League of Legends: Top 10 Best Legendary Items

With the dawn of Season 14, League of Legends has embraced a familiar setup, phasing out Mythic Items after three seasons of heated debates about their restrictive impact on build diversity. Introduced in Season 11, these items stirred continuous controversy, prompting Riot to revert to the traditional item categorization system this season.

The game now classifies items into two primary groups: Components (Basic or Epic) and Legendary Items—the pinnacle of in-game gear. In this guide, we’ll dive into the top 10 Legendary items that are crucial for optimizing your gameplay in the current season. Whether you’re looking to dominate the battlefield or enhance your strategic depth, understanding which Legendary items to leverage can significantly influence your performance.

#10: Blade of the Ruined King

A quintessential item across various roles, the Blade of the Ruined King has been a fundamental choice for on-hit AD Carries such as Kog’maw ever since its introduction. It’s also favored by bruisers like Irelia and Bel’veth, and even assassins such as Master Yi. Priced at 3200 gold, the Blade is a significant investment, yet indispensable for champions who rely on its powerful attributes. This item enhances a champion’s arsenal with 40 attack damage, 25% attack speed, and 8% life steal, alongside two unique passives that dramatically augment combat capabilities.

The first passive, Mist’s Edge, inflicts percentage HP damage with each hit, making it particularly effective against tankier foes. The second passive, Clawing Shadows, applies a slow on the first auto-attack every 15 seconds, significantly aiding in target pursuit and engagement. Given its comprehensive benefits, it’s no surprise that many champions consider Blade of the Ruined King a priority purchase, often as their first major item to secure an early advantage on the battlefield.

#9: Kaernic Rookern

Introduced at the beginning of Season 14, Kaernic Rookern quickly became one of the most hotly debated items in League of Legends due to its seemingly overtuned capabilities. This item has become particularly formidable against Ability Power champions, disrupting the meta with its robust features.

Kaernic Rookern not only offers impressive stats but also grants a unique shield reminiscent of Galio’s passive. This shield activates with each new wave, providing an exceptional defense against magic damage. This characteristic makes the item especially powerful in lane, where Mages and AP Assassins typically rely on their ability to poke and wear down opponents. With Kaernic Rookern, such strategies can be effectively neutralized, making it a game-changing asset for those equipped with it.

#8: Infinity Edge

Infinity Edge stands as a legendary item in League of Legends, historically essential for nearly every ADC aiming to maximize critical strikes. Though its universal necessity has waned slightly, it remains a core item for critical strike-focused ADCs and is not to be overlooked in builds that eschew lethality for pure damage.

Champions like Yasuo and Yone frequently include Infinity Edge in their builds, and it’s considered indispensable for others such as Tryndamere in the top lane. This item provides a significant boost with 65 attack damage, 20% critical chance, and a crucial 40% increase in critical strike damage. For players prioritizing a high crit-chance build and seeking the utmost damage output, particularly when items like Navori Quickblades aren’t viable, Infinity Edge offers the most substantial enhancement to their striking power.

#7: Zhonya’s Hourglass

Zhonya’s Hourglass has been a staple defensive item in League of Legends since its inception in Season 1. Renowned for its unparalleled defensive capabilities, it is arguably the most crucial item for any ability power champion. The real allure of Zhonya’s lies in its active stasis effect, which often makes it a must-buy even in matchups where the armor stat isn’t a necessity.

Although the introduction of the Stopwatch once dimmed its appeal, overshadowing the Hourglass in both solo queue and professional play, the removal of Stopwatch in Season 14 has restored Zhonya’s Hourglass to its former glory. With a robust 120 Ability Power, 50 armor, and arguably the most game-changing active ability in League, Zhonya’s Hourglass justifies its 3250 gold price tag, continuing to be an indispensable asset in a mage’s arsenal.

#6: Frozen Heart

Frozen Heart holds the status of being one of League of Legends’ original items, having been part of the game since its beta phase. After a period of diminished popularity, Frozen Heart has made a strong resurgence and is now a staple in many builds, proving its enduring relevance in the meta. Its unique appeal lies in its ability to reduce the attack speed of nearby enemy champions—an effect unmatched by any other item in the game.

Offering a comprehensive suite of benefits including substantial armor, mana, ability haste, and a passive that reduces damage from auto attacks, Frozen Heart is incredibly cost-effective at just 2400 gold. Recognized as one of the best value items on Summoner’s Rift, its presence is almost guaranteed in many matches, making it a pivotal component for strategic gameplay.

#5: Trinity Force

Trinity Force, often hailed as the most iconic item in League of Legends, has been a foundational element since the game’s inception. It has seen numerous revisions, experiencing fluctuations in popularity and utility, particularly during a challenging phase that saw its use wane. However, with the removal of Mythic Items in Season 14, Trinity Force has reclaimed its prominent status in the meta.

