Thornmail Master Yi Build

Thornmail Master Yi Build.

Thornmail Master Yi build with runes and items. Thornmail Master Yi guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Thornmail Master Yi build in League of Legends Patch 14.24!

Updated: 2024-08-17 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Bramble Vest should be final item in your build.
Ruby Crystal should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Master Yi ability Meditate should be leveled first.
W
Master Yi ability Alpha Strike should be leveled second.
Q
Master Yi ability Wuju Style should be leveled third.
E
Final items
Thornmail should be final item in your build.
Abyssal Mask should be final item in your build.
Randuin's Omen should be final item in your build.
Sunfire Aegis should be final item in your build.
Jak'Sho, The Protean should be final item in your build.
Catalyst of Aeons should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Grasp of the Undying from Resolve tree.
Minor rune Precision.
Summoner spells
Pick Mark as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

Thornmail Master Yi Runes

Resolve
Resolve major tree Grasp of the Undying rune.
Resolve major tree Aftershock rune.
Resolve major tree Guardian rune.
Resolve major tree Demolish rune.
Resolve major tree Font of Life rune.
Resolve major tree Shield Bash rune.
Resolve major tree Conditioning rune.
Resolve major tree Second Wind rune.
Resolve major tree Bone Plating rune.
Resolve major tree Overgrowth rune.
Resolve major tree Revitalize rune.
Resolve major tree Unflinching rune.
Precision
Precision minor tree Absorb Life rune.
Precision minor tree Triumph rune.
Precision minor tree Presence of Mind rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Alacrity rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Haste rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Bloodline rune.
Precision minor tree Coup de Grace rune.
Precision minor tree Cut Down rune.
Precision minor tree Last Stand rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How it works

General
  1. You rush Thornmail.
  2. You go full Armor.
  3. Hit or miss. Works only if an enemy team is full of physical damage dealers (preferably auto-attackers).
  4. If an enemy team is full of mages/AP damage, play regular tank build instead.

How to play

General
  1. How is this Thornmail build for Master Yi different to regular tank builds? Item order, Armor stacking and countering enemy physical damage dealers!
  2. This build is aimed to counter AD comps. Since you don't know the enemy team, you need to adapt in game. It is hit or miss. If they are heavy AP - just play regular tank.
  3. Late game, you can consider selling boots for 6th item - for even more sweet Thornmail damage!
  4. Remember to consume your Grasp of the Undying procs!
Master Yi Thornmail specific
  1. This build is about W (Meditate). You go in, they focus you, you use W and soak tons of damage and you do tons of damage while doing that.
  2. If an enemy team has tons of interrupts, just play a normal Master Yi tank version, because you are gonna get frustrated a lot.
  3. There are two mandatory items for this build. Catalyst of Aeons lets you constantly use W in fights (it drains % max mana per second) and Thornmail, which lets you damage your enemies while they try to kill you.
  4. You don't need boots for this build, however, if you want to boost your damage, get Sorcerer's Shoes. It will buff your Thornmail damage, Sunfire Aegis damage and Jak'Sho, The Protean damage.
  5. You can sell Catalyst of Aeons late game.

Tips and Tricks

Riot
  1. If you're in a lane against ranged players, leveling up Meditate can allow you to stay in the lane longer and gain levels faster than they will.
  2. Wuju Style is very strong early for last hitting minions.
  3. Try using Alpha Strike on a minion in front of an enemy champion so you are placed at a safe distance at the end of the spell.

Skill Order

  • Master Yi [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Alpha Strike
  • Master Yi [object Object] ability.
    W
    Meditate
  • Master Yi [object Object] ability.
    E
    Wuju Style
  • Master Yi [object Object] ability.
    R
    Highlander

Items

Starting items
Bramble Vest item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Rush this
Thornmail item.
Good tank items
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Warmog's Armor item.
Good MR items
Kaenic Rookern item.
Force of Nature item.
Abyssal Mask item.
Spirit Visage item.
Hollow Radiance item.
Good Armor items
Randuin's Omen item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Sunfire Aegis item.
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Thornmail item.
Unending Despair item.
Frozen Heart item.
Situational items
Titanic Hydra item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Elixir of Iron item.
Elixir of Wrath item.
Example final build
Thornmail item.
Abyssal Mask item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Sunfire Aegis item.
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Catalyst of Aeons item.