Playing as Teemo: The Swift Scout

Teemo is a great champion for those interested in playing an easy to pick up, very powerful late game ranged AD (attack damage) / hybrid AP (ability power) champion with a lot of speed, mobility, and damage. Teemo excels at hit and run combat whether its kiting an enemy champion or split pushing a lane, diverting the enemy's attention. His poisonous attacks can do a deceptively large amount of damage in a short amount of time making him extremely deadly to the novice opponent.

He is extremely annoying to lane against because of his strong harrass, constant poison dart pokes, and ability clear minions with ease. Teemo is a very flexible champion who can be built a number of ways including a straight AD, AP, or hybrid champion with a combination of both stats.

Playing as Teemo, you can cross the map easily with your Move Quick (W) skill. This allows you to get to your lane quicker, chase enemies, flee, and push alternate lanes. He utilizes speed and trickery to lay traps with his mushrooms for anyone foolish enough to chase him.

As Teemo, you want to be constantly farming and safely pushing lanes when you can. Use vision wards and mushrooms to see when enemies approach to avoid a gank or to counter gank. Constantly placing mushrooms (shrooming) around critical map and river/jungle entrances is important for keeping tabs on the enemy team's location. Places that must be shroomed are Baron and Dragon, the entrances to each jungle, and bushes around your lane. This will stop, or at the least temporary slow enemies passing through each of these choke points around the map.

Let's take a look at Captain Teemo's four skills and passives.

Passive: Camouflage

After taking no action for 3 seconds, Teemo becomes immediately stealthed indefinitely. Upon leaving stealth, Teemo gains +40% attack speed for 3 seconds.

Teemos passive is perfect at all stages in the game. It is great for setting up traps and fleeing enemies. You can use it in the brush to hide or surprise enemies.

Blinding Dart (Q)

Deals 80/125/170/215/260 (+0.8 AP) magic damage and causes the target to miss all of their attacks for 1.5/1.75/2/2.25/2.5 seconds.

This skill allows Teemo to harass his opponent(s) in lane. It has a long range and can deal an annoyingly large amount of damage over time. Due to the 2.5 second blind at max level, it can protect you from AD champions like another Teemo, Ashe, Caitlyn, Vayne, Tryndamere, or Master Yi. Anyone who is dependent on auto attacks. This can give you the leg up in a 1v1 fight as you can get many free hits on the enemy.

Move Quick (W)

Teemo's Movement Speed is increased by 10/14/18/22/26% unless he has been damaged by an enemy champion or turret in the last 5 seconds.

Move quick is like a free Ghost Summoner Spell. This allows you to push another lane and get away with ease as the enemy sends half their team to stop your push. Move quick is great for getting in a few more auto attacks or delivering the finishing blow with a Blinding Dart (Q) in lane. Max this second after Toxic Shot (E).

Toxic Shot (E)

Teemo's basic attacks poison their target, dealing 9/18/27/36/45 (+0.14 AP) magical damage upon impact and 6/12/18/24/30 (+0.14 AP) magical damage each second for 4 seconds.

This is the skill you must absolutely max first (other than your ultimate of course). It has no active ability or mana cost and is applied to all of your auto attacks (passively). This is your primary source of damage and the poisonous effects really add up when you build with attack speed.

Noxious Trap (R)

Uses a stored mushroom to place a trap that detonates if an enemy steps on it, spreading poison to nearby enemies that slows movement speed by 30/40/50% and deals 200/400/600 (+0.8) magic damage over 4 seconds. Traps last 10 minutes.

In addition to his other skills, his mushrooms are the cherry on top. They drastically increase how annoying he can be.

Skilling Order Per Level:

1. Toxic Shot (E)
2. Move Quick (W)
3. Toxic Shot (E)
4. Blinding Dart (Q)
5. Toxic Shot (E)
6. Noxious Trap (Ultimate , R)

From there, keep maxing Toxic Shot (E) to increase your auto attack's damage. Second, max move quick and lastly Blinding Dart (Q). Obviously, be sure to take your Ultimate at levels 6, 11, and 16.

Summoner Spells - Flash / Exhaust

Flash allows you to run away or get in an extra couple of finishing attacks. Exhaust allows you to kite, gank, and survive better in 1v1 or 2v1 situations.

Runes

Armor Penetration Marks (Reds)

Flat Armor Seals (Yellows)

Flat Magic Resistance or Scaling Glyphs (Blues)

Flat Health Quintessences

These runes give you extra armor penetration for damage, and armor, magic resistance, and health to be a little more tanky.

Masteries

11/19/0, see screenshot of Teemo masteries. These allow you to deal sufficient damage while building a little extra endurance in the early game.

Teemo needs to be built as a durable hybrid who can deal damage and be able to take some as well since he has a shorter attack range than most ranged carries.

Recommended Items to Build:

1. Mercury's Treads - Avoid getting CCed. This is a must for just about every game.
2. Malady - Extra attack speed, AP, and damage for reducing magic resistance? Yes, please!
3. Frozen Mallet - Build phage early on to be able to kite your opponents.
4. Black Cleaver - Extra damage, attack speed, and 45 armor reduction.
5. Guardian Angel - As Teemo, you will sometimes be focused-fired and killed. This will get you back into the fight and save your life!
6. Madred's Bloodrazer - Buy this against extra tanky teams to deal extra damage and gain an insane boost in attack speed.

This item build is a good balance between attack damage, magic damage, attack speed, and HP. Early game you can also opt for a couple (no more than 3) Doran's Swords if you are having a difficult laning phase.

Teemo is an excellent entry level ranged damage character than only gets better as you become more accustomed to the playstyle of

League of Legends - his skills are simple and easy to use for a new player, but absolutely lethal in the hands of someone more experienced. Over time you will get the hang of his ability to kite, trap, and ambush enemy champions. With poison darts, blinds, and mushrooms, Teemo offers a massive amount of options to a ranged damage enthusiast who plans on carrying his team to victory.