Hwei ARAM Build and Guide

Updated for patch 26.21. 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 Hwei ARAM build is a long-range artillery build: Malignance for a stronger Spiraling Despair, Horizon Focus for hits from far away, then Shadowflame and Rabadon’s Deathcap. Riot trims only his damage dealt on the Howling Abyss, to 95%, and leaves the rest of his numbers alone.

Our item order is what his patch 26.21 kit asks for, read straight from the item text. Nobody’s win rates were checked.

What is Hwei’s ARAM nerf?

Honestly, one small cut. His damage dealt sits at 95%, and damage taken isn’t listed, so it stays at the default. Why only that? A ten-spell mage with long range gets a lot of free casts on a lane where nobody can leave, so Riot shaves a little off each one. You won’t notice it much in practice (one less signature detonation per fight, roughly speaking).

How does Hwei’s toolkit play on one lane?

Riot’s patch 26.21 data:

• Signature of the Visionary (passive): a second damaging spell on a primed champion leaves a signature that detonates for magic damage in an area.
• Subject: Disaster (Q): opens Devastating Fire, Severing Bolt and Molten Fissure, his damage spells. Cooldown 10/9/8/7/6.
• Subject: Serenity (W): opens Fleeting Current, Pool of Reflection and Stirring Lights, his utility spells. Cooldown 18/17.5/17/16.5/16.
• Subject: Torment (E): opens Grim Visage, Gaze of the Abyss and Crushing Maw, his crowd control spells. Cooldown 12/11.5/11/10.5/10.
• Spiraling Despair (R): a painting centered on the first enemy champion hit that grows, slowing and damaging nearby enemies, then explodes. Cooldown 120/100/80.

Spiraling Despair is built for crowds. It centers on one champion and spreads to everyone around them, and on the Abyss everyone stands around everyone. The signature passive works the same way: it detonates in an area, so a second spell on a primed target splashes onto anybody nearby. With nine spells to choose from, Hwei can poke, control and peel in the same fight. The weak spot? No dash at all. A diver who reaches him finds a mage picking through menus while getting hit.

Which items should Hwei build on the Abyss?

Ultimate value, range rewards, execute damage and raw Ability Power. Four items and boots.

Malignance first. Scorn adds 20 Ultimate Ability Haste so Spiraling Despair comes back sooner, and Hatefog burns the ground under any champion hit by the ultimate for 3 seconds while lowering their Magic Resist. The painting already sits on a group; Hatefog sets the floor under them on fire. Stats-wise, that’s 90 Ability Power and a big Mana pool.

Horizon Focus second. Ability damage from 600 range or more reveals the champion hit for 6 seconds, and Focus briefly lights up the other enemies standing near them. Hwei hits from long range constantly, so his team rarely loses track of anyone. Plus 75 Ability Power and 25 Ability Haste.

Shadowflame third. Below 40% Health, enemies take Critical Strikes from his magic damage for 20% more, which turns a signature detonation into a finisher. It also adds 15 Magic Penetration.

Rabadon’s Deathcap last. Magical Opus raises his total Ability Power by 30%, a big multiplier once three AP items are in place. Sorcerer’s Shoes add 12 flat Magic Penetration (yes, still the right boots).

How should Hwei play ARAM team fights?

• Prime, then detonate. A second damaging spell on a primed champion leaves the signature that blows up in an area.
• Center Spiraling Despair on the frontline. The painting slows and damages everyone near its target.
• Keep Subject: Torment for divers. His crowd control spells are his only real peel.
• Use Subject: Serenity for repositioning. Fleeting Current is the nearest thing he has to an escape.
• Fight from 600 range or more. Horizon Focus reveals targets hit from that distance.

How do the fountain and Mark work for Hwei?

He can’t recall. Every buy is made at the fountain, at the start and after a death, so plan the first trips around Malignance; Scorn only adds ultimate haste once the item is whole. Health relics are worth a short walk for a mage with no dash (funny enough, Pool of Reflection and the utility spells don’t replace them).

Summoner spells stay locked once the game loads. A Mark snowball gives a dash to whoever it hits, which takes a long-range mage straight into the enemy team. Look, Flash fixes the problem he actually has. Is Mark ever right? Rarely, on Hwei. Ghost-like speed isn’t in his kit either, so Flash stays.

Is Hwei good in ARAM?

Yes. The 95% damage dealt cut is small, while a narrow lane makes Spiraling Despair and the signature passive hit groups instead of single targets. His weak point is the same as in mid lane. Assassins who reach him before he picks a spell.

The assassins who do it best are covered in our Hwei counters guide. Our League item list has full stats, the role guide explains artillery mages, and his skins are on the Hwei skins page.

Long story short, the Hwei ARAM build is Malignance, Horizon Focus, Shadowflame and Rabadon’s Deathcap with Sorcerer’s Shoes: paint the group from range, detonate signatures, and save Torment for whoever dives.

FAQ

Is Hwei nerfed in ARAM?

Slightly: 95% damage dealt is the one line Riot changed for him (Wiki, patch 26.21).

What is the best Hwei ARAM build?

Our order: Malignance, Horizon Focus, Shadowflame, Rabadon’s Deathcap. Sorcerer’s Shoes for boots.

Why build Horizon Focus on Hwei?

Its passive reveals any champion his abilities hit from 600 range or farther, and then shows the enemies around that champion too.

How does Spiraling Despair work?

It centers on the first enemy champion hit, grows while slowing and damaging nearby enemies, and explodes at full size or when that champion dies.

How was this Hwei build chosen?

From his patch 26.21 kit and item text: a long-range mage with an area ultimate wants ultimate haste, range rewards and Ability Power. No win-rate data was used.