Cho’Gath ARAM Build and Guide

Updated for patch 26.22. Ability details come from Riot’s official game data for this patch; ARAM balance numbers come from the League of Legends Wiki’s champion data.

A Cho’Gath ARAM build stacks Health on Health: Heartsteel and Warmog’s Armor alongside Feast’s own growth, then Unending Despair and Jak’Sho for long fights. On the Abyss he takes 110% damage. Get huge.

Why these four? Because of what their text does for his patch 26.22 abilities, and for no other reason (win rates never came into it).

Is Cho’Gath nerfed in ARAM?

Mildly, and only on defense. His damage dealt sits at 100%, and damage taken goes up to 110%. On a tank, that means every point of Health is worth slightly less than on the Rift, so you need more of it. Funny enough, Cho’Gath is one of the few champions who can simply grow out of that problem. Feast adds permanent max Health with each kill, and a mode with constant fights gives him far more chances to eat a champion than a top lane ever does.

What does Cho’Gath’s kit do on one lane?

Riot’s patch 26.22 data:

• Carnivore (passive): every unit he kills restores Health and Mana, scaling with level.
• Rupture (Q): a delayed eruption at a target spot that knocks enemies up, damages and slows. Cooldown 6.
• Feral Scream (W): magic damage in a cone plus a silence lasting a few seconds. Cooldown 11/10.5/10/9.5/9.
• Vorpal Spikes (E): spikes from his attacks damage and slow all enemies in front of him. Cooldown 8/7/6/5/4.
• Feast (R): devours one enemy unit for heavy true damage; a kill grows him and adds maximum Health. Cooldown 80/70/60.

Rupture loves a clump. On the Abyss the enemy team stands close together, so a single eruption often knocks up two or three champions, and Feral Scream’s cone silences the same group right after. That’s a lot of control for a tank who never had to buy a single crowd control item. Carnivore keeps him topped up off the minion waves between fights, which matters on a map with no recall (and few health relics to share). The limit? Feast hits one target. You’ll want to save it for a kill, not use it as damage.

Which items work best for him on the Abyss?

Health, more Health, and ways to turn it into damage. Four items and boots.

Heartsteel first. Stand next to an enemy champion for a few seconds and the next swing at them carries 70 damage plus 6% of Cho’Gath’s own max Health, and 10% of whatever lands sticks to him as extra max Health for good. Feast stacks raise his max Health, which raises Heartsteel’s hit, which raises his max Health again. Goliath also makes him bigger with each 1000 max Health.

Unending Despair second. Its pulse goes off on a 4 second rhythm while he’s brawling, and he drinks back 250% of the damage it does to champions around him. It also brings 400 Health and 50 Armor.

Warmog’s Armor third. The item is mostly a Health brick, and Warmog’s Vitality grows his bonus Health by 12% of his item Health. Past 2000 bonus Health, a 8 second break from taking damage starts a fast regeneration. Health relics are optional with this item (honestly, it’s the closest thing to a recall he gets).

Jak’Sho, The Protean last. Give a fight 5 seconds and his bonus resists swell by 30%, the answer to that damage taken line. Mercury’s Treads give Tenacity and Magic Resist, since ARAM teams will throw every slow and stun they have at the biggest target on the lane.

How should you play Cho’Gath on the Howling Abyss?

• Aim Rupture where they’ll stand. It erupts after a delay, so lead the target or hit a clump that can’t move.
• Follow Rupture with Feral Scream. The cone silences everyone it hits for a few seconds.
• Save Feast for a kill. Only a kill grows him; using it for damage wastes the stack.
• Eat minions between fights. Carnivore restores Health and Mana on every kill, and there’s no recall.
• Stand in front with Vorpal Spikes on. His attacks slow everything in front of him.

How do shopping and Mark work for Cho’Gath?

You can’t go back to base. Shopping happens at the fountain at the start and after each death, so buy toward Heartsteel first; Colossal Consumption’s permanent Health only starts once it’s complete. Carnivore and Warmog’s Heart cover most of his healing needs, so he can leave health relics to squishier teammates (sure, unless he’s the one at a quarter Health).

Summoner spells lock when the game loads, so choose carefully. Mark throws a snowball and lets you dash to the target, which on Cho’Gath means a way to reach a squishy and Feast them, something his kit can’t do alone. Is that worth more than Flash? In practice, most games, yes. Flash is still better if your team needs you to peel rather than engage.

Is Cho’Gath good in ARAM?

Yes. Damage dealt is unchanged, Rupture and Feral Scream land on whole groups, and constant fights give Feast more kills to grow from than any top lane. The 110% damage taken line is real but easy to outgrow. His weakness? Percent-based damage, which scales with exactly the Health he stacks.

Which top laners shred him is the subject of our Cho’Gath counters guide. Item stats sit in our full item list, the positions guide covers what a tank does, and his skins are on the Cho’Gath skins page.

To wrap up, the Cho’Gath ARAM build is Heartsteel, Unending Despair, Warmog’s Armor and Jak’Sho with Mercury’s Treads, and the plan is Rupture the clump, silence it, and save Feast for the kill that makes you bigger.

FAQ

Is Cho’Gath buffed in ARAM?

No. Patch 26.22 Wiki data keeps his damage dealt at 100% and sets damage taken to 110%, a small defensive nerf.

What is the best Cho’Gath ARAM build?

Our pick: Heartsteel into Unending Despair, then Warmog’s Armor and Jak’Sho, The Protean, on Mercury’s Treads.

Why does Heartsteel suit Cho’Gath?

Colossal Consumption’s damage scales with max Health and adds permanent max Health, and Feast stacks add max Health too, so the two feed each other.

Does Feast stack in ARAM?

Yes. Every kill with Feast makes him grow and gain maximum Health, and ARAM’s constant fights give him many chances.

How was this Cho’Gath build chosen?

From his patch 26.22 kit and item text: a tank whose ultimate adds max Health wants items that scale with max Health. No win-rate data was used.