Lee Sin 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 Lee Sin ARAM build is a skirmisher path: Attack Damage and Ability Haste with items that shield, because Riot boosts nearly everything he does on the Howling Abyss. He gets 105% damage dealt, 95% damage taken, 110% healing, 120% shielding and 120% Energy regeneration.

Items were chosen against his patch 26.21 ability text, one effect at a time. No win-rate numbers went in.

How is Lee Sin changed in ARAM?

Five buffs. To be fair, that’s a lot, even by ARAM standards. He hits for 105%, takes 95%, heals at 110%, shields at 120% and regenerates Energy at 120%. Each one lines up with something in his kit: Safeguard shields, Iron Will gives Omnivamp (healing), and his abilities run on Energy. Why so generous? Lee is a jungler whose strength on the Rift comes from ganks and early fights, and a single-lane random mode takes most of that away, so Riot props him up on every axis (our reading, not an official explanation).

Why does Lee Sin work on the Howling Abyss?

Because Dragon’s Rage gets better the more enemies stand together. His kit, per Riot’s patch 26.21 data:

• Flurry (passive): his next 2 basic attacks after an ability gain Attack Speed and return Energy.
• Sonic Wave / Resonating Strike (Q): a wave that hits the first enemy, then a dash to that enemy within 3 seconds for damage based on missing Health. Cooldown 10/9/8/7/6.
• Safeguard / Iron Will (W): a rush to an ally that shields Lee and, if it’s a champion, the ally too; Iron Will then grants Omnivamp. Cooldown 7.
• Tempest / Cripple (E): a shockwave that deals magic damage and reveals enemies hit, then a slow on those enemies. Cooldown 8.
• Dragon’s Rage (R): a kick that launches the target back, damaging and knocking up any enemy they collide with. Cooldown 110/85/60.

In a narrow lane, the champion you kick usually flies into someone. Dragon’s Rage damages and knocks up every enemy the target collides with, so a kick aimed down the lane can hit two or three champions. Safeguard benefits too. It shields Lee and the ally champion he rushes to, and at 120% shielding that’s a stronger save than on Summoner’s Rift. Energy at 120% regeneration means he can chain abilities longer before running dry. The weak part is Sonic Wave, honestly, since a skillshot that has to hit the first enemy often hits a minion or a tank instead of the carry.

What should a Lee Sin ARAM build focus on?

Attack Damage with Ability Haste, then items with shields that benefit from his 120% shielding. Four items and boots.

Eclipse first. Land two separate hits on a champion inside 2 seconds and Ever Rising Moon throws a short Shield on him, and the item brings 60 Attack Damage with 15 Ability Haste besides. Q into Resonating Strike does that on its own (two hits, one combo). The shield is bigger here, since shielding is at 120%.

Black Cleaver second. Sonic Wave, Resonating Strike and Dragon’s Rage deal physical damage, so Carve shreds Armor quickly, and the 400 Health and 20 Ability Haste make him harder to burst. Fervor adds Move Speed after physical damage, useful for chasing a target he’s just kicked.

Sterak’s Gage takes the third slot. Lifeline adds a decaying Shield for 4.5 seconds when damage would bring him below 30% Health, again boosted by his shielding modifier, and 20% Tenacity helps him stay in the fight long enough to land the kick. The Claws that Catch adds bonus Attack Damage.

Spear of Shojin finishes the core: 45 Attack Damage, 450 Health and 25 Basic Ability Haste from Dragonforce, which shortens Sonic Wave, Safeguard and Tempest. Focused Will raises his ability damage by 3% per hit for 6 seconds, stacking 4 times. For boots, look at the enemy comp (Steelcaps into attackers, Mercury’s into mages and stuns).

How do you play Lee Sin on the Howling Abyss?

• Kick toward the enemy team, not away. Dragon’s Rage knocks up every enemy the target collides with, so aim it into the group.
• Throw Sonic Wave when the path is clear. It hits the first enemy, and in ARAM there’s usually a minion or tank in front.
• Use Safeguard to save allies. It shields both Lee and the ally champion, and at 120% shielding that shield is larger than usual.
• Cast Iron Will in long fights. Omnivamp heals him from his damage, and healing sits at 110%.
• Weave attacks after every ability. Flurry’s two quick attacks return Energy, which keeps the combo going.

How do shopping and Mark work for Lee Sin?

There’s no recall here. Your only chances to buy are the start and each respawn, so put the first trip toward Eclipse components, because Ever Rising Moon works the moment the item is finished. The Health relics on the lane are worth taking between fights, even with Iron Will’s healing.

Thing is, summoners stay locked all game. On a hit, the snowball (Mark) gives a dash onto the champion it landed on. On Lee, that’s a third gap closer next to Resonating Strike and Safeguard. Is it better than Flash for kick setups? Real talk, sometimes. Flash lets him reposition behind a target before the kick, which Mark can’t do, so Flash plus Mark covers both jobs.

Is Lee Sin good in ARAM?

Yes. Five buffs, 105% damage dealt, 95% damage taken, 110% healing, 120% shielding and 120% Energy regeneration, make him much sturdier than on the Rift, and Dragon’s Rage is excellent in a narrow lane. Long story short, the hard part is still landing Sonic Wave.

For the junglers who trouble him on the Rift, open the Lee Sin counters guide. Our guide to LoL roles covers what junglers do, the LoL items database has each item above, and the Lee Sin skins page shows his cosmetics.

Put simply, the Lee Sin ARAM build is Eclipse, Black Cleaver, Sterak’s Gage and Spear of Shojin, and the plan is one good kick into the enemy team per fight.

FAQ

Is Lee Sin buffed in ARAM?

Yes, on five counts: damage dealt 105%, damage taken 95%, healing 110%, shielding 120%, Energy regeneration 120% (Wiki data, patch 26.21).

What items does the Lee Sin ARAM build use?

Eclipse, Black Cleaver, Sterak’s Gage and Spear of Shojin, with Plated Steelcaps or Mercury’s Treads.

Why build Eclipse on Lee Sin?

Ever Rising Moon grants a shield after two separate attacks or abilities hit a champion within 2 seconds, and Lee Sin’s shielding is boosted in ARAM.

How does Dragon’s Rage work in ARAM?

The same as on Summoner’s Rift: it launches the target back, damaging and knocking up any enemies they collide with. A narrow lane gives the kicked champion more people to hit.

How was this build chosen?

We looked at which of his patch 26.21 abilities shield, heal or deal physical damage, then picked items that build on those. No win-rate data was used.