Varus

TopBotADrangedteamfightscalinglane-bully

Data1,937 pro games·Jan 2022 – Nov 2026·patches 12.1–26.22·CBLOL, First Stand, LCK, LCO Split, LCP, LCS, LEC, LJL, LLA, LPL, LTA, MSI, PCS, VCS, Worlds· incl. international·Browse source →

Comp identity — Top / Bot

Leans Siege — its strongest of the five comp axes.

Plays like — nearest pentagon

Ranked by how close their five-axis heatmap looks — role-agnostic.

Where it thrives (5-comp fit)

Siegenatural · 60%
Attackworkable · 50%
Protectworkable · 40%
Varus forces enemies off towers and objectives with long-range poke. Enough Attack and Protect sits in the kit to fight front-to-back when the enemy forces it. W (Blighted Quiver) stacks Blight on-hit that abilities detonate for magic damage based on target max HP.

Kit quirks

W (Blighted Quiver) stacks Blight on-hit that abilities detonate for magic damage based on target max HP
R (Chain of Corruption) is a 2-second root on first champion hit that spreads to nearby enemies who linger
E (Hail of Arrows) applies AoE slow + Grievous Wounds over its duration

How Varus actually performs in ranked solo queue · 101 weighted games

Solo queue strength

Bot50% WR · 80.1 games
Top47% WR · 17.6 games
Mid48% WR · 2.9 games

Strongest duos

Best matchups

JhinBot+3%

Hardest matchups

No losing matchups recorded.

Dragons & win rate

Win rate when Varus's team secured at least one of each drake, next to the all-champion rate in that same state. Teams that take dragons are usually already ahead, so every champ wins more with them — the honest read is the gap, i.e. whether Varus beats the average team that also has the drake. Single-drake samples are thin; treat small counts as suggestive.

Mountain (Earth)50%vs 59% avg-9pp86g

Hextech65%vs 62% avg+3pp85g

Infernal60%vs 60% avg+0pp83g

Cloud69%vs 60% avg+9pp81g

Ocean59%vs 63% avg-3pp81g

Chemtech63%vs 62% avg+1pp70g

Champion reference

Base stats and every ability with its per-rank values and ratios. Search all champions →

Varus — The Arrow of Retribution

Class: Marksman, Artillery
Resource: Mana
Range type: Ranged
Adaptive type: Physical
Positions: Bottom
Released: 2012-05-08 (V1.0.0.139)
Last changed: V26.21
Price: 2,400 BE · 880 RP

Damage

Toughness

Control

Mobility

Utility

Difficulty

Base stats

Stat	Base	Per level	Level 18
Health	600	+105	2385
Health regen (per 5s)	3.5	+0.55	12.85
Mana	320	+40	1000
Mana regen (per 5s)	8	+0.8	21.6
Armor	24	+4	92
Magic resist	33	+1.1	51.7
Attack damage	59	+3.4	116.8
Attack speed	0.658	+3.5%	1.05
Attack speed ratio	0.658
Attack range	575
Movement speed	330

Level 18 uses League's growth curve (base + 17 × per-level); attack speed grows as bonus % scaled by the attack speed ratio.

Advanced stats & game-mode balance

Acquisition radius: 600
Selection height: 155
Selection radius: 120
Pathing radius: 35
Attack delay offset: -0.1246
Basic attack missile speed: 2000

ARAM: damage dealt ×1 · damage taken ×1

Abilities

Passive

Living Vengeance

Innate: When Varus kills an enemy, he gains 10% / 15% / 20% (based on level) bonus attack speed as well as bonus attack damage and ability power equal to 14% of his total bonus attack speed for 5 / 7 / 9 / 11 (based on level) seconds, refreshing on subsequent unit kills.

Varus also gains Living Vengeance's bonuses upon scoring a champion takedown, which empowers it for the same duration to grant him 30% bonus attack speed as well as bonus attack damage and ability power equal to 42% of his total bonus attack speed, and an increased attack speed cap of 3.33. Living Vengeance's empowerment may only be refreshed by subsequent champion takedowns.

