Master Yi Guide — Classic LoL Jungle Build & Strategy

Introduction

Master Yi, the Wuju Bladesman, is one of the most iconic champions in League of Legends Classic. Known for his hyper-carry potential and pentakill montages, Yi is a melee ADC that thrives on attack speed, on-hit effects, and reset mechanics. His Highlander (R) gives him unstoppable chase potential, while Alpha Strike (Q) makes him untargetable. In classic LoL, a fed Master Yi can 1v5 the enemy team.

Classic Build

Core Items

| Item | Cost | Why | |------|------|-----| | Blade of the Ruined King | 3,200g | %HP on-hit damage, attack speed, lifesteal | | Guinsoo's Rageblade | 3,200g | Double on-hit procs every third auto | | Wit's End | 3,100g | Magic damage on-hit and MR shred |

Full Build

1. Blade of the Ruined King — Core damage and dueling
2. Guinsoo's Rageblade — On-hit amplifier
3. Wit's End — Magic resist and on-hit damage
4. Death's Dance — Damage mitigation
5. Guardian Angel — Revive passive
6. Berserker's Greaves — Attack speed boots

Situational Items

• Kraken Slayer — Burst every third auto
• Mercurial Scimitar — Cleanse against hard CC
• Maw of Malmortius — Magic burst protection
• Titanic Hydra — AoE on-hit for teamfights

Runes

Primary: Precision

• Lethal Tempo — Break attack speed cap, extended range
• Triumph — HP restore on takedowns
• Legend: Alacrity — Maximum attack speed
• Coup de Grace — Execute low HP targets

Secondary: Domination

• Eyeball Collection — Adaptive damage from takedowns
• Treasure Hunter — Faster item spikes

Stat Shards

• Attack Speed
• Adaptive Force
• Armor

Skill Order

R > Q > E > W

1. Alpha Strike (Q) — Max first for damage and cooldown
2. Wuju Style (E) — Max second for true damage
3. Meditate (W) — One point early, max last
4. Highlander (R) — Take whenever possible (6/11/16)

Early Levels

Level 1: Q — Alpha Strike Level 2: E — Wuju Style Level 3: W — Meditate Level 4: Q

Gameplay Tips

Early Jungle

• Start Red Buff for healthier clears
• Full clear: Red → Krugs → Raptors → Wolves → Blue → Gromp
• Use W (Meditate) between camps to sustain
• Don't gank pre-6 unless the enemy is heavily overextended

Mid Game

• Power-farm to hit your 2-item spike (BotRK + Guinsoo's)
• Look for Dragon and Rift Herald solo opportunities
• Counter-jungle aggressively — you win most 1v1s
• Only gank when R is available

Late Game / Teamfights

• Never engage first — wait for enemy CC to be used
• Enter the fight 3-4 seconds after it starts
• Q onto the backline, E for true damage, R to chase
• Meditate (W) to tank burst while waiting for Q cooldown
• Reset chain: Kill → Q reset → Kill → Q reset

Counters

Strong Against

• Karthus — Q dodges his Q, out-duels him
• Evelynn — Out-sustains and out-damages her
• Zed — Q dodges Death Mark damage

Weak Against

• Rammus — Taunt and armor stacking
• Jax — Counter Strike dodges your autos
• Malzahar — Point-and-click suppression
• Lulu — Polymorph removes you from fights

FAQ

Is Master Yi good in classic LoL?

Master Yi is a strong solo-queue pick in classic LoL, especially at lower ranks where teams struggle to coordinate CC. A fed Yi can single-handedly carry games through split-pushing and clean-up teamfight play.

How do I stop a fed Master Yi?

Hard CC is the answer. Champions with point-and-click stuns or suppressions (like Malzahar, Lissandra, Skarner) shut down Yi completely. Build armor and group — Yi cannot 1v5 if you CC chain him.

What is the best Master Yi build?

The best classic Master Yi build is on-hit focused: Blade of the Ruined King → Guinsoo's Rageblade → Wit's End, with defensive items like Death's Dance and Guardian Angel to survive teamfights.