Master Knight’s Vow ⇒ Best Builds, Tips & When to Use It

Knight’s Vow is a legendary item in League of Legends, tailored for champions who embody the spirit of guardianship, loyalty, and team-oriented gameplay. With its unique capacity to redirect damage away from a primary carry and convert their offensive output into healing, Knight’s Vow offers a deeply strategic element to itemization. When used effectively, it transforms tank supports and bruisers into selfless protectors who can radically alter the outcome of mid- to late-game teamfights.

Thematic Design and Lore: Embracing the Knight’s Archetype

Knight’s Vow draws heavily from the chivalric ideals of protection and sacrifice. Modeled after the concept of a knight pledging loyalty to their liege, the item captures that essence through its active bond and passive guardianship. While not explicitly tied to any champion’s lore, its narrative identity resonates with characters rooted in duty and valor. The item’s flavor text reads like a sworn oath, adding to its immersive roleplay potential and thematic depth.

Understanding Its Purpose: Gameplay Role and Combat Utility

At the core of Knight’s Vow lies the ability to create an active bond with a “Worthy” ally—typically the team’s ADC or highest-value damage dealer. Once the bond is assigned via the item’s active:

You absorb 10% to 12% of their pre-mitigation damage (as true damage) if within range and above 30% HP.
You heal for a percentage of their outgoing champion damage.
The effects are reduced if you or your ally are ranged champions.

This interaction establishes a powerful feedback loop where the protector bolsters their ally’s survivability while gaining sustain through the ally’s offensive output. In coordinated teams or clutch skirmishes, this synergy becomes a valuable tool for tilting the odds in your favor.

Stats and Build Path: Knight’s Vow at a Glance

Cost: 2300 gold
Health: +200
Armor: +40
Ability Haste: +10
Health Regeneration: +100% base regen
Build Path: Kindlegem + Chain Vest + Rejuvenation Bead

Its relatively modest gold cost makes it accessible in the mid-game, and the stat line provides just enough durability to complement the self-damaging passive. For complete item details, see the Knight’s Vow page on U.GG.

Best Champions and Roles for Knight’s Vow

To make the most of Knight’s Vow, use it on frontliners who remain close to their team in fights:

Tanky Engage Supports: Nautilus, Braum, Leona
Peel-Oriented Supports: Taric, Rakan, Thresh
Durable Junglers/Bruisers: Lee Sin, Rek’Sai, Sejuani

These champions naturally stay near their allies, tank damage, and benefit from the enhanced sustain Knight’s Vow offers. In contrast, enchanters (e.g., Janna, Yuumi, Sona) typically don’t remain close enough or are too fragile to support the item’s mechanics effectively.

Choosing a Worthy: Making the Right Bond

Assign your bond to the champion most likely to carry late-game fights. The ADC is often the default choice, but don’t hesitate to switch the bond to a Mage, Bruiser, or Splitpusher if they are performing exceptionally. Just be aware that the item enters cooldown if your Worthy dies or leaves range, so plan reassignment carefully.

Timing Your Purchase: When to Build Knight’s Vow

For most champions, Knight’s Vow is a second or third item, built after your mythic or core support item. Build it when:

Your carry is ahead or expected to become your win condition
You’re facing assassins or champions with dive potential
Team composition requires one key target to be protected in fights

Avoid building it early if your team lacks a central carry or if your positioning will not reliably place you near the Worthy.

Synergistic Items to Combine with Knight’s Vow

Pair Knight’s Vow with complementary defensive or utility items:

Locket of the Iron Solari – Great for mitigating AoE magic damage
Redemption – Provides powerful healing in extended brawls
Randuin’s Omen – Anti-crit support vs. ADCs
Dead Man’s Plate – Boosts mobility and defenses

Rune Synergies: Enhancing Knight’s Vow with Your Setup

Choose runes that complement Knight’s Vow’s passive and support-focused playstyle:

Guardian: Triggers a shield when you or a nearby ally take damage
Aftershock: Provides bonus durability on engaging crowd control abilities
Resolve secondary: Bone Plating and Revitalize for tankiness and sustainability
Inspiration secondary: Cosmic Insight and Biscuit Delivery for cooldown and sustain

Adapt rune choices based on matchup, champion pick, and level of all-in threat from the enemy team.

