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The new masteries are somewhat confusing, I can't decide which one is better.

YumaS2Astral··2 votes·641 views

The current season 4 masteries are clearly defined in one thing. The offense tree is made for offensive champions, the defensive tree is made for defensive champions, and the utility tree is made for utility (support) champions.

This may seem to be very obvious, but I am saying that because there is a problem with the new masteries. While the defensive tree is obviously tailored for defensive champions, the offensive and utility trees are rather confusing. As an assassin, mage, or ADC, I am obviously going to get the first four tiers of both offensive and utility tree (the defensive tree is now best exploited on bruisers and tanks, on hyper offensive champions you are better off going on the other two trees). The problem that is making me become confused, however, lies on the last two tiers of both offensive and utility trees.

As an assassin, which tree is better? Utility or offense? And as a mage? And an ADC?

I will explain. The utility tree has flat armor/magic penetration, as well as having two keystone masteries that seems appealing for burst champions (Thunderlord's Decree and Stormraider's Surge). However, the offensive tree has equally good masteries. Both Battering Blows and Piercing Thoughts seem better for late game for mages and assassins. Warlord's Bloodlust is a rather obvious choice if I am going for a crit build, while Deathfire Touch seems good for burst champions.

Those masteries are confusing because both trees have a mix of masteries that are useful for offensive champions, instead of one tree being focused on offense and the other on utility.

I can't decide which masteries are the better. I know that they are still on PBE, but it is important to make a decision now.

I generally like to play those champions as my offensive champions of choice: Lulu Khazix Vladimir Karthus Malzahar Fizz

7 Comments

ProfDrDeath2 votes

Neither are better. Rather, the new masteries are a different approach that should (theoretically) enable you to tailor your playstyle as you want.

Resolve tree is, obviously, defensive benefits. Extra resistances, extra regen, extra HP. On top, Resolve gives a few utility benefits (reduced Summoner CD, MS in river and brush). Tier 3 is reserved for strong defensive effects and the keystones. Ferocity is for unconditional offense. Attack speed and spell damage, damage increases, offensive sustain. Tier 3 is reserved for anti-resistance effective against resistance stacking. The three keystones work best with sustained damage patterns - Deathfire touch will probably be refreshed only on new application. Cunning is utilitarian effects, but also stuff for assassins and opportunistic champions. Tier 3 is either flat penetration (useful against squishies) or CdR. The keystones are the most diverse of any tree, providing benefits for shields and heals (supports), while T's D and Surge are beneficial for burster archetypes - either increasing the burst a notch or giving an escape option after dropping the payload.

EDIT: For your champion choices:

Vladimir : 12 in Resolve, 18 in Ferocity (Oppressor with Rylai's, more spellvamp, Deathfire Touch). Karthus Malzahar Lulu : 12 in Cunning (mana sustain, longer blue buffs), 18 in Ferocity Fizz Khazix : 18 Cunning, 12 Ferocity or Resolve

Karn Bishop1 votes

I wouldn't worry about this until its on live, and they intentionally split them up like this so that certain champions can't just pick everything they want with no penalties.

That being said.........

Vladimir max out cunning for dat healing hands down, along with the cdr + dangerous game, now for the other tree lets go resolve with unyielding + explorer + runic armor (vet scars is also viable but healing is better) + insight.

As to why i skip the "offense tree" for vlads rather simple what it provides will not give you nearly as much staying + dueling power in both lane + teamfights and while the raw damage might be nice the healing will be better.

Khazix Ferocity tree all the way + cunning

Not familiar enough with the rest to say anything about them.

Kat Head1 votes

I do not think it is a good idea to play Kat without dangerous game, looks like my choice in trees was made by Riot.

Hupsis1 votes

Getting a keystone mastery requires 18 mastery points which leaves you 12 points to spend on another tree. Dangerous game can be unlocked with those 12 points. In other words you can choose freely from any of the keystone masteries while still being able to pick dangerous game.

Kat Head1 votes

{quoted}

Getting a keystone mastery requires 18 mastery points which leaves you 12 points to spend on another tree. Dangerous game can be unlocked with those 12 points. In other words you can choose freely from any of the keystone masteries while still being able to pick dangerous game.

SWEET

Ionian1 votes

{quoted}

Deathfire Touch

BASED DFG IS BACK AS A MASTERY??

Sire Hippington1 votes

Thats the point of the new masteries, you should not be able to tell now which masterie is better, it offers multiple viable options(if they end up done right), which one you take is dependend on your champ, teamcomp, playstyle, and opponents. and thats how it imo should be. I just hope that they add more time for masterie adjustments in champ select, gonna be rather important.

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