Talk:Vladimir/Strategy/@comment-76.79.87.143-20120222000505/@comment-62.163.167.91-20120222113507

I pretty much use the same build as you do and it works great for me as well. I personally like taking flash and ignite though, flash is my backup escape if I pool too early (or I'm forced to pool early). Also using your pool to get to a wall and then flashing over it as you come out of your pool is one of the best escapes I know, with just the pool you won't escape out of some 1v1 situations while flash might just be what you need then.

I find the key to vlad though is using his ToB properly, making sure you got 4 stacks the moment you enter a team fight in order to maximize your dmg output. Also timing your pool is the key to your survival in many cases. It's kinda like trynda's ult, use it too early and it's wasted, use it too late and you're dead.

btw, there are many more mages that can counter vlad very well, it's just a matter of how skilled they are. Veigar with DFG for example can hurt a lot, especially late game he will nuke you down in 1 rotation.