{"id":17569,"date":"2026-02-18T14:47:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magicstark.cz\/wiki\/shadowflame\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T11:57:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T11:57:03","slug":"shadowflame","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/magicstark.cz\/en\/wiki\/shadowflame\/","title":{"rendered":"Shadowflame"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is Shadowflame? \ud83d\udd25<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shadowflame is a legendary Mage item<\/strong> in League of Legends, classified under the Mage category with keywords covering Ability Power and Magic Penetration. It fills a specific and focused niche: converting AP burst into guaranteed executes on low-HP targets<\/strong> through its CINDERBLOOM passive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where most AP items provide raw stats or on-hit effects, Shadowflame introduces a conditional critical strike mechanic for ability damage<\/strong> \u2014 a category previously exclusive to attack-based champions. The 40% health threshold means it activates precisely when burst mages need it most: the last 40% of a target’s HP is where fights are won and lost, and CINDERBLOOM ensures that every ability hit in that window deals amplified damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is limited to 1 Shadowflame<\/strong> per champion and is available in SR 5v5, ARAM, Nexus Blitz, and Arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcca Base Statistics & Cost<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Statistic<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Total Cost<\/td>3,200 Gold<\/td><\/tr>
Combine Cost<\/td>900 Gold<\/td><\/tr>
Sell Price<\/td>2,240 Gold<\/td><\/tr>
Ability Power (AP)<\/td>+110<\/td><\/tr>
Magic Penetration (Flat)<\/td>+15<\/td><\/tr>
Item ID<\/td>4645<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udcca 110 AP \u2014 One of the Highest Raw AP Values in the Game<\/strong>110 AP from a single item is at the upper end of what any AP item provides without a stacking mechanic.Combined with Rabadon’s Deathcap (which multiplies total AP by 35%), Shadowflame’s 110 AP becomes 148.5 effective AP after the multiplier.At 500 total AP, Shadowflame’s 110 contributes 22% of the total \u2014 a substantial chunk from one item.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd28 Recipe & Components<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shadowflame builds from two components that both contribute pure AP \u2014 making it one of the most straightforward AP item build paths in the game:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Component<\/strong><\/td>Cost<\/strong><\/td>Notes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Hextech Alternator<\/td>1,100 Gold (+300 combine)<\/td>Built from 2x Amplifying Tome \u2014 pure AP component<\/td><\/tr>
Amplifying Tome<\/td>400 Gold<\/td>Part of Hextech Alternator \u2014 first AP input<\/td><\/tr>
Amplifying Tome<\/td>400 Gold<\/td>Part of Hextech Alternator \u2014 second AP input<\/td><\/tr>
Needlessly Large Rod<\/td>1,200 Gold<\/td>Standalone AP item \u2014 one of the highest single AP components in the game<\/td><\/tr>
Combine Cost<\/td>900 Gold<\/td>Final assembly<\/td><\/tr>
Total<\/td>3,200 Gold<\/td>Complete Shadowflame<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udca1 Needlessly Large Rod Back Path<\/strong>Needlessly Large Rod (1,200g) is an expensive back \u2014 if you have enough gold, buying it immediately gives you +40 AP before the full item is complete.Hextech Alternator (1,100g) is the more accessible back at earlier timings, giving +40 AP as well with a lower price point.Both components contribute equally to AP value \u2014 the choice of which to buy first depends purely on your gold count at the first back.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd25 Passive Mechanic: CINDERBLOOM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CINDERBLOOM is a passive that triggers a conditional critical strike: your magic and true damage<\/strong> critically strikes for 120% damage<\/strong> against enemies who are below 40% of their maximum health<\/strong>. This is not a chance-based proc \u2014 it is a guaranteed critical strike on every damage instance<\/strong> when the target is below the health threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this means in practice: <\/strong>every ability hit you land against a target below 40% HP deals 20% bonus damage. For a 600-damage ability, that’s 120 extra damage per hit. For a multi-hit or multi-ability combo, the damage amplification compounds across every individual instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CINDERBLOOM Formula<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CINDERBLOOM uses a specific formula rather than a flat percentage. Understanding the math is essential for evaluating interactions with other critical damage modifiers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increased damage = base damage + ((base damage \u00d7 0.2) \u00d7 (product of all critical damage modifiers))<\/strong>Example: 100 base damage \u2192 100 + (100 \u00d7 0.2) \u00d7 1.0 = 120 damage (base case, no modifiers)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Critical Damage Modifier Interactions \u2014 The Full Math<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CINDERBLOOM multiplies the 20% amplifier by the product of all critical damage modifiers active. This creates specific outcomes depending on what the attacker and target have equipped:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scenario<\/strong><\/td>Formula<\/strong><\/td>Final Damage (from 100 base)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Base CINDERBLOOM only<\/td>100 + (100 \u00d7 0.2) \u00d7 1.0<\/td>120 damage<\/td><\/tr>
