Talk:Vladimir/@comment-26420137-20150521100653/@comment-2242191-20150527100737

@Pouck: I'm not a particularly good Vlad player (or League player in general), but your build seems pretty standard for Vlad. If you're winning with it then I say go for it. However, Liandry's isn't an item I usually get. If you want magic pen then get a void staff instead, though I'll agree Liandry's synergizes with Vlad better than most mages due to his passive, if only by a small margin. I just don't think the burn is particularly worth it, even with Rylai's.

@KunaiAssassin: I disagree. He's strong right now, yes, but I think you're giving him a bit too much credit. He has a generally weak early game that can shut him out of the match if exploited. If you've played as Vlad versus any of his poor matchups like the ones Pouck mentioned I think you'd notice that his early game feels pretty vulnerable. Keep in mind that his pool isn't perfect, either. It doesn't break tethers (like with Fiddlesticks), remove roots or slows (like with Tryndamere), or stop damage over time abilities (like with Darius' passive). Not to mention it uses 20% of his current health. Ignite is the bane of his existence, too. Anyone using it effectively can kill or at least outtrade him.

"He has Flash" and "he can deal damage at range" are not suitable excuses not to gank him. If you just can't be asked to kill him yourself, then at least know that his one true weakness is ganking. Try communicating with your jungler; Vlad doesn't deal with multiple opponents very well at all in laning phase, even with revolver and full E stacks. If he's slowed, hard cc'd, or tower dived without his pool he's pretty much a goner. The only way he CAN avoid a good gank is to bust his flash and pool, get under his tower, and hope they don't dive. And even then his flash will be down for the next gank.

Yes, he's strong, but he has his vulnerabilities like any other champion.