Is it now a good idea to rush rod of ages?

It Is I Emoto·12/10/2015, 4:05:51 PM·3 votes·1,036 views

Recently, I'm thinking about why people don't rush on most squishy mages, it's already cost effective with the stats it has on purchase and becomes even stronger the longer the game gets. Of course, games are now rather snowbally, but this item increases surviveability, sustain, and burst over time, and when fully stacked, it gives 500 health, 800 mana, and 120 ap. So I'm wondering, why aren't more people rushing it nowadays? Is the extra hp/mana useless for mages? Just wondering.

13 Comments

S H A Y C 012/10/2015, 4:12:19 PM4 votes

i think its a CDR thing. most mages want to get that 20% cdr early for more burst damage, and getting full cdr is hard to do now without a morrelo/athenes starting item. You could build it second but it reduces the over all damage output and slows your build down. Not every champion is a rod of ages champion, swain wants this item all day though. I could be wrong but thats my take.

Erockandroll12/10/2015, 4:33:14 PM2 votes

It's all dependent on kit. The raw AP, Mana, and Health. Is a better option for closer range casters. (one's who need to take a punch, yet are not reliant on CDR)

But a good majority of the longer range mages don't need the defensive stats, because they can kite. And some times if you do need some tanky stats, a Rylies Crystal scepter is a good alternative on many DPS mages since it not only gives them the health, but also gives them the ability to kite, and chase down.

Renascent12/10/2015, 8:39:56 PM2 votes

Rod of ages is still an amazingly large ball of stats packed into one item. What I honestly think made people stop rushing it is because it's been brought into the 3k price range. The fact that it was 2700g before was pretty insane, and made it very easy to rush.

The games where I rush Rod of Ages now though, despite the fact that gold income in general has been increased, doesn't make me feel like it's putting me as far ahead in the game as it used to upon completion.

Korillo12/10/2015, 4:22:26 PM2 votes

It's not that useful on burst mages, when there are better AP items available for them.

EndlessSorcerer12/10/2015, 8:51:41 PM1 votes

I haven't been building it too often due to the efficiency of Doran's Rings, honestly.

If I have 2 Doran's Rings and Morellonomicon, I don't really have mana issues in lane unless I spam my abilities frequently. However, I quite enjoy the early CDR, mana regen, and AP.

Rod of Ages is a great item, but the durability and flat mana isn't the best choice for a lot of mages compared to mana regen and CDR.

I still get it on tanky mages (i.e. Cho'gath, Swain, Ryze) and mages with high mana requirements in teamfights (i.e. Swain, Anivia).

Dairdrek12/12/2015, 3:08:20 PM1 votes

I tend to get it on malzahar because I know how to farm with his e so I don't really have mana issues, and since he's so bursty I don't really need the cdr, because I won't have time to combo twice or even q twice in lane early game even with the cdr. If you're playing amumu it's a good item as well.

Wild Wes12/10/2015, 4:18:58 PM1 votes

Rod of Ages is always a good final item.

Kitten of Evil12/10/2015, 6:35:39 PM1 votes

Combination of CDR and mana regen. RoA doesn't offer either.

Stellafreyja12/10/2015, 6:46:55 PM1 votes

CDR mainly. It's good on people like Annie, Morgana, Anivia or Lissandra mainly because the tank stats help them survive longer since they have to be closer to deal damage, but it's all preference.