User blog comment:Supp0rt4n00bz/Welcome to the League of Hydra!/@comment-1330314-20131219173311/@comment-1330314-20131220001541

Technically, if you happen to build this on or, who have the highest base AD in the game at 129.7, that brings the required AD down to 118.6, which is still at least one more item's worth of AD (if you get a fully stacked ). BT may not be always fully stacked, but it's faster to fully charge a Bloodthirster than it is to get an extra 100 more AD via item purchases.

If you want to debate on how a champion fights based on their role, bruisers in general (Olaf among them) have little burst capability, even with a Hydra, and specialize in damage over time (which is where the life steal also comes into play). If you're using this on an AD assassin, their AD scalings would allow them to deal more burst damage via a BT than with a Hydra. In either case, BT wins in a combat situation.

You're also misreading me. I completely agree that Ravenous Hydra is a better item and has an easier build path. My point is, though, that it doesn't beat a fully stacked Bloodthirster in a fight. There are better items out there if you want to build purely for combat ( for duels and against tanky enemies, for raw stats or  against armor, etc.), but Ravenous Hydra has the advantage of letting you clear waves better than anyone else without this item.