MacroMind matchup data: real ranked games, not opinions
Vladimir vs Varus
How often does Vladimir beat Varus in Top?
Vladimir into Varus in Top: 41% observed win rate across 173 ranked games.
Global ranked sample: games from every region and every rank pooled together, not one server's stats. Data runs through patch 26.12; curves updated 2026-08-07.
By 15 minutes the median game has Vladimir behind by 1,063 gold.
Vladimir at 15:00
- Gold: -1,063
- CS: -16
- XP: -729
Typical gap to Varus, from 172 games that reached 15:00.
Does Vladimir counter Varus?
The count says no. Varus holds 59% of 173 ranked Top games here. The lane is still winnable. Vladimir wins it back from the spots below, so learn which ones swing it before you lock in Vladimir against Varus, and play for those first.
Beating Varus: the Vladimir game plan
A gold lead at 10:00 puts Vladimir at 50% across 60 games. Flip the lead and Vladimir falls to 36% across 113.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead in gold at 10:00 | 50% | 60 |
| Behind in gold at 10:00 | 36% | 113 |
| First blood | 46% | 70 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 45% | 51 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 52% | 44 |
Someone usually dies here around 4:55 in the median game, and level 6 lands near 5:46. Until your spike is online, respect the all-in.
Vladimir's Top build, with receipts
Into Varus specifically, Vladimir finishes Hextech Rocketbelt first most often: 38.5% over 52 games of this matchup.
The most-finished Vladimir core is Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Rabadon's Deathcap: 58.7% across 1,376 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 26.1-26.12.
Most games start Doran's Ring + Health Potion + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Hextech Rocketbelt (5,947 games).
Skill plan: Vladimir players max Q first and take Q at level 1.