How to Play Olaf: 5 Essential Tips to Dominate in League of Legends

Overview

Learning how to play Olaf effectively requires mastering his axe-throwing technique, optimizing builds, leveraging CC immunity, perfecting jungle paths, and dominating teamfights. This berserker excels through aggressive play that takes advantage of his unique passive making him stronger at low health, while his ultimate’s crowd control immunity allows him to fearlessly charge through enemy lines and reach priority targets.

Introduction to Olaf

Learning how to play Olaf effectively can transform your League of Legends experience, turning you into an unstoppable force on the Rift. As one of the game’s most iconic berserkers, Olaf offers a unique playstyle that rewards aggression and smart decision-making. Whether you’re venturing into the jungle or holding down the top lane, mastering this axe-wielding Viking can lead to devastating results for your opponents.

Olaf thrives on getting into the thick of battle, becoming stronger as his health depletes—a mechanic that separates skilled players from novices. His ability to ignore crowd control effects with his ultimate makes him particularly effective against teams relying on stuns, slows, and other disabling effects to control fights.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through five essential tips on how to play Olaf like a pro. We’ll cover everything from ability mechanics and optimal build paths to strategic decision-making that will help you dominate your games. So grab your axes, embrace your inner berserker, and let’s dive into what makes Olaf one of the most feared champions in the right hands.

Understanding Olaf’s Abilities

Before diving into specific strategies, it’s crucial to understand how to play Olaf by mastering his ability kit. Each of his skills synergizes with the others, creating a champion who becomes more dangerous the longer he stays in combat.

Passive: Berserker Rage – Olaf gains attack speed based on his missing health. This passive encourages aggressive play even when at low health, creating exciting clutch moments when played correctly.

Q: Undertow – Olaf throws an axe that deals damage and slows enemies. The key mechanic here is that you can pick up the axe to reduce the cooldown significantly. This ability forms the backbone of your chase potential and jungle clear.

W: Tough It Out – When activated, Olaf gains lifesteal, attack speed, and healing amplification. This ability makes him incredibly difficult to duel and supports his sustained damage output.

E: Reckless Swing – A true damage nuke that costs health to use but has its cooldown reduced by auto attacks. This creates a risk-reward scenario where smart usage can dramatically increase your damage output.

R: Ragnarok – Perhaps Olaf’s most defining ability, Ragnarok makes him immune to crowd control while granting bonus armor, magic resistance, and attack damage. This ultimate allows Olaf to charge through enemy lines and reach priority targets with ease.

Understanding these abilities and their interactions is your first step to mastering how to play Olaf effectively. Now, let’s explore our first essential tip for dominating with this champion.

Tip 1: Master Your Axe Throwing Technique

The cornerstone of learning how to play Olaf effectively is mastering his Q ability, Undertow. This axe-throwing technique isn’t just about dealing damage—it’s about controlling your opponent’s movement and maintaining your own mobility across the map.

When throwing your axe, aim it strategically rather than simply in the direction of your enemy. The ideal placement is slightly to the side of their escape path, forcing them to either run through it and get slowed or change direction entirely. This creates a win-win situation for you as they’ll either be slowed or forced into a less optimal position.

One advanced technique that separates good Olaf players from great ones is the “axe chain.” Here’s how to execute it:

• Throw your first axe at an angle that allows you to pick it up while continuing to chase
• The moment you pick up the axe, immediately throw it again
• Continue this pattern to create a virtually unending slow on your target

Practice throwing axes at maximum range to harass opponents safely in lane. This technique is particularly useful against ranged champions who might otherwise bully you. According to official League of Legends statistics, the best Olaf players land over 70% of their axe throws in critical situations.

Remember that axes stick in terrain, so using them near walls can create zones that enemies must avoid. This is particularly useful when fighting around objectives like Dragon or Baron, where controlling space is crucial. Just as with learning to play Braum, positioning is everything when mastering Olaf.

Finally, in the jungle, practice throwing axes over walls to check camps or surprise enemies. This technique can save you valuable seconds when racing for objectives or looking to create gank opportunities.

Tip 2: Optimize Your Build Path

Knowing how to play Olaf effectively requires understanding which items complement his kit and playstyle. Your build path should enhance Olaf’s strengths—sustain, stickiness, and raw damage output—while mitigating his weaknesses like being kited and falling off late game.

For jungle Olaf, start with a core build that maximizes clear speed and early dueling potential:

• Goredrinker/Stridebreaker as your mythic item (Goredrinker for sustain, Stridebreaker against mobile enemies)
• Sterak’s Gage for survivability in team fights
• Death’s Dance to mitigate burst damage
• Spirit Visage to amplify your healing effects

For top lane Olaf, consider these core items:

• Goredrinker for sustain and ability haste
• Black Cleaver against tanky compositions
• Ravenous Hydra for wave clear and additional lifesteal
• Defensive boots based on enemy team composition

Adapt your build based on the enemy team composition. Against heavy AP threats, prioritize Mercury’s Treads and Force of Nature. For AD-heavy teams, Plated Steelcaps and Thornmail are essential. According to Pro Builds data, the highest win rate Olaf builds include at least two items with health components.

Don’t underestimate the value of ability haste on Olaf. The more axes you can throw and the more frequently you can use Reckless Swing, the more damage you’ll output in extended fights. Look for items that provide this stat alongside other useful effects.

For runes, Conqueror is generally considered the optimal keystone as it enhances Olaf’s sustained damage output. Pair this with Triumph, Legend: Alacrity, and Last Stand to maximize your fighting potential. Secondary runes can include Nimbus Cloak and Celerity for mobility or Bone Plating and Revitalize for additional survivability.

