Master Yi

Master Yi is a 4-cost Psionic and Marauder champion that usually plays as a frontline sustain unit. Its sustain or shielding makes it valuable when it survives long enough to buy time for the rest of the board. Master Yi appears in NOVA YI and Contract Killer lines, so keep copies when those boards are open.

Consider playing around Master Yi when you can level cleanly and find key copies on the rolldown. For items, Sterak's Gage and Quicksilver are strong signals that Master Yi can stay on the board. For team direction, it fits naturally when you are already moving toward NOVA YI and Contract Killer. If it stays one-star, the traits do not activate, or the items point elsewhere, treat it as a transition unit instead of forcing the line.

Sterak's Gage, Quicksilver and Hand Of Justice are recommended. Sterak's Gage gives a health spike so the unit survives the first focus window, Quicksilver protects the carry from early crowd control and Hand Of Justice gives flexible damage and healing. The point of the setup is to keep it alive long enough to cast and hold the frontline.

When the perfect setup is not available, use Warmog's Armor, Titan's Resolve, Steadfast Heart and Edge of Night as substitutes. For frontline substitutes, prioritize durability, sustain, and opening damage reduction without stealing every carry item. If Master Yi is only a trait slot, one useful item is enough and the premium items should go to your real carry or main tank.

Early: play strongest board while keeping components that fit Master Yi. Mid game: level toward the rolldown that can find a two-star copy. Late game: build around Psionic and Marauder and add either frontline, control, or secondary damage so the board is not one-dimensional.

Place Master Yi in the first row on a side, or in the second row when it needs protection. It should enter combat quickly without eating every enemy attack at once. It starts with some mana, making the first cast timing important.