Trundle/Strategy

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Official Strategy

Trundle’s abilities are receiving a few minor changes and tweaks to add some additional functionality to Subjugate and Frozen Kingdom (formerly Decompose and Contaminate, respectively). Trundle’s ultimate now steals a percentage of your target’s magic resist, armor and health in addition to dealing damage based their max health. Also, when you stand in Frozen Kingdom you gain increased healing from all sources.

Trundle was already pretty solid heading into the remake, so we didn’t want to change his core gameplay too much. These changes are intended to round out his skillset.

In the jungle

Trundle excels as a safe and speedy jungler thanks to the healing effects from his passive and Frozen Kingdom. If your team needs lane pressure, you can block enemy escape routes and slow stragglers with Pillar of Ice while chasing down and damaging enemies with Frozen Kingdom and Chomp.

Mid game

As the match enters mid game, Trundle’s all about counter-ganking and securing objectives. He can utilize the increased attack speed from Frozen Kingdom and the attack reset on Chomp to quickly clear lanes and pressure towers. A clutch Pillar of Ice can be used to block enemies from stealing a crucial objective like the dragon or Baron, or pressure enemies into a hasty retreat.

Late game and team fights

Once the team fights start, Trundle makes a great counter-initiator and disruptor. With a well-placed Pillar of Ice, Trundle can stop champions while they’re charging through your front line or peel off carries from the main fight. Trundle can also troll beefy tanks and bruisers with Subjugate, tearing away their defenses and health to secure quick kills.

