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So, the AP item changes got me thinking about ADC items...

SolusInCadere·8/18/2015, 7:27:39 AM·3 votes·1,343 views

Which was not a good thing. Because there is an issue with ADC item balancing: AD casters. You see, if we were to remove crit and offer lots of AD to ADCs (in the same fashion we offer lots of AP to APCs), then AD casters would dominate and not fall off late game. They would all become extremely powerful. So Riot keeps crit around to split AD champions into two groups: casters and auto attackers.

So then I started looking at the build paths for any given ADC (we will ignore corner cases such as Blu Ez and such), and what I saw was a very limited selection.

So ADCs will pick up two crit items: item 3031 and either item 3046 or item 3087 based on their mobility. There is little to no choice in the matter.

For lifesteal, you will get 1-2 of 2-3 options: item 3153, item 3072, and item 3508 if you have mana issues. Again, little to no choice in the matter, these items will depend on champion picks

item 3006 and item 3035 are must buys, and there are not very many options to replace them (item 3071 comes to mind...maybe)

For defensive items (assuming you got only one lifesteal item from your 2-3 options), you have two options: item 3026 or item 3102

This is surprisingly limited, wi over half of your item slots being used for must buy items, shared across over 85% of all ADCs, and even when other options are taken, that pool is usually only 1-2 additional items.

Contrast that to a top lane build, there armor items include: item 3110, item 3075, item 3025, item 3143, item 3068, item 3056, just for one resistance type. (Also almost every boot with every boot enchantment is viable on almost every top laner)

Edit: lol, this was posted less than two days after the relaxed new tank armor items. I think this might warrant a whole new post...

So I think that ADC items need a rework similar to the APC item rework, where every item brings similar levels of damage while provide a unique utility that the player's can choose based on team comp and play style

17 Comments

LilxPaprika8/18/2015, 8:24:44 AM2 votes

Perhaps if they added crit elixir (of agility) again but make it balanced. would help open up build options. 7.5% crit chance 15% Attack speed Also gives bloodlust passive.

in tandem with this change to crit chance formula could also allow an adc to get some crit marks and not jeopardize the early game. http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/AnahPTYo-riot-team-i-think-i-have-something-solid-here-rsvp

this build could be more viable: item 3031 item 3072 item 3006 item 3142 as you could still hit 50% crit chance if need be. or allows you to sit on item 3031 item 3086 and focus on completing other items first.

Lïghtkeeper8/18/2015, 10:15:54 AM2 votes

Why don't we just make Critical Chance a ranged only stat? :x

THROW HIM OVERBOARD! HE'S MAD!

SKOBODO8/18/2015, 10:32:32 AM1 votes

They cannot simply remove crit and not add any new items, since that would make AD casters and bruisers much stronger in general compared to ADC. What they could do is rework the current crit items, and keep crit only for champions with 100% crit chance (such as Ashe and Shaco), similar to what they did with dodge (Jax, 100% dodge chance).

The new "crit" items could be items that boost autoattacks. Let's say there's an item that boosts your autoattack damage (on-hit effects like Wit's End are not included) by x%. That way, if you want to deal a lot of damage with pure autoattacking, you could get an item such as "Infinity Edge", giving you some base AD and a % increase in autoattack damage. If you prefer life steal or caster damage, you could get an item such as Bloodthirster. Many AD carries would buy "crit" in order to dish out a lot of autoattack damage, while assassins and AD casters would buy AD and armor penetration items. So it'd be similar to what we have now, but less RNG based. Which is good, since getting crit by a stray 20% crit chance kind of sucks and doesn't sit well with a competetive game.