Purist Caster Build: ARAM Mayhem item guide
Purist Caster build guide for ARAM Mayhem 16.17: compare Dagger and Nashor’s Tooth, with item paths for mages, fighters, enchanters and marksmen.
Calculate the gain before buying
In ARAM Mayhem 16.17, Purist - Caster converts each 1% attack speed into 0.65 ability haste. At 250 gold, Dagger gives 6.5 haste through conversion; Glowing Mote gives 5 directly. Your choice also depends on what each component builds into and whether you need mana or defense first.
| Augment | Attack-speed conversion |
|---|---|
 Purist - Caster | 1% attack speed → 0.65 haste |
Use the added attack-speed percentage that the Augment actually recognizes: added haste = 0.65 × added attack-speed percentage points. A 10% increase gives 6.5 haste; 50% gives 32.5. Do not read 1.0 attacks per second as 100% additional attack speed, or count base attack speed again.
| Item | Total gold | Base stats | Added haste with Caster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dagger | 250 | 10% attack speed | 6.5 |
| Glowing Mote | 250 | 5 haste | 5 |
| Fiendish Codex | 850 | 25 AP, 10 haste | 10 |
| Nashor's Tooth | 2900 | 80 AP, 50% attack speed, 15 haste | 47.5 |
Check what your Dagger builds into
At 250 gold, Dagger gives 1.5 more immediate haste than Glowing Mote. But Mote may build into the spell item you actually need. Extra Daggers outside your upgrade path occupy slots and delay completed items. Fiendish Codex’s 25 AP still has value even though this table isolates haste.
Nashor’s Tooth gives 47.5 = 15 + 50 × 0.65, counting only direct haste and attack-speed conversion. This excludes Caster’s separate cooldown reduction and other AP-to-haste effects. If you mainly cast and rarely attack, its on-hit damage may be underused. Prioritize mana, penetration or survival when those are the actual limits on your damage.
Build paths for four champion roles
These paths use 16.17 item data. Arrows suggest a build order; available gold, team compositions and immediate needs can change it. Replace a slot with boots, anti-heal or a defensive item when needed.
| Role | Suggested path (adapt as needed) |
|---|---|
| Mages | Luden's Echo → Nashor's Tooth → Lich Bane → Rabadon's Deathcap → Void Staff → Shadowflame |
| Ability-based fighters | Hubris → Experimental Hexplate → Death's Dance → Black Cleaver → Maw of Malmortius → Endless Hunger |
| Enchanters | Moonstone Renewer → Whispering Circlet → Redemption → Dawncore → Mikael's Blessing → Staff of Flowing Water |
| Ability-based marksmen | Yun Tal Wildarrows → Navori Flickerblade → Infinity Edge → Lord Dominik's Regards → Blade of The Ruined King → Phantom Dancer |
The mage path keeps mana, AP and penetration, with Nashor’s Tooth providing 47.5 haste. Lich Bane suits champions who can safely weave in attacks. If you rarely attack, use that slot for damage or defense.
The fighter path retains AD and resistances. Experimental Hexplate’s permanent 20% attack speed converts to 13 general haste; its separate 30 ultimate haste only affects R. Count the temporary post-ultimate buff separately, without applying ultimate haste to Q/W/E.
Enchanters should prioritize healing, shielding, mana regeneration and rescue actives. Whispering Circlet must stack before upgrading; filling the build with marksman items is unnecessary.
The marksman path requires regular attacks and useful crit or on-hit effects. Its four attack-speed items provide 45% + 40% + 25% + 65% = 175% permanently, converting to 113.75 haste. Yun Tal Wildarrows adds 30% while its buff is active, worth another 19.5. Navori Flickerblade’s attack-based reduction of remaining cooldown is a separate effect, not fixed haste to add again.
FAQ
Should you build attack speed with Purist Caster?
No. Attack speed is one route to haste. Compare equal-cost gains, upgrade paths and your champion’s needs. Fixing mana, survival or damage may be more useful.
How much haste does Nashor’s Tooth give?
With these 16.17 item stats, 15 direct haste plus 32.5 from 50% attack speed equals 47.5. That is not a cooldown-reduction percentage or proof that Nashor’s is optimal for every mage.
Should Karthus switch to attack-speed items?
Keep Karthus focused on spell damage, mana and ultimate cooldowns. Compare options such as Nashor’s Tooth one item at a time. If you rarely attack, you will get less use from their on-hit effects.