Skill usage

• King's Tribute allows Trundle to jungle effectively as well as keep a sustained presence in lane.
  • King's Tribute has a range of 1400 and allows Trundle to heal from enemy minion waves as they die even if you can't last-hit them.
  • The heal from King's Tribute also helps in a team fight. As enemies around Trundle die, he is healed. Although the heal per enemy is not that much, it does stack up nicely.
  • Bear in mind that King's Tribute will also trigger on Baron Nashor and the Dragon Dragon, each providing him with a significant boost of health; Baron Nashor's death can possibly heal Trundle from under half HP to nearly full late game.
• Chomp resets the attack timer. Land a basic attack, Chomp, and then land another basic attack for a potent harass in a lane matchup. Remember that it also has a slight range and can be used to lunge towards an enemy if they are outside of his autoattack range.
• Chomp is good for shutting down the attack damage-based carries on the enemy team. When facing multiple melee enemies you may want to bite each one every 8 seconds to keep the AD debuff active.
  • It can also be used to pop the opposing tank's Banshee's Veil before using your Subjugate.
  • Early game, Trundle can easily outdamage DPS champions in terms of attack damage with his Chomp.
• Trundle excels at fighting within his Frozen Domain. Try to draw enemies onto it.
  • If you are having trouble escaping or chasing champions, Frozen Domain gives you bonus movement speed so you can drop it out in front to help chase fleeing enemies or speed your escape.
  • Since Frozen Domain has a wide radius and fairly short cooldown, you can use the movement speed it grants to move quickly from pack to pack in the jungle by dropping it in the proper location.
  • Spamming Frozen Domain will allow you to reach your destination much faster but know that Trundle has a very limited mana pool and spamming will surely deplete it.
  • Frozen Domain should always be used when attacking a tower for the attack speed increase. Place it so that most of the affected area is behind you so that you can quickly run away from an approaching champion.
  • Frozen Domain also increases incoming healing by 20%. Use it before Subjugate to increase the healing it does for you.
• Trundle's Pillar of Ice is his signature strength and has many various uses.
  • Pillar of Ice may not be big enough to block off a lane or a passage in the jungle, but if used effectively, a Trundle can make other champions have to walk around it in order to get to you, giving Trundle time to escape or to chase.
  • A good tactic to keep people on Frozen Domain is to plant a Pillar of Ice on the escaping champion which will then push them backwards if placed correctly, allowing Trundle to get in range to attack.
  • Pillar of Ice can move any player if placed close to him. It can now cancel any channeling spell that requires to stand still like Nether Grasp, Infinite Duress, Death Lotus or even Recall.
  • Pillar of Ice has a large sight radius and is very effective to check the brush and slow any potential sneaky gankers.
  • Pillar of Ice can be used defensively or offensively near towers. Defensively, underneath your own tower, place the pillar slightly away from your tower when it is being attacked. The enemy will have to brave the slow, a Chomp, and possible tower shot (if they retaliate), just to hit your tower. Offensively, underneath an enemy tower, place the pillar next to their tower when attacking it and they will have trouble chasing you away without being slowed. Be careful when using this under an enemy tower, because it draws turret aggro when an enemy champion touches it.
  • Dropping Trundle's Pillar of Ice to separate the enemy team offers some of the best counter initiation as well as initiation in the game. If you find an enemy out of position, a well-placed Pillar of Ice can block off his or her escape, if somehow that enemy doesn't have Flash, as well as keeping enemy reinforcements from entering the battle. Understanding when to use Pillar of Ice for either purpose is important, as once it's gone, it's gone forever. Pillar of Ice can also save a teammate from focus by preventing enemies from crossing the terrain or once an enemy has initiated on a teammate, Pillar of Ice can block reinforcements from entering battle for a while, giving your team a little 5 on 1 quiet time with the initiator alone. Combining this tactic with Trundle's Subjugate can quickly dispatch an enemy, making the team fight effectively a 5 v 4.
  • Creating new impassable terrain over a champion (whether it is a friendly or enemy player) forcibly knocks him out of any dash animation. This means that, if timed correctly, it can block enemy champions trying to escape (e.g. Tristana's Rocket Jump], Jax's Leap Strike , Vi's Vault Breaker, etc.) or enemy initiations, even unstoppable ultimates (like Malphite's Unstoppable Force, Vi's Assault and Battery, or Nocturne's Paranoia). It can even save allies, by blocking their path, as they are displaced by enemy abilities (e.g. Gragas' Explosive Cask or Blitzcrank's Rocket Grab).
• Because enemies usually haven't built much armor or magic resistance early in the game, Trundle's Subjugate does not offer him much survivability. Its main use early is for the magic damage, the additional health, and for lowering the enemy's resistances to make Trundle hurt a little more (and Trundle's teammates if they attack the correct enemy).
• Use Subjugate to soften a powerful enemy tank for your own survivability or to create a target for your team to focus fire. Sometimes, it may be better to Subjugate a squishy target as once they die, Trundle will be healed by King's Tribute.
• When an early team fight breaks out, use Subjugate on the squishiest targets, like whomever is doing more damage between the ranged attack damage carry or ability power carry.
• Trundle's Subjugate enables him to effectively become a tanky DPS even without building many tank items.

Build usage

Trundle's high base damage and potent dueling due to his Chomp and Frozen Domain allow him to be a damage threat throughout the early and mid game. However, due to his short range with no gap closers and complete reliance on basic attacks to do damage, Trundle becomes very item dependent to be able to survive on the front lines and not get kited if he wants to do damage. When itemizing in general, value attack damage, attack speed, lifesteal, cooldown reduction, health, and resistances. Tenacity and/or some movement speed items are also very helpful.

