Unusual and Rarely Used Items + Their Purpose

Strange and unusual...I shall hunt them.

Hello there everyone! Hope you're enjoying the holiday season. In this blog post I'd like to go over some of the least used items in League of Legends, why they're barely used, and where you might possibly want to deviate from your usual build and buy one of them.

Executioner's Calling (1350g)
Description: 15 Critical Strike Chance, 18 Life Steal. UNIQUE Passive: On hit, you cause 4 damage per second for 8 seconds. UNIQUE Active: Inflicts target enemy champion with Grievous Wound, causing 50% reduced healing and regeneration for 8 seconds. 20 second cooldown.

The only reason you'd ever get this item is if the other team has someone with extremely high regen or lifesteal, such as Dr. Mundo, AD Sion, Vlad, or possibly lifesteal Nasus.

Haunting Guise (1485g)
Description: 25 Ability Power, 200 Health. UNIQUE Passive: +20 Magic Penetration

This used to be a decent item, but ever since Deathcap came out, blowing 1500g on this item simply doesn't seem worth it anymore. Some people still get it on Vladamir since he scales off of both health and ability power, but you don't see it too often except on Annie Bot in Intermediate AI.

Hexdrinker (1800g)
Description: 35 Attack Damage, 30 Magic Resistance. UNIQUE Passive: If you would take Magic Damage which would leave you at less than 30% of your Maximum Health, you first gain a shield which absorbs 300 Magic Damage for 4 seconds. 60 second cooldown.

This item is still seen sometimes on champions like Riven or Talon. It provides 10 more damage than Brutalizer, so it's not a big DPS loss. However, its main purpose is against burst casters like Kassadin or Leblanc, who can kill you with a single rotation of their spells. By getting this item, you get an early game 300 HP shield, which is substantial at mid-game.

Nashor's Tooth (2885g)
Description: 55 Ability Power, 50 Attack Speed, 10 Mana Regeneration. UNIQUE Passive: +25% cooldown reduction.

This is a hybrid item that used to be seen a lot on heroes like Kayle and Jax, but it's fallen out of favor and simply hasn't been used as much as before. The main reason for this is that hybrid heroes haven't been used as much lately either. In the next few months, we might see more of its use as the new hybrid runes start jumping into play though.

Spirit Visage (1550g)
Description: 250 Health, 30 Magic Resistance. UNIQUE Passive: Cooldowns are reduced by 10% and increases health gained yourself by healing, regeneration, lifesteal and spell vamp by 15%

This item isn't seen very often at lower ELOs, but some higher ELO players favor this item. It's especially good on heroes like Cho'gath and Warwick, but you'll also see it sometimes on Alistars. It's also pretty cheap for what it does, and makes the wielder considerably more tanky.

Stark's Fervor (2550g)

Description: 20 Attack Speed. UNIQUE Aura: Gives nearby allied Champions 20% Lifesteal, 20% Attack Speed, and 30 health regen per 5 seconds. Reduces the Armor of nearby enemy champions by 20. 1200 range.

This item used to be popular, but since most people only run one AD per team now it's dropped out. It's still pretty good if you have an autoattacking bruiser, but as a result of the price and the fact that it's very reliant on your heroes staying out of CCs, few people get it now.

Tiamat (2070g)
Description: 50 Attack Damage, 15 Health Regeneration, 5 Mana Regeneration. Passive: Your attacks splash, dealing physical damage around the target (50% for melee, 35% for ranged).

Compared to a BF sword's 45 damage, it's 420 more gold for health regen, mana regen, and a passive splash. This item actually isn't all that bad and is definitely nice in teamfights for mid-game. However, Infinity Edge and bloodthirster continue to be the items of choice for AD carries, so this item isn't seen very often. You'll still see Tiamat Twitches/Sivirs from time to time though.