Practical Tactics: Effective Knight’s Vow Use In Game

Prioritize proximity: Always remain within tether range of your Worthy to benefit from the passive
Monitor HP thresholds: Passive effects deactivate under 30% HP; use healing, pots, or Redemption to recover
Reassign when needed: If another ally starts carrying, update your bond when safe and strategic
Use as counter-bait: Enable survivable carries to play aggressively, soaking dive damage without falling instantly
ARAM advantage: In constant teamfighting modes, Knight’s Vow gains substantial value due to uptime and healing

When to Avoid It: Limitations and Counters

Knight’s Vow is not appropriate every game. Be cautious of the following counter-scenarios:

Diversified enemy threats: No single playmaker makes the passive less impactful
Heavy Burst or True Damage: Can overwhelm your defensive stats and quickly deactivate your passive
Poke-dominant enemies: Regular chip damage keeps you below threshold, nullifying redirection effects
Ranged Reliant Teams: Dramatically reduced efficiency on ranged champions

Item Alternatives for Broader Team Utility

If Knight’s Vow does not fit your team strategy, consider alternatives:

Locket of the Iron Solari: Teamwide shields versus magic-based AoE and poking
Redemption: Across-map targeted heals and post-death utility
Tank Items: Randuin’s Omen or Dead Man’s Plate for frontlining and personal durability

Mode-Specific Effectiveness: Knight’s Vow Across Game Types

Summoner’s Rift: Ideal for mid- to late-game grouping in ranked or competitive environments
ARAM: Constant teamfights and grouping make this item highly efficient
Rotating Modes: Use if proximity to your carry is guaranteed and teamfights are the norm

Why Knight’s Vow Is a Standout Utility Option

Knight’s Vow stands apart in the League of Legends item pool due to its unmatched focus on a single-target protect-the-carry strategy. It rewards intelligent positioning, awareness, and harmony between frontliners and carries. When used properly, it stacks defensive efficiency with healing returns, making it a must-learn item for support mains and protective junglers aiming for impact in high-stakes games.

Frequently Asked Questions About Knight’s Vow

What does Knight’s Vow do?

It grants bonus HP, armor, ability haste, and health regeneration. The active assigns a “Worthy” ally and redirects 10% to 12% of their incoming damage to you as true damage while healing you for a portion of their champion damage dealt.

Who should you bond with?

Assign the bond to your highest-priority carry—typically the ADC, though you can switch it to a fed mage or brawler when needed.

Is it viable on all support champs?

No. Melee, tanky supports are the ideal users. Squishy enchanters usually find more payoff from direct healing/shielding items.

Can jungle champions use it?

Yes, particularly tanks and bruisers who stay close to allies during fights. Avoid it on ranged or assassin junglers who play solo.

When is the right moment to build Knight’s Vow?

Buy it after your mythic item when you identify a clear carry to protect and teamfights are frequent.

Which items work best alongside it?

Locket, Redemption, Randuin’s Omen, and Dead Man’s Plate all pair well depending on the team composition and threats.

What runes should you use?

Guardian or Aftershock for Keystone, Resolve as the main tree. Use defensive or sustain-focused secondary runes according to matchup.

What are gameplay tips for maximizing its impact?

Stay near your Worthy target, maintain over 30% HP, reassign bonds strategically, and combine with supporting actives during dives or baits.

What negates its power?

Poke-heavy comps, burst assassins, and compositions without a central carry reduce the item’s effectiveness. True damage bypasses your resistances and health pool.