Ambessa Top Build

Ambessa Champion Guide

Role: Fighter

Lane: Toplane

For Ambessa in the top lane, the best build includes Eclipse, Plated Steelcaps, Spear of Shojin, Death's Dance, and Sterak's Gage. The most popular rune setup features Grasp of the Undying, Shield Bash, Second Wind, and Overgrowth in the primary tree, with Sudden Impact and Ultimate Hunter in the secondary tree.

Ambessa Champion Abilities

Drakehound's Step

When Ambessa is casting an ability or issuing a Move or Attack order it will cause her to dash in that direction after the ability finishes.

Each cast initiation grants her a charge for 4 seconds (maximum of 3). While Ambessa has a charge, she gains 75 attack range and 50% attack speed. Attacks consume a charge to deal 5-30 (+0.3 per bonus attack damage) physical damage and restore 40 / 55 / 70 energy. P

Cunning Sweep / Sundering Slam

Cunning Sweep: Ambessa sweeps her blades forward, dealing 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 (+0.3 per bonus attack damage) (+1 / 1.5 / 2 / 2.5 / 3% (+1.5% per 100 bonus attack damage) of the target's maximum health) physical damage to enemies, doubled towards enemies hit at the edge of the strike. Striking an enemy readies a Sundering Slam.

Sundering Slam: Ambessa slams her blades down, dealing 25 / 37.5 / 50 / 62.5 / 75 (+0.45 per bonus attack damage) (+1 / 1.5 / 2 / 2.5 / 3% (+2% per 100 bonus attack damage) of the target's maximum health) physical damage towards enemies hit, doubled against the first enemy hit. Q

Repudiation

Ambessa gains a 50-320 (+1.5 per bonus attack damage) shield for 1.5 seconds and braces herself for 0.5 seconds. She then slams the ground, dealing 50 / 75 / 100 / 125 / 150 (+0.5 per bonus attack damage) physical damage to nearby enemies, which increases to 75 / 112.5 / 150 / 187.5 / 225 (+0.75 per bonus attack damage) physical damage if she braced herself from damage from an enemy champion, large monster, or structure. W

Lacerate

Ambessa whips her chains around, dealing 40 / 60 / 90 / 115 / 140 (+0.4 / 0.45 / 0.5 / 0.55 / 0.6% per bonus attack damage) physical damage and slowing enemies by 99%, which decays over 1 second. Initiating Drakehound’s Step from this ability will trigger an additional strike. E

Public Execution

Passive: Ambessa gains 10 / 20 / 30% armor penetration and her abilities heal her for 10 / 12.5 / 15% (+50% life steal) of the damage she dealt.

Active: Ambessa becomes Unstoppable and blinks to the farthest enemy champion in a line, suppressing the target for 0.75 seconds and then slamming them into the ground, dealing 150 / 250 / 350 (+0.8 per bonus attack damage) physical damage and stunning them for 0.45 seconds. R

Ambessa Summoner Spells

Flash

Flash is a location-targeted summoner spell that causes your champion to blink to the location in range of your cursor.

Teleport

Teleport is a unit-targeted summoner spell that blinks your champion to the target allied unit after a few seconds of channeling.

Teleport transforms into Unleashed Teleport after 10:00.

Ambessa Runes

Ambessa Items

Ambessa Ability Order

Ambessa Matchups Overview

Strong against

Nasus

Sion

Tahm Kench

Yone

Ornn

Gnar

Weak against

Teemo

Tryndamere

Warwick

Poppy

Kennen

Riven

Ambessa Tips and Tricks

• Wave Management: Keep the minion wave closer to your tower or even freeze it. This gives you an advantage to use your mobility and punish opponents who overstep their position.
• Energy Management: Before going for an all-in, check your energy bar. Make sure you have enough to execute your full combo—being low on energy can leave you vulnerable and unable to finish the fight.
• Extended Trades: Ambessa thrives in extended trades. Rather than engaging in short bursts, aim for longer exchanges where you can land multiple attacks and capitalize on your abilities.

Ambessa Top Builds, Runes, and Items

Most Popular Build

For the most common Ambessa Top build, take Flash and Teleport as your Summoner Spells. For your primary rune tree, choose Grasp of the Undying as your keystone, followed by Shield Bash, Second Wind, and Overgrowth. In the secondary tree, take Sudden Impact and Ultimate Hunter. For rune shards, use Adaptive Force for offense, Adaptive Force for flex, and Health for defense, adjusting based on your lane opponent.

For items, start with Eclipse, then go for Plated Steelcaps and Spear of Shojin. Follow up with Death's Dance, Sterak's Gage, and Guardian Angel. Max your abilities in the order of Q - E - W.

Optional Build

For an alternative Ambessa Top build, take Flash and Teleport as your Summoner Spells. In the rune tree, use Conqueror as your keystone, along with Triumph, Legend: Haste, and Last Stand in the primary tree, and Overgrowth and Second Wind for your secondary tree. Use Adaptive Force for offense, Adaptive Force for flex, and Health for defense.

The items for this build include Eclipse first, then Plated Steelcaps, and Spear of Shojin as your third item. Complete the build with Death's Dance, Sterak's Gage, and Black Cleaver. Stick to the ability max order of Q - E - W.

Alternative Build

If you're looking for another option, go with Flash and Teleport as your Summoner Spells. Use Grasp of the Undying as your keystone, followed by Shield Bash, Second Wind, and Overgrowth in the primary tree, with Sudden Impact and Ultimate Hunter in the secondary tree. For rune shards, choose Adaptive Force, Adaptive Force, and Health.

Start your item build with Voltaic Cyclosword, followed by Plated Steelcaps and Eclipse. Complete it with Spear of Shojin, Death's Dance, and Maw of Malmortius. The ability max order remains Q - E - W.

Off-Meta Build

For an off-meta Ambessa Top build, take Flash and Teleport as your Summoner Spells. In your primary rune tree, pick Electrocute, Sudden Impact, Grisly Mementos, and Ultimate Hunter, with Second Wind and Overgrowth in the secondary tree. Use Adaptive Force, Adaptive Force, and Health Scaling for your rune shards.

For items, start with Voltaic Cyclosword, followed by Plated Steelcaps, and Edge of Night as your third item. Finish the build with Serylda's Grudge, Opportunity, and Youmuu's Ghostblade. Max your abilities in the order Q - E - W.

Situational Ambessa Runes and Items

Adjust your runes and item build based on the context of the game, your opponent's champion, and the state of the match. For example, consider switching up your rune shards to Armor or Magic Resist depending on who you're laning against. Pay close attention to the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses, and tweak your build accordingly for maximum effectiveness!