Targeting input: PassiveAffects: Self

Notes (2)

Varus cannot gain the standard bonuses while Living Vengeance is empowered. If the buff was active at the time of the empowerment (from scoring a champion takedown), the duration is refreshed while overriding the standard bonuses with the empowered ones.
If Varus kills an enemy unit (non-champion) during the empowerment, he is special cased to gain the buff again after the empowerment expires with the standard bonuses. The re-granted buff lasts for 5 / 7 / 9 / 11 (based on level) seconds minus the remaining duration of the empowered version at the time of the last non-champion unit he killed.

Map-specific differences (3)

Attack speed cap changed to 10.0.
Non-champion kill bonus attack damage and ability power changed to 15% bonus attack speed.
Champion takedown bonus attack damage and ability power changed to 30% bonus attack speed.

Piercing Arrow

Cost: 50 / 55 / 60 / 65 / 70 manaCooldown: 16 / 15 / 14 / 13 / 12Cast time: noneRange: 895 – 1595 (based on channel time)Width: 140Speed: 1900

Active: Varus charges while being slowed by 20% for up to 4 seconds to increase Piercing Arrow's range over the first 1.5 seconds and its effects over the first 1.25 seconds of the channel.

Piercing Arrow can be recast within the duration. If the charge completes without reactivation, Piercing Arrow is cancelled and refunds 50% of the mana cost.

Recast: Varus fires a piercing arrow in the target direction that deals physical damage to enemies hit. The damage of the arrow as well as any detonated Blight stacks are both increased by 0% – 70% (based on channel time), and the arrow's damage is reduced by 0% – 67% (based on number of enemies hit).

Minimum Physical Damage: 50 / 100 / 150 / 200 / 250 (+ 80% bonus AD)
Maximum Physical Damage: 85 / 170 / 255 / 340 / 425 (+ 136% bonus AD)
Minimum Reduced Damage: 16.5 / 33 / 49.5 / 66 / 82.5 (+ 26.4% bonus AD)
Maximum Reduced Damage: 28.05 / 56.1 / 84.15 / 112.2 / 140.25 (+ 44.88% bonus AD)

Targeting input: Auto / DirectionAffects: Self, EnemiesDamage type: Area damageDamage sub-types: PhysicalSpell shield: BlockedProjectile: BlockedDisruption: Interrupted

Notes (7)

The arrow missile range is 825 to 1525; The range increases by 140 per 0.25 seconds for the first 1.25 seconds. Upon reaching its maximum range, it also strikes additional targets in a 70 radius, rounding off the struck area.
The indicator for the range of the spell will be displayed for the entire channel.
Piercing Arrow will cast from wherever Varus is at the end of the channel.
At maximum damage charge, all damage caused by Piercing Arrow will trigger cosmetic critical strike text.
The following table refers for interactions while Varus is channeling:
Death
Cast-inhibiting effects

Map-specific differences (1)

Cooldown changed to 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 seconds.

Blighted Quiver

Cooldown: 40Cast time: none

Passive: Varus' basic attacks on-hit deal bonus magic damage and apply a stack of Blight for 6 seconds, refreshing on subsequent applications and stacking up to 3 times. Varus' abilities detonate all Blight stacks on affected enemies hit.

Bonus Magic Damage: 4 / 10 / 16 / 22 / 28 (+ 20% bonus AD) (+ 30% AP)

Blight: For each stack consumed, the target is dealt bonus magic damage. If the stacks were consumed with Piercing Arrow, this damage is increased by 0% – 70% (based on Piercing Arrow's charge time). This damage is capped at 120 per stack against monsters, for a total cap of 360 at maximum stacks. Additionally, each stack consumed against a champion or epic monster reduces the remaining cooldowns of Varus' basic abilities by 11% of each of their total cooldowns, up to a 33% cooldown reduction per target. If the stacks were consumed with Piercing Arrow, the cooldown reduction is increased by 0% – 70% (based on Piercing Arrow's charge time), up to a 33% – 56.1% cooldown reduction per target from consuming maximum stacks against them.

