Shifu Guan Yu: The Battle Master (Y11, All Modes, Patch 11.1, "Year 11")

Notes

This start provides good sustain early in lane, with Glowing Emerald building into Gauntlet of Thebes.

Notes

This is a build path for Guan in a Support role, focusing on max CDR, enhanced healing, and general protections.

Upgrade Sentinel's Gift to Sentinel's Embrace at level 15. Alternatively you could choose Benevolence and upgrade to either Compassion or Heroism.

Optional items:

• Genji's Guard is optional but a solid choice for magical protection, CDR and high mana sustain.
• Caduceus Club is a great item for Guan, but if you're going to be fighting against a lot of lifesteal, you can opt for other items.
• Spectral Armor counters enemy crits, which are likely to be present. If you don't need this, substitute as preferred.

Notes

This is a alternate build path focusing on protection auras. Stick close to teammates to maximize benefit of the build.

Upgrade Sentinel's Gift to Sentinel's Embrace at level 15. Alternatively you could choose Benevolence and upgrade to either Compassion or Heroism.

Optional items:

• Sovereignty and Heartward Amulet fit the build concept, but you can sub either out depending on enemy comp.
• Magi's Shelter is great to help teammates get out of dangerous CC, but you can absolutely sub this out as needed for other counter-items such as Spectral Armor.

Notes

Gauntlet of Thebes (Dual Protections): provides some of the strongest overall protections of any item. Build early for stacking.

Sovereignty (Anti-Physical): If facing a dual-physical enemy duo or much stronger physical overall enemy presence, this is a solid item to support your teammates.

Heartward Amulet (Anti-Magical): If facing a dual-magical enemy duo or much stronger magical enemy presence, this is a good team-support option. The MP5 is also very helpful for Guan.

Notes

Breastplate of Valor (Anti-Physical / High CDR): Good early item for Guan to counter physical damage while providing high CDR. Upgrade to the Breastplate of Determination glyph late-game.

Prophetic Cloak (Dual Protections / CDR): This is an alternative to Gauntlet of Thebes, requiring stacks to max effectiveness of mitigations and protection aura.

Genji's Guard (Anti-Magical / High CDR): Provides a situational boost of CDR when hit by magical abilities, with very high MP5 so you'll never run out of mana.

Fae-Blessed Hoops (Teammate Health Shield): Somewhat awkward due to the dropped buff, but provides good overall stats and can help protect teammates.

Lotus Sickle (Teammate Protection Boost): Good utility item with high health, CDR and MS, while your heals trigger extra protections for teammates.

Spirit Robe (Protections / Anti-CC): Balanced protections and CC reduction make this a strong general support item.

Magi's Cloak (Anti-CC): Decent protections and some CDR, but the main function is to counter hard-CC. The Glyph upgrades can be for aggressive or teammate support.

Pridwen (Protections / High CDR): The passive shield won't activate until you've finished your ult, but the stats remain very functional overall. The Glyph upgrades provide some extra damage potential.

Notes

Caduceus Club (Healing Boost): Dual protections are nice, but you get this item for the boost to healing, which can partially counteract anti-heal.

Relic Dagger (Relic CDR): A lot of utility (MS, CDR, CC reduction, health) with a specific purpose of decreasing relic cooldown. Grab the Bewitched Dagger glyph to counter enemy basic attackers.

Breastplate of Regrowth (Mobility): Strong utility function providing power and movement speed, consider if you strongly value the mobility as he can trigger the boost often with Conviction.

Oni Hunter's Garb (Anti-Magical / Teamfight Damage Mitigation): General purpose anti-magical item that provides additional mitigations when in the midst of enemies.

Abyssal Stone (Negative CDR for Enemies): damaging enemies with abilities gives negative CDR to enemies.

Void Shield (Anti-Physical / Aggression): Provides additional physical protection reduction on top of Taolu Assault; great if you're always on the offensive and have other physical teammates that deal lots of damage.

Shogun's Kusari (Anti-Magical / AURA: Attack Speed): Great anti-magical option with utility for basic attackers. Also has MP5 to support ability use.

Notes

Midgardian Mail (Anti-Physical / Anti-Basic Attack): Counters basic attackers with an MS and AS slow.

