In League of Legends, the ability to use spells and abilities faster can make or break a game. If you’ve been playing for a while, you’ve probably noticed that Riot recently swapped out the traditional Cooldown Reduction (CDR) for a more flexible system called Ability Haste. Many players are still a bit unclear on how it works—how does it compare to CDR, and what are the best ways to take advantage of it?
In this guide, let’s break down what Ability Haste is, how it impacts cooldowns, and why it’s changing the way players approach champion builds. Spoiler alert: It’s all about scaling infinitely without hitting a cap.
TL;DR – Key Takeaways
- Infinite Scaling: Unlike CDR, Ability Haste doesn’t have a cap, meaning it can theoretically stack without limit.
- Diminishing Returns: As you increase Ability Haste, each point gives you slightly less cooldown reduction.
- Effective Cooldown Reduction: At 100 Ability Haste, cooldowns are reduced by 50%—a huge boost over the old 40% CDR cap.
- Item Synergy: Ability Haste can be found on a range of items, with values typically from 10-30, offering build flexibility.
Understanding Ability Haste: Why Did Riot Introduce It?
Riot introduced Ability Haste as a replacement for Cooldown Reduction, which had an exponential scale and a 40% cap. With CDR, the closer you got to the cap, the more valuable each additional point became, limiting players’ build options. Ability Haste changes this by providing a linear, uncapped way to reduce ability cooldowns, making it consistent and flexible.
This way, players can stack Ability Haste and reduce cooldowns without worrying about hitting a hard limit. With Ability Haste, you get a small reduction in cooldowns with each point, and while there’s no maximum cap, you’ll get diminishing returns as you stack higher values.
How Ability Haste is Calculated
The Math of Ability Haste
Unlike CDR, Ability Haste scales in a linear fashion, meaning every point added has a consistent impact on cooldown reduction. But the more Ability Haste you stack, the smaller the cooldown reduction you’ll get with each additional point. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- 0-10 Ability Haste: Reduces cooldowns by about 10%
- 0-50 Ability Haste: Around 33% cooldown reduction
- 100 Ability Haste: Reduces cooldowns by 50%
Each additional point is less impactful than the last, which keeps the system balanced even with high Ability Haste values.
How Much Ability Haste Can You Stack?
Technically, there’s no limit on how much Ability Haste you can stack, but building very high Ability Haste values may not be the best investment. Here’s a general idea of the stacking effect:
- 10 Ability Haste gives about a 10% cooldown reduction.
- 50 Ability Haste translates to around 33% cooldown reduction.
- 100 Ability Haste gives a 50% cooldown reduction—surpassing the old CDR cap of 40%.
Common Ability Haste Values on Items
Typically, Ability Haste on items ranges from 10 to 30. Two items with 15 Ability Haste each can give around 20-30% cooldown reduction, enough to make a noticeable impact in fights. Check out this full list of Ability Haste items on the League of Legends Wiki.
Why Ability Haste is Game-Changing for Champion Builds
1. Endless Flexibility
With no hard cap, champions can freely experiment with Ability Haste builds. This flexibility allows players to tailor their item builds to match their gameplay style and adapt based on their champion’s unique strengths.
2. Optimized for Ability-Based Champions
Ability Haste is particularly useful for champions who rely heavily on ability spamming or combo-based playstyles. Champions like LeBlanc or Zed benefit from shorter cooldowns, enabling them to unleash combos with reduced downtime.
3. Better Sustain in Extended Fights
Champions with utility or sustained damage spells, such as Lulu or Swain, can benefit greatly from the cooldown reduction, allowing them to keep allies protected or continue harassing opponents longer.
4. Dynamic Item Choices
Ability Haste appears on items across various types, from mage items like Liandry’s Anguish to fighter items like Goredrinker. Champions from almost any role can find items with Ability Haste to match their needs, creating a variety of build paths.
Optimal Ways to Use Ability Haste
Best Items for Ability Haste Builds
Here’s a quick list of popular items that provide Ability Haste:
- Liandry’s Anguish: Provides Ability Haste for mages looking to sustain magic damage.
- Goredrinker: Great for bruisers who want both sustain and faster spell rotations.
- Duskblade of Draktharr: An assassin’s favorite for increased ability uptime.
Rune Synergies
Certain runes pair well with Ability Haste, enhancing cooldown reductions further:
- Cosmic Insight: Adds bonus Ability Haste.
- Ultimate Hunter: Focuses specifically on reducing ultimate ability cooldowns, a big advantage for champions with game-changing ultimates.
Advanced Cooldown Math for Ability Haste
The Ability Haste Formula: The cooldown reduction formula for Ability Haste is as follows:
With 100 Ability Haste, a spell that had a 10-second base cooldown will now be only 5 seconds. Each added point continues to provide cooldown reduction, but with diminishing returns.
Conclusion
Understanding Ability Haste and how it stacks will give you a powerful edge in League of Legends. By letting go of the restrictions of traditional CDR, you can build Ability Haste items more creatively, adapting to your champion’s needs and gameplay style. So, whether you’re a burst assassin, utility support, or sustained mage, Ability Haste opens a world of possibilities to dominate the Rift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ability Haste in League of Legends?
Ability Haste is a stat that provides a linear, uncapped reduction in ability cooldowns, replacing the old Cooldown Reduction system.
How does Ability Haste differ from Cooldown Reduction (CDR)?
Ability Haste scales linearly and doesn’t have a cap, unlike CDR, which had a maximum limit of 40%.
Is there a cap on Ability Haste in League of Legends?
No, Ability Haste is uncapped, so players can theoretically stack it indefinitely.
What champions benefit most from Ability Haste?
Champions that rely on ability usage, like LeBlanc, Zed, and Lulu, benefit significantly from Ability Haste.
How do I calculate cooldowns with Ability Haste?
Cooldown = Base Cooldown / (1 + Ability Haste / 100).
Where can I find Ability Haste items?
Ability Haste items are available across various item types, typically offering 10 to 30 Ability Haste each.
Does Ability Haste affect summoner spells like Flash or Teleport?
No, Ability Haste only impacts champion abilities, not summoner spells.
Can Ability Haste stack with cooldown-reducing runes?
Yes, runes like Cosmic Insight or Ultimate Hunter can complement Ability Haste, providing additional cooldown reduction.