Favored by most bruisers and even selected by some ADCs as a preferable alternative to Essence Reaver, Trinity Force is a frequent sight in games, offering a comprehensive mix of stats. It provides Attack Damage, Ability Haste, Attack Speed, and Health, along with the critical Sheen proc that enhances on-hit effects and movement speed. Trinity Force remains a versatile and powerful choice that significantly impacts gameplay, making it a staple in many champion builds.

#4: Edge of Night

With the removal of Stopwatch from its components, Edge of Night has stepped into the limelight as a prime defensive option for assassins and ADCs. Functioning as the AD counterpart to Banshee’s Veil, this item offers crucial survivability in the fast-paced environments of high-stakes matches.

Priced at 2800 gold, Edge of Night is relatively affordable, particularly in line with the typical pricing strategy for assassin gear. It provides a robust 50 attack damage, 15 lethality, 250 health, and a spell shield that refreshes every 40 seconds. This combination makes it an essential pick for champions relying on lethality builds and ADCs seeking additional protection without compromising their offensive capabilities. Given its utility and cost-effectiveness, it’s no surprise that Edge of Night is commonly seen across various game scenarios, solidifying its status as a go-to defensive choice.

#3: Locket of the Iron Solari

Support players, rejoice! While tanky supports have long been favored for their robustness, Season 14’s item rework has only amplified their dominance, thanks in part to cost-effective defensive items like Frozen Heart. Amid this landscape, Locket of the Iron Solari stands out as the quintessential item for tanky supports.

Locket of the Iron Solari is fortified with Armor and Magic Resist, enhancing survivability, along with additional Health and Ability Haste. Its standout feature is the “Devotion” active ability, which projects an Area of Effect shield for all allies within 850 units, absorbing between 200 and 350 damage. Though it has a cooldown of 90 seconds, deploying this shield strategically even once during a fight can dramatically shift the battle’s outcome. Locket of the Iron Solari remains a cornerstone for any support looking to bolster their team’s defenses and turn the tides in critical moments of the game.

#2: Hydra Items

Grouping all four Tiamat-based Hydra items into one category might seem unconventional, but it highlights their collective importance and shared foundational component. While each Hydra variant—Ravenous, Titanic, Sanguine, and Steel—offers tailored stats to suit different champions, their core purpose revolves around enhancing wave-clear abilities.

These items not only provide essential stats and powerful active effects but also a significant boost in wave-clear, a trait highly valued across various roles. Whether it’s an assassin looking to increase burst potential or a bruiser aiming to sustain in lane, Hydra items are a common sight in nearly every game. They grant junglers faster camp clear times and give laners the ability to efficiently manage minion waves, a unique advantage that is hard to replicate with any other item set. This makes the Hydra family a cornerstone in the builds of many champions, solidifying their place as a top choice in the League of Legends arsenal.

#1: Stormsurge

Stormsurge has emerged as Season 14’s most controversial yet thrilling addition to the League of Legends item arsenal. While Malignance had its moment, its impact was limited by the narrow range of champions that could effectively utilize it. Stormsurge, however, has proven to be a game-changer for a broad spectrum of ability power champions, especially those who deliver bursty damage.

Offering a potent mix of ability power, magic penetration, and movement speed, Stormsurge’s true power lies in its two unique passives: Stormraider and Squall. Stormraider boosts your movement speed by 25% upon dealing damage equivalent to 35% of a target’s maximum health, triggering the second passive, Squall. Squall is at the heart of the item’s controversy, reminiscent of the now-defunct Deathfire Grasp, delivering a significant burst of magic damage directly to the target. If the target perishes before Squall’s damage is applied, the burst transitions into an area-of-effect around the fallen enemy’s location. This mechanic grants AP assassins an unprecedented damage potential, making Stormsurge a formidable—and feared—tool against any squishy adversary on Summoner’s Rift.

Conclusion

 The landscape of League of Legends is dynamically shaped by its legendary items, each playing a pivotal role in defining the strategies and outcomes of countless matches. From the quintessential Blade of the Ruined King to the controversial yet powerful Stormsurge, this season’s top legendary items offer a diverse array of tactical advantages that cater to different playing styles and champion requirements. Whether you’re a tank, assassin, ADC, or support, understanding and utilizing these top-tier items can significantly enhance your gameplay, giving you the edge needed to dominate the battlefield. As the meta evolves, so does the importance of these items, making it crucial for players to stay informed and adaptable. Harnessing the power of these legendary items will not only elevate your individual performance but also increase your contribution to your team’s overall success in the competitive world of League of Legends.