Spectral Armor (Anti-Critical Strikes): Pick this specifically to counter enemies building crits.

Contagion (Anti-Physical / AURA: Anti-Heal): Physical protection providing an anti-heal effect.

Pestilence (Anti-Magical / AURA: Anti-Heal): Magical protection providing an anti-heal effect.

Winged Blade (Anti-Magical / Counter Slows): Utility item that counters lots of enemy slows, helpful for you and nearby teammates.

Erosion (Anti-Shield): Grab this specifically to counter enemy gods that provide shields (e.g. Geb, Hera, Odin).

Notes

These are the general relics you should typically consider. Others may be picked up depending on the situation.

Divine Barrier (Objective Protection / Zoning): Use to protect objectives or zone enemies in narrow corridors.

Bracer of Radiance (Team Utility / Vision): Provides a situational buff to teammates, but also acts as an additional ward with low cooldown. Upgrade to make the ward act as a Sentry.

Horrific Emblem (Control / Anti-Heal / Anti-Shield): Slows enemies and also reduces healing and shields from enemies. Extremely useful overall relic for teamfights.

Heavenly Wings (Mobility): Provides a nice burst of movement speed to help chase or escape.

Magic Shell (Team Shield): Provides a health shield to help keep teammates alive. Specifically choose only when facing troublesome enemy obstacles ( Phantom Shell).

Notes

This is a start against a physical solo enemy.

Bluestone Pendant is used to help with your early clear. You'll build Breastplate into Breastplate of Valor for the high CDR and physical protection.

You'll rely on getting your Mana buff to sustain your mana in the early game.

Notes

Standard balanced build against a physical solo enemy. Better if the enemy can't easily interrupt your Taolu Assault with a stun or silence. Look to the Mystical Bully build if facing someone that can interrupt you.

Breastplate of Valor is your standard first protection item. Gladiator's Shield further supports physical protection while offering some extra damage for clear and poke.

The last 3 items shown in this example are situational / preference. Pick up counter items where needed, and grab any other utility items to suit the situation.

Notes

This start uses Bluestone Pendant, which is great for a more aggressive early start. While you won't get a head start on completing Breastplate of Valor (or another item), this start gives you plenty of potions to sustain you in the early game.

Alternatively, if you need anti-heal early, you can pick up Tainted Steel (building into Tainted Breastplate late-game.

Notes

Standard balanced build against a magical solo enemy.

Genji's Guard provides your early magical protection against your lane opponent, while also providing your initial CDR and mana sustain.

Gladiator's Shield helps with wave clear and poke, but can be substituted as preferred.

Choose your final items based on need; grab counter-items or utility items as preferred.

Notes

This start builds into an early Mystical Mail. Building Mystical early may help if you're facing an enemy that can easily interrupt your normal clear ability ( Taolu Assault) with a stun or silence, preventing you from using it to effectively clear waves.

Once completed, Mystical will allow you to clear minion waves without relying on abilities; you can then save these to bully the enemy, or have them up to help clear jungle camps more quickly. The pulse

Notes

This build example is against a physical lane enemy; you can change up items after Mystical Mail if facing a magical enemy (e.g. switch BoV for Genji).

Void Shield's protection reduction is great to up your offensive threat.

Brawler's Beat Stick is obviously optional; it's shown as an additional offense item to counter enemy healing. Choose your items as preferred.

Notes

Breastplate of Valor (Anti-Physical / High CDR): Good early CDR item for Guan to counter physical damage.

Genji's Guard (Anti-Magical / High CDR): Provides a situational boost of CDR when hit by magical abilities.

Oni Hunter's Garb (Anti-Magical / Teamfight Damage Mitigation): General purpose anti-magical item that provides additional mitigations when in the midst of enemies.

Spirit Robe (Protections / Anti-CC): Balanced protections and CC reduction make this a strong general support item.

Magi's Cloak (Anti-CC): Decent protections and some CDR, but the main function is to counter hard-CC. The Glyph upgrades can be for aggressive or teammate support.

Notes

Void Shield (Anti-Physical / Aggression): Strong item that synergizes with Taolu Assault in decreasing enemy protections.

