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PSA: As an ADC, do NOT go for Berserker Greaves first!

MissMikasa·10/7/2017, 3:12:08 PM·22 votes·4,087 views

Time and time again I have seen it happen, and we always lose because of an ADC that never got ahead enough or had the damage to get kills because they got their tier 2 boots first.

PEOPLE! Common rule of thumb here. You go for your first damage item, ALWAYS. As a marksmen you need to get that item to properly set you off. Just because you had to back a few times and you had the money for it- does not mean you need to get it. YOU DON'T.

If you are going for Infinity Edge, you go for your recipes items- B.F. sword the first priority, if not- you go for the Pickaxe or cloak.

This is an important concept as an ADC to know. I know this may not get to everyone but I hope to reach as many people as I can.

TL/DR: Don't get your tier 2 boots first as an ADC (or any role really). Your first item is your priority.

EDIT: Just played a game with another person who went for boots first. Our jungler. He did no damage whatsoever. Now at a 4 game losing streak and lost all my LP. So tilted off my rockers right now

52 Comments

dominusx10/7/2017, 3:47:46 PM23 votes

Kalista ?

Swagsogwa10/7/2017, 5:19:19 PM5 votes

Zerkers are underrated. They give like 35% attack speed which is a whole lot. Not necessarily great as attack speed is weak in short trades, but if you absolutely need the mobility (quite rare but eh), or you're playing an adc toplane, Zerkers + 1 or 2 doran blades is excellent.

SchmidttyGames10/7/2017, 6:29:51 PM4 votes

Kalista, Twitch, Varus, and Kayle should all be building it first. If you don't understand why, study the champions kits. Your opinion of the item, or what you think is best for the world, is largely irrelevant to anyone that isn't you. There is a reason the pros do it.

Pumping Iron10/7/2017, 7:31:48 PM4 votes

TL/DR: Don't get your tier 2 boots first as an ADC (or any role really). Your first item is your priority.

item 3047 ?

NoPaxt10/7/2017, 3:30:14 PM3 votes

BUY DAMAGE FIRST or lose lane...

Spârky10/7/2017, 5:22:41 PM3 votes

playing a champ like trist and twitch who can use the a/s to help get more dmg out like trists e and twitch e you can stack faster. That's why I have seen some of the "higher elo" friends of mine go beserker greaves first if he has an awkward back. Rather than getting just a pickaxe

Rins Thigh Socks10/7/2017, 6:05:06 PM3 votes

You get a BF Sword first, and then you get Greaves.

The reasons being that they get to lane faster and they allow you to kite out crucial skillshots or chase when you're winning the lane.

Actually, in most lanes right now you should finish T2s before your first big item. The only real exceptions are when you have enough gold for that first big powerspike or you're jungling. Even then mobis are a godsend.

Raven Redeemed10/7/2017, 4:07:56 PM3 votes

I think it's ok in some situations. If you're willing to sacrifice trading power for the ability to doge better, get back to lane or roam faster, or get some quick attack speed if you don't plan on building item 3153 or rushing a zeal item. The attack speed will allow you to farm under tower almost as well as you could with a big ticket ad item.

You will see the pros sometimes rush item 3006 because they don't plan on getting kills bot without any assistance from the team.

Mysticman8910/7/2017, 7:50:57 PM2 votes

Kalista can for obvious reasons, and I've been seeing berserkers first item on kog at worlds.

Titanium7010/7/2017, 7:39:04 PM2 votes

The usual ADC build is item 1038 into item 3006 and item 3086 before completing the Zeal-Item item 3087 - the order differs from lane to lane and player. You never should complete item 3031 or even it's ingredients first! (Some special gameplans/champions excluded). Maybe a item 1037 if you're forced to back and cannot afford a item 1038.

MS matters! ALOT! Trading becomes 10 times better and easier with boots over zeal. And pushing becomes safer. Additionally item 3006 are stronger than item 3086 VS Towers wich is something to think about. And Berserk are on a side note the best (useable) Item to get AS asap. AS that scales exceptionally well with item 3504 and Lulu /Janna. (And the item 1038 you bought earlier).

LocatedEagle23210/8/2017, 1:18:43 AM1 votes

I play Draven a lot and honestly he has the damage he needs early game, and yeah he has the mobility too, but I want attack speed and mobility without burning mana to stay in lane.

I agree tier 2 boots sucks before damage, BUT I always get boots early to catch axes... And then I usually get (of course,) my BF sword.

If I'm at like 2600-2700 gold, given the options of finishing IE and getting a dagger or long sword, **I usually opt for upgrading boots and buying all other components of infinity edge **

I just don't feel like IE gives too much of a powerspike w/o crit to compliment and I need the increased mobility and attack speed as quickly as possible to control axes, dominate my laner, and dodge an ungodly amount of skillshots.

AFilthyCaitMain10/7/2017, 6:10:06 PM1 votes

Caitlyn Hue. IE first is the only way to go.

DynasticMule10/7/2017, 7:11:10 PM1 votes

Dude. I seen Caitlyns do this in Diamond, then complain to me, the support, that I don't do enough damage.

Need Gold 4 Tent10/7/2017, 7:52:03 PM1 votes

Boxer pete usually rushes zerks right after tiamat on tryndamere, and he seems to do well with it.

13900 Essence10/8/2017, 12:09:46 AM1 votes

While it isn't viable every game, getting Berserker's early in a pushing lane allows you to get first turret priority extremely quickly.

If you are playing something like Caitlyn, attack speed boosts her damage through her passive which can now hit turrets. It doesn't hurt to get them on champs like Tristana either, it allows you to stack your e much quicker in short trades or on turrets.

They pretty much give you a really early-game power spike to further snowball a winning lane. I don't think the issue is that they are bad to build before your first full item, just looking at your evidence from other comments it is just the champs building them are not using them effectively.

ProtestantCaesar10/8/2017, 1:13:41 AM1 votes

I think the ADC meta plays into this.

Is the current meta ADC build item 3087 item 3031 item 3094 ?

Or is it item 3153 item 3085 item 3124 ?

In one of these metas, building early Berserker's Greaves is better than in the other one. (At least, I think so.)