From runes to items, gameplay tips amd more, we've put together a guide to help you master playing Alistar in the botlane in League of Legends.
Be mindful that there are several ways to build and play a champion, and you'll need to be adaptable as the game and the enemy team progress.
That said, this guide is a good starting point to helping you get to grips with the champion and making an impact in your games.
Runes
Core Items
Build
Both Locket of the Iron Solari and Zeke's Convergence are items that are ideal for tank supports, whose job is to support and buff their teammates in battle with item actives.
Other good items are Knight's Vow, another that will benefit your ADC, Thornmail, and Redemption.
Starting Item & Boots
Skill Order
While your choices may differ according to how the game progresses, the typical Alistar skill priority is:
R > Q > W > E
Summoner Spells
These are the summoner spells most typically taken by Alistar in this role. Naturally, this may change depending on match-ups.
Gameplay
Alistar is a strong tank and great engager, and surprisingly good at roaming. With Mobility Boots, you'll be looking to take advantage and control both botlane and midlane. Ultimately, you'll want to play Alistar aggressively, zoning opponents and constantly seeking trades.
- Level 1 - Take Q - Pulverize, so that you can deal damage to minions to make it easier for your ADC, and knock up your enemy.
- Level 2 - Take W - Headbutt, allowing for early trades if you get the opportunity.
- First Back - Pick up your Mobility Boots if you want to roam early, or start building towards your Locket.
Tips & Tricks
- Alistar's bread-and-butter combo is to dash in with Headbutt, and activate Pulverize before the end of the dash.
- For even more control, activate Trample before you dash in for the combo.
- Unbreakable Will removes all disabling effects.
- Stunning or displacing enemies charges up Alistar's passive, healing himself and allies when at max charge.
- Your passive activates automatically upon the death of an Epic monster such as Dragon or Baron Nashor. Be mindful that it can only occur twice in three seconds.
- If you've picked up Redemption, use it before your combo. This way you'll disable the enemy before the item's activation, for sustain on the engage.
- Make sure you bind Knight's Vow to an ally, usually your ADC!
- If your ADC is safely farming bot, that's your time to roam - you should always be looking for opportunities to help mid get ahead, but never at the expense of your own lane and ADC.
- Use your Relic Shield stacks on cannon minions first, then melee minions.
