In League of Legends, stats like attack damage, ability power, and armor are fairly straightforward. But some, like bonus health, can be a bit more confusing—especially for newer players trying to understand how items, runes, and abilities scale. So what exactly is bonus health, and why does it matter?
Base Health vs. Bonus Health
Every champion in League starts with a fixed amount of base health, which increases slightly with each level. This is the health your champion has by default, without any outside influence.
Bonus health, on the other hand, is any additional health gained from sources like:
- items (e.g., Sunfire Aegis, Warmog’s Armor)
- runes (e.g., Overgrowth)
- champion abilities (e.g., Sett’s passive or Sion’s Soul Furnace)
- buffs or in-game effects (e.g., Mountain Drake Soul)
If your champion has 2,000 total HP and their base health at that level is 1,400, then they have 600 bonus health.
Why Bonus Health Matters
Bonus health isn’t just extra survivability—it also affects how certain abilities scale. Riot uses bonus health as a way to balance tanks, fighters, and even some mages or supports.
For example:
- Sett’s W (Haymaker) scales with bonus health, increasing its damage and shield strength
- Seraphine’s W grants shields based partially on bonus health
- Divine Sunderer’s healing is more effective against enemies with large bonus health pools
Bonus health scaling encourages tankier builds on specific champions while also giving damage-oriented opponents tools to deal with them. It’s part of what makes League’s item and stat system so nuanced.
Not All Health Is Equal
It’s important to know that some abilities only scale with total health, while others scale specifically with bonus health. This distinction helps Riot fine-tune champion power and item synergies. For example, a shield based on bonus health might not be very effective early in the game but grows stronger as you stack tank items.
Understanding this can help you build smarter. If your champion scales with bonus health, you’ll benefit more from stacking HP-based items rather than relying on resistances or damage alone.
Final Thoughts
Bonus health in League of Legends is more than just extra padding—it’s a stat that can influence ability scaling, item effectiveness, and survivability. Whether you’re building a full tank or facing one, understanding how bonus health works helps you make better in-game decisions.
It’s one of those hidden mechanics that separates casual play from deeper strategic thinking—and mastering it can give you an edge in every fight.
Written by:
Christian