ryze legit. Ah, the Blue Bastard. He’s a champion of legend, a mage of immense power, and a frequent subject of debate: is he truly viable in the ever-shifting landscape of League of Legends? This guide isn’t just a breakdown; it’s a deep dive into the heart of Ryze, exploring his strengths, weaknesses, and the strategies that separate the casual players from the true Rune Mages.
Prepare to unravel the mysteries of Ryze’s gameplay, from his intricate combos to his vital role in team compositions.
We’ll analyze Ryze’s performance in both professional play and solo queue, examining his win rates, pick rates, and the dreaded ban rates. You’ll learn the secrets of his abilities, including their scaling, cooldowns, and the optimal ways to unleash their destructive potential. We’ll meticulously dissect item builds, rune setups, and wave management techniques, providing a comprehensive understanding of how to dominate the mid lane.
Furthermore, we’ll uncover common pitfalls and share the wisdom of high-elo Ryze mains, ensuring you avoid the blunders that hold back so many players. Finally, we will show you how to master Ryze and lead your team to victory.
Is Ryze really a champion that can effectively carry games in the current meta of League of Legends?: Ryze Legit
Let’s delve into the mystical world of Ryze, the Rune Mage, and explore his viability in the ever-evolving landscape of League of Legends. Is he still a viable carry, or has he been relegated to the annals of forgotten champions? The answer, as with many things in Runeterra, is complex. We’ll examine his performance in both professional play and solo queue, compare him to other mid-lane champions, and dissect the impact of itemization on his effectiveness.
Ryze’s Performance in the Current Meta
Ryze’s standing in the current meta is a mixed bag, reflecting his history of fluctuating power levels. In professional play, his pick rate is generally low, often hovering around the single digits. This is due to his high skill ceiling, his susceptibility to ganks, and his reliance on team coordination to maximize his potential. Teams often prioritize champions with more immediate impact or safer laning phases.
However, when drafted, Ryze can be a powerful asset in the right hands, particularly in compositions designed to protect him and enable his scaling. His ability to provide sustained damage and crowd control can be devastating in team fights.In solo queue, the picture is somewhat different. His win rate tends to be around the average, sometimes slightly above or below, depending on the patch.
His pick rate is also moderate, indicating a dedicated player base. This is due to the fact that Ryze is a champion that requires time to master. His combo-based gameplay, while rewarding, is not easily picked up by new players. Furthermore, he often struggles against more aggressive and mobile mid-lane champions who can exploit his weaknesses early on. Ban rates are usually low, which suggests he is not considered a must-ban threat.
The data shows that Ryze is a niche pick.
Ryze’s Matchups Against Popular Mid-Lane Champions
Ryze’s success in lane is heavily dependent on the matchup. He excels against champions with limited mobility and weaker early-game damage but struggles against those with strong engage, burst, or range.Let’s take a look at a comparison of Ryze’s strengths and weaknesses against other popular mid-lane champions, presented in a table format. The table will provide a simplified overview, highlighting key aspects of each matchup.
| Champion | Difficulty | Strengths Against Ryze | Weaknesses Against Ryze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahri | Medium |
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| Yasuo | Hard |
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| Annie | Easy |
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| Zed | Hard |
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Itemization’s Impact on Ryze’s Performance
The right item build is crucial for Ryze’s success. His build path typically focuses on maximizing mana, ability haste, and magic penetration to enhance his damage output and spell frequency.The most common and effective build paths include:
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Core Items:
- Rod of Ages: Provides a significant amount of mana, health, and ability power, synergizing well with Ryze’s scaling.
- Archangel’s Staff/Seraph’s Embrace: Further increases mana and grants ability power based on maximum mana. The shield from Seraph’s Embrace offers survivability.
- Boots of Swiftness/Sorcerer’s Shoes: Boots of Swiftness are chosen for their move speed, while Sorcerer’s Shoes are chosen for their magic penetration.
- Situational Items:
- Zhonya’s Hourglass: Provides armor and stasis, crucial for surviving burst damage and engaging in team fights.
- Banshee’s Veil: Grants magic resistance and a spell shield, offering protection against crowd control and burst.
- Void Staff: Essential for increasing magic penetration, particularly against tanks.
