The Unbreakable Spear, Pantheon is one of the most versatile champions in League of Legends. While traditionally played as a top champion, Pantheon can be played in the mid lane and even support. The champion’s kit allows him to shut down opponents’ abilities and win duels with ease early in the game while remaining powerful throughout.
As with all champions in League, different items are going to compliment Pantheon’s kit more than others and these items will vary depending on the situation in-game. While this is true, there are core items that are necessary to assist in finding victory with Pantheon.
Runes
Precision
Conqueror: This rune is going to build stacks from basic attacks or spells that, once full, will heal Pantheon by 15 percent of damage dealt to enemy champions. Having this healing is going to assist the champion when dueling, giving him a slight edge.
Triumph: Another rune that is going to give Pantheon more healing, Triumph will grant Pantheon 12 percent of his missing health after a successful takedown. On top of this, the rune will grant 20 extra gold on takedowns also.
Legend: Alacrity: This rune is going to assist Pantheon in reaping the benefits of his passive “Mortal Will” as well as generally assisting him in combat. Legend: Alacrity will grant Pantheon permanent attack speed after scoring takedowns on enemies. The faster you are able to secure kills or assists, the more benefit you will receive from this rune.
Coupe De Grace: Pantheon will often find himself in one-on-one dueling situations, so choosing Coupe De Grace is a no-brainer. This rune allows the champion to deal more damage to enemies who have low health allowing him the edge during close duels.
Inspiration
Biscuit Delivery: As with most aggressive top lane champions, biscuit delivery is going to be important to heal Pantheon and make sure he has satisfactory health to remain in the lane. On top of this, Biscuit Delivery will permanently increase the champion’s mana pool by 50 for each biscuit consumed.
Time Warp Tonic: With a potion or rune such as the previously mentioned Biscuit Delivery, often the effects will be dealt over time, and during this window, a player may not have adequate health to survive combat. With Time Warp Tonic, the effects of these items will see 50 percent dealt immediately, giving Pantheon that health boost he needs to win a fight.
Bonuses: +9 Adaptive Force, +9 Adaptive Force, +15-90 HP (Lvls 1-18)
Starting Items
Corrupting Potion
To ensure you have the most health possible in fights, purchasing Corrupting Potion is going to be especially important in the early game when players often have low health. The item’s 125 health healing and 75 mana restoration will often give Pantheon the advantage he needs to defeat opponents in the early stages of the game. This item will carry three charges and will be refilled when the player returns to the base.
Core Items
Eclipse
With its bonus attack damage, lethality, and omni vamp, as well as its unique passive ability, this Mythic item is perfect to complement the champion’s kit. Eclipse’s unique passive will see extra damage dealt each time a champion is hit with two separate attacks for six percent of their health. This item also grants bonus movement speed and a small shield to help Pantheon chase down his foes. You’ll also get a small buff on your other legendary items with four percent armor penetration.
Black Cleaver
While a solid pick in the top lane, Pantheon often does not have as much health as many of the tank options that dominate the lane. To counter this, building a Black Cleaver is going to grant Pantheon an extra 400 health as well as 40 attack damage and 20-percent cooldown reduction. The item has two passive abilities. The first will reduce the effects of an enemy’s armor for a short amount of time after Pantheon deals physical damage to them. This effect can stack up to 24 percent of their armor. The other effect will grant Pantheon bonus movement speed once he has dealt physical damage to an enemy.
Plated Steelcaps
On top of the bonus 45 movement speed granted by these boots, Plated Steelcaps will grant 20 armor and a unique passive that will block 12 percent of the damage Pantheon takes from basic attacks. When dueling basic-attack dominant champions, this item is going to come in extremely handy, more so than the effects of many other boot options.
Late Game Items
Serylda’s Grudge
Once you enter the later stages of the match, enemies are going to greatly increase their armor to counter some of the damage from the team. While some of Pantheon’s core items have armor-penetrating effects, this is the stage in the game where that will become the main focus.
Serylda’s Grudge grants Pantheon 45 attack damage, as well as a unique passive that will see Pantheon’s abilities slow enemies for a second after dealing damage to enemy champions. The item also boasts 30 armor penetration and 20 ability haste that can both come in handy.
Edge of Night
This item is going to give Pantheon some extra durability, granting him 325 health along with 55 attack damage. Where the item really shines though is through its abilities. The first ability will grant Pantheon some bonus lethality armor penetration, while its second ability will offer a spell shield blocking the next enemy ability every 40 seconds.
Guardian Angel
A common item on aggressive top lane champions, Guardian Angel offers Pantheon a quick way to get back into the battle after being taken down. The item will restore Pantheon with 50 percent health and mana after his health is reduced to zero, allowing him a second chance to emerge victorious in combat. On top of this, the item also will grant 40 bonus armor and attack damage.