Bonus Magic Damage per Stack: 2.5 / 3 / 3.5 / 4 / 4.5% (+ 1.4% per 100 AP) of the target's maximum health
Bonus Magic Damage at Max Stacks: 7.5 / 9 / 10.5 / 12 / 13.5% (+ 4.2% per 100 AP) of the target's maximum health
Maximum Bonus Magic Damage per Stack: 4.25 / 5.1 / 5.95 / 6.8 / 7.65% (+ 2.38% per 100 AP) of the target's maximum health
Maximum Bonus Magic Damage at Max Stacks: 12.75 / 15.3 / 17.85 / 20.4 / 22.95% (+ 7.14% per 100 AP) of the target's maximum health

Active: Varus' next Piercing Arrow within 5.5 seconds is empowered to deal additional bonus magic damage, increased by 0% – 70% (based on Piercing Arrow's charge time). This damage is capped at 360 against monsters.

Active Minimum Magic Damage: 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10% of target's missing health
Active Maximum Magic Damage: 10.2 / 11.9 / 13.6 / 15.3 / 17% of target's missing health

If Varus does not cast Piercing Arrow, Blighted Quiver can be recast after 1 second within the duration, and does so automatically afterwards or when he dies. Blighted Quiver can be cast during the first 0.85 seconds of Piercing Arrow's charge, and will be placed on full cooldown after the charge ends even if Piercing Arrow is not recast.

Recast: Varus ends Blighted Quiver and places it on a 1-second cooldown.

Blighted Quiver's active and recast can both be used while affected by cast-inhibiting crowd control.

Targeting input: AutoAffects: EnemiesDamage type: Proc damageDamage sub-types: MagicSpell shield: See NotesParries: Blocked

Notes (7)

The monster damage cap is also increased by 0% – 70% (based on Piercing Arrow's charge time) if the stacks were consumed with Piercing Arrow.
Spell shield will not block the on-hit damage but will block the consumption damage if the target is hit by his abilities.
Blighted Quiver will not apply stacks nor deal on-hit damage if blocked by blind, block or dodge effects.
The consumption damage will not be blocked.
Blighted Quiver's active damage is dealt after the damage of Piercing Arrow.
Blighted Quiver does not count as an ability activation for the purposes of on-cast effects such as Spellblade and triggering Force Pulse's passive.
The attacks do not affect structures nor wards.

Hail of Arrows

Cost: 90 manaCooldown: 18 / 16 / 14 / 12 / 10Cast time: 0.2419Target range: 925Effect radius: 300

Active: Varus fires a hail of arrows at the target location that land after 0.5 seconds, dealing physical damage to enemies hit.

Physical Damage: 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 (+ 90% bonus AD)

The area then becomes desecrated for 4 seconds, slowing enemies within and inflicting them with Grievous Wounds.

Slow: 30 / 35 / 40 / 45 / 50%

Targeting input: LocationTarget out-of-range override: Target at maximum range (clamped)Affects: EnemiesDamage type: Area damageDamage sub-types: MagicSpell shield: BlockedProjectile: Blocked

Notes (2)

Slow lingers for 0.25 seconds after leaving the marked area.
Hail of Arrows consumes Blighted Quiver stacks for bonus damage a second time after ~0.3 seconds of hitting, allowing stacks applied during this time to be triggered.

Map-specific differences (1)

Bonus AD ratio changed to 110% bonus AD.

Chain of Corruption

Cost: 100 manaCooldown: 100 / 80 / 60Cast time: 0.2419Range: 1370Width: 240Tether radius: 650 • 600Speed: 1500

Active: Varus unleashes a tendril of corruption in the target direction that infects the first enemy champion hit, dealing magic damage and rooting them for 2 seconds, during which they are revealed. Over the first 1.75 seconds of the root, they are also inflicted with maximum stacks of Blight.

Magic Damage: 150 / 250 / 350 (+ 100% AP)

Upon impact, the tendril roots into the ground from where the target was hit, seeking out nearby enemy champions that are in the immediate area. If a target does not leave the area within 2 seconds, they subsequently become infected as well, taking the same damage and effects. A new tendril is then spread out from the infected target that is closest to a nearby uninfected enemy champion. The infection can spread repeatedly until there are no new targets.

