I was omega bored, and decided to write a guide on a champ i have no clue on how to play FULL AP. But hey maybe my information is right, idk. Take this guide with a grain of salt. So if you think i should change anything then let me know.

Update 21/02: Ok so i played 2 games of AP Alistar. And it definitely has potential. I played against an Akshan in the first game, and then a lux in the second game. Keep in mind i was playing flex, im bronze 1 on that **** and playing with 2 other friends. So it might not prove ****. I learned from the Akshan matchup that and Is extremely important, or else he completely outrades you. The lux i was playing against wasn't a lux main so her **** was pretty easy to dodge. Still if they are an actual lux main i would bait out their E and then you can trade with Q + W + AA.

I've peaked plat 4 in season 12, and i've been playing the game almost everyday since season 3. I was always too scared to play ranked in my earlier days, cuz i was afraid of trying to climb out of bronze or silver. But season 10 i decided to take ranked serious and hit gold 4. Season 11 i hit gold 2. Now i just don't care about ranked LP or status cuz i've played against people who reached masters in normal games playing their main, and won over them. So i've learned ranked doesn't mean **** anymore unless you are grandmaster or challenger. Anyone can reach masters if they put enough games into it.

Now onto the PROS & CONS FOR AP ALISTAR AND TANK

AP ALISTAR PROS:

You have insane damage due to recent buffs with ap scalings (13.3 to be exact)
The tilt factor of losing to an Alistar in lane is what's gonna make you win games.
*Play dead meme song from BMTH* Gigachad femboy Alistar player.

AP ALISTAR CONS:

:
You fall off late game if you don't go Gathering storm.
Needs a kill early to stay relevant throughtout the game.
Team might "bait ping" you in game of course.
You are literally just a champ that's jack of all trades and need to enjoy playing "off meta" to find this fun.

NOW TO THE PROS AND CONS FOR TANK ALISTAR:

TANK ALISTAR PROS

You are actually useful no matter what due to you being a cc machine, and a meat wall.
you are literally unkillable with your ult.
Team might thank you for playing a tank (Don't count me on that)

TANK ALISTAR CONS

You have one of, if not, the most boring (and sometimes unplayable) laning phases in the game (at least with ap alistar mid you can roam). Here you are just stuck, Hoping for your jungler to play around you so you can get them fed.
Again, you need a lead to stay somewhat relevant throughtout the game (in terms of actually being able to stick onto people and maybe have a chance of murdering non-tank champs).
If you don't have the wave management knowledge, and accidently let the wave be freezed close to enemy tower, and they are playing Olaf/Darius/Camille? Then good luck not resisting the urge to call the suicide hotline (This is just a joke. If you are dealing with suicide in any way please call out for help with the suicide hotline in your country, start going to therapy or talk with people about it! there will always be someone out in this world who cares for you! and i'm thankful for you taking the time off to read my **** guide <3)

This is the full ap setup runes. NOW U CAN CHANGE THE RUNES IF U WANT TOO, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT I THINK IS DOG****

Second Row:
: Good when against non squishy comp and scales pretty well

: Haven't really tried it, but could be good for "Sustain". But you should already be fine unless against something like Syndra, Azir etc. Try it out against some champs and see if it works out for you

: Good against a squishy comp (Example Teemo/Quinn top, Assasin Jungler, Syndra/Zed Mid, Draven/Caitlyn adc and Yuumi/Pyke/Soraka/Senna
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Third Row:
: I mean if you go full ap Alistar support sure. But if not don't bother

: Honestly Not bad if you need vision

: Good if u think you'll be able to collect some kills/assist During the early game. And just a good rune overall for games that last longer as well.
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Fourth Row:
: Good for getting your item spikes faster. But I wouldn't really recommend unless you are comfortable at snowballing

: NOW THIS WILL BE YOUR MAIN FOR AP BALLBLASTER. It synergies so well with other items you will be building or will be needing like Night Harvester and Hextech Rocketbelt etc.

: It's pretty good but i prefer Ingenious. IF YOU THINK YOU NEED TO BE HARD FLANKING ALOT AND WONT HAVE SUMMS UP, OR NEED TO GET TO OBJECTIVES FASTER AND YOU WILL BE ROAMING A LOT THEN GO FOR IT.

: Nah don't even bother. If you go ap then u don't need it since u just need to oneshot backline/squishy Dps champs, and when the fight is done you won't need ult by then. EVEN IF YOU GOT THE WHOLE TEAM AND THEY WILL REVIVE IN 35-45 SECONDS. YOUR ULT WILL BE BACK BY THE TIME THE NEXT MAJOR FIGHT IS THERE LATE GAME. SO DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING THIS RUNE.
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Now on to the second tree. There's 2-3 Things u can go for the second tree. Sorcery, Resolve and Inspiration. I'll tell you what I think is worth but try some stuff out and see what works out.

SORCERY:
: I mean if they are 4+ AP champs, sure go for it. But there's better options, and you can just itemize against AP comps pretty easy.

: Good for Mana sustain and scales good into mid game. But again, your job With full AP is to one shot, not constantly throw combos out. And when the fight is done you should't be at 0 mana anyway. If you went more of a tanky utility build and couldn't go everfrost or something, then sure go for it.

: Goated if you need to dip the **** out of a fight after using summs or else you'll be ****ed harder than a brazzers pornstar. But your ult should help with staying alive after a combo. Unless if they have max health true dmg or just true dmg.
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: More utility based. Go it if you think you'll need to go tank.

: I would combine it with the predator Rune page. But I'll talk about it on that rune page (Under "notes" on Predator rune page)

Good into most games. Usuallly u should be full hp when going into a fight so having that extra ap is gonna help one shot people who are out of position, or if u just wanna go gray screen simulator.
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: Good for early trading. Nothing else really.