- Morellonomicon: Provides grievous wounds, useful against champions with healing.
Ryze’s itemization allows for flexibility based on the game’s circumstances. Players must adapt their builds to counter the enemy team’s composition and playstyle. The decision between Rod of Ages and Luden’s Tempest is an example of the kind of choice that players must make. If the player is looking for more damage, then they would opt for Luden’s Tempest. If the player is looking for a more sustained damage output, they would opt for Rod of Ages.
What are the core gameplay mechanics and strategies essential for mastering Ryze?

Mastering Ryze, the Rune Mage, demands a deep understanding of his abilities, efficient resource management, and strategic decision-making. His kit, while seemingly simple at first glance, offers immense depth and complexity, requiring players to constantly adapt and react to the ever-changing circumstances of a League of Legends match. Success with Ryze hinges on a player’s ability to seamlessly weave together his spells, control the flow of the lane, and make impactful contributions in team fights.
Key Abilities and Their Optimal Usage
Ryze’s power stems from his ability to manipulate arcane energies, manifested through his spell-casting. Understanding the intricacies of each ability, including their scaling, cooldowns, and optimal usage, is crucial for unlocking his full potential. The ability order generally followed is R > Q > E > W, prioritizing the ultimate when available.* Passive – Arcane Mastery: Ryze’s passive grants him bonus mana, and his abilities scale with bonus mana.
It also converts bonus mana into ability power. This fundamental mechanic dictates itemization choices, as maximizing mana pool becomes paramount.* Q – Overload: This is Ryze’s primary damage and wave-clearing ability.
Description
Ryze fires a bolt of energy in a line, dealing magic damage.
Cooldown
Starts at 6 seconds, decreasing with ability haste.
Scaling
Scales with Ability Power and bonus Mana.
Optimal Usage
Use Overload to last-hit minions in the early game, harass opponents, and clear waves. When paired with Rune Prison (W) or Spell Flux (E), Overload’s cooldown is reset. This reset is crucial for maximizing damage output.
Example
In a skirmish, using Rune Prison to root an enemy and then immediately casting Overload allows for a quick damage burst.* W – Rune Prison: Ryze’s crowd-control ability.
Description
Ryze imprisons a target, dealing magic damage and stunning them.
Cooldown
Starts at 13 seconds, decreasing with ability haste.
Scaling
Scales with Ability Power and bonus Mana.
Optimal Usage
Use Rune Prison to lock down high-priority targets in team fights, secure kills, and escape ganks. It can also be used defensively to create space.
Example
In a team fight, a well-placed Rune Prison on the enemy carry can cripple their damage output, giving your team the advantage.* E – Spell Flux: Ryze’s wave-clearing and damage-amplifying ability.
Description
Ryze releases a magical orb that bounces to nearby enemies, dealing magic damage and applying a Flux effect.
Cooldown
Starts at 3.25 seconds, decreasing with ability haste.
Scaling
Scales with Ability Power and bonus Mana.
Optimal Usage
Use Spell Flux to clear waves quickly, especially when combined with Overload for the reset. When Spell Flux hits a target, and they are hit with Overload, Overload deals bonus damage. If a target affected by Spell Flux is hit with Rune Prison, it roots all nearby enemies.
Example
Cast Spell Flux on a minion wave, then Overload to quickly clear the wave. In team fights, spread Spell Flux amongst enemy champions before casting Overload for maximum damage.* R – Realm Warp: Ryze’s ultimate ability, used for repositioning and strategic plays.
Description
Ryze creates a portal, teleporting himself and nearby allied champions to a target location.
Cooldown
Starts at 180 seconds, decreasing with ability haste.
Optimal Usage
Use Realm Warp to initiate team fights, split-push, escape from dangerous situations, or teleport to objectives.
Example
Realm Warp can be used to teleport your team behind the enemy team during a team fight, cutting off their escape routes and maximizing damage potential. Alternatively, it can be used to quickly assist a teammate on the other side of the map or to escape a gank. The effectiveness of Realm Warp heavily relies on communication and pre-planning.
Strategies for Wave Management, Roaming, and Team Fighting
Ryze’s gameplay extends beyond simply casting spells; it involves strategic decision-making and efficient resource management.* Wave Management:
Early Game
Focus on last-hitting minions to secure gold and experience. Use Overload to safely farm under your tower if pressured.