Damage

• When jungling, getting Warrior gives Trundle the mid-game damage that he needs to stay relevant in terms of damage. This is especially good if you won the early game and aren't worried about any major sources of damage on the enemy team. Devourer is also an option when looking for on-hit damage.
• Blade of the Ruined King is a core item for Trundle and should be built on him in almost every game. The life steal, health shred passive, attack speed, small chunk of AD and especially the active to prevent kiting makes this item almost too good to pass up.
  • Prioritize using the active on ranged champions, especially the ADCs. Throughout most of the mid game, Trundle can duel most ADCs in a 1v1 provided he doesn't get kited back and they aren't far ahead. Using the active helps him get close so he can lay down his damage.
• Youmuu's Ghostblade is good for Trundle as it gives a lot of stats for cheap. The cooldown reduction is good because Trundle relies on his abilities to amplify his damage in the mid game. Attack damage, critical strike, and armor penetration make his basic attacks hurt, especially when combined with Subjugate. The active will increase his attack speed and the movement speed helps him not get kited.
• Trinity Force is a very valuable buy for Trundle as it provides stats in almost every area.
  • A Zeal gives him a movement speed buff in addition to his Frozen Domain.
  • The Phage gives him a movement speed steroid that synergizes with his Frozen Domain.
  • Chomp works especially well with Sheen and Trinity Force as it will both activate and consume the proc to deal increased damage. This can allow Trundle to last hit minions more effectively and take down targets easily.
• Iceborn Gauntlet is also worth looking at because the spellblade slow allows him to keep people close to him. The armor, CDR, and mana don't hurt either, and the AP gives Subjugate more damage.
• Ravenous Hydra is another great, but somewhat situational, item on Trundle. The passive effect gives him the area damage he lacks so he can clear waves. The high AD it gives also allows him to take towers with ease and duel people with the active and high lifesteal that it provides.
  • The one downside to this item is that it doesn't help Trundle with getting kited, whereas the Youmuu's Ghostblade and Blade of the Ruined King are quite good in this regard.

Cooldown Reduction

• Frozen Heart is a great cooldown reduction item that helps Trundle's armor scaling problem when you are fighting an enemy team generally AD.
• Consider purchasing a Zeke's Herald as a tanky DPS. Although it's mainly an item for cooldown reduction on Trundle, the other stats are also useful, health for survivability and a helpful life steal and attack damage aura.
• Spirit Visage works very well in conjunction with Frozen Domain, because they increase your self-healing of King's Tribute and Subjugate additionally giving cooldown reduction, health and magic resist when you are fighting an enemy team that's mostly AP. This is still a good option regardless of the enemy team just because of the increased healing alone.
• When playing Trundle as a support, Talisman of Ascension doesn't offer a lot of stats that Trundle desires. However, it is still a good choice because an early Ancient Coin can help with Trundle's early mana issues while the health regeneration stacks with his King's Tribute's healing for great sustain.

Defense

• Purchasing an early  Aegis of the Legion provides some durability and resistances and helps the team. It can be later upgraded into a  Locket of the Iron Solari.
• A  Frozen Mallet is a good option if you want both health and some extra damage. It's useful for  Trundle as it keeps the enemy on the AoE of  Frozen Domain.
• Randuin's Omen can serve as  Trundle's primary armor item. The movement speed slow keeps anyone that chooses to fight  Trundle on his   Frozen Domain area of effect and helps him avoid being kited, the attack speed slow and  Chomp helps them do less damage, and the active, especially when paired with   Subjugate for a longer duration, can be devastating for enemies in a team fight.
• Banshee's Veil provides a lot of health, health regen, and magic resist. The shield is also very valuable for blocking CC spells that would otherwise stop you in your tracks.
• A Sunfire Cape is a great buy on Trundle. It gives him both good health and armor for the price and the magic damage passive allows him to push waves quickly and win trades with other champions. Not to mention he can make the burn more effective when using Subjugate on someone to shred their magic resist.
• While somewhat situational, a Thornmail is definitely worth looking at for Trundle. It gives him tons of armor and the damage reflect helps him in his anti-AD role. Like the Sunfire Cape, he can even increase the damage the return does with Subjugate to boost its effectiveness.
  • Both the Thornmail and the Sunfire Cape are desirable because it allows Trundle to vary his damage output. WIth the high AD output of his attacks combined with the magic damage of these two items, he can become a somewhat hybrid champion who can duel almost anyone he can get his hands on.

