AP Gangplank - Viable or Newb-trap?

Penta Penguin·Jun 13, 2015·1 votes·884 views

I just unlocked GP today and am doing the usual theory-crafting

My games so far have been; Avarice + boots 1 > Sheen > Triforce + Boots 2 > BF Sword + Statikk Shiv > Infinity Edge

Only one game lasted longer, but then I would get Frostborne Gauntlet and Spirit Visage for my defense items

Good for obvious reasons, since you can nearly 1-shot squishies with literally one ability.

But I"m thinking about a tanky AP build. Build more resistance and get massive heals with the good AP scaling on W. Off-tank for your team, apply heavier slows with Frostborne / Rylai's, turn your Ulti into a nuke.

I'm just not sure how to pull it off, what the build would be or if I should bother, because losing all of that power on Q seems really bad. I might at least try Rylai's as a sixth item on the usual build, but games don't often go that long and I haven't played many today.

8 Comments

CrossXxodiaJun 13, 20153 votes

Noob-trap.

It was semi-viable back when Lich Bane did twice as much damage as it does now.

Also, the only skill item 3116 works on is Cannon Barrage, and it applies a reduced slow because Cannon Barrage is an AoE. Same with item 3151 , etc.

If you MUST try it out, I'd recommend item 3100 item 3089 item 3165 item 3135 item 3020 in no particular order.

I wouldn't recommend tanky AP on him, or really tanky anything. He's like Garen ; if his damage isn't an actual threat to the enemy team, he can be completely ignored. I mean yes, you need SOME defense, but you can't completely ignore damage. You have to strike a balance.

3TWarriorJun 13, 20151 votes

lol, garen does like 500 damage on his Q alone late game and his E is an aoe damage over time with a nuke ult. he's meant to charge in and kill the carry, something most other tanks have trouble doing because their damage is limited or if it's not their tankiness is

ModKnightsKemplarJun 13, 20151 votes

Yup yup. Complete newb trap.

DreadlocksJun 13, 20151 votes

It's def not as good as AD GP but you can prob get away with some ult combo.

Byakuya KuchikiJun 13, 20151 votes

anything is viable on him right now. just keep trying new things have fun with him when the rework rolls around though stop with the bullshit and play the regular gangplank because the other stuff wont work anymore

Penta PenguinJun 13, 20151 votes

Well... I hope not. I like GP's multi-scaling, I like Kayle, I wish Riot would further support champions like this with ambiguous decisions to make in items. We don't know yet what the rework looks like, so we'll have to wait and see what remains viable. I think they said the focus was on his E and making it feel like a better ability or something.