Vulcan Canonking

Vulcan "smith of the gods" is the roman god of smithing and using fire. He is a melee magical tank that uses turrets and is very good at controlling the battlefield, denying enemies to save people etc.
This build is focused on buffing up the turrets. Mainly giving them health and penetration, not that focused on magic power because his turrets only get 35 percent of your magical power. So because of that you get more damage from building penetration than magical power.

ForgeForgeForgeForgeForge (Passive)ForgeForgeForgeForge

Vulcans passive gives his turrets 20 percent of his health and protections. It also lets you heal your turrets when you are standing close to them. So a pretty straight forward skill, the more tanky you are the more tanky your turrets will become. This build is revolved around this skill.

Backfire

A great skill for clearing minion waves, I usually get it up to rank 4 as fast as possible so that I can farm my stacks easy. When you get it up to rank 4 all you need is one shot with Backfire and put down Thumper XVI to kill the wave. The damage on this skill is pretty good, both the base damage and the magical power contribution is the highest of your skills. This skill also got a 20 feet knock back, so it can e used to dodge incoming attacks. Really good to use if you got your turrets on the ground, to kite enemies while they take damage from your turrets.

Inferno Cannon

This skill is great for controlling your lane, it is a turret that shots out fireballs in a cone in front of it. So it is important to plan where you place it, try to place it so that enemy gods can't walk up behind it to destroy it (it is very squishy earlygame) without having to take a few shots from it. I usually place it close to a wall facing the entire lane, and behind my melee minions so that it can hit the the enemy ranged minions as well. I usually take on point in this first to help with taking the buff camps, very effective if you manage to bodyblock the camps and have the Inferno Cannon agroing the minions. This is the skill that is going to give you most of your damage and map control.

Thumper XVIThumper XVIThumper XVIThumper XVIThumper XVI Thumper XVIThumper XVIThumper XVIThumper XVI

This is your only crowd control skill, it puts down a turret that shakes the ground dealing damage in a area around it and slowing enemies that are hit by it. Because this does damage in a 360 degrees angle placing the turret is a lot easier than with the Inferno Cannon, but you still have to try to predict where the enemy wants to go and try to cut him off so that you and your carry can take him down. This turret is pretty tanky, so it can take some damage before it is destroyed.

Volcanic OverdriveVolcanic OverdriveVolcanic OverdriveVolcanic OverdriveVolcanic Overdrive Volcanic OverdriveVolcanic OverdriveVolcanic OverdriveVolcanic Overdrive

This is steroids in a can for you and your turrets. You get a movement speed buff (which makes it easier for you to kite enemies around our turrets) and you get a buff to your protections (which makes you able to stay in teamfights longer etc). Your turrets get massively increased attack speed, your Inferno Cannon auto targets the closest enemy god and fires in a 360 degree angle, they also get a increased health regain (without you having to stay next to them). This skill is great for splitting up teamfights, counter initiating if you get ganked etc. No one wants to stay close to Vulcans buffed turrets if they don't have to.

Lanepusher (Damage) Pros Good sustain High penetration Medium magic damage Can sololane like a boss Medium protection Large healthpool Cons Low mobility earlygame Forced to stay in lane

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Laneholder (Defense) Pros Good mobility Large healthpool Good at holding a lane solo High protections Cons Low damage

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Damage Pros High damage Good at pushing lane High penetration Cons Squishy Not that good at sololaning No escapes

Lanepusher (Damage)

This build is focused on holding a lane while you got a lanepartner who can be roaming the map taking jungle camps and ganking. Would work very good with for example Ne Zha, Arachne etc. The downside with this build is that you don't get boots early (because you have to get the stack items as quick as possible to get the full use out of them), this makes you a easy target if you are out of position (tip: stay close to your tower). One more thing is that you need 200 stacks, so you are forced to stay in lane for a long time, but this is what Vulcan does best. You are also forced into your first "4" items Vampiric Shroud, Warlock's Sash, Gauntlet of Thebes and Boots of the Magi, but as long as you play a bit careful earlygame this isn't going to be a problem.

Vampiric Shroud

This starter item lets you sutain in lane without having to be afraid of putting down towers. Normally your Inferno Canon should at least be able to kill from 5-10 minions (if placed at a good point) before it is destroyed. As long as you have some thought behind where you place your turrets, you should be able to sustain longer than anyone (except a Aphrodite with blue buff lane).

Warlock's SashWarlock's SashWarlock's Sash Warlock's SashWarlock's Sash

This item gives you and your turrets a lot of health, it also gives you some mana (which is important so that you don't run out of mana for your turrets). And of course you get a good chunk of magical power (100 at full stacks). The main reason for picking up Warlock's Sash is the health, and the early magical power.

Gauntlet Of Thebes

The reason for getting this is the health of course, the hp5 is also nice but it is the base health that is good. It makes your turrets a lot more tanky, so they can sustain longer and you don't need to replace them all the time (remember to heal them back up by standing close to them). At 100 stacks you will get 950 health from it. Normally you are going to be able to afford it when you have about 50 stacks on your Warlock's Sash, so you basically only farm about 150 stacks.

Boots Of The Magi

Finally some mobility, when you get Boots of the Magi you can try pushing a bit higher in lane. The reason for getting these boots are the magical penetration which is my focus when it comes to increasing my damage output.