Mid-Game
Utilize Spell Flux and Overload to quickly clear waves and pressure the enemy tower. This allows for roaming opportunities and objective control.
Late Game
Continue to clear waves efficiently to prevent the enemy from pushing your base. Use wave clear to keep the enemy team guessing and to set up potential sieges.* Roaming:
Timing
Look for opportunities to roam after pushing a wave into the enemy tower. Communicate with your team about your intentions.
Execution
Coordinate with your jungler or other laners to gank other lanes. Use Rune Prison to lock down targets and secure kills.
Considerations
Assess the risk-reward ratio before roaming. If you are behind or if your lane opponent is also roaming, it might be better to stay and farm.* Team Fighting:
Positioning
Maintain a safe distance from the enemy, using your range to deal damage.
Target Selection
Prioritize high-value targets, such as enemy carries. Use Rune Prison to lock them down.
Combo Execution
Utilize your combo efficiently to maximize damage output and control.
Example
In a team fight scenario, identify the most significant threat on the enemy team (e.g., the ADC or Mid Laner). Then, using the following combo:
Step 1
Apply Spell Flux (E) to the desired target.
Step 2
Immediately cast Rune Prison (W) to root them in place.
Step 3
Follow up with Overload (Q) for maximum damage and a cooldown reset.
Step 4
Continue casting Overload (Q) as it becomes available to maintain the damage output.
Step-by-Step Procedure for Practicing Combos and Maximizing Damage Output
Ryze’s effectiveness hinges on his ability to execute his combos quickly and accurately. The following procedure will help players refine their mechanics.* Practice Tool: The practice tool is invaluable for practicing combos without the pressure of a live game.* Basic Combo (Q-W-Q):
Step 1
Cast Overload (Q).
Step 2
Immediately cast Rune Prison (W) to root the target.
Step 3
Immediately cast Overload (Q) to take advantage of the cooldown reset.* Advanced Combo (E-Q-W-Q):
Step 1
Cast Spell Flux (E) on the target.
Step 2
Immediately cast Overload (Q).
Step 3
Immediately cast Rune Prison (W) to root the target.
Step 4
Immediately cast Overload (Q) to take advantage of the cooldown reset.* Full Combo (E-Q-W-Q-E-Q):
Step 1
Cast Spell Flux (E) on the target.
Step 2
Immediately cast Overload (Q).
Step 3
Immediately cast Rune Prison (W) to root the target.
Step 4
Immediately cast Overload (Q) to take advantage of the cooldown reset.
Step 5
Immediately cast Spell Flux (E) to spread Flux and apply additional damage.
Step 6
Immediately cast Overload (Q) to maximize damage.* Key Considerations:
Practice Speed
Start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the combos.
Targeting
Practice targeting moving targets to improve accuracy.
Animation Canceling
Learn to cancel the animations of your spells to execute combos faster.
Itemization
Experiment with different item builds to find what suits your playstyle and the current meta.
Feedback
Record your gameplay and review it to identify areas for improvement. Analyze professional Ryze players to understand how they execute combos and make decisions.* Maximizing Damage Output:
Prioritize Mana
Build items that provide a substantial mana pool, such as Seraph’s Embrace and Archangel’s Staff.
Ability Haste
Build items that provide ability haste to reduce cooldowns.
Empowered Abilities
Utilize the cooldown resets from your abilities.
Positioning
Maintain a safe distance while maximizing your damage output.
Adaptability
Adapt your build and playstyle based on the game’s circumstances.
How does Ryze’s itemization influence his effectiveness throughout different stages of a match?
Ryze’s itemization is the cornerstone of his gameplay, dictating his damage output, survivability, and ability to scale into the late game. A well-crafted build allows Ryze to maximize his potential, turning him from a squishy mage into a late-game powerhouse capable of deleting enemy carries. Conversely, poor item choices can render him ineffective, making him vulnerable and unable to contribute meaningfully to team fights.
The right items empower his spell rotations, enhancing his ability to weave spells and continuously apply pressure. Therefore, understanding the nuances of Ryze’s itemization is critical to mastering the champion.
