Orianna · Mid

Orianna Aggressive Guide

OffensiveData-drivenHardPatch 16.19.1

153Updated 17 hours ago

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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.

Overview

This guide is about playing Orianna aggressively. Aggressive mid means shoving the wave, taking the river first and looking for kills in the side lanes with your jungler. Your spikes are level 6, when Command: Shockwave comes online, and each completed item: Cryptbloom first, then Archangel's Staff. Riot rates it 4/10 in attack, 9/10 in magic, 3/10 in defense and 7/10 in difficulty.

Strengths

High magic damage: Riot rates it 9/10 in magic.
Command: Shockwave hits several enemies: a strong team fight tool.
Long attack range (525) for safe trades in lane.

Weaknesses

Fragile: Riot rates it 3/10 in defense.
No dash or blink in the kit: vulnerable to ganks without vision.
Every death while playing aggressively hands the tempo back to the enemy.

Build cheat sheet

Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.

Burst buildOffensiveRecommendedAll-in on damage: Shadowflame, Void Staff and Bloodletter's Curse stack ability power, magic penetration and health. Choose it when you're ahead or the enemy team is fragile — it gives up safety for kill pressure.
Against physical damageDefensiveSituationalFor a lane or a team that hits with attacks: armor boots and an armor item in the core.

Builds

Burst build

OffensiveRecommended

Open build

When to use it

All-in on damage: Shadowflame, Void Staff and Bloodletter's Curse stack ability power, magic penetration and health. Choose it when you're ahead or the enemy team is fragile — it gives up safety for kill pressure.

Where it's played

Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.

Summoner's RiftRed side · bottom leftBlue side · top right

MidMain100% of matches

Starting items

Doran's RingHealth Potion

Core items

1Shadowflame
2Void Staff
3Bloodletter's Curse

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

Situational

Zhonya's HourglassAgainst heavy physical damage.Banshee's VeilAgainst heavy magic damage.MorellonomiconCuts the enemy's healing.

Runes

Primary· Domination

Secondary· Sorcery

Shards

Summoner spells

Flash
Ignite

Abilities

Clockwork WindupPassiveOrianna's Attacks deal additional magic damage. This damage increases the more Orianna Attacks the same target.
QCommand: Attack7/6/5/4/3s35 mpOrianna commands her Ball to fire toward a target location, dealing magic damage to targets along the way (deals less damage to subsequent targets). Her Ball remains at the target location after.
Cooldown
7·6·5·4·3
Cost
35
Range
815
WCommand: Dissonance7s60/65/70/75/80 mpOrianna commands her Ball to release a pulse of energy, dealing magic damage around it. This leaves a field behind that speeds up allies and slows enemies.
Cooldown
7
Cost
60·65·70·75·80
Range
225
ECommand: Protect9s60 mpOrianna commands her Ball to attach to an allied champion, Shielding them and dealing magic damage to any enemies it passes through on the way. Additionally, the Ball grants additional Armor and Magic Resist to the champion it is attached to.
Cooldown
9
Cost
60
Range
1095
RCommand: ShockwaveUltimate110/95/80s100 mpOrianna commands her Ball to unleash a shockwave, dealing magic damage and launching nearby enemies towards the Ball after a short delay.
Cooldown
110·95·80
Cost
100
Range
410
Ultimate — hits an area. Plan your fights around its cooldown.

Strategy

1When to fight

Your spikes are level 6, when Command: Shockwave comes online, and each completed item: Cryptbloom first, then Archangel's Staff. Aggressive mid means shoving the wave, taking the river first and looking for kills in the side lanes with your jungler.

2Picking your targets

Use Command: Shockwave where it changes the fight, not where it's safe, and keep your distance until the enemy uses their engage. The best target is the one your team can reach and kill before the enemy answers, not always the most valuable one.

3Snowballing a lead

After a won fight, take dragons and towers before anything else: that's what turns kills into a lead the enemy can't erase. Early, prioritise the river: being first to a skirmish or to the first dragon is worth more than a few extra minions.

4When to back off

Safe mid means farming under your tower, waiting for your items and only following your jungler when the enemy jungler is seen elsewhere. If your key abilities are on cooldown or the enemy is missing from the map, the aggressive play is to wait.

Tips

Fight on your spikes: right after Cryptbloom, look for the next fight instead of farming.
Look for kills when Command: Shockwave is ready and the enemy's key ability is not.
Track the enemy's key cooldowns and attack right after they use them.
Turn every kill into dragons and towers: a kill without an objective is a wasted lead.
Push your lane before you roam so the aggression doesn't cost you resources.

Matchups

Strong against

Akali
Orianna attacks from 525 units and Akali from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Katarina
Orianna attacks from 525 units and Katarina from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Locke
Orianna attacks from 525 units and Locke from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.