Jungling

• While Trundle is a good beginner's jungler due to his high sustain, early damage and lack of reliance of runes/masteries, several junglers generally outclass him and many would rate him as a better top laner. That's not to say Trundle is a poor jungler; his counterganks, skirmishing, good tower pushing and counterjungling all make him a viable pick.
• Starting items: Hunter's Machete, Health Potion x4, and a warding totem.
• Skill progression: Chomp →  Pillar of Ice →  Frozen Domain or   Pillar of Ice→  Chomp →  Frozen Domain (If support jungle build)
• Recommended Runes: Armor Penetration Marks, Armor Seals, Personal Preference Glyphs, Attack Damage Quintessences
• Jungling order: If building as the tank Gromp(Smite) → Blue Sentinel → Murkwolves → Red Brambleback → Krug (Smite) or Krug (Smite) → Red Brambleback → Murkwolves → Blue Sentinel → Gromp if you plan to be a damage dealer.
• Trundle's strengths in the jungle are his sustain with King's Tribute and his ability to invade the enemy jungle as he can duel most AD champions favorably with his Chomp and he easily escape with Frozen Domain and Pillar of Ice.
• Trundle is not mana dependent since most of his clear damage comes from basic attacks, so he can easily give up his blue buff for his mid laner after his first clear. Constantly spamming Chomp will quickly deplete your mana however if you don't have blue, so only use it after its attack damage buff wears off.
• Trundle can gank at level 2 (really just showing his face to make them waste Flash) but he needs all of his abilities ( Frozen Domain and Pillar of Ice are critical so level 3 at the earliest) in order to gank effectively so he is pretty much stuck in his jungle route, no shortcuts should be taken.
• When clearing the jungle, place your Frozen Domain in a way that nobody in the lanes will see it. Place it behind you so you can also run to the next camp after clearing one. An example around this is the razorbeak camp; centering it on you may have the field bleed into mid lane, alerting the enemy that you're there.
• Trundle is able to solo Dragon Dragon as early as level 6 with a Vampiric Scepter and a few Health Potions. Care must be taken, as Frozen Domain is favorable to help kill Dragon Dragon but may also alert enemies to your presence. Some mana regeneration like Mana Potions are optional.

Recommended builds

Runes and Masteries

• Trundle can use either defensive masteries (9/21/0) or offensive masteries (21/9/0), depending on player's personal preference.
• General Runes: Attack Damage/Armor Penetration Marks and Quintessences, Armor Seals, Magic Resist Glyphs
• Jungling Runes: 6 Armor Penetration Marks (9.96 Armor Penetration), 3 Attack Damage Marks (2.85 Attack Damage), 9 Armor Seals (12.69 Armor), 9 Choice Glyphs, 3 Attack Damage Quintessences (6.75 Attack Damage)

Countering

• Avoid battling Trundle near minions. If a minion is killed, Trundle will regain health due to his King's Tribute. This can sometimes turn a battle to his favor. Be aware that he has exceptional health regeneration along with his King's Tribute to easily sustain himself and recover from most harass in a laning situation.
• Trundle excels at fighting inside his Frozen Domain AoE. Moving away from the spell's AoE can help you 1v1 him.
• Pillar of Ice can block your way of escape and slow your movement speed. Therefore, it is best to avoid the spell's AoE or use Flash to quickly go over it.
• Top laners with ranged capacity (such as Nidalee or Lulu) will have good effect against Trundle if he attempts to push or attack.
• Avoid a head-on fight with Trundle early-game in most cases. His early-game damage is high, and his Chomp can reduce your own ability to retaliate. Try to focus on ranged harass and wearing him down as Trundle has fewer options to retaliate than he would against melee attackers.
• If Trundle uses his Subjugate on you, it is best to avoid him and wait until the debuff is over because Subjugate can melt even the toughest tank, or allow Trundle to dive into your team and survive strictly attacking your squishy damage-dealers with the rest of his team helping him even with your best attempts to focus him down. As it is a large part of Trundle's durability which is necessary for him functioning in teamfights, using escapes to avoid letting him take advantage of Subjugate's bonuses can leave him much more vulnerable while it is cooling down.
• Trundle is always at least a decent duelist. Treat him the same way you would a Jax, Tryndamere, a fed Sion, etc. It is heavily recommend to avoid 1v1s with him at any time past level 3. During mid and late game, it is usually recommended to bring overwhelming damage (think having 2 more people on your side for any fights, so 3v1, 4v2, 5v3) or ridiculous amounts of CC (think Sejuani AND Leona).

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