My Preseason Experiences (And my new favorite Jungler)
First off, let me preface by saying that my personal experience does not line up with most other people's. The game feels a little more snowbally, which is very much appreciated by people who like to play early pressure champions like me. People get their full builds a bit earlier it seems, but more importantly, comebacks are still there but seem more dramatic, not a stall until a 50 minute coinflip. Finally, and most importantly, BARD JUNGLE IS GOD MODE IN THE NEW JUNGLE. SKIP THE NEXT SECTION IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW I HIT RANK 5 MASTERY WITH BARD.
Hoo boy, Kha'Zix is shafted by the jungle.
First game, I played Kha'Zix. I decided to try him out since I play him every preseason (I've never been good with him even when he's strong) I got rekt by a Miss Fortune and got snowballed against. The game went on to 41 minutes and I never managed to get back in the game. I feel like my weak early game was due to the bug where second smite charge wasn't coming up until late.
Mundo is really strong with the new Grasp of the Undying mastery.
Second game, I played Mundo. He perhaps takes more advantage from the easy access to spellvamp in masteries, as well as the game pace changes more than all other champions. I got fed, even Executioner's Calling only put a little bit of a dent on me. The game went out to 36 minutes, and even the losing team (them) made it to full build. Enemy Olaf and Hecarim were a constant threat and made quite a few comeback plays.
Quinn's Rework is pretty cool.
I tried my hand at Quinn, my long-time favorite ADC in terms of character design, to check out the new kit. It was amazing, though this game was far more stompy. I was up against a Miss Fortune. The next game I played Shen jungle, and there was a Quinn/MF matchup where the MF stomped.
Start shrines. Place three, then go back for mana. Inform your team not to take jungle shrines, that you need them for first clear. Kill gromp, blue, then wolves taking care to kite. Start with machete since all you do is auto-attack. Once you're back in business, take krugs and red, then go gank a fool. Red buff on a ranged champion with a heavy meep slow will set up for some unexpected kills.
GET DEVOURER IF YOU'RE WINNING, GET CINDERHULK IF YOU AREN'T. Get that warding jungle item, since you run around the map a lot. Once your jungle item and enchantment are acquired, get defensive items if your team is losing, and once you have a good chunk of HP and an armor item, or if you are winning, get Rapid Firecannon and Statikk Shiv. Both of them. They stack, and they make your mid-late game meeps a great way to engage or catch people out. You're also very slippery and hard to kill in the jungle. You won't win any invades, but you can just float away and make the enemy waste time.
These Four Bard Games are my proof. The last one was a dramatic comeback, which people say is impossible in the preseason.
RIOT! Thank you thank you thank you for creating these awesome synergistic items that you don't even need AD to love. Thank you for making warding support junglers have a dedicated and very efficient item, and thank you for making that early warding, pressure, and team utility actually matter by making the games shorter. I always liked close games that went on long, but I never like the coinflips for who gets caught. I genuinely feel like I have agency now. Rank 5 Bard woo!