Ah Puch

So generally in Mage builds, percent penetration isn't usually picked up early. However the current meta for mid builds is Starter > Boots > Charon's Coin > etc.

Charon's is being bought early at the moment because for one, it needs to be stacked so earlier gives you more time to get stacks but it's not a huge deal but for two, it is sooo cheap. Like stupid cheap for 80 power and 20% pen. I have also seen some people still rush Rod of Tahuti if they get enough gold for it but most of the time, you recall and see you can afford Charon's but Tahuti is still like 500+ gold away so you just finish Charon's and continue the build.

So we pretty much have 2 meta build options with Bran's proposal of Conduit Gem which I agree with and also a third one that I would consider experimental.

1. Sands of Time > Shoes of Focus > Charon's Coin > Spear of the Magus > Soul Gem > Rod of Tahuti > Pendulum of Ages > Swap boots for Gem of Isolation / Staff of Myrddin

2. Conduit Gem > Shoes of Focus > Charon's Coin > Spear of Desolation > Soul Gem > Rod of Tahuti > Gem of Focus > Staff of Myrddin / Gem of Isolation

3. Sands of Time > Shoes of Focus > Charon's Coin > Spear of the Magus > Soul Gem > Rod of Tahuti > The Alternate Timeline > Swap boots for Staff of Myrddin / Gem of Isolation

Build 1 standard item choices, as I mentioned previously Charon's and Tahuti can be swapped. Not relying on Spear of Desolation for CDR as you do with Spear of the Magus opens you up to swap it for Divine Ruin without swapping a more important item.

Build 2, pretty much the same but if you needed antiheal you would be down to 20% CDR instead of 30% which isn't the end of the world if you swap your boots for Staff of Myrddin to keep that CDR late game.

Build 3 I've gone for The Alternate Timeline. This gives you a slight best of both world with a twist. If you want Gem of Isolation late game then get Spear of Desolation and you can keep topped up on CDR. All the CDR and power you really need plus because Ah Puch is super unsafe in general, he can use Timeline as a decent back up. I'm still not 100% on Timelines worthiness in mid builds but I would definitely say it's a better choice on gods like Ah Puch and Zeus.

Also if you were interested why I added them, Soul Gem is just a great item for a mages burst potential, CDR rounds out a build nicely and there's very few gods I wouldn't build it on. Staff of Myrddin is great for Ah Puch because he can ult and shoot his bodies twice with his 1 so there are four bodies (five with his 3) and they wont be reduced in damage in the explosion, only on the "run".

Hey Gulf,

Some quick comments:

• Which mode / role? Still good to clarify, even if it's generally obvious to me.
  
  
• While I can agree with Sands of Time into Pendulum of Ages as a functional starter/upgrade path, I think I'd personally prefer Conduit Gem into Gem of Focus. I like the passive the upgrade provides, as Ah Puch doesn't have an escape and will appreciate the added MS and damage mitigation. That would open you up to more paths to get CDR.
  
  
• Speaking of CDR, I know you're proposing one simple build, and that's a good thing to keep things simple for viewers quickly looking for a build, I do feel that there are other item options that should be considered. Note that if this is for the Build Frenzy event, that does call out identifying starting items, core items, situational items, relics, and a full build.
  
  
• If going Conduit, it allows for Chronos' Pendant as a CDR option. Added lifesteal options in Pythagorem's Piece, Soul Gem, and Spear of the Magus are also functional. Divine Ruin can also be considered even though he has anti-heal in his 1; you can almost completely shut down their healing with that combo. And obviously, Magi's Cloak or Mantle of Discord, or perhaps an Ethereal Staff would be functional for survival purposes. And in teamfight modes, Stone of Binding as a rush is nice.