Tip 3: Leverage Your Immunity to CC

Olaf’s ultimate, Ragnarok, provides one of the most unique advantages in League of Legends—complete immunity to crowd control effects. Learning how to play Olaf at the highest level means mastering when and how to use this powerful ability.

The timing of your ultimate activation can make or break teamfights. Rather than using it immediately upon engaging, watch for key enemy abilities that might stop your assault. Wait until you see animations for major CC abilities before triggering Ragnarok, maximizing its effectiveness during its duration.

During the early game, use your ultimate to secure kills when ganking lanes. The additional movement speed and immunity to slows makes it nearly impossible for enemies to escape without using Flash. However, be mindful of the cooldown—using it frivolously can leave you vulnerable for the next objective fight.

Here are some situations where Ragnarok provides exceptional value:

• Breaking free from an initiation like Leona or Nautilus ultimates
• Charging through area control mages like Anivia or Veigar
• Avoiding critical CC chains during objective contests
• Preventing displacement effects that would separate you from your target

Remember that while you’re immune to CC, you’re not immune to damage. Many Olaf players make the mistake of overestimating their durability during Ragnarok. The ability grants bonus resistances, but you can still be focused down by coordinated teams.

When playing against teams with multiple crowd control abilities, consider building items that extend your effective health pool like Sterak’s Gage and Gargoyle Stoneplate. These items work particularly well with Ragnarok since the main counter to these items (CC-locking) doesn’t affect you.

Tip 4: Perfect Your Jungle Pathing

One of the most crucial aspects of learning how to play Olaf in the jungle is optimizing your clear path. Olaf’s early game strength allows him to clear camps quickly and contest scuttle crabs or invade enemy territory with relative safety.

Start with a full clear from bottom to top (or vice versa) to reach level 4 quickly. Olaf’s healthy clear allows him to complete this without needing to back, giving you an advantage over junglers who must recall earlier. Use your Q and E abilities efficiently to maximize clear speed while maintaining health through your W’s lifesteal.

After your initial clear, look for opportunities to counter-jungle. Olaf excels at dueling most junglers in the early game, so finding and fighting the enemy jungler can create significant advantages. Ward their jungle entrances and look for opportunities to steal camps or force unfavorable fights.

When ganking lanes as Olaf, approach from angles that allow you to land your axe easily. Unlike some junglers who can dash over walls or have point-and-click CC, Olaf relies on landing his skillshot to initiate ganks effectively. Communicate with your laners to ensure they provide follow-up crowd control.

Objective control should be a priority. Olaf’s fast clear and strong dueling make him excellent at securing Dragons and Herald. According to OP.GG statistics, high-ranked Olaf players secure the first Dragon in over 65% of their games, showing the champion’s strength in early objective control.

In the mid-game, adjust your pathing to support the strongest lanes or counter the enemy jungler’s movements. Use deep wards to track enemy movements and respond accordingly, either by counter-ganking or taking objectives on the opposite side of the map.

Tip 5: Dominate Team Fights

As you advance in learning how to play Olaf, mastering teamfight positioning becomes essential. Unlike many bruisers who function as frontline tanks, Olaf works best as a diver who targets high-priority enemies in the backline.

When a teamfight begins, assess whether you should peel for your carries or dive the enemy backline. If your team has another engager, it’s often best to allow them to initiate before you follow up with Ragnarok to reach enemy carries. This prevents the enemy team from kiting back together and focusing you down.

The ideal teamfight execution follows this sequence:

• Position yourself to flank or approach from an unexpected angle
• Wait for the initial engage or counter-engage
• Activate Ragnarok when primary CC abilities have been used
• Target the highest damage threat you can reach, typically the ADC or mid laner
• Use your axes to chain slows and prevent escape
• Save your Flash for following high-value targets who use mobility skills

Remember that your passive makes you stronger as your health decreases, creating opportunities for surprising turnarounds. Don’t be afraid to stay in fights even at low health, especially with your W active for increased healing.

In extended teamfights, prioritize hitting as many enemies as possible with your axes to apply slows across the battlefield. This creates space for your teammates to maneuver and makes it difficult for enemies to peel for their carries.

As games progress into the late stages, be more selective about when you engage. Olaf’s power curve peaks in the mid-game, so in late-game scenarios, look for picks or flank opportunities rather than charging into full 5v5 situations where you might get bursted down.

Conclusion

Mastering how to play Olaf effectively requires understanding his unique strengths and embracing his berserker playstyle. By implementing the five tips we’ve covered—mastering axe techniques, optimizing builds, leveraging CC immunity, perfecting jungle paths, and dominating teamfights—you’ll be well on your way to wreaking havoc on the Rift.

Remember that Olaf rewards aggressive, confident play. Don’t be afraid to push your limits and learn through experience. Each game will teach you something new about timing your ultimate, chaining your axes, or identifying the perfect moment to go all-in.

One of Olaf’s greatest strengths is his versatility between jungle and top lane, allowing you to adapt to team needs while maintaining your core playstyle. Whether you’re clearing camps or trading in lane, the fundamental principles of how to play Olaf remain consistent—control space with your axes, sustain through fights, and fearlessly charge into battle when the time is right.

As you continue to practice and refine your Olaf gameplay, you’ll discover that few champions can match his combination of durability, damage, and sheer intimidation factor. So grab your axes, embrace your inner Viking, and show the Rift what a true berserker can do!

Frequently Asked Questions