Salt

Good to see other build ideas for Freya.

From your comment and my response in the other thread, I can agree that a larger focus on a more standard "mage" type build, compared to an all-ring ADC build, is likely the best route right now.

It's also nice for 5.14 that she'll see a pretty significant mana drop for Aurora Blade, from 25/33/41/49/57 to 20/25/30/35/40. Being a bit less mana hungry should really help.

That said, I have some thoughts regarding the optimization of this build.

• Starter blessing? Expect to still see Hunter's Blessing, but maybe you're not picking a starter up and rushing Bancroft?
  
  
• Bancroft's Talon as first T3 item should probably be okay, depending on role and how you're going to focus your gameplay. I'm not sure what mode and role you're proposing this for, as you haven't stated, but the early lifesteal can definitely allow you be more aggressive to use your melee and better balance mana use from ranged Aurora Blade. Depending on the rest of the build, though, it might delay some of your other strengths.
  
  
• I'm okay with Shoes of Focus, depending on the rest of the build...but if you go Focus, then I'd expect to see you make up for it with some form of pen pretty early. This doesn't happen in your suggested build, though...comments on that are upcoming.
  
  
• Hastened Ring is your 3rd item. If going for a boxing build, this is okay, but in that case, I'd expect to see Shoes of the Magi instead of Focus, for that extra damage...and building it this early, I'd also expect the rest of the build to follow on the strengths of the boxing potential from Bancroft and the juking potential of Hastened Ring. However, your final 3 items are focused much more on ability use.
  
  
• As it stands...you don't have any penetration in your build at all until you get Spear of Desolation as item #6. This is honestly too late to build your first (and only) pen, and it'll hurt your damage potential, because 15 flat pen is just not enough. Will talk about this more in a bit.
  
  
• Polynomicon is definitely a favored item for Freya right now. The big thing you're missing is the more significant focus on ability damage. Not only do you still not have pen at this stage, but Poly is very strongly paired with high power via items like Book of Thoth. You can argue that Bancroft + Soul Reaver (your next item suggestion) do bring that high power aspect, and I will agree...but getting Hastened before it, combined with no pen (yes, sounding like a broken record but it's a major point) honestly sort of counteracts it.
  
  In addition, going double-lifesteal with Bancroft + Poly isn't probably the most popular / optimal combo. You'll typically either want to go Bancroft + Typhon's, or go solo lifesteal w/ Poly combined with Thoth.
  
  
• Soul Reaver provides some nice burst, but Freya will not utilize this well, at least in comparison to other mages. If you're looking for just the power and the single burst, that's fine, and as we'll see, Zapman did pick it up recently. That said, only 2 of her 4 abilities will proc it... Banish does 0 damage, and Aurora Blade does not count as ability damage, so you'll only get a proc from Northern Lights and her ult. Soul Reaver is a MUCH better item for gods with more damaging abilities...such as Agni, or He Bo, or Ah Puch, or...well, almost any other mage.
  
  
• And finally we come to the one pen item. Too little, too late, in my opinion. Suggest getting this earlier if you want the specific item, but have it in combination with at least 1 other pen item.

All considered, I think it's best to consider grouping items that will synergize as well as possible.

Examples of good combo items (not full builds, just items to pair together):

• Mage Burst: Book of Thoth, Polynomicon core. Book of the Dead and Soul Reaver are functional add-ons. These 4 items all bring good power and tons of mana. That high mana will give you an incredible health shield from Book of the Dead. The combo of Poly and Reaver will enhance the burst effect from Northern Lights. Only the first 2 items are core in this though...the other 2 can be substituted as needed. Obviously other required items will be Shoes and a significant pen item (likely Obsidian Shard.
  
  
• Hybrid: Book of Thoth + Polynomicon, Hastened Ring + Demonic Grip. Sort of best of both worlds. Thoth and Poly are synergistic, and the 2 rings give very good AS, enhanced MS, and good sustained DPS. Demonic can be substituted for Obsidian Shard if preferred. Get the most out of Northern Lights by engaging with the enemy first and getting full Demonic stacks before you use Northern.
  
  
• ADC: Bancroft's Talon + Typhon's Fang, Hastened Ring + Demonic Grip. Old school Freya. May still prefer getting Book of Thoth with these, so you don't have to worry about mana, but the 2 lifesteal items are best for gods that are looking to have extended boxing. Bancroft's passive means you expect to take damage, and want to both stay alive with increasing lifesteal, and take advantage with the boost in power. Typhon's just enhances Bancroft's potential as your health gets lower.

Anyway, that's my input for now. I think people are able to get away with a variety of builds because overall she's very strong right now...but there are definite synergies to be had.