets full combo; avoid long trades without W |
| 6 | Major R – Hemoplague 4s amp unlocks kill if Renekton misuses key cooldown | 6 | Major Renekton 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 | Renekton | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Renekton Slice and Dice/Dominus > E tap > Q
Start with R for 4s amp; Pool mid-combo to dodge major CC then finish as R pops
Renekton Escape/Counter Combo:
Slice and Dice or gapclose > primary CC > burst > ult execute
Avoid if W is down; Renekton wins short burst windows earlyTrading 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
Renekton Quick Trade:
Hit poke/CC > 2 autos > disengage
Force Vlad to Q minions instead of championLethal Thresholds
- Vladimir Kill Range: Kill when target <60% HP at 6 with Hemoplague + Alternator; <35% later with two damage abilities ready
- Renekton 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 | Renekton |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | AP AoE backline diver via flank TP | Side‑lane bruiser/skirmisher |
| Target Priority | Renekton 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) |