Overview
Chang'e is a very powerful artillery mage, with long range and relentless sustained damage. Unlike other mages who rely on combos or crowd control, Chang'e delivers pressure through her rapid firing Ultimate with short cooldown, and her fast enhanced basic attacks.
Strengths
Chang'e possesses a specialized damage modifier against non-hero units, allowing her to vaporize minion waves quickly and rotate to other lanes faster than almost any other mid-laner. Her high base movement speed and shield-based buffs allow her to kite enemies effortlessly, dealing massive damage while remaining just out of reach of their abilities. This also makes her a nightmare for enemy Junglers, as she can safely "snipe" the Blue or Red buffs and steal them very quickly.
Weaknesses
Her skills and enhanced basic attacks are dependent on her shield (Crescent Moon) and they become much weaker without it. If an enemy manages to break her shield, her damage output is effectively halved, and she becomes less threatening. Because she lacks a "hard" blink or dash, she is highly susceptible to high-mobility assassins and "dive" compositions that can close the gap quickly.
Main Build
Magic Boots offer great CD reduction, but Arcane Boots can also work with its magic penetration. Enchanted Talisman mainly helps with the mana problem. Chang'e uses up a lot of mana from her skills which all have relatively short cooldowns, so she'll be draining up often. Glowing Wand is great for melting enemies and of course giving the helpful Lifebane effect. This effect also helps out in teamfights as enemies who rely on lifesteal can do nothing as Chang'e can apply it to them from a long distance away. Divine Glaive, Lightning Truncheon, and Holy Crystal add more penetration and magic damage making Chang'e even more threatening. Extra: Sky Peircer is optional but also great with Chang'e. (I use it almost all the time). Usually should be your 2nd-3rd item, and replacing Divine Glaive. Blood Wings helps protect with Crescent Moon shield and adds a bit of additional protection. Ice Queen Wand is also quite popular to use with her.
MM Build
This build is for when you want to prioritize attack speed for Chang'e. Chang'e actually work really well with this and this boost her pushing capabilities (which is already great). Swift Boots, Feather of Heaven, and Golden Staff boost her attack speed. While Holy Crystal, Blood Wings, and Divine Glaive help her sustain her magic damage. And yes Sky Peircer is an optional spare option. (2nd-3rd item)
Alternative Items
Sky Peircer actually works really well with her as it makes her and her ultimate even more oppresssive. She can use her ultimate to finish off enemies trying to run away and Sky Peircer would help secure that. Blood Wings would help protect her Crescent Moon Shield.
Penetration Emblem
Mage Emblem would fit her by default, but the Assasins Emblem could also work. Rupture would give her adaptive penetration that pairs great with her skills. (Especially her Ultimate). The 2nd emblem is more optional but Bargain Hunter is what I'd recommend so that you can get her items faster. Impure Rage would again give her extra adaptive damage and do skill damage based on 4% of the target's Max HP. Her ultimate would most definitely benefit from this.
MM Emblem
This emblem is for when you want to prioritize attack speed or even want to use Chang'e as a Gold Laner.
Battle Spell
Chang'e lacks a "blink" or dash skill making her vulnerable to enemies who can dive her or at least close the gap. Without her shield, Chang'e moves much slower and is much weaker to do anything. Flicker would provide her this escape in case of emergencies.
Early Game
Early one Chang'e already does great damage. Select the 2nd Skill first and try to keep your shield up. After you get your first skill, focus on clearing your minions still and poke the enemy mid laner as much as possible. Chang'e has fast wave clearing, so she can quickly rotate and help another lane. Prioritize getting her ultimate as soon as possible in order to harrass enemies like the enemy jungler taking his buffs. Her ultimate is also very useful in clearing minion waves and pushing the enemy mid laner back into their turret.
Mid Game
Here, your main goal is to be everywhere. Use your ultimate to clear you minion waves and start rotating to allies who need your help in poking enemies. Join teamfights and focus on zoning enemies out (like with her ultimate). She may even have enough damage to take out squishy or low health enemies. You should be as aggressive (and as annoying) as possible in order to pressure and starve the enemies. Make use of her pushing capabilities in order to quickly take down turrets.
Late Game
Everyone deals massive damage during this stage but so do you. Your goal is to stay alive, so be a bit less aggressive and be more aware. Chang'e can still pressure enemies and zone them out during this stage. Her Ultimate cooldown is basically spammable now, so stay a safe distance away from them. Stay behind your tank/frontliner especially when you can't see enemies. If there are still turrets left standing, prioritize taking them down. If possible, try doing a sneaky backdoor or at least focus on clearing minions to continue pressuring the enemies.
Basic Tips
- use Chang'e when you have a tanky frontliner. - keep her Crescent Moon Shield alive. - be aggressive, oppress enemies. - rotate, be everywhere, help allies. - annoy enemies, steal buffs. - focus on pushing turrets and clearing minion waves. - be careful in the late game; use ult more
Best With Tigreal
Tanks who Set like Tigreal are great very Chang'e and hitting enemies with her ultimate.
Watch Out For Esmeralda
Esmeralda easily feeds on the shield Chang'e needs. She can steal it leaving Chang'e weak and defenseless. Not too mention, but she can easily dive her.