General Philosophy Top
This build is designed to maximize Ardan's potential as both a support player and an offensive threat without over-investing in either. The order of the items is based upon at what stage of the game they are likely to be most valuable.
Early Game Top
Take IGC first, naturally, boots second, and upgrade your IGC third. You should be farming the Jungle pretty efficiently at this point. I wouldn't encourage early invades, don't hang your carry out to dry, but be passive and be ready to Vanguard your carry out of there. Hang out in the lane bush for easy gold.
This phase ends when you have completed your Contraption and Tier 3 Boots.
Second Stage Top
While rushing Contraption and Tier 3 Boots is normally unadvisable, you now enjoy several significant advantages. The armor/shield boost on the boots, as well as the speed boost allows you to push forward with little regard. Spam the lane bushes with your mines, maintaining vision and incrementally damaging your enemies.
Combo the distance-closing effects of your Blood for Blood and Vanguard to push back the enemy laner and escape back to your ally. This will ruin the enemy laner's farm, and distract the enemies in the jungle from their's. If played conservatively with ample vision you should also be doing incremental damage to turret 1, while not risking your own.
Gold earned during this period will be invested in Tornado Trigger and Bonesaw, leading to stage three.
Stage Three Top
Ardan's biggest power spike occurs at level 8, taking the overdrive on Blood for Blood, and maxing your attack speed, severely lowering it's cool down. You went from a sucker-punch artist to a full-fledged boxer who can face down soft targets and still tank for your team. Push this advantage for all it's worth, because you are also a turret-slayer with Bonesaw and Contraption.
Use your Gauntlet to bisect the enemy team and push the lane with every advantage.
Late Game Top
Wait, you haven't won yet? That sucks. What's worse is your allies are getting ready to thumbs you down, because even though you have been controlling vision and throwing shields left and right you haven't bought a single support item.
Support items come last. This is not without consideration. With the small boost of defense from your boots, your natural stats, and your perk, the passive effects of support items are largely redundant in earlier levels. While Fountain is not without it's charms early on, maximizing your output around your Blood for Blood overdrive takes priority.
Counterbuild your main opposition with either Fountain or Pauldron, and try to take Crucible last.
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