Barrier + Ignite is a strong set of tools that can win you early game top, and even some mid-game engages. But, this combo is only as effective as it's user. Know what fights you can and cant win, keep in mind your positioning, and fight as smart as you fight hard and Barrier-Ignite might just give you the extra umph you need.

Safe, reliable, predictable. Flash + Ignite gives you mobility that Galio lacks outside of his E, and Ignite gives you a healcut and damage to secure kills.

For the brave roaming toplaners, the chadly, and the ganking, Teleport + Ignite. Be the thing Noxians fear with cross-map dives out of nowhere. Teleport into Ult for some serious mobility and potential clutch plays, Ignite for an extra damage edge.

Risk / Reward

WARNING: Use this one at your own discretion

Aftershock is your go to. Your main goal within the game will be to become a roaming support tank, and the synergy this playstyle has with energy cannot be understated. This rune triggers off your W, E, and Ult and will stack with Fimbul when you've built it.

Demolish provides you with the ability to chunk off plates when combined with your passive, and will scale off of your total health - A stat which your items will all contribute to.

Conditioning is simple and effective: Providing you with a powerspike of additional defenses at 12 minutes. In addition, Conditioning will provide a flat scaling bonus with the rest of your items' stats.

Overgrowth is a nice extra bit of health that scales with you throughout the game, though spikes when you've absorbed 120 minions. Providing a boost of health and small percentage boost, this rune will give you an extra a crumb of extra health scaling as well. Given Demolish and a good handful of your items scale off of health, Overgrowth is a rune that can do you no wrong.

Future's Market and Magical Footwear give you a bit of forgiveness if you aren't the best CS'er, on top of letting you play more carefully and worry less about catching *every* minion. Future's Market is especially helpful when it comes to ganking, with debt oftentimes being able to make up for the gold lost from missing a wave or two.

Adaptive, Armor, and Magic Resist for a bit of a stat boost. Just a solid set of small additions which I feel make Galio a bit better in terms of his scaling early game.

Galio's passive does more than you'd think. It's splash damage is decent chip if you can get close enough to splash against your lane opponent, or even time a hit off on. However, this can be risky and is NOT ADVISED unless you're confident in your matchup and mechanical skill.

What his passive is, however, is an extremely effective farming tool. Pair it with your Q and build CS, you'll need the gold and XP.

Your Q is your best friend when it comes to laning. It's a skillshot you'll need to learn how to land, but its damage even without AP scaling is nothing to turn your nose up at unless you're facing some tankier champs when you get levels. It isn't a Shyvana E, however: And you should lean towards using it to farm from a distance against champions you can't afford to get up close to.

Your W is your crowd control tool and is not to be underestimated in teamfights. It's area is impressive and effect can be extremely useful for peel. However, if done correctly it also serves as an excellent disengage tool. Not only will enemies be taunted, but slowed as well. If done correctly and paired with your E, it can give Galio the escape he needs in otherwise risky situations.

Speaking of Galio's E, this ability should often be used before your first basic attack with your passive for the optimum burst. The ideal combo is W + E + Q. One thing to keep in mind is that your E also makes you step back before your dash, so keep that in mind as to not back right up into enemies only to be bodyblocked by them.

Your E should be your Engage, Disengage, and Lockdown tool. You really should use it to play into your team, knocking up enemies for your damage champs to beat up on while your W keeps their attention fixated on you with your Q doing some extra damage in the mix.

Your Ultimate has a long cooldown, but can be extremely powerful. Possibly one of the strongest teamfight tools in the game, it provides an excellent source of CC for a giant area, decent damage, and can turn the entire tide of a fight when used at the right time in the right place. Dragon Fights, Herald, and big teamfights should be on your mind constantly so...

MAP AWARENESS IS KEY.

As a Galio top, your ultimate is your ace in the hole for helping your team. And with Radiant Virtue, you not only provide a magic shield but heal your allies as soon as you land on top of giving yourself some extra health to take on the fight with.

This is the optimal build for a diverse range of situations. Your role as a toplane Galio isn't to win lane, though that should still be a priority to an extend. Instead, your goal should be to be the unexpected backup that comes crashing into an enemy team and turn the tide for your comrades.

Tear and Pot start gives you mana and a bit of forgiveness when it comes to using your Q. Use it to zone out your opponent and farm, as well as do chip damage where you can. You typically don't win early game as Galio against most toplane matchups. Be patient and farm it out until you start getting your levels and items, but don't let yourself get shoved out of lane. If an opponent gets overconfident, punish with a Q + E + W combo to do damage and get out. Make them respect your space, take kills where you can if they play stupid, but know your limits.

Your first item should be Radiant Virtue. When you dive in, you not only begin to heal allies that might otherwise be low but you also shield them. That, on top of knocking up enemies in a wide radius, is a powerful combo that should not be underestimated. With the stats of the item alone on top of it's effect, you become a powerful ganker with the potential to turn fights.

Merc. Treads or Plated Steelcaps are both solid options depending on team matchup. Bear in mind Galio scales off Magic Resist; So when the physical damage is less of an issue for your game, Merc. Treads are your go-to.

Thornmail not only shuts down healing from many annoyances, but deals solid damage which Galio otherwise can lack. With your W taunt, Thornmail can be used to a frightening effectiveness in teamfights and duels.

Thornmail and Fimbul can be built at the same time, depending on the state of the game and needs. If you're already doing quite well, Fimbul adds to your survivability with its shield and triggers off of your W, E, and Ult on top of giving you extra health. Whichever you build first, they're powerful additions to your kit.

Sunfire is an excellent item for this playstyle of Galio. By this point, you have a lot of health and should be getting into and helping your teamfights regularly. The damage Sunfire provides is nothing to be overlooked, scaling off of your substantial health and stacking with the damage done by Thornmail.

The last item can vary depending on the needs of the game, and Warmog is a solid option for it's health and regen potential. This is a personal preference and can be exchanged for other items as the circumstances of the game demand.

Why should I play this build?


This build is mainly an off-meta for those wanting to have fun and do something different than the current Meta.

How should I play?


Play around your team! Your main use will be in supporting them, so play to your strengths in that respect. Don't worry about winning every fight, but don't feed. You scale, and should focus on enabling your teammates rather than being a solocarry.

What if Galio gets banned?


Then go Zac with Heartsteel and do some silly goofy shenanigans. Good secondary option, and can provide similar CC and Crowd Control options when engaged in teamfights.