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WTH do I have to do on Braum to get an S-/S/S+ grade? Riot's grade system screws tank supports

PIMPSMOOTH·5/31/2016, 3:19:24 AM·7 votes·9,004 views

Serious question for rank 7 mains : WTF do I have to do on Braum to get an S-/S/S+ grade?

I'd like an explanation that's a little more detailed than 'git gud' if possible.

Just finished a match where our ADC dc's from the start and never returns so we're in for a 4v5 fun time for the next 20 minutes of our lives already. As I'm stuck laning vs .

Long story short, we won the match with 54 teams kills and my score being 1-0-30. That's %67 kill participation I believe + a perfect kda + being in a 4v5 game, and Riot grades me a flat 'A'. What the actual F is going on? The only thing that I can think of that played into this calculation is (lack of) warding b/c being 1v2 I opted to skip buying and rushed armor since the enemies were trying to all-in me 24/7.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l239/xCALIGULAx/Games/Braum%204v5%20perfect_zpse09tou6j.png

Playing tank support is already a thankless job, and it's clear as day that Riot's grade system screws over tank supports as well. This was just one of many instances of getting screwed over by Riot's grade system.

But at least if you want to roll a down there and nuke the opposing sucker who rolled tank support for a 9 million dmg pre lvl 6, take all the ADC's kills, and finish with score of 6-2-20 you'll gladly get an S+ for your trouble.

Sheesh. /Rant

Commence flames.

39 Comments

Mysticman895/31/2016, 5:18:07 AM4 votes

I wonder if you were actually graded as a support there though.

The system is 'smart' in that it can figure out roles based on how you play instead of just going by your role at champ select, so it can't be abused by people just queuing adc/sup with their buddy and then doing the opposite for the 'easy' S, but in a 4v5 situation where you're not actually supporting even if you expected to be, you may well have ended up being graded compared to braum tops (the system doesn't care if the 'top' isn't actually in top lane since we've been told that the system won't be messed up by lane swaps and similar) or something.

I actually found braum support S's fairly easy when I was grinding out 5 mastery on him a few weeks back, so I don't think the issue is inherent to tank supports. The lack of warding is probably the biggest issue (if you're not opting for sightstone, then I'd probably prefer yellow trinket...if you swpt a whole lot of wards then perhaps sweeper was worth though), but that combined with potentially not being seen as a support (and afterall, you weren't supporting there, you were essentially just being a solo lane tank) could also be contributing.

edit: If you were graded as a braum top (or y'know, braum not-support), then the lack of kills would probably be a big factor. I've seen intentional solo lane braums do some scary on hit things in previous patches, so braum getting his hands bloody is definitely a thing.

Amelie5/31/2016, 4:44:05 PM4 votes

I'll give you an example if it helps: http://i.imgur.com/dPqgR1L.jpg

Despite your KDA and participation, you probably screwed yourself over by not warding. (Grade system doesn't care if it's 4v5)

SettDownShutUp5/31/2016, 4:53:23 AM3 votes

This. This this this.

DREADN0UGHT5/31/2016, 4:56:07 AM3 votes

Aphromoo just said on Sneaky's stream that as a support, you needed to get at least 4 kills to get an S rating. Idk where he got that from, but he seemed pretty confident about it. He said that no matter how well you did, if you did not have 4 kills, you would get an A+ at most.

EDIT: y the downvotes. I'm literally just reporting events here, not even giving an opinion.

Paroe5/31/2016, 5:15:39 AM2 votes

How do people NOT understand how mastery works, after all this time?

Mastery works by comparing YOUR stats to OTHER players stats IN THE SAME POSITION. Doing well as braum top would get you S ranks very easily very quickly, or braum jungle.

So while yes you did very well that game, since you didnt ward it counted against your grade average. You know, like how if you have 1.0, 1.0, 4.0, 4.0, 2.5 you get an average of two and something?

agbudar5/31/2016, 4:38:30 PM1 votes

upgrade trinket and dont die. should not be too hard for you if you play braum right.

nosafterburn5/31/2016, 5:28:53 PM1 votes

: I love flames.

alfavhunter5/31/2016, 5:49:43 PM1 votes

When you play a support warding properly can change your A into an S or S-

Getting a gold income item and sight stone and using it (and killing enemy wards) as well as placing a handful of pink wards the ought the game can greatly benefit your ranking

Even if the wards don't feel like they do much, they do, you might need to ward deeper to get more use out of them but they do make a difference

For example

When you are bot you want 1 ward at dragon, 1 ward to help mid, and one ward in the enemy jungle, your adc should cover warding the bushes not lane and both of you should have a pink ward on the map in a defendable position (usually near my junglers blue or red for mine depending on side of map)

Wards are good for early detection that can let you escape or collapse on the enemy

Icestar11865/31/2016, 7:39:12 PM1 votes

Try taking him top.