Item Builds for Ryze
Ryze’s item builds are highly flexible, adapting to both the game’s current meta and the specific demands of each match. Choosing the right items at the right time is crucial for success. We will examine the different item categories, from starting items to situational choices, and how they impact Ryze’s performance.Starting Items:Ryze has a few viable starting item choices, each catering to different playstyles and matchups.
- Corrupting Potion: A strong choice for lane sustain, granting health and mana regeneration over time. The active ability, which deals damage over time, helps with trading in the early game. This is especially effective against champions who rely on mana to trade.
- Doran’s Ring: Offers a blend of health, ability power, and mana regeneration. It’s a solid, safe starting option for Ryze, allowing him to stay in lane longer and farm effectively.
- Dark Seal + Refillable Potion: A more aggressive start, allowing Ryze to build stacks of Dark Seal for extra ability power. The Refillable Potion provides lane sustain. This is a higher-risk, higher-reward start, suitable when confident in outplaying the opponent.
Core Items:These items form the backbone of Ryze’s build, providing the stats he needs to function effectively.
- Rod of Ages: A quintessential item for Ryze. It provides a mix of health, mana, and ability power, all of which scale over time, making it a powerful late-game item. The health and mana help him survive, while the ability power increases his damage output. It’s important to complete this item as quickly as possible to benefit from its scaling.
- Archangel’s Staff/Seraph’s Embrace: Provides a massive mana pool and ability power. Archangel’s Staff builds into Seraph’s Embrace, which has a passive that grants a shield based on your mana. This shield greatly increases Ryze’s survivability. The mana also translates into extra ability power via his passive.
- Boots of Speed (and later, your choice of boots): These are necessary to improve Ryze’s mobility and help him maneuver in teamfights. We will discuss boot options later.
Situational Items:These items are selected based on the enemy team composition and the specific needs of the match.
- Banshee’s Veil: A great choice for survivability, Banshee’s Veil blocks one enemy ability every few seconds, preventing Ryze from getting caught out by crowd control or burst damage.
- Guardian Angel: Another strong defensive option, Guardian Angel revives Ryze after death, giving him a second chance in team fights.
- Void Staff: Essential when the enemy team builds magic resistance. It provides magic penetration, allowing Ryze to deal significant damage to tankier targets.
- Morellonomicon: Crucial against teams with strong healing, it applies Grievous Wounds, reducing the effectiveness of healing effects.
- Zhonya’s Hourglass: Provides armor and ability power, and the active ability allows Ryze to become invulnerable for a short duration, allowing him to survive burst damage or buy time for his team.
- Rabadon’s Deathcap: A late-game damage amplifier, Rabadon’s Deathcap significantly increases Ryze’s ability power, allowing him to deal massive damage.
Boots Choices:Ryze has a few viable boot options, each with its own advantages.
- Sorcerer’s Shoes: Provides magic penetration, increasing Ryze’s damage output. A good default choice.
- Mercury’s Treads: Provides magic resistance and tenacity, reducing the duration of crowd control effects. Essential against teams with heavy crowd control.
- Plated Steelcaps: Provides armor and reduces incoming basic attack damage. Useful against teams with many auto-attack-based champions.
Adapting Ryze’s Build Based on Enemy Team Composition:Ryze’s build must be flexible to counter the enemy team’s strengths and exploit their weaknesses. Here are some examples:
- Against a high-burst composition (e.g., assassins and burst mages): Prioritize defensive items like Banshee’s Veil and Zhonya’s Hourglass. Consider Mercury’s Treads for tenacity.
- Against a team with heavy magic resistance: Rush Void Staff as a core item.
- Against a team with strong healing: Build Morellonomicon.
- Against a team with a lot of auto-attack-based damage: Consider Plated Steelcaps and Zhonya’s Hourglass.
Rune Setups for Ryze
Rune selection is another critical aspect of Ryze’s effectiveness. The runes chosen can greatly impact his early-game sustain, damage output, and late-game scaling potential.
