Guide Sections (15)
- Champion Stats
- The Brittle Proc
- The Ornn Skin Tier List
- When They Ban Ornn
- Runes That Work on Ornn
- Leveling Ornn's Abilities
- Mastering Ornn's Kit
- Matchups That Matter for Ornn
- Forge Item Timing
- When They Melt Through You
- Peeling vs Engaging
- The Masterwork Build
- Ornn's Strongest Moments
- The Forge God Engage
- Recent Patch History
Champion Stats
Low elo players don't respect the Brittle proc. They see a tank and ignore him, not realizing your full combo deals % max HP damage and knocks them up for 3 seconds. They also let you scale for free. A smurf on Ornn reaches level 13 and suddenly his entire team is stronger than the enemy team simply because of Masterwork items.
The Brittle Proc
Start Q (Volcanic Rupture) or W (Bellows Breah). Against melee, use W when they walk up for CS. The fire breath + auto attack (Brittle proc) pushes them back instantly. You can buy items in lane! Stay in lane forever and buy armor/HP without recalling.
Your W makes you unstoppable while casting. Use it to ignore CC like a Blitz hook or an Ashe arrow. Timing your Bellows Breath to negate their big play is the mark of a Master Ornn. Forge on.
The Ornn Skin Tier List
'Elderwood Ornn' is beautiful and clear. 'Thunder Lord Ornn' has good sound effects. 'Space Groove' is fun but goofy. Default Ornn feels very heavy and impactful.
Elderwood is the most beautiful, but Thunder Lord has the most satisfying hammer sounds. Space Groove is for when you're 10/0 and just want to dance. Default Ornn feels the sturdiest—a true god of the forge.
'Elderwood' is mystic. 'Thunder Lord' is loud. 'Space Groove' is funny. Elderwood feels the lightest. Default is solid.
When They Ban Ornn
If they ban the ram, they're afraid of the late-game scaling. Pick Dr. Mundo and show them that a different kind of unkillable tank exists. Ornn is the smith, but you can be the monster.
Sion for the HP tank. Maokai for the CC. Malphite for the rock. Sion scales infinitely like Ornn upgrades.
Runes That Work on Ornn
Grasp of the Undying. Demolish, Conditioning, Overgrowth. Secondary Inspiration with Biscuits and Cosmic Insight. You want to be an unkillable scaling monster.
Leveling Ornn's Abilities
Actually, Max W first usually for the cooldown and damage. Or Q for poke. E last. (Note: W max is standard for trading).
Mastering Ornn's Kit
Volcanic Rupture. Slams ground, creates a pillar. Use the pillar to setup your E charge.
Bellows Breath. Ornn breathes fire, becoming Unstoppable. Applies Brittle. Auto-attacking Brittle enemies knocks them back. This is your main trade.
Searing Charge. Ornn charges. colliding with terrain knocks up enemies. Colliding with Q pillar counts as terrain!
Call of the Forge God. Summons a ram. R1 slows. R2 dashes into it to redirect it and knock enemies up. Applies Brittle twice.
Matchups That Matter for Ornn
Impossible. She parries your R or E easily. Deals % max HP true damage. You are a minion to her.
Nightmare. Percent true damage. You can never kill her unless you land a full combo from a brush.
Farm lane. You provide more utility to your team with upgrades. Just farm.
Forge Item Timing
Stop missing R2! The Headbutt back on the Ram is your most important moment. If you miss it, you look like a fool and lose the fight. Practice the timing. Also, upgrade your carry FIRST. Don't upgrade the 0/10 support first just because they are standing next to you.
Your passive upgrades your own items first. Prioritize Sunfire or Hollow Radiance depending on the matchup. Once you hit level 14-17, communicate with your team about who gets the upgrade next.
When They Melt Through You
Dodge Fiora or Gwen. True damage shreds you. You cannot itemize against it. Also Vayne.
Fiora deals % max HP true damage. Vayne deals % max HP true damage. You cannot tank them. Ban Fiora. Pray against Vayne.
Dodge Fiora/Gwen/Vayne. % Max HP True Damage exists. You cannot tank them. It is mathematically impossible. Dodge.
Peeling vs Engaging
In teamfights, you are the engager. Call the Ram (R). Slow them. Then headbutt it (R2) to knock everyone up. Dash in with E to knock them up again. Breathe fire (W) to make them Brittle. Auto them to knock them back. You have 3 forms of CC. Use them all.
Call the ram to start the fight. But save E to peel your carry if they get dived. You are a wall. Stand between the enemy and your ADC.
The Masterwork Build
Assassin Ornn. Iceborn Gauntlet -> Abyssal Mask -> Sunfire. You deal so much damage with Brittle procs that you can solo kill the enemy ADC while taking zero damage.
Upgrade your own item first? No, upgrade your carry's item first if they are fed. Sunfire Cape allows you to clear waves and trade grasp procs. Jak'Sho makes you unkillable.
Hollow Radiance/Sunfire -> Thornmail -> Jak'Sho. Upgrade teammates at 14+. You are a stat stick. Be a big one.
Ornn's Strongest Moments
Level 13 (First Upgrade). Level 14/15/16/17 (Ally Upgrades). Every level after 13 is a massive power spike for your team.
Level 13 is when you get your first upgrade. This is free gold. Value it. Level 6 combo kills most squishies.
Level 13 (Upgrades start). Level 6 Engage. Late game 5-item upgrades = 5000g advantage. Stall the game.
The Forge God Engage
Type 'Hammer' in all-chat every time you kill someone. Buy items in front of them while they have to recall. It's subtle but demoralizing.
R1 slows. R2 knocks up. Don't miss R2. People will ping you. It's easy to hit if you wait for the slow to apply first.
R1. wait. R2. Hitting a 5-man knockup is potg material. Craft items in lane to stay healthy. Tilt them with your sustain.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V14.12 | Jun 12, 2024 | ADJUST | P adjusted |
| V14.11 | May 30, 2024 | ADJUST | P nerfed |
| V14.7 | Apr 3, 2024 | ADJUST | P adjusted |
| V14.6 | Mar 20, 2024 | BUFF | E buffed |
| V14.2 | Jan 24, 2024 | NERF | R nerfed |
