Taliyah · Mid
Taliyah Items: What to Buy and When
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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 explains every item in Taliyah's builds and when to buy it. Your spikes are level 6, when Weaver's Wall comes online, and each completed item: Cryptbloom first, then Archangel's Staff.
Strengths
- High magic damage: Riot rates it 8/10 in magic.
- Very durable: Riot rates it 7/10 in defense.
- Crowd control: Unraveled Earth applies a stun to set up kills.
Weaknesses
- Mana-hungry early: spamming abilities leaves you empty before the fight.
- The enemy jungle and supports will target you for ganks.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Standard buildBalancedRecommendedThe default path: Cryptbloom, Archangel's Staff and Blackfire Torch give the ability power, magic penetration and ability haste this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
- Burst buildOffensiveAdvancedAll-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.
- Defensive buildDefensiveSituationalKeeps enough damage while adding armor, ability power and magic resist through Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil and Dusk and Dawn. Choose it against dive, assassins or a lane you can't win.
Builds
Standard build
When to use it
The default path: Cryptbloom, Archangel's Staff and Blackfire Torch give the ability power, magic penetration and ability haste this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
21100%- MidMain100% of matches
- JunglePriority 2
Starting items
Core items
- 1CryptbloomAbility power, magic penetration and ability haste.
- 2Archangel's StaffAbility power, mana and ability haste.
- 3Blackfire TorchAbility power, mana and ability haste.
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Inspiration
Shards
Summoner spells
Flash
Ignite
Burst 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.
21100%- MidMain100% of matches
- JunglePriority 2
Starting items
Core items
- 1ShadowflameAbility power and magic penetration.
- 2Void StaffMagic penetration and ability power.
- 3Bloodletter's CurseHealth, ability power and magic penetration.
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Domination
Secondary· Sorcery
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
- Ignite
Defensive build
When to use it
Keeps enough damage while adding armor, ability power and magic resist through Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil and Dusk and Dawn. Choose it against dive, assassins or a lane you can't win.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
21100%- MidMain100% of matches
- JunglePriority 2
Starting items
Core items
- 1Zhonya's HourglassArmor and ability power, with an active.
- 2Banshee's VeilMagic resist and ability power.
- 3Dusk and DawnHealth, attack speed and ability power.
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Resolve
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
Teleport
Abilities
Rock SurfingPassiveTaliyah gains Move Speed near walls.
QThreaded Volley7/6/5/4/3s55/60/65/70/75 mpTaliyah throws a volley of rocks in a target direction, moving freely as she casts. This creates Worked Ground below her. If Taliyah casts Threaded Volley on Worked Ground, she consumes the ground to throw a stronger boulder that slows enemies.- Cooldown
- 7·6·5·4·3
- Cost
- 55·60·65·70·75
- Range
- 1000
WSeismic Shove14/12.5/11/9.5/8s40/30/20/10/0 mpTaliyah causes an area of ground to erupt and throws enemies within it in a direction of her choosing.- Cooldown
- 14·12.5·11·9.5·8
- Cost
- 40·30·20·10·0
- Range
- 900
EUnraveled Earth14s90 mpTaliyah creates a slowing minefield. If enemies dash through it or are knocked through it, the mines explode and stun them.- Cooldown
- 14
- Cost
- 90
- Range
- 950
RWeaver's WallUltimate180/150/120s100 mpTaliyah creates a very long wall and then surfs it.- Cooldown
- 180·150·120
- Cost
- 100
- Range
- 2500·4500·6500
Strategy
1Starting items
What to buy before leaving the base, and what each item gives:
- Doran's Ring — Health, mana regeneration and ability power.
- Health Potion — Health regeneration.
2Core items
Your spikes are level 6, when Weaver's Wall comes online, and each completed item: Cryptbloom first, then Archangel's Staff. Buy them in this order; each one is a power spike:
- Sorcerer's Shoes — Magic penetration.
- Cryptbloom — Ability power, magic penetration and ability haste.
- Archangel's Staff — Ability power, mana and ability haste.
- Blackfire Torch — Ability power, mana and ability haste.
3Situational items
Swap these in depending on the enemy team:
- Zhonya's Hourglass — Against heavy physical damage.
- Banshee's Veil — Against heavy magic damage.
- Morellonomicon — Cuts the enemy's healing.
4Adapting to the game
The damage build moves the offensive items forward when you're ahead; the defensive one adds survival when the enemy focuses you. The situational builds in the matchups guide answer specific threats.
Tips
- Buy Cryptbloom as early as you can: it's your first real spike.
- Complete one item before starting the next: half-built items give less than one finished one.
- Look at the enemy team at every back and adjust the situational items.
- Don't sit on gold: spend it when you go back.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 16.19.1.
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