Mystical Mail (Painless Stacks / Bully): Situational item that easily builds stacks of Painless, and can work well in being aggressive early.

Breastplate of Regrowth (Mobility): Has some CDR and protection, but is specifically used for the high mobility it provides every time you heal.

Relic Dagger (Relic CDR): A lot of utility (MS, CDR, CC reduction, health) with a specific purpose of decreasing relic cooldown.

Blackthorn Hammer (Early Aggression / CDR): Build early to provide CDR, and also never run out of mana when spamming abilities. Function drops off late; consider replacing late game.

Caduceus Shield (Healing Boost): Dual protections are nice, but you get this item for the boost to healing, which can partially counteract anti-heal.

Brawler's Beat Stick (Anti-Heal): If you're dominating play and can invest into a purely offensive item, this is useful to counter enemy healing.

Notes

Midgardian Mail (Anti-Physical / Anti-Basic Attack): Counters basic attackers with an MS and AS slow.

Spectral Armor (Anti-Critical Strikes): Pick this specifically to counter enemies building crits.

Contagion (Anti-Physical / AURA: Anti-Heal): Physical protection providing an anti-heal effect.

Pestilence (Anti-Magical / AURA: Anti-Heal): Magical protection providing an anti-heal effect.

Winged Blade (Anti-Magical / Counter Slows): Utility item that counters lots of enemy slows, helpful for you and nearby teammates.

Erosion (Anti-Shield): Grab this specifically to counter enemy gods that provide shields (e.g. Geb, Hera, Odin).

Notes

These are the general relics you should typically consider. Others may be picked up depending on the situation.

Teleport Glyph (Relocation): Functional early game to help you get back to lane after backing/dying so you don't lose farm. Upgrade late to teleport to wards and get to teamfights quickly.

Purification Beads (Anti-CC): Pick to ignore / counter troublesome enemy CC.

Blink Rune (Kill Secure): Consider as a 1st relic to surprise enemies and secure kills. Useful to dive the back-line in a teamfight as well.

Bracer of Radiance (Team Utility / Vision): Provides a situational buff to teammates, but also acts as an additional ward with low cooldown. Upgrade to make the ward act as a Sentry.

Divine Barrier (Objective Protection / Zoning): Use to protect objectives or zone enemies in narrow corridors.

Heavenly Wings (Mobility): Provides a nice burst of movement speed to help chase or escape.

Horrific Emblem (Control / Anti-Heal / Anti-Shield): Slows enemies and also reduces healing and shields from enemies. Extremely useful overall relic for teamfights.

Magic Shell (Team Shield): Provides a health shield to help keep teammates alive. Specifically choose only when facing troublesome enemy obstacles ( Phantom Shell).

Notes

Against a balanced team, you'll be looking to juggle magical and physical protections while emphasizing CDR.

Start with Sentinel's Gift + Breastplate of Valor + potions if facing more physical enemies.

Start with Sentinel's Gift + Genji's Guard + potions if facing more magical enemies.

An alternative to Genji's Guard is Shogun's Kusari, which you can pick up if you have more than 1 basic attacker on your team.

Notes

Against a mostly magical team, Genji's Guard is my personal early item preference over Heartward Amulet, though you can choose that if you like. The CDR and higher mana sustain you'll get from Genji's is more likely to help your team in the long run.

You can choose to delay Caduceus Club, and you can switch out the later items as needed. If there are 0 physical gods, you won't need the protections from Spirit Robe so replace it as needed.

Notes

I prefer Breastplate of Valor to start (get the glyph upgrade late). Being able to spam your heals and ult will likely provide more function than the protection aura from Sovereignty, but you can start Sov if you prefer.

The last 2 items are situational and are specific counter items; if not needed, choose other items as you prefer.

If there are 0 magical gods, you won't need the protections from Spirit Robe so replace it as needed.

Notes

In the case you have another tank and can opt into a more aggressive build, you can consider something like this, providing good CDR and group mobility.

You can replace Blackthorn Hammer if you get to late-game.

Notes

Cloak of Meditation is a standard 1st relic for Assault. Choose your other relics as needed.