Sunfire Aegis

This is a tank item in League of Legends that burns everyone around you, and it does so without asking you to press a button: 350 Health, 50 Armor and 10 Ability Haste, plus a passive called Immolate. In patch 26.20 it costs 2,800 gold, which makes it one of the cheaper legendary defensive items.

What does Sunfire Aegis do in a fight?

Immolate turns on whenever you take or deal damage (any damage, from any source). For the next 3 seconds, nearby enemies take magic damage every second. In a long fight you are refreshing it constantly, so the burn keeps ticking while you soak hits.

How much does it burn for? The shop tooltip in your client shows the exact number for your stats, because Riot’s data files describe the effect without the scaling.

Short version: armor, health, burn.

Is it worth the gold?

87% on stats alone. Price each stat off basic components in the same patch and 350 Health is worth about 933 gold, 50 Armor 1,000 and 10 Ability Haste 500, so roughly 2,433 gold of stats for a 2,800 gold item.

Fair?

For what it’s worth, that doesn’t count Immolate, and if you’re a tank standing in the middle of a teamfight, the burn is doing real work.

What does the build path look like?

Bami’s Cinder (900 gold), Chain Vest (800 gold) and Ruby Crystal (400 gold), plus 700 gold to combine. Bami’s Cinder already has its own burn, so it is the usual first component when you want the area damage early (and it speeds up jungle clears a little).

Nothing builds out of it, so once it is finished the slot stays a tank slot for the rest of the game.

How has Sunfire Aegis changed over the patches?

It started life as Sunfire Cape, and Riot renamed it to Sunfire Aegis in patch 10.23, when its cost went from 2,750 to 3,200 gold. It has been tuned a lot since then:

• Patch 12.22: cost 3,200 → 2,800, Armor 35 → 50, Health 450 → 400; Magic Resist and Ability Haste removed.
• Patch 12.23: cost 2,800 → 2,700, Health 400 → 500.
• Patch 14.10: Health 500 → 350, and Ability Haste returned at 10.
• Patch 26.16: cost 2,700 → 2,800 gold.

Who should buy Sunfire Aegis?

Any tank or bruiser who’s going to be in people’s faces all fight, especially into a heavy-AD comp since the only resistance stat on it is Armor. It also helps clear waves and camps, because the burn hits everything around you.

Magic damage team? The catch is that it gives no Magic Resist. Real talk, if the enemy team is mostly AP, you’re wasting gold here, and the LoL items list can filter by Magic Resist to find what you actually need. Sunfire Aegis is a matchup buy, not something you autopilot every game, so use the stat filter on the items list to compare it with the other armor options before you lock in 2,800 gold on the wrong item.

FAQ

How much does it cost?

2,800 gold in patch 26.20, with a 700 gold combine cost. It sells back for 1,960 gold.

What does Immolate do?

After you take or deal damage, it deals magic damage per second to nearby enemies for 3 seconds.

Was it called Sunfire Cape?

Yes. Riot’s data shows the rename from Sunfire Cape in patch 10.23.

Does it give Magic Resist?

Not in the current version. It gives 350 Health, 50 Armor and 10 Ability Haste.

Which roles buy it?

Mostly top laners and junglers who play tanks. Our guide to LoL roles breaks down what each position does, and Trinity Force is the go-to alternative for fighters who want damage instead.