Taric Top Build Guide | Weird Pick #137 | Runes Items Build Guide

Guide to Playing Taric Top

First shown in Weird Picks #70, Taric Top's since been through a number of changes through the years and we're bringing you a revamped version featuring a champion that's still fabulously obnoxious against melee but still calm and composed against ranged.

Guide to Playing Taric Top

First shown in Weird Picks #70, Taric Top's since been through a number of changes through the years and we're bringing you a revamped version featuring a champion that's still fabulously obnoxious against melee but still calm and composed against ranged.

Check out the details on runes and builds below!

How to Play Taric Top

Abilities: E, Q, W then prioritize R > E > Q > W

Summoner Spells: 

Starting Items: Doran Shield + Health Potions

Strategy: Fight in melee range and trade with Q and passive as much as possible, stun them to initiate and get free hits.

Core Items: Iceborn Gauntlet, Bramble Vest (upgrade later), Manamune (Build Tear early), Ninja Tabi, Knight's Vow, Abyssal Mask

Taric Top Runes Setup

Primary: Grasp of the Undying, Shield Bash, Bone Plating, Revitalize

Secondary: Triumph, Legend:Tenacity

How It Works

High Level Sustain and Damage Mitigation

By utilizing his heals and shields, Taric ends up with the ability to out-trade most melee top laners early on if they pick a fight with him, especially if he manages to weave in his two passive autos in between each spell.

Offensive Scaling Via Defensive Items

Taric's abilities all scale with either armor or health, meaning that he can simply build one offensive item, and spam defensive items the rest of the game. Unlike other champions, he actually increases his offensive output simultaneously, resulting in a very strong late game.

Strong Peel Power

Outside of his powerful AOE invulnerability granted by his ultimate, Taric also provides 20% of his bonus armor to an ally of his choice. If he's allowed to farm up top lane rather than support, this scaling is increased tremendously and allows for much better peel potential. If you want, you can also swap an item for Knight's Vow if your marksman is still having trouble staying alive.

Good Gank Support

When enemy laners gank, Taric's stun range is greatly increased, allowing him to tether junglers and give them strong support for ganking. He also buffs them up defensively, avoiding potential tragedies top lane.

Potential Pitfalls

Low "Stickiness"

Taric can get a lot of damage off during his stun duration, but otherwise once enemies realize how difficult it is to trade with him, many will opt out of fighting him and simply farm and outscale. This makes it difficult for Taric to gain an early advantage.

Weak Scaling

Taric's late game is great, but mostly because of the utility he provides. He doesn't scale particuarly well with damage since he needs to get up close and personal to deal it. Most of the time, you'll find that he's an ult and stun bot instead. As a result, we make up for this weakness by building Knight's Vow.

Countering Taric Top

Ranged champions like Lissandra or Teemo with good movespeed and split push will counter Taric hard.

Conclusions

Taric Top is a very niche pick that's fascinating when it works and hilarious when he gets to fight someone who simply can't accept the amount of damage they're taking as truth. On the other hand, it's not something you'd want to casually pick every game (not that the enemy team will even imagine you're going top).

Suggested Tier: Tier 3

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