The target does not have to be visible to be caught by the tendril.

Targeting input: DirectionAffects: EnemiesDamage type: Area damageDamage sub-types: MagicSpell shield: BlockedProjectile: Blocked

Notes (14)

The first Blight stack is applied after ~0.65 seconds into the root duration, while the remaining ones are applied in 0.55-second intervals thereafter.
Second and third stacks are applied after ~1.2 seconds and ~1.75 seconds into the root duration, respectively.
If the root's duration is reduced by the target's tenacity, the stacks are applied depending upon if their time application interval is met.
For example, if the root lasts for 1 second, only the first stack is applied since the second and third stacks did not meet their time intervals.
If the root lasts for less than the first stack application time (<0.65 seconds), the first stack will instead be applied at the end of the root duration.
If the target cleanses the root immediately after it is applied, no stacks will be applied.
In cases where the cleanse is activated later into the root duration, stack application is dependent upon their time application interval being met. If removal occurs before an interval after one having been passed, remaining stacks are not applied.
If the root is not applied, such as by the target negating its application with crowd control immunity or a spell shield, the target will not be inflicted with Blight stacks and the tendril will not root into the ground at their location (thus preventing it from seeking). This applies to both the primary target and secondary targets that were caught by the tendril.
The tendril seeks and registers valid targets every 0.264 seconds.
Enemy champions can be targeted again by the corruption's tether if they were not infected the previous time, even if they were targeted and exited its range.
The tendril cannot seek enemy champions that are untargetable, and will also stop seeking a target if it becomes untargetable (fails to apply its effects even if they remain in the area).
Varus will turn to face the target direction at the start of the cast.
This ability will cast from wherever the caster is at the end of the cast time.
Chain of Corruption can generate Blight stacks for Varus to detonate with any ability, even if Blighted Quiver has not been learned. The base detonation damage per Blight stack scales with Blighted Quiver's rank, which has a value at rank 0 of 2.5% of the target's maximum health per stack detonated.

Stats and abilities from the League of Legends Wiki (CC BY-SA 3.0), built for patch 26.22.

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Where it thrives (5-comp fit)

Siegenatural · 60%

Attackworkable · 50%

Protectworkable · 40%

Varus forces enemies off towers and objectives with long-range poke. Enough Attack and Protect sits in the kit to fight front-to-back when the enemy forces it. W (Blighted Quiver) stacks Blight on-hit that abilities detonate for magic damage based on target max HP.

Dragons & win rate

Mountain (Earth)50%vs 59% avg-9pp86g

Hextech65%vs 62% avg+3pp85g

Infernal60%vs 60% avg+0pp83g

Cloud69%vs 60% avg+9pp81g

Ocean59%vs 63% avg-3pp81g

Chemtech63%vs 62% avg+1pp70g

Champion reference

Base stats and every ability with its per-rank values and ratios. Search all champions →

Varus — The Arrow of Retribution

Class: Marksman, Artillery
Resource: Mana
Range type: Ranged
Adaptive type: Physical
Positions: Bottom
Released: 2012-05-08 (V1.0.0.139)
Last changed: V26.21
Price: 2,400 BE · 880 RP

Damage

Toughness

Control

Mobility

Utility

Difficulty

Base stats

Stat	Base	Per level	Level 18
Health	600	+105	2385
Health regen (per 5s)	3.5	+0.55	12.85
Mana	320	+40	1000
Mana regen (per 5s)	8	+0.8	21.6
Armor	24	+4	92
Magic resist	33	+1.1	51.7
Attack damage	59	+3.4	116.8
Attack speed	0.658	+3.5%	1.05
Attack speed ratio	0.658
Attack range	575
Movement speed	330

Level 18 uses League's growth curve (base + 17 × per-level); attack speed grows as bonus % scaled by the attack speed ratio.