Obsidian Shard

This is maybe my favorite item on Vulcan, the extra penetration is very important for your damage output. But now that you got your stack items and boots, you don't have to go for this next. It depends on how the match is going but for the most part, the extra damage you get is more important then defense thanks to your large healthpool.

Sovereignty

This is without a doubt the best defense item for Vulcan, thanks to the passive on this item (20 magical protection and physical protection in a 40 feet area). It also gives you a good chunk of health.

Void Stone

Again, this is mostly for the magical penetration. But it also gives you magical protection, so if there is a lot of magical damage on the enemy team this would be good to get early.

Laneholder (Defense)

This build is a tanky version of the lanepusher, and this focuses on health and defense ("When in doubt, tank it out"). I personally like being able to be aggressive when I play, this build is not made for being aggressive but you are going to be able to take a lot of damage. With this build you are going to be able to hold a lane easy, but you need a carry to be able to get any kills. Might work best if you got a carry in lane at all times to be able to push your lane.

Mark Of The Vanguard

A must have item for any tank. The passive has a huge difference early game and is great when you are tanking buff camps etc.

Reinforced BootsReinforced BootsReinforced Boots Reinforced BootsReinforced Boots

A good amount of hp5 and protections, always a good pick if you are tanking.

Warlock's SashWarlock's SashWarlock's Sash Warlock's SashWarlock's Sash

Even though you are focusing on tanking, a little damage is important. The extra health is great for making you more tanky.

Sovereignty

As I stated earlier this is probably the most important defensive item for Vulcan, because of the passive.

Void Stone

Another item that gives you a great boost to you damage output and you defense against magical damage. Pick it up early if there is a lot of magic damage on the enemy team.

Bulwark Of Hope

This gives you a good amount of health and magical protection. Rush it if you are having problems against magical damage.

Hide Of The Nemean Lion

This also gives you a good amount of health and physical protection. It is a must have item if you are up against enemies that do most of their damage with basic attacks.

Damage

I don't like this build my self, because all the enemy team has to do is destroy your turrets and all your damage output is gone. The build is focused on magical power and penetration to do as much damage as possible. Holding a lane solo is hard with this build, because your turrets are going to be very easy to destroy. It can work good if you are laning with Odin.

Vampiric Shroud

Great for sustain, makes you able to replace your turrets more often etc.

Boots Of The Magi

Very good for the penetration and magical power.

Warlock's SashWarlock's SashWarlock's Sash Warlock's SashWarlock's Sash

The health is important so that your turrets don't die as quick.

Void Stone

Gives you some protection against magical damage, and helps buff your damage output because of the penetration and magical power.

Obsidian Shard

The most important item for Vulcans damage output. Because of all the penetration.

Rod Of Tahuti

The item with the highest amount of magical power in the game, so it is very important for your damage ouput. It is pretty pricey, so you need to farm a lot before you can buy it.

Chronos' Pendant

The cooldown reduction on this item is important because your turrets are going to be destroyed a lot, so being able to place them often is important. If you are having problems earlygame, with your turrets being destroyed a lot it would be good to buy this early.

Depends on what you are up against and what build you are using.
Actives like Aegis Amulet, Girdle of Might, Creeping Curse, Purification Beads and Sprint could be useful on Vulcan. Sprint is mostly a trolling active, always fun to run circles around your enemies while your turrets shreds them to pieces.

Lanepusher (Damage)

With this build you most likely only have to get one defensive active or you might be able to go for all offensive actives.
Defensive Actives
Aegis Amulet is good in teamfights, place down your turrets and if you are taking a lot of damage you can just activate Aegis Amulet while your turrets kills everyone. Purification Beads is good when you are up against a lot of stuns.
Offensive Actives
Girdle of Might gives your turrets a lot of damage and at rank 3 you get even more penetration. Creeping Curse can be used to keep enemies in tower range and is very good to pick up if you are up against a healer etc.

Laneholder (Defense)

Same as with the Lanepusher (Damage) build, but you should easily get away with two offensive actives with this build.

Damage

With this build you have to get at least one defensive active, which one depends on the enemy team. But Aegis Amulet is my favorite. As offensive item you should get either Girdle of Might or Creeping Curse, depending on what your support is picking up.

Lanepusher (Damage)

This is my favorite build, you are able to hold and push a lane with ease and your damage is going to be very decent. As long as you are careful earlygame until you get our boots, you are going to be very hard to kill. After you got your boots you can start to push your lane and should be able to force the enemy lane back to base. If you get both of them back, all you need to do is place your turrets behind the enemy tower and go back and your minions will do a lot of damage to the tower.

Laneholder (Defense)

Personally I think this is a boring build. But if you like to be able to take a lot of damage and just trolling around the enemy team, this is the build for you.

Damage

A fun build if you got someone to defend you, but you are very easy to counter.

Let me know what you think about the builds and how you did, if you tried one of them out. Happy for all the feedback I can get, so if there is something you think I should add just leave a comment and I will see what I can do. If anyone wants me to come up with damage numbers etc I could do that as well (but got the feeling that it might be to much information and just make it a bother to read through it).

Feel free to add me on Smite if you want ;)

Cheers Marki