: Combine with celerity for roaming and flanks/skirmishes in Team fights. AGAIN USE WITH PREDATOR AND I'LL EXPLAIN IN THAT RUNE PAGE. (Under "notes" on the Predator rune page".

: Just always take this. Even matchups where you can lose (Not all)it will be good as well. It scales so ****ing well at 30+ min and if you think the game will last long then this will help you stay relevant throughout the game.
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Now onto Resolve:
: You aren't a split pusher. I guess if you play against someone who loves to roam like a Katarina/Twisted fate/Talon then sure but if not then don't bother.

: literal support rune. don't go, unless full tank.

: Go this and you will be ddos.
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: good for tankier playstyle but DONT GO WITH ELECTROCUTE.

: One of the only things i would even consider going for if you are into a heavy poke matchup like Cassiopeia, Syndra or any poke champ with faker reactions. Even if it's into a melee matchup, and you know you will be traded back onto with a "undodgeable" Combo, then SW and Doran's shield will help you stay healthy. If those are the cases then go for it.

: You aren't confident and/or afraid you will **** up once and give a early game champ a good lead like Talon or Fizz. Then sure u can go this.
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: more for the tankier playstyle. Will go well with Everfrost for being a bit more tank and scales ok. Just don't go if they have a Fiora Or Vayne.

: Idk if it helps with Alistar's passive. If it does, then it could potentially work if you fight in lanes with minions, or will be able to get a kill.

: U think you'll get ****blocked by a tank or support before or after doing your combo, and don't feel like going gray screen? then this is for you.
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Now onto inspiration:
: If you think you need to flank then sure. It's just a really cheesy rune for early game but can work if roaming. Works best for support Alistar

: So you've decided to snowball Alistar, and be more useful early game. Then this will be good since it's 300g you won't be needing. It's high risk high reward so up to you.

: Stopwatch is and will always be broken if used at the right time. A 750G Stopwatch U CAN USE IN A FIGHT THAT WILL LEAD TO A DRAKE OR RIFT OR BARON is omega strong and good again if you wanna snowball.
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. U think you will have a hard time getting those items? Then sure but Alistar can work early game without items cuz of his ******** Q + W + E combo to Stun lock someone. Now if you think you really need items fast for utility or to get onto enemies faster then this will be ok.

: Good for clearing the wave. Will be helpful for roaming against hard wave clearing matchups but won't be useful for **** after 20 min so again, snowball. If u decide to use it, then use a dematerializer on one , one and one .

: Good for sustain and if u think that you'll have mana problems.
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: NOW THIS RUNE I WILL ARGUE IS A MUST HAVE IF YOU GO INSPIRATION. Your champ can be hard to function late game without summoners, so having Cosmic + boots of lucidity will make your flash more available. Actual good Rune for late game team fights. Must have if you go Inspiration IMO.

: Idk. Not really useful unless you have a frontline who can impair a squishy target so you can get there faster to one shot.

: I would've recommended this if it was season 11 But why go this when you can go Cosmic Insight. Don't even bother.
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Always go 2 and then Health. Can change to armor or magic resist if u so desire for early trading.

Tank Alistar. It's a build that can work as support or in the top lane. But here's the thing. If you are going this build in top lane, you are taking away a spot for an actual toplaner like / / / / etc. There are champs that offer way more than you can ever dream of. Like and has good DPS against melee comps. and has insanely good Scaling and Damage out the *** late game. the reddit champ gives more value to the team with larger AoE knock up, single target enemy cc with his q + e + w, he scales harder than you, AND HE CAN UPGRADE ITEMS FOR HIS TEAMMATES. So keep that in mind if you are going this build. You got to think if your team comp fits, like if your bronze team are going full damage champs with no frontline (Nidalee, Lux, Draven and Senna) Then yes this build can work. BUT CHANGE GRASP WITH AFTERSHOCK DEPENDING ON THE MATCHUP. If you can get away with trading then grasp is ideal for the late game, and overall a safe rune. If you are playing against someone like Darius with ghost, Garen with ignite and Conqueror/Phase Rush, or Olaf/Sett OR ANY CHAMP THAT PUNISHES YOU HARD FOR EXISTING AND PLAYING THE GAME THEN AFTERSHOCK FOR THE EXTRA SURVIVABILITY. I will say that your W can definitely help if someone tries to run you down but you gotta think if they have enough sticking power. Cuz if they do, you are ****ed if your wave is on their side of the lane and they have ghost and flash or any movement spell/sticking power.
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Here's what to change depending on the scenario.

Font of life with demolish if you don't trust your teammates for the late game to do anything, and need extra gold to get to item spikes faster. AND IF ITS A FREE LANE.

Bone plating for all in champs. Make sure to w before they can proc it. So even if they still can run you down after you w, you will still have a layer of protection so they cant burst you down with a combo or some ****.

Second Wind for being against ranged champs. Teemo, Quinn, Vayne etc.

Conditioning for the free lane or if you are confident.

Overgrowth for scaling and Unflinching for not being cc'ed to death late game.
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Now u can change your second rune page to what u desire. Wanna go AP tank? Then go Sorcery With Gathering Storm + Absolute focus for the late game damage. Manaflow Band for mana sustain and trading.

Need more early power and think you can beat your opponent? Then go sudden impact/Cheap shot with Eyeball collection for stomping the lane.

Just wanna be useful for most of the game and have a safe lane? Then go precision with Triumph and Tenacity

Go attack speed for trading with grasp, If no grasp then AH mini rune
Armor and Magic Resist depending on enemy
Then HP