Advanced stats & game-mode balance

Acquisition radius: 600
Selection height: 155
Selection radius: 120
Pathing radius: 35
Attack delay offset: -0.1246
Basic attack missile speed: 2000

ARAM: damage dealt ×1 · damage taken ×1

Abilities

Passive

Living Vengeance

Targeting input: PassiveAffects: Self

Notes (2)

Varus cannot gain the standard bonuses while Living Vengeance is empowered. If the buff was active at the time of the empowerment (from scoring a champion takedown), the duration is refreshed while overriding the standard bonuses with the empowered ones.
If Varus kills an enemy unit (non-champion) during the empowerment, he is special cased to gain the buff again after the empowerment expires with the standard bonuses. The re-granted buff lasts for 5 / 7 / 9 / 11 (based on level) seconds minus the remaining duration of the empowered version at the time of the last non-champion unit he killed.

Map-specific differences (3)

Attack speed cap changed to 10.0.
Non-champion kill bonus attack damage and ability power changed to 15% bonus attack speed.
Champion takedown bonus attack damage and ability power changed to 30% bonus attack speed.

Piercing Arrow

Cost: 50 / 55 / 60 / 65 / 70 manaCooldown: 16 / 15 / 14 / 13 / 12Cast time: noneRange: 895 – 1595 (based on channel time)Width: 140Speed: 1900

Active: Varus charges while being slowed by 20% for up to 4 seconds to increase Piercing Arrow's range over the first 1.5 seconds and its effects over the first 1.25 seconds of the channel.

Piercing Arrow can be recast within the duration. If the charge completes without reactivation, Piercing Arrow is cancelled and refunds 50% of the mana cost.

Minimum Physical Damage: 50 / 100 / 150 / 200 / 250 (+ 80% bonus AD)
Maximum Physical Damage: 85 / 170 / 255 / 340 / 425 (+ 136% bonus AD)
Minimum Reduced Damage: 16.5 / 33 / 49.5 / 66 / 82.5 (+ 26.4% bonus AD)
Maximum Reduced Damage: 28.05 / 56.1 / 84.15 / 112.2 / 140.25 (+ 44.88% bonus AD)

Targeting input: Auto / DirectionAffects: Self, EnemiesDamage type: Area damageDamage sub-types: PhysicalSpell shield: BlockedProjectile: BlockedDisruption: Interrupted

Notes (7)

The arrow missile range is 825 to 1525; The range increases by 140 per 0.25 seconds for the first 1.25 seconds. Upon reaching its maximum range, it also strikes additional targets in a 70 radius, rounding off the struck area.
The indicator for the range of the spell will be displayed for the entire channel.
Piercing Arrow will cast from wherever Varus is at the end of the channel.
At maximum damage charge, all damage caused by Piercing Arrow will trigger cosmetic critical strike text.
The following table refers for interactions while Varus is channeling:
Death
Cast-inhibiting effects

Map-specific differences (1)

Cooldown changed to 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 seconds.

Blighted Quiver

Cooldown: 40Cast time: none

Bonus Magic Damage: 4 / 10 / 16 / 22 / 28 (+ 20% bonus AD) (+ 30% AP)

Bonus Magic Damage per Stack: 2.5 / 3 / 3.5 / 4 / 4.5% (+ 1.4% per 100 AP) of the target's maximum health
Bonus Magic Damage at Max Stacks: 7.5 / 9 / 10.5 / 12 / 13.5% (+ 4.2% per 100 AP) of the target's maximum health
Maximum Bonus Magic Damage per Stack: 4.25 / 5.1 / 5.95 / 6.8 / 7.65% (+ 2.38% per 100 AP) of the target's maximum health
Maximum Bonus Magic Damage at Max Stacks: 12.75 / 15.3 / 17.85 / 20.4 / 22.95% (+ 7.14% per 100 AP) of the target's maximum health

Active Minimum Magic Damage: 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10% of target's missing health
Active Maximum Magic Damage: 10.2 / 11.9 / 13.6 / 15.3 / 17% of target's missing health

Recast: Varus ends Blighted Quiver and places it on a 1-second cooldown.

Blighted Quiver's active and recast can both be used while affected by cast-inhibiting crowd control.

