Ambessa Top Lane Build Guides, Runes, Items, and Abilities

Ambessa, the newest champion in League of Legends, has taken the top lane by storm. With her unique set of abilities and immense potential to dominate the game, mastering Ambessa will elevate your gameplay to new heights. In this guide, we will dive deep into how to build Ambessa as a top laner, focusing on her strengths, core items, runes, and optimal playstyle to climb the ranks in LOL.

Ambessa Medarda makes her debut in League of Legends as a Noxian general and master tactician. In Arcane, she’s portrayed as a powerful and controlling figure, and these traits are reflected in her gameplay. Max Perlman, one of the game designers, explains that developing Ambessa was a unique process since much of her personality had already been established in the series. However, her combat style had to be built from scratch.

The team explored three main approaches to designing her: one focusing on her military background, portraying her as a strategic commander; another exploring how to incorporate her unique twin weapons, the drakehounds; and a third highlighting her veteran status, focusing on decision-making and controlling the battlefield. Ultimately, they merged elements from all three concepts to create a champion that balances tactical prowess with aggressive melee combat.

• How to Play Ambessa

Perlman notes that Ambessa is a champion designed for experienced League of Legends players. Her kit has a high skill ceiling, rewarding players who can master her abilities and timing. While primarily intended for the top lane, Perlman expects some players to experiment with her in the jungle or even as a counterpick in the mid lane.

1. Ambessa’s Abilities Overview Before we jump into the build, let’s understand Ambessa’s abilities. These are essential to maximizing her damage and utility in the top lane:

Passive - Drakehound’s Step: Issuing a movement or attack command while casting an ability allows Ambessa to dash a short distance. Her next attack gains bonus range, speed, and damage, while also refunding some energy.

Q - Cunning Sweep / Sundering Slam: Ambessa swings her twin drakehounds in a semicircle, damaging enemies. Striking an enemy transforms her next cast into a powerful slam, dealing bonus damage.

W - Repudiation: Ambessa gains a shield and braces herself for an attack before slamming the ground, damaging enemies nearby. If she blocks non-minion damage while bracing, the damage is increased.

E - Lacerate: She whips her drakehounds around herself, damaging and slowing enemies. When combined with her dash, she can deal additional damage at the end of the dash.

R - Public Execution: Ambessa teleports to the farthest enemy champion in a straight line, suppresses them, then slams them into the ground, dealing damage and stunning them.

Before diving into Ambessa’s combos, the first thing you need to know is to always combine her abilities, the Drakehound’s Step passive, and basic attacks. This will help Ambessa maximize her damage, close in on targets, and activate Conqueror quickly. As for skill leveling order, prioritize maxing Q, then E, followed by W, and level up R at the appropriate levels.

Regarding combos, accurately describing Ambessa’s combos is quite challenging, as her abilities are effective on their own, can be combined with her dash passive, and allow for reactivating Q upon hitting a target. You may find it easier to understand and remember the combos through hands-on experience, but I’ll describe some notable combos as follows. Q, W, E, and R are her abilities, P is her passive, and A represents basic attacks.

Basic Combo: Q/W/E/R + P + A. This combo allows Ambessa to use her abilities, deal damage, and dash to continue into the next combo sequence.

Trade Combo: Q + P + A + W + P + A + E + P + A + Q + P + A

Solo/Dive on Priority Target: R + P + A + W + P + A + Q + P + A + E + P + A + Q + P + A

Long-Range Engage: E + P + Q + P + R + P + A + W + P + A + Q + A + E + A…

With a champion like Ambessa, who has flashy combos, continuous dashes, tons of damage, and great gap-closing abilities, there’s no need to worry too much about perfecting every single move. I think after just a few games, you'll be able to get familiar with her and perform solidly.

Ambessa's power might be hard to balance, just like when K’Sante was first introduced, so make sure to take advantage and experience her right when she’s released. Good luck and have fun!

Ambessa is an exciting and powerful champion in League of Legends, known for her mobility and tactical abilities. This guide will walk you through how to play Ambessa effectively in the Top Lane during different phases of the game, focusing on utilizing her abilities to their fullest potential.

1. Early Game

• Utilize Passive - Drakehound’s Step: Ambessa’s passive allows her to dash a short distance while casting an ability. This gives her excellent mobility for both offensive and defensive plays. Use this to reposition during trades or to escape ganks. When you issue a movement or attack command after using an ability, you can follow up with a bonus ranged attack that has increased speed and damage, making it an excellent tool for harassing your opponent.

• Master Q - Cunning Sweep / Sundering Slam: Ambessa's Q is crucial for both farming and poking enemies. Use Cunning Sweep to hit enemies in a semicircle while also damaging minions. Once you strike an enemy, your next Q will transform into Sundering Slam, dealing bonus damage. This ability can effectively poke your opponent and help secure farm at the same time.

• Engage with W - Repudiation: The shield from W is vital in early trades. Activate it when you anticipate an incoming attack to absorb damage. After bracing, slam the ground to deal damage to nearby enemies. If you successfully block non-minion damage, the slam's damage will increase, making it a powerful counter to aggressive opponents.

2. Mid Game

• Apply Pressure and Control: As you transition into the mid-game, Ambessa can start to exert more control over the lane and skirmishes. Use her passive to engage and disengage effectively. The combination of Q and E can help you harass and slow enemies, allowing for better chase or escape mechanics.

• Utilize E - Lacerate: The E ability is great for crowd control and zoning. When Ambessa whips her drakehounds around, she damages and slows enemies, making it harder for them to escape. This ability synergizes well with your dash, allowing you to deal additional damage at the end of the dash. Use it to create opportunities for kills or to assist teammates in skirmishes.

• Capitalize on R - Public Execution: Ambessa's ultimate is a game-changer. Use Public Execution to teleport to the furthest enemy champion, suppressing them and dealing damage. This ability can turn the tide of a fight, especially if you target key enemy carries. Be sure to communicate with your team to coordinate your ultimate for maximum impact.

3. Late Game

• Become a Key Fighter: In the late game, Ambessa excels in team fights and skirmishes. Her mobility from the passive allows her to dive into the backline to disrupt enemy carries while still being able to escape when necessary. Use your abilities to maximize damage while staying alive.

• Use W Strategically: Repudiation remains important for absorbing damage during critical moments in fights. Be aware of when to activate this ability, especially against high-damage enemies. The shield can make a significant difference in surviving focused attacks.

• Cooperate with Your Team: Ambessa thrives in teamwork. Use your ultimate to initiate or follow up on team engagements. Coordinate with your teammates to ensure you capitalize on your crowd control and damage potential. Targeting squishy opponents with your R can help secure kills and create an advantage for your team.

Ambessa is a powerful top lane champion in League of Legends, capable of dominating her opponents through smart play and proper itemization. With her aggressive kit and potential to carry games, mastering her will make you a force to be reckoned with on the Rift. Use this guide to optimize her build, and enjoy climbing the ranks with Ambessa as your new top lane powerhouse!

Ambessa is a champion that rewards skillful play and strategic decision-making. Mastering her abilities will allow you to dominate the Top Lane and influence team fights. Remember to leverage her mobility, crowd control, and damage potential to secure victories. Good luck, and may you crush your foes on the Rift!