Faerie Charm

Faerie Charm is the cheapest Mana Regen item in League of Legends: 200 gold for 50% Base Mana Regen in patch 26.21, with no passive and no other stats. It is a basic component rather than something you keep, and it builds into Forbidden Idol and Bandleglass Mirror, the two pieces at the bottom of almost every enchanter support item.

What does Faerie Charm actually do?

One thing. It raises your champion’s base Mana Regen by 50%, so a champion who normally regains 8 Mana every five seconds regains 12 instead, give or take the level scaling.

Note the word base. The bonus is a percentage of what your champion already regenerates, not a flat amount, which means it is worth more on champions with high natural regen (Soraka, Janna, Sona) and less on a mage whose base regen is low to begin with. Is that enough to matter in lane? On a support who casts a shield every few seconds, yes, honestly more than the price suggests. On a mid laner it is a rounding error, which is why mids reach for a Lost Chapter instead.

Is it worth the gold?

Exactly, and that is by design. Faerie Charm is the item our efficiency numbers use to price Base Mana Regen in the first place, so it comes out at 100%: 50% regen at 4 gold per point, 200 gold of value for a 200 gold item.

In practice nobody buys it for the stat. You buy it because you have 200 gold left over on a recall and want to turn it into progress toward a Forbidden Idol rather than walking back with spare change. The sell value is 140 gold, so even a Charm you never upgrade loses little (people forget that part and sit on them for twenty minutes).

What does Faerie Charm build into?

Two components, and through them most of the support shop. Forbidden Idol (600 gold) adds Heal and Shield Power and leads to Redemption, Mikael’s Blessing, Ardent Censer, Staff of Flowing Water and Dawncore. Bandleglass Mirror (900 gold) adds Ability Power and Ability Haste and leads to Shurelya’s Battlesong, Echoes of Helia, Imperial Mandate and Moonstone Renewer.

So the real question is which finished item you want. Healer or shielder going for Redemption or Moonstone? Either path works, and the Charm is the first 200 gold of both. The LoL items database lists every item in those two trees with their current prices.

Who buys it?

Enchanter supports, almost exclusively. Thing is, the item is so cheap that it also shows up as a filler buy on mana-hungry junglers and the occasional Ryze who wants to finish a recall with something useful, but those are edge cases. Marksmen, tanks and assassins have no reason to touch it.

How has it changed over the patches?

Three price moves in over a decade. Riot’s data has it from 2013 or earlier at 180 gold, cut to 125 gold in patch 5.22, then doubled to 250 gold with double the regen in patch 10.23, and finally trimmed to 200 gold in patch 14.19. The regen went from 25% to 50% in that 10.23 change and has not moved since. For what it’s worth, that makes it one of the most stable items in the game.

Should you start the game with it?

No. Supports start with World Atlas and potions, and the Charm comes on the first recall if the gold is short of a full Forbidden Idol. Starting with a 200 gold Faerie Charm would mean giving up the support item’s gold income, which is a terrible trade, and if you are new to the position our guide to LoL roles explains what a support’s first few buys usually look like.

FAQ

How much does Faerie Charm cost?

200 gold in patch 26.21. It sells back for 140 gold.

What stat does it give?

50% Base Mana Regen. That is a percentage increase to your champion’s own regen, not a flat number.

Does it have a passive?

No. It is a plain stat item.

What does it build into?

Forbidden Idol and Bandleglass Mirror, which in turn build into most enchanter support items.

Is it gold efficient?

Yes, 100% exactly, because it is the reference item for pricing Base Mana Regen.