Here’s a comparison of different rune setups for Ryze, highlighting their pros and cons.
| Rune Setup | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Phase Rush (Sorcery/Precision) |
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| Arcane Comet (Sorcery/Inspiration) |
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| Electrocute (Domination/Precision) |
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Each rune setup caters to a different playstyle. Phase Rush is ideal for mobility and kiting, Arcane Comet provides poke, and Electrocute offers burst damage. The optimal choice depends on the enemy matchup, the team composition, and the player’s preference. For instance, in a matchup against a high-mobility champion, Phase Rush might be the best choice. If the opponent is a squishy champion, Electrocute might be better for securing kills.
Ultimately, understanding these rune options allows Ryze players to optimize their performance in every game.
What are the common mistakes players make when playing Ryze and how can they be avoided?

Ryze, the Rune Mage, presents a deceptively complex champion to master. While his ability to deal immense damage and provide team utility is undeniable, a multitude of errors can severely hinder his effectiveness. Avoiding these common pitfalls is crucial for climbing the ranks and truly unlocking Ryze’s potential. Understanding and rectifying these mistakes is key to transforming from a struggling mage into a game-carrying force.
Poor Positioning and its Consequences
Ryze’s short range and reliance on casting abilities make him exceptionally vulnerable to crowd control and burst damage. Poor positioning is arguably the most prevalent mistake among Ryze players, often leading to swift deaths and missed opportunities.
- Standing too close to the enemy: This is a recipe for disaster. Ryze lacks mobility beyond his ultimate and is easily caught out. Constantly being in range of enemy engages, such as a Blitzcrank hook or a Malphite ultimate, leads to instant death.
- Ignoring vision control: Without adequate vision, Ryze can be easily flanked or caught out of position. This makes him susceptible to ganks and prevents him from safely pushing lanes or joining team fights.
- Misunderstanding team fight roles: Ryze isn’t a front-line tank; he’s a damage dealer who needs to be protected. Positioning yourself in the middle of the fight, rather than near the backline, can lead to quick elimination.
To avoid these issues, players must prioritize map awareness and adapt their positioning based on the game state. Always keep a safe distance from potential threats, use wards to secure vision, and communicate with your team to coordinate engages and disengages.
Inefficient Ability Usage
Ryze’s kit, while straightforward in its basic execution, requires precise and thoughtful ability usage to maximize damage and mana efficiency. Many players squander their potential by making suboptimal choices.
- Incorrect Spell Combination: Ryze’s damage relies on weaving abilities to maximize damage output. A common mistake is casting spells in the wrong order or not taking the time to properly combo.
- Wasting mana: Ryze is mana-hungry, especially in the early game. Overusing abilities without a clear purpose drains his resources quickly.
- Missing crucial abilities: Missing a key Rune Prison (W) can allow enemies to escape or survive a combo, significantly reducing Ryze’s damage output.
Effective Ryze players master his spell rotations and understand the nuances of mana management. They carefully consider their mana pool before engaging and always aim to land their abilities.
“The key to playing Ryze is understanding his combos. You have to know when to use each spell and how to maximize your damage output. It’s about efficiency.” – Faker
Mana Management Failures
Ryze’s mana pool is intrinsically linked to his damage output and survivability. Neglecting mana management can render him useless, especially in the early game.
- Over-aggression: Constantly harassing opponents without considering mana costs quickly depletes Ryze’s resources, leaving him vulnerable to ganks or all-ins.
- Inefficient farming: Spamming abilities to last hit minions wastes mana and pushes the lane, making him vulnerable to ganks.
- Ignoring mana regeneration: Not building items that support mana regeneration, such as a Catalyst of Aeons, can limit his ability to trade and farm.
Ryze players must learn to balance aggression with resource conservation. Prioritizing last-hitting minions, only using abilities when necessary, and building mana-sustaining items are critical.
Decision-Making Errors, Ryze legit
Beyond mechanical skill, good decision-making is vital for Ryze. Poor choices can lead to lost objectives, missed opportunities, and ultimately, defeat.
- Poor itemization: Building the wrong items can cripple Ryze’s effectiveness. For example, building full damage when the team needs a tank, or building defensive items when the team needs more damage.
- Ignoring the map: Tunnel visioning on your lane and ignoring other lanes or objectives.
- Taking unnecessary fights: Engaging in fights when behind or when your team isn’t in a position to win.
