Champion Guide

Tristana Guide

By LoLSuggest

ADC

Tristana is an aggressive marksman who snowballs, takes towers fast and scales into a long-range hyper-carry. Draw a Bead increases her attack and Explosive Charge range as she levels, making her one of the longest-ranged ADCs at level 18. Rapid Fire gives her a big attack speed boost, Rocket Jump leaps to a location and slows enemies where she lands, and resets on takedowns and fully stacked Explosive Charges, Explosive Charge plants a bomb on an enemy or tower that explodes after four attacks, and Buster Shot knocks an enemy back, doubling the bomb's explosion radius if they carry it.

Recommended Setup

Our recommended Tristana build

Our recommended runes, summoner spells and items. Compare build win rates on the stats page.

Items

Starting Items

Core Items

Situational Items

Start Doran's Blade, a Health Potion and a Stealth Ward, and buy a B. F. Sword or Scout's Slingshot with boots and a Control Ward on your first back. The standard spike is Yun Tal Wildarrows, Berserker's Greaves and Infinity Edge, or The Collector instead of Yun Tal when snowballing. Then build Navori Flickerblade, Lord Dominik's Regards, Bloodthirster and Guardian Angel, with Mortal Reminder against healing and Rapid Firecannon, Phantom Dancer or Runaan's Hurricane as other crit options. Immortal Shieldbow, Maw of Malmortius and Mercurial Scimitar are defensive picks, and Blade of the Ruined King or Kraken Slayer help against tanks. Take Plated Steelcaps or Mercury's Treads instead of Berserker's Greaves when you need defence. Run Lethal Tempo with Triumph, Legend: Alacrity and Cut Down, plus Magical Footwear and Biscuit Delivery; Press the Attack suits burst trading, Hail of Blades stacks Explosive Charge fast, and Taste of Blood with Treasure Hunter is a snowball secondary. Take Flash with Barrier, Cleanse or Heal. Max E, then Q, then W.

Runes

Primary Tree

Secondary Tree

Summoner Spells

Skill Max Order

Strengths

One of the strongest level 2 spikes in the bot lane with Rocket Jump and Explosive Charge.
Takes towers and objectives extremely fast with Explosive Charge.
Her range grows with levels, making her a safe late-game hyper-carry, and Rocket Jump resets on takedowns.

Weaknesses

Rocket Jump can be interrupted by any crowd control, leaving her vulnerable when engaging.
Engage and peel supports such as Alistar, Leona, Braum or Janna make her lane hard.
Needs good positioning and timing to deal her damage in teamfights.

Laning Phase

Tristana's early game is about controlled aggression and smart trading. Last-hit and place Explosive Charge on enemies when they step up for CS, and look for a level 2 all-in, which is one of the strongest in the bot lane. Manage your mana and do not spam abilities. Use Rocket Jump mainly as an escape or for confirmed kills, since any crowd control interrupts it. Always activate Rapid Fire before placing Explosive Charge to fit four attacks in, and put Explosive Charge on towers for fast plating gold.

Mid & Late Game

After laning, Tristana becomes a split-push and objective threat: pressure side lanes when objectives spawn and coordinate with your team for dragon and Rift Herald. Your first big spike comes at two items and your three-item core makes you a real threat. In late teamfights, stay at maximum range, hit the nearest threat while kiting backward, and save Buster Shot to knock away divers and assassins; a fully stacked Explosive Charge or a takedown resets Rocket Jump, so you can chain jumps through a fight.

Key Tips

Activate Rapid Fire before placing Explosive Charge to stack it fully.
Explosive Charge then Buster Shot knocks the enemy away and doubles the bomb's explosion radius.
Rocket Jump resets on takedowns and fully stacked Explosive Charge detonations.
Any crowd control interrupts Rocket Jump, so jump in only after key spells are used.

Matchups