Tanky AP Galio

[LazaHorse]

Galio is one of the best anti-mage champions in the game. You can play him either top against a melee bruiser who he can control in lane with his devastating AOE damage and slow or at mid where his high magic resistance and Bulwark (W ability) can mitigate a lot of AP carry damage. That being said... he CAN be played as a bot lane support, but I think that should be a last resort. He scales very well and as such you will want to get him farm in a solo lane either top or mid.

 

Runes:

Movement Speed or Flat AP Quints

Flat Magic Resist Blues

Flat Armor Yellows

Magic Penetration Reds

 

Masteries:

9-21-0, making sure to take the 10% magic pen in offense and the 6 Magic Resist in Defense.

 

Summoners:

Top Solo - Teleport and Flash

Mid Anti-Mage - Ignite and Flash

 

Ability Order:

R > Q > E = W

You can choose between E and W. If you are being harassed a lot in lane, you can max W before you max E (Righteous Gust) to heal back some of that harass. If not, you are finding yourself farming a lot more than anything, you can max E before W. By level 2 E, one Q and one E will clear the entire back row of minions. Send a gust through all the minions then Q the ranged minions to kill all three at once.

 

Start:

Either Null-Magic Mantle and 2x Potion OR Boots 1 and 3x Potion

 

Go Mantle if you're going mid against a strong nuking champion (Ryze/Leblanc/Brand/Kennen) and go Boots if you are going against an AD (Trynd/Riven/Shyvana etc) or an AP champ who is VERY dependent on skill shots (AP Ezreal, Anivia, Ahri).

 

Mid-Game:

Mercury's Treads

Catalyst the Protector

Chalice of Harmony

 

This provides you with PLENTY of sustain by means of mana regen and Bulwark health regeneration. The MR from Mercs + Chalice also gives you some decent AP while Catalyst will build later into BVeil for more AP (Thanks to his passive).

 

Core:

Abyssal Scepter

Banshee Veil

Randuin's Omen

 

This is the core of your build. It provides you with a LOT of MR and health as well as a GREAT item-activation on Randuin's Omen. Abyssal Scepter is pretty much Galio's item. It provides AP, MR, AP FROM that MR (passive), as well as an MR reduction for his ult + AOE spells. Bveil also fits his kit very well, providing all sorts of tankiness to go with his kit.

 

Choice x2 (Pick 2 from these depending on the enemy team damage):

Heavy AD - Frozen Heart (if no one else has it) and Zhonyas Hourglass

Heavy AP - Force of Nature and Rylai's Crystal Scepter

Balanced - Guardian Angel and Rabadon's Deathcap

 

Like most tanks/off-tanks, Galio's build depends on the opposing team. Your ult LITERALLY forces them to target you. As such, build defensive items in response to what they deal. With GA, Rabadon, and the previous 3 items discussed, you will have ~3200 HP, ~200 armor, ~220 MR, and ~400 AP. It's a great all-around build for Galio that will make sure he is a threat the entirety of the game.

 

Other items you can consider getting though they are mostly situational:

Aegis of the Legion (should be leaving to your support)

Shureliya's Reverie (same, this should be bought by your support)

Void Staff (only if you are THE ONLY AP on your team and NEED to deal more damage)

Sorcerer's Shoes (same as above)

 

Ideal End-Game Six Item Build:

Mercury's Treads

Abyssal Scepter

Banshee's Veil

Randuin's Omen

Guardian Angel

Rabadon's Deathcap

 

Good luck. Typical team fight: W yourself, Ult in the middle of at least 3 of them, Q and E them after your ult is done... proceed to go ham.

 

[racker16]

<3 ty sir

[8.1 Bit]

How well does this normally go against Viegar mid? Since hes a strong burster and Galio will have AP even if he builds MR

[LazaHorse]

I don't play Galio enough to know about specific matchups, but from what I can gather, he does well against most AP's except those with grievous wounds (AP Mf and Fizz primarily) and champions with a lot of Dots (because they force out the healing of his Bulwark on one ability instead of several) like Cassio and Malzahar. I think he should win against Veigar because you don't build as much AP on him as you do say Cassio or Annie, but instead build off of anti-mage tankiness.