The Blessing of the Lizard Elder is a neutral buff available on Summoner's Rift. The buff can be identified by spinning red runes and a red runed circle around the champion. Because of this it is often referred to as the "red buff" or just "red". The damage dealt is true damage. This makes it valuable in killing champions who have high armor and magic resistance.
Blessing of the Lizard Elder held by 
Master Yi
How to obtain
- On Summoner's Rift, by killing the (from which its name is derived).
- By killing a champion that currently possess this buff. In this case, the duration of the buff is refreshed.
Strategy
- As of V1.0.0.130, the red buff slows (8/16/24)% for melee characters and (5/10/15)% for ranged characters at levels (1/6/11). This makes the buff more effective when utilized by melee characters such as
Xin Zhao, 
Udyr, or Tryndamere than it does for ranged attackers such as Tristana and Ezreal. Note however that it is easier for ranged champions to apply the slow without getting in dangerous situations and they can also use it to keep melee attackers at a distance. - The jungler will most likely take the red buff early in the game.
- The extra damage lets the jungler clear minion packs easier and take on bigger monsters like the .
- The slow from the buff is extremely valuable for the jungler to successfully execute a gank.
- The slow from the buff stacks with all other effects that would reduce the target's movement speed, except another red buff.
- For example if you are carrying a Frozen Mallet and have the red buff, both slows will be applied to the target. However, if the red buff slow is weaker it's reduced by 65%, and it's just a (2.8/5.6/8.4)% slow for melee attacks or (1.75/3.5/5.25)% for ranged attacks. If the red buff slow is stronger, the other slowing effect will be reduced by 65%
- If you are a ranged attacker with both Frozen Mallet and the red buff. Attacking an enemy reduces its speed to (1 − 0.3) × (1 − 0.15 × 0.35) = 0.7 × 0.9475 = 66.325% of his original movement speed.
- For example if you are carrying a
- Increasing attack speed does not increase true damage dealt by the red buff, as the damage is applied as a non-stacking damage over time effect.
- Syndra's Force of Will can be used on the to quickly apply the debuff to a nearby enemy champion.
See also
- Crest of the Ancient Golem
- Exalted with Baron Nashor
- Crest of Crushing Wrath
- Spirit of the Elder Lizard
Patch history
- Damage now displays properly in death recap.
- No longer triggers on spell damage.
- Melee slow reduced to 8/16/24% from 10/20/30%.
- Single target damaging abilities now apply the debuff.
- Now slows for 10/20/30% if using melee and 5/10/15% if using ranged.
- Damage per second reduced by 5 at all levels.
- Movement speed debuff reduced by 5% at every level past 5.
- Buff movement slow amount reduced to 10% from 15% from levels 1-5.
- Swapped bonus ability power for your attacks leaving a 15/20/25/30% slow for 3 seconds.
- Slow percent replaced by a 50-130 ability power buff.
- Damage over time modified to 15-55 per second for 3 seconds from 20-50 per second for 4 seconds.