Gold funneling in 3v3

King Manatee·6/28/2018, 1:57:56 PM·25 votes·14,535 views

With the recent gold funneling strategy becoming popular in 5v5 to the point it's being nerfed and constantly looked at, it feels like a pretty big slap in the face of 3v3 players.

This sort of strategy has been present in 3v3 for a really long time now, yet nothing's been done about it. The concept is the same, one player picks a "hyper carry" champion who clears the jungle and one lane, the other a support while the remaining player(s) tend(s) to their lane(s).

Though it's a bit different in 3v3 due to difference in map, jungle camps and lanes, the "cheese" is about the same. And the same reasons RIOT stated for wanting to change it in 5v5 have been present in 3v3 as well. You feed one champion up beyond comprehension who proceeds to try and solo carry the game. Against people running the classic Top-Jungle-Bot composition, you have high odds of winning because you've got 1 person who pops off and is under constant protection from the support, and proceed to steamroll the game most of the time.

Luckily, there's a lot more "viable" picks for such strategies in 3v3, so both teams tend to have a hyper carry and support, making it somewhat more fair, but still redundant.

It makes bot lane a joke too, since you're under a lot less pressure from the enemy jungler. Unless you play really bad, you most likely won't get ganked by the duo, especially with a little bit of communication; whereas in "regular" 3v3 games, you have to play carefully not to get ganked by the jungler, especially those who have a way of getting through/over walls (Zac, Rek'Sai, Kayn come to mind). And it feels like most of the time you lose, their hyper comp was simply better, while if you win, your hyper comp steamrolled theirs.

To summarize, the meta's been stale and present in 3v3 for a long time without any changes whatsoever, while in 5v5 it's been directly changed almost straightaway, and is being kept an eye on. There's plenty of reasons as to why people don't play 3v3, but stale meta and almost no attention from RIOT have to be one of the main reasons.

20 Comments

Marshbouy6/28/2018, 3:02:52 PM19 votes

Riot has made it pretty clear that they give 0 fucks about 3v3. I find that very sad.

Kurt Hyzan6/28/2018, 5:39:23 PM3 votes

I don't want to sound mean, but tbh I can't believe some players still play 3v3. My last memories from it was a game on a new account, I was the only real player, others were bot and it was like 2 seasons ago. I wonder how players deal with it now with items like item 3147, champions like new Talon Camille etc

ISeeDumbPeople6/28/2018, 3:58:17 PM3 votes

Yeah when this strat works its pretty dumb. But it does kind of leave the bot laner high and dry for a long time especially if they don't roam to counter enemy invades. Honestly I still prefer 3s to the garbage that is 5v5 atm... Riot ignores 3s? Good, because they seem to ruin everything they touch anyways atm.

Dethflash6/28/2018, 3:38:52 PM2 votes

First Riot gets rid of Dominion, then Riot leaves 3v3 almost exactly the same for seasons on end. The last time Riot has made changes to the 3v3 map was season 5.11, and those were some good changes, but its been over 3 years since any changes to 3v3 so yeah Riot really doesnt care. I enjoy playing 3's with friends, but yeah you are right, the meta on 3's has been the same for so long its just boring now. There is always a hypercarry then atleast 1 support. Fighter junglers suck because they cant hypercarry, tank junglers arent that great unless you are supporting a hypercarry in a lane. Im not exactly sure what changes would be needed to get rid of the hypercarry only meta in 3v3's, but i wouldnt ever hope for changes to 3's come since its already been 3 year. I wouldnt be surprised if Riot got rid of the 3v3 map just because Riot doesnt do anything with it, and what players who do play 3's sometimes are getting bored of the exact same thing after 3 seasons

Tokogawaruf6/28/2018, 3:03:12 PM2 votes

I know exacly what you mean. I had a extreme 3v3 hype not so long ago, mostly as Mundo Jungle.

I was honestly surprised Yi - Taric, Karthus - Nunu and that stuff didnt come to 5v5 earlier as this exact strategy was used, or more standart even, in 3v3 for such a long time. My worst Game involving such a Case was a Kalista "Jungle" with a Taric Top, going Support and Lulu Bot, also Support. It was ridicouless how overfed she was midgame, not even funny. I even counterjungled her as much as possible forcing 1v1, playing mundo, but in 3v3 its so easy to collapse on invaders that this almost always ended in either me dying or Both of us dying.

I also feel that 3v3 gets like no attention at all. ARAM gets a lot more, dont get me wrong, i like that Riot openly cared and tried to make ARAM better, but 3v3 Players of course feel even greater left in the Dust than before, since that also openly admited Riot cares more about ARAM than 3v3.

I still enjoy a 3v3 here and there, but the Gamemode feels so left to rot, its like playing that dusted Board Game in your Aunts Basement whilst you stay over.

Attticus Finch6/28/2018, 11:15:13 PM2 votes

3v3 is a meme bonus mode that only exists because its not even worth the effort needed to remove it.

Its fun sometimes, but also pain stakingly obvious that it means nothing in regards to Riot's gameplay decisions.

420 grams6/28/2018, 3:24:46 PM2 votes

Every time I brought this up the only feedback I would get is "no one cares about Twisted Treeline". It's a dead game mode, the most you'll see is occasional bug fixes.

TyroneWatermelon6/28/2018, 6:01:35 PM1 votes

why do i need to pretend that you pretend that Riot pretends to give a single shit about 3V3?

Velasan6/28/2018, 7:17:12 PM1 votes

Your probably right, but it's funny how every time something happens that players don't like they are getting "slapped in the face" or have something "shoved down their throats."

Take a fantasy pvp game very literal.

Add926/28/2018, 8:52:10 PM1 votes

Any players gold funneling into a carry should actually play to get some skills and play the game like its meant to be played .

It's really a weak ass strategy to climb for an elo they don't actually deserve.

It's boring that i HAVE TO ban yi or kaisa in 3v3 otherwise its kaisa / taric or lulu , yi / taric or lulu .

THey should make that thing reportable

XxXGwanXxX6/29/2018, 6:03:57 PM1 votes

How dare we create a new strategy eh !

It's not like there was a role called "roam" in the good old days, why couldn'T it come back if it works ? Why is that strategy considered bad ? Is it just too good ? Are they going to just completly kill that option and make sure peopel fit their meta ?

Saezio6/28/2018, 5:13:59 PM1 votes

well to be honest aram has been left to rot for ages now. Even most of the changes we got for Bilgewater event are reverted now. Bench is a nice addition but give us ranked and some more QoL changes and SR will die (joking of course). The queue times for aram are tiny so the population is there but Riot simply only cares about LCS money.

YambrinZ6/28/2018, 10:40:36 PM1 votes

I wouldnt complain about 3v3. Riot is probably looking for reasons to delete this mode :p