There are 36 core items, and every game hands you the same eight components. This sheet lists all of them — recipe, what it does, and which champions actually want it right now, counted off all 45 boards in the Set 18 comps sheet. If recipes themselves are still fuzzy, start with the beginner’s items guide — it teaches what each component does first.
Slam first, ask later
The biggest beginner mistake with items is waiting. Components sitting on your bench do nothing; a slammed item starts winning fights immediately, and you get the components back when you sell the holder.
- Slam a tank item first. Sunfire Cape, Warmog’s, Gargoyle — tanks hold anything, and early fights are decided by who dies slower.
- Slam an AP item second. Morellonomicon and Archangel’s go on whoever casts most; early AP carries are everywhere.
- Swords and bows can wait. Attack damage items need the right holder to matter. If you must slam one, Giant Slayer and Titan’s Resolve stay useful on almost any hitter.
A slammed “wrong” item still beats two components gathering dust. Rebuild later with the Remover — the sheet above shows what each carry truly wants.
Carry items and tank items are different shopping lists
Roughly half the items want a damage dealer and half want someone who stands in front. The sheet’s filters split them the same way the game does:
- Attack — swords, bows, gloves. Infinity Edge, Last Whisper, Giant Slayer: the physical carry kit.
- Magic — rods, tears. Shojin, Archangel’s, Jeweled Gauntlet: the caster kit.
- Tank — vests, cloaks, belts. Sunfire, Bramble, Dragon’s Claw, Warmog’s: health and resistances.
Hybrids exist on purpose — Bloodthirster heals a hitter, Hextech Gunblade heals a caster, Crownguard shields anyone. When a component pair fits two kits, build for the carry you actually have, not the one you wish for.
To go the other way — start from a champion and see its ideal items with the reasoning — flip the sheet above to By champion. Every one of the 65 gets its kit explained from its own ability: what it scales off, how much mana it needs, and whether it belongs up front.