Is Varus Good Early Game? A Comprehensive Guide

Varus, the Arrow of Retribution, is often considered a versatile champion, capable of dealing both physical and magical damage with a strong mix of poke and crowd control. However, the question of whether Varus is good in the early game is nuanced. The simple answer is: Varus is not among the strongest early game ADCs. While he possesses tools to contribute, he doesn’t dominate the laning phase in the same way as some other marksmen.

His primary strength in the early game lies in his ability to poke with Piercing Arrow (Q). This ability allows him to safely harass opponents from a distance, simultaneously clearing minion waves. While this poke can help wear down enemies, it’s typically not enough to outright win lane matchups. He lacks the sheer early-game burst damage of champions like Draven or Caitlyn. Varus relies more on consistent damage output and capitalizing on enemy mistakes, rather than a raw, early-game power spike.

Varus’s Strengths and Weaknesses in the Early Game

Strengths

• Long-Range Poke: Varus’s Piercing Arrow (Q) provides significant range, enabling him to harass enemy laners and last-hit minions safely.
• Wave Clear: His Q can be used to quickly clear minion waves, helping him push the lane or maintain lane control.
• Crowd Control: Though his ultimate, Chain of Corruption (R), has a longer cooldown, landing it in the early game can create opportunities for kills and coordinated ganks.
• Hybrid Damage: Varus deals a mix of physical and magical damage, making it difficult for opponents to itemize against him early on.

Weaknesses

• Lack of Mobility: Varus is an immobile ADC, making him vulnerable to ganks and all-in engages.
• No Escape: Without a dash or blink, he is easily punished for poor positioning.
• Reliance on Skillshots: His primary damage source, Piercing Arrow, is a skillshot that can be dodged, reducing his effectiveness if not landed consistently.
• Low Burst Damage: Compared to other ADCs, his early game damage output is more sustained than burst, making it harder for him to secure early kills in a direct confrontation.
• Ultimate Cooldown: Chain of Corruption’s early cooldown makes it less available for regular skirmishes.

Comparing Varus to Other Early Game ADCs

When placed alongside truly dominant early-game ADCs, the gap in early power becomes evident. For example:

• Draven: Draven’s high damage output and snowballing potential from his passive makes him extremely dangerous in the early game. He thrives on aggression.
• Caitlyn: Caitlyn’s long range and ability to harass with her headshots and traps allows her to control the lane and secure early leads.
• Lucian: With his high mobility and damaging abilities, Lucian can effectively trade and all-in, often dominating in the early game.

While Varus can hold his own in lane with consistent poking, he does not possess the same early pressure or killing power as these other marksmen. This puts him at a disadvantage if the enemy lane is proactive and aggressive. He’s better at farming safely, scaling, and making plays with his ultimate than trying to win in lane through raw power.

How to Play Varus in the Early Game

Given his strengths and weaknesses, a good Varus player will focus on:

• Safe Farming: Prioritize last-hitting and avoid unnecessary risks, focusing on safely scaling into the mid and late game.
• Poking: Use Piercing Arrow to harass enemy laners when safe to do so, but don’t overextend for a poke.
• Wave Management: Use your Q to manage minion waves, ensuring you don’t get pushed under your tower too much or overextend into a gank.
• Positioning: Stay mindful of your lack of mobility and avoid overextending or getting caught out of position.
• Opportunistic Engagements: Look for opportunities to use your ultimate for plays only when it is highly likely to succeed. Do not waste it in random attempts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Varus’s primary role?

Varus’s primary role is an ADC (Attack Damage Carry), typically played in the bot lane. He relies on auto-attacks and abilities to deal damage, often transitioning into a damage-dealing carry in the late game. He can also be played in the mid lane or even as a support.

2. Does Varus scale well into the late game?

Yes, Varus scales well into the late game, particularly when built for AP (Ability Power). His AP build allows him to shred tanks and deal incredible damage to multiple enemies with his abilities. Gathering Storm further enhances his scaling by providing additional AP every 10 minutes.

3. What are the best items for Varus?

The best items for Varus vary based on his build, but common items include:

• Kraken Slayer: Provides on-hit damage and is great for dealing with tanks.
• Berserker’s Greaves: Enhances attack speed for better auto-attack output.
• Guinsoo’s Rageblade: A core item for his on-hit builds, adding more damage with each attack.
• Blade of The Ruined King: Provides additional damage and sustain.
• Immortal Shieldbow: Offers survivability in team fights.

4. Can Varus be played in the mid lane?

Yes, Varus can be played in the mid lane, but he is considered a C-tier pick in this role. He can be effective with his poke, but his lack of mobility and vulnerability to ganks makes it a more challenging lane for him.

5. Who are the best supports to pair with Varus?

Good supports for Varus include:

• Lulu: Provides excellent protection, speed boosts, and additional damage.
• Thresh: Offers engage and crowd control, allowing Varus to follow up with his abilities.
• Zilean: Can boost his movement speed and has a stun combo with his ultimate.
• Ashe: Provides long range poke and crowd control.

6. Who counters Varus in the bot lane?

Based on match analysis, some of the best counters to Varus include:

• Twitch
• Nilah
• Jhin
• Ziggs
• Yasuo

7. Which ADCs does Varus counter?

Varus performs well against:

• Seraphine
• Aphelios
• Zeri
• Kai’Sa
• Samira

8. Is Varus a good champion for beginners?

While Varus is not incredibly complex, he is not the easiest ADC for beginners. His skillshot reliance and lack of mobility can make him challenging for new players, but he is still manageable and fun to play.

9. What kind of damage does Varus deal?

Varus deals a mix of physical damage with his auto-attacks and certain abilities, and magical damage with his W and enhanced auto attacks, making him a hybrid damage threat.

10. Is Varus a tank shredder?

Yes, when built with an AP focus, Varus can be an excellent tank shredder. The amount of damage he deals is proportional to the health of his targets. He is effective at taking down high health champions.

11. Is Varus’s ultimate, Chain of Corruption, effective?

Yes, Chain of Corruption is a very effective ultimate ability for initiating team fights or catching out of position enemies. It is a key component of his kit in team fights.

12. How should I play Varus in team fights?

In team fights, Varus should position himself safely, focusing on dealing damage from a distance and using his ultimate to lock down key targets. He is best used in a backline role, avoiding getting too close to the front-line.

13. What is Varus’s lore?

Varus is one of the ancient darkin, a deadly killer who enjoys tormenting his foes. He is a being of dark energy and immense power, now bound in a mortal form with two other souls.

14. Is Varus a popular pick in professional play?

Yes, Varus is often picked in professional play due to his flexibility, versatility, and his ability to be built with different itemization styles. His ultimate can be highly impactful in a coordinated team.

15. What is the best build for Varus in patch 13.22?

Based on recent analysis, a very common build for Varus is:

• Kraken Slayer
• Berserker’s Greaves
• Guinsoo’s Rageblade
• Blade of The Ruined King
• Immortal Shieldbow