Predecessor Builds > Gadget > How To Build Mages (Gadget v0.19)

This guide is here to organize and explain mage builds and items. Gadget is my go-to midlaner right now, so she will serve as template for the guide, however the item description and build theory can be applied to other mages too. You'll find short explanations for the items below, as well as basic character guides for some other mids I play as sometimes.

The default build for Gadget (and many other mages) is [Megacosm -> Tainted Scepter -> Caustica -> Oblivion Crown -> Timewarp/Wraith Leggings]

[ Crest ]
1. Epoch (stasis)
- Best crest for Gadget and Iggy (Stasis in ultimate or under turrets for big damage)
- Can keep you alive while waiting for cooldowns
- If they dive you, throw down all your abilities (especially ult) then stasis. This can keep you alive while your ult shreds your attacker
2. Soulbearer (shield)
- Best Crest for Gideon, Morigesh, Fey, Argus
- Gideon: Soul shield stacks with Truesilver bracelet shield (Ult -> Truesilver procs -> use Soul, this gives CC immune and double shields to survive ult)
- Morigesh: Soul synergizes with her E, adds lifesteal and the extra move speed helps run through enemies
- Fey: Doesn't benefit from Epoch so Soul gives more utility for escape (Soul to run over your Q which slows)
- Argus: Soul gives better mana sustain, which helps little hungry boy sustain
3. Obelisk (Basic Attack Scale)
- Scaling the power of this over the match helps poke fighters (Countess, Howitzer, Belica, Shinbi)

[ Must Build Items ]
1. Megacosm (Anti-Tank)
- Power, Mana, Ability Haste
- Damage based on % health and provides damage over time
- Expensive so usually built 1st to help mages come online
2. Caustica (Magic Pen)
- Built 3rd usually
- Only % Pen item for mages, improves mana regen
- Counters enemy magic armor (Support and Offlane counter)
3. Oblivion Crown (Nuke Button)
- Pure magic power scaling for late game
- Usually 4th item

[ Good Items ]
1. Tainted Sceptor (Anti-Heal)
- Build 2nd to help come online
- Very good dmg & cooldown implications
- Malice procs help poke before fights
2. Timewarp (Cooldown)
- Preferred last item
- More mana regen, lower cooldowns, more abilities off during team fights
- For Fey build this 3rd and push Caustica 4th, or 2nd and build Tainted after Caustica if Pen needed early badly
- Can build this 2nd on Argus and take Tainted last
3. Wraith Leggings (Movespeed)
- Optional over timewarp if you don't feel like cooldown needed
- Improved ability damage from passive helps hit harder
- Extra movement speed helps positioning and mobility
- Build this 2nd instead of Tainted Sceptor on Morigesh
4. Noxia (Ability Burst)
- Good damage boost and ability haste, must hit 2 abilities in a row
- Flex pick for last item on characters that land multiple abilities (Gadget, Fey, Morigesh, Gideon if you can land his shit)
5. Dreambinder (Slow on Ability)
- Good flex pick on characters with low mobility, slow + health boost can improve survivability
- Slow can help you get away + make targets easier to hit in teamfights

[ Other Item Considerations ]
1. Combustion
- If you want to be a bully, can go [Combustion -> Wraith Leggings -> Mega Caust Oblivion] for boosted pen and burst in early game
- This is good against pressure picks in midlane (such as Countess, ADC, or Melee in Mid) when playing Howitzer & Belica especially
- While burst is higher with this, lower cooldowns can hold back, also delaying Oblivion Crown can set you back for late game
2. Alchemical Rod (Tier 2 Azure Core)
- Good on super mana hungry (Iggy & Argus)
- Only build this to Alchemical and grab it by 4 min mark. Do not finish Azure, sell it late game for World Breaker on Iggy & Timewarp Argus
3. Truesilver Bracelet
- Must have on Gideon due to CC immune
4. Spirit of Amir
- Flex item on Countess
- Regen in lane, boosts early game sustain
- If against heavy poke pressure [Spirit->Mega->Caus->Obliv->Wraith Leggings] or [Spirit->Mega->Caus->Tainted->Obliv] for anti-heal
- If lane is chill and want early burst [Mega->Wraith Leggings->Caust->Oblivion->Spirit (default) or Tainted (against Khaimera or Rampage)]
5. World Breaker
- Final Item on Iggy due to Turrets building stacks on the passive
- Final Item on Morigesh due to extra health benefit and passive stacking
6. Oathkeeper
- Can be good on Belica & Howitzer as 2nd item instead of Tainted if want cooldown and basic damage > anti-heal
- Take 2nd on Shinbi with Spirit either 3rd (if need sustain) or last (if want dmg)
7. Spellbreaker
- Take on Howitzer last to protect against Rictor hooks and Belica knockups