Targeting input: AutoAffects: EnemiesDamage type: Proc damageDamage sub-types: MagicSpell shield: See NotesParries: Blocked

Notes (7)

The monster damage cap is also increased by 0% – 70% (based on Piercing Arrow's charge time) if the stacks were consumed with Piercing Arrow.
Spell shield will not block the on-hit damage but will block the consumption damage if the target is hit by his abilities.
Blighted Quiver will not apply stacks nor deal on-hit damage if blocked by blind, block or dodge effects.
The consumption damage will not be blocked.
Blighted Quiver's active damage is dealt after the damage of Piercing Arrow.
Blighted Quiver does not count as an ability activation for the purposes of on-cast effects such as Spellblade and triggering Force Pulse's passive.
The attacks do not affect structures nor wards.

Hail of Arrows

Cost: 90 manaCooldown: 18 / 16 / 14 / 12 / 10Cast time: 0.2419Target range: 925Effect radius: 300

Active: Varus fires a hail of arrows at the target location that land after 0.5 seconds, dealing physical damage to enemies hit.

Physical Damage: 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 (+ 90% bonus AD)

The area then becomes desecrated for 4 seconds, slowing enemies within and inflicting them with Grievous Wounds.

Slow: 30 / 35 / 40 / 45 / 50%

Targeting input: LocationTarget out-of-range override: Target at maximum range (clamped)Affects: EnemiesDamage type: Area damageDamage sub-types: MagicSpell shield: BlockedProjectile: Blocked

Notes (2)

Slow lingers for 0.25 seconds after leaving the marked area.
Hail of Arrows consumes Blighted Quiver stacks for bonus damage a second time after ~0.3 seconds of hitting, allowing stacks applied during this time to be triggered.

Map-specific differences (1)

Bonus AD ratio changed to 110% bonus AD.

Chain of Corruption

Cost: 100 manaCooldown: 100 / 80 / 60Cast time: 0.2419Range: 1370Width: 240Tether radius: 650 • 600Speed: 1500

Magic Damage: 150 / 250 / 350 (+ 100% AP)

The target does not have to be visible to be caught by the tendril.

Targeting input: DirectionAffects: EnemiesDamage type: Area damageDamage sub-types: MagicSpell shield: BlockedProjectile: Blocked

Notes (14)

The first Blight stack is applied after ~0.65 seconds into the root duration, while the remaining ones are applied in 0.55-second intervals thereafter.
Second and third stacks are applied after ~1.2 seconds and ~1.75 seconds into the root duration, respectively.
If the root's duration is reduced by the target's tenacity, the stacks are applied depending upon if their time application interval is met.
For example, if the root lasts for 1 second, only the first stack is applied since the second and third stacks did not meet their time intervals.
If the root lasts for less than the first stack application time (<0.65 seconds), the first stack will instead be applied at the end of the root duration.
If the target cleanses the root immediately after it is applied, no stacks will be applied.
In cases where the cleanse is activated later into the root duration, stack application is dependent upon their time application interval being met. If removal occurs before an interval after one having been passed, remaining stacks are not applied.
If the root is not applied, such as by the target negating its application with crowd control immunity or a spell shield, the target will not be inflicted with Blight stacks and the tendril will not root into the ground at their location (thus preventing it from seeking). This applies to both the primary target and secondary targets that were caught by the tendril.
The tendril seeks and registers valid targets every 0.264 seconds.
Enemy champions can be targeted again by the corruption's tether if they were not infected the previous time, even if they were targeted and exited its range.
The tendril cannot seek enemy champions that are untargetable, and will also stop seeking a target if it becomes untargetable (fails to apply its effects even if they remain in the area).
Varus will turn to face the target direction at the start of the cast.
This ability will cast from wherever the caster is at the end of the cast time.
Chain of Corruption can generate Blight stacks for Varus to detonate with any ability, even if Blighted Quiver has not been learned. The base detonation damage per Blight stack scales with Blighted Quiver's rank, which has a value at rank 0 of 2.5% of the target's maximum health per stack detonated.

Stats and abilities from the League of Legends Wiki (CC BY-SA 3.0), built for patch 26.22.