+ Infinity Edge (amplifier 1.3)<\/td>100 + (100 \u00d7 0.2) \u00d7 (1 + 0.3)<\/td>126 damage<\/td><\/tr>
+ Randuin’s Omen on target (reduction \u22120.3)<\/td>100 + (100 \u00d7 0.2) \u00d7 (1 + (\u22120.3))<\/td>114 damage<\/td><\/tr>
+ Both IE and Randuin’s<\/td>100 + (100 \u00d7 0.2) \u00d7 (1 + 0.3) \u00d7 (1 \u2212 0.3)<\/td>118.2 damage<\/td><\/tr>
Existing crit source (200% crit)<\/td>Cinderbloom stacks at 2.0 \u00d7 1.2 = 2.4x<\/td>240% total damage<\/td><\/tr>
Existing crit + IE (240% crit)<\/td>Cinderbloom stacks at 2.4 \u00d7 1.2 = 2.88x<\/td>288% total \u2014 multiplicative layering<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u26a0\ufe0f Critical Rule: CINDERBLOOM Is Multiplicative on Existing Crits<\/strong>If a damage instance already critically strikes (e.g. 200% damage from another source), CINDERBLOOM multiplies on top of that multiplier.Example: 200% crit \u00d7 1.2 CINDERBLOOM = 240% total damage \u2014 not 220%.This is the multiplicative stacking behavior. It means CINDERBLOOM doesn’t simply ‘add 20%’ to existing crits \u2014 it compounds them.In practice this means Shadowflame is most powerful when paired with champions who already have crit-scaling ability damage.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What CINDERBLOOM Affects \u2014 And What It Doesn’t<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Damage Source<\/strong><\/td>CINDERBLOOM Applies?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Ability damage (all types \u2014 AoE, single target, DoT)<\/td>Yes \u2713 \u2014 if target is below 40% HP<\/td><\/tr>
True damage from abilities<\/td>Yes \u2713 \u2014 explicitly includes true damage<\/td><\/tr>
All damage sources except summoner spells<\/td>Yes \u2713<\/td><\/tr>
Summoner spell damage (e.g. Ignite, Smite)<\/td>No \u2717 \u2014 explicitly excluded<\/td><\/tr>
Damage to structures (towers, inhibitors, Nexus)<\/td>No \u2717 \u2014 does not apply to structures<\/td><\/tr>
Damage to targets above 40% max HP<\/td>No \u2717 \u2014 threshold not met, passive inactive<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udca1 True Damage Crit \u2014 A Rare Interaction<\/strong>CINDERBLOOM explicitly amplifies true damage, not just magic damage.Champions who deal true damage through abilities (e.g. Fiora vitals, Vayne Silver Bolts, Garen R) technically benefit from CINDERBLOOM if they build Shadowflame.In practice, only AP champions with true damage abilities benefit meaningfully \u2014 most AD true damage dealers don’t itemize AP.For AP mages with a true damage component (e.g. Kassadin R, Cho’Gath R), CINDERBLOOM amplifies the true damage portion as well as the magic damage.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f Arena Mode \u2014 Map-Specific Differences<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Stat<\/strong><\/td>SR 5v5 \/ ARAM<\/strong><\/td>Arena<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Ability Power<\/td>+110<\/td>+90<\/td><\/tr>
Flat Magic Penetration<\/td>+15<\/td>+10<\/td><\/tr>
Cinderbloom critical damage<\/td>120% (20% bonus)<\/td>115% (15% bonus)<\/td><\/tr>
NEW EFFECT<\/td>None<\/td>Cinderbloom increases instances of damage that would have already critically struck by 20%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Arena reduces the raw stats but adds a significant new effect.<\/strong> The base AP drops to 90 and magic pen to 10, and the CINDERBLOOM threshold damage is slightly reduced to 115%. However, Arena introduces a new passive layer: damage instances that already critically strike are increased by an additional 20%<\/strong>. This means Arena Shadowflame functions as both a low-HP execute amplifier AND a general critical-strike damage booster for champions with crit-scaling abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategic implication: <\/strong>In Arena, Shadowflame is more broadly valuable \u2014 it’s no longer purely reactive to the below-40% threshold. Any champion with ability-based critical strikes benefits from the 20% amplification on those crits even against full-HP targets, making it a stronger buy across all stages of a round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfaf Best Champions for Shadowflame<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shadowflame is strongest on burst mages whose damage model involves multiple ability hits against targets they’re already chunking down<\/strong>. The 40% health threshold activates late in a combo \u2014 which means champions with front-loaded single-hit burst get less value than champions whose combo involves hits at multiple points throughout the target’s HP loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Ideal Picks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n