Ryze players should always assess the game state, choose items that complement their team composition and consider the strategic value of each action. They should be proactive in warding, communicating with their team, and making informed decisions about when to fight, farm, or take objectives.
What is the significance of Ryze’s role in team compositions and how should players approach it?
Ryze, the Rune Mage, presents a unique and adaptable presence in the ever-evolving landscape of League of Legends team compositions. His ability to manipulate the very fabric of magic allows him to slot into a variety of strategic approaches, though mastering his versatility is key to unlocking his full potential. Understanding Ryze’s role is not just about knowing his abilities; it’s about recognizing how he can contribute to different team strategies and how players can adapt their gameplay to maximize his effectiveness in each scenario.
Ryze’s Role in Different Team Compositions
Ryze’s adaptability allows him to fit into various team compositions, each requiring a different approach. He’s not just a “one-size-fits-all” champion; instead, his role shifts based on the team’s overall strategy.* Poke Composition: In a poke composition, Ryze can function as a secondary damage source, softening up the enemy before a full engage. His ability to repeatedly cast spells, especially his Q, allows him to contribute to consistent damage output.
However, he is less effective at pure poke compared to dedicated poke mages due to his shorter range and need to get close for maximum damage.
Engage Composition
Ryze’s Realm Warp (R) is a significant tool in an engage composition. It can be used to quickly reposition the team, allowing for surprise engagements or strategic escapes. This ability is most potent when coordinating with a team that has strong engage tools like Malphite or Amumu. However, Ryze’s effectiveness in this role relies heavily on team coordination and precise execution.
Split Push Composition
Ryze is not typically the primary split pusher due to his lack of sustained pushing power compared to champions like Tryndamere or Fiora. However, he can contribute by clearing waves and using his Realm Warp to teleport to a side lane to assist in pushing or defend a tower. He’s more of a secondary split pusher, supporting the main split pusher.
Teamfight Composition
Ryze excels in teamfights due to his AoE damage, ability to kite, and the potential to reset his cooldowns with Flux (E). He can quickly dispatch squishy targets and provides consistent damage throughout the fight. He’s a powerful teamfight mage, but his success depends on protecting him from enemy assassins and divers.
Different Playstyles for Ryze
Ryze’s playstyle can vary depending on the game’s circumstances and the player’s preferences. He can be built to be a supportive mage, focusing on utility and team fight presence, or a carry threat, prioritizing damage output and solo carry potential.* Supportive Mage: This playstyle emphasizes utility. Itemization choices include items like Rod of Ages for survivability, and Frozen Heart to reduce enemy attack speed and boost team’s durability.
The focus is on providing consistent damage, wave clear, and utility through Realm Warp. The goal is to survive and enable teammates.
Carry Threat
This build emphasizes damage. Itemization focuses on maximizing AP and magic penetration. The objective is to deal as much damage as possible while still maintaining some level of survivability. The player must be skilled at kiting, dodging skill shots, and weaving spells to survive in teamfights. The player seeks to become the primary damage dealer.
Adapting to the game is crucial. Consider the enemy team composition, your team’s needs, and the game’s overall flow when deciding which playstyle to adopt.
Ideal Team Composition Around Ryze
Ryze thrives in team compositions that can protect him and enable him to deal damage effectively. Certain champions synergize well with him, creating a formidable force. Here are some examples:* Tanks with Strong Engage: Champions like Malphite, Amumu, and Sejuani provide reliable engage and crowd control, allowing Ryze to follow up with his damage. These champions create opportunities for Ryze to use his Realm Warp for strategic plays.
Protective Supports
Supports like Janna, Lulu, and Braum can shield, peel, and protect Ryze, ensuring his survival in teamfights. These supports create space for Ryze to freely cast spells.
Utility Mages
Champions like Orianna or Galio can provide additional crowd control and damage, complementing Ryze’s strengths. They can create a “death ball” composition, overwhelming the enemy team with crowd control and AoE damage.
Example Team Composition
Top
Malphite (Engage, Tank)
Jungle
Amumu (Engage, Tank)
Mid
Ryze (AP Carry)
ADC
Jinx (Hyper Carry)
Support
Janna (Protective Support) This composition offers strong engage, protection for Ryze, and consistent damage output. It showcases Ryze’s ability to be a core element in a balanced and effective team.