Mid lane splits into control mages and assassins, and each wants different runes. Burst assassins want damage and cooldown-focused keystones; scaling mages want sustained power and mana. This guide explains how to pick, and links every keystone to the live rune database.
Mages vs Assassins
Control mages generally want runes that reward sustained damage and give mana to keep casting, so they can poke and scale safely. Assassins want burst and the ability to reset cooldowns after a kill, so they can snowball. Choosing the right family is the biggest decision — individual runes are fine-tuning.
Common Mid Keystones
Burst mages and assassins often run Electrocute for a quick damage spike, while some poke or tempo styles use First Strike. Extended-trade fighters mid can run Conqueror. Read each on the runes database to see exactly what it does before you decide.
When in doubt, open your champion’s build page and follow its recommended page — it reflects what currently works.
Runes and the Full Build
Runes pair with items and summoner spells to form a complete setup. The builds database shows the whole thing per champion, and the mid lane tier list tells you which champions are strong if you are still choosing a main.
Practical Tips
- Decide whether your champion bursts or scales, then pick the matching rune family.
- Read keystones on the runes database before committing.
- Follow the recommended page on your champion’s build when unsure.
- Our mid lane champions guide helps you pick who to play.