KrypticKid7/15/2016, 1:58:05 AM1 votes

I main braum and i got 2 lvl 7 easily the third one i cant

FreelancerFL9/16/2016, 3:34:05 AM1 votes

Braum is probably my most played champ and I'm one S or S+ away from getting rank 7. Games that last longer than 20 minutes unless you're at around 90% kill participation won't net you an S- even. I've gotten an S- off a game I went 3/3/17 with full sight stone and supp item, was part of everyour siege, assisted first tower down, saved shit adcs when they were at under 100 hp with a w-e combo, and was able to turn it around into a quad for said shit adc. It's HARD to get that S man, but by the nine it's so satisfying getting it.

I've noticed netting a positive kd, having your support item (s), actually warding (had to say it), over 25 assists or over 50% kill participation, and being part of tower assists or objectives in general help to get that s rank.

We do not main braum because it's easy to get an S, we do it because we are manly men with fantastic mustaches, we love poros and good cheese. We main braum because wevery must serve the community.

Side question for the braum mains that also play taric and Leo, do you find it way easier to play against braum/taric/leo with them?

I can take braum into leo no problem and make her hate life but I can do the same playing leo into braum. Taric is more hit and miss now due to the rework, I'd never bring taric into ranked unless I was duon bot.

sheldonbunny5/31/2016, 4:39:56 AM1 votes

http://matchhistory.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/#match-details/NA1/2202956270?tab=stats

As I suspected. you barely warded. For an almost 40 minute game, you should have been high 20's if not 30's. 4v5's are unfortunate, but you are still judged as support. That includes vision.

kkkkkkhaled12/4/2016, 6:40:44 PM1 votes

i find that a 2/0/20 minimum is best. I doubt that warding is necessary as ive gotten multiple s's without much warding. just went 9/2/23 at 36 mins got s+ with 14 wards. i find that buying warmog's is really helpful for your q if you decide to go for an s. great for ks

Shadowatom5/31/2016, 4:57:32 AM1 votes

Might be a combination of warding (yes, I read, but I'm saying the system doesn't care it was a 4v5 and you were graded on warding regardless), and the fact that you took the least amount of damage on your team as Braum. These are just guesses though.

Leanus Crain5/31/2016, 5:48:54 AM1 votes

I got an S on Bard my first try, so Idc

PIMPSMOOTH5/31/2016, 6:05:13 AM1 votes

{quoted}

Aphromoo just said on Sneaky's stream that as a support, you needed to get at least 4 kills to get an S rating. Idk where he got that from, but he seemed pretty confident about it. He said that no matter how well you did, if you did not have 4 kills, you would get an A+ at most.

The following match as Ali I went 3-0-29 and got an S, so the great Moo was wrong! lol

{quoted}

Might be a combination of warding (yes, I read, but I'm saying the system doesn't care it was a 4v5 and you were graded on warding regardless), and the fact that you took the least amount of damage on your team as Braum. These are just guesses though.

Good guesses I think. Do you agree that the algorithm should change in a 4v5 scenarios such as this?

{quoted}

Yes, I read it, and what I said still stands. It's basing it on other people's performance as Braum support. Warding is still vital, infact more so in a 4v5. It is still your job first and foremost to give and deny enemy vision.

A just so happen to win a 4v5 earlier myself:

http://matchhistory.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/#match-details/NA1/2203005922/209494370?tab=stats

Game was 10 minutes shorter than yours and I still managed to ward more than you.

It's honestly that simple. Wards are part of calculating your rating. If you want that high rating, you'll have to do better even in those extreme circumstances.

Ok, I was just making sure you did read it bc it comes across as you having not read it bc again - you make a comment about "warding more" than I did when I stated initially than I intentionally did not buy Sightstone in order to (1) survive and avoid feeding due to 2 and 3 man dives (2) and the fact that I was never able to leave my turret once in lane. After lane phase I could have opted to buy the SS but front lining for the carries who were doing well was my priority. Had I purchased the SS and skipped another major item, I would've died very quickly.

I'm not trying to invalidate your comment btw, I agree the warding is becoming pretty obvious as part of the algorithm for grading.

{quoted}

I wonder if you were actually graded as a support there though.

The system is 'smart' in that it can figure out roles based on how you play instead of just going by your role at champ select, so it can't be abused by people just queuing adc/sup with their buddy and then doing the opposite for the 'easy' S, but in a 4v5 situation where you're not actually supporting even if you expected to be, you may well have ended up being graded compared to braum tops (the system doesn't care if the 'top' isn't actually in top lane since we've been told that the system won't be messed up by lane swaps and similar) or something.

I actually found braum support S's fairly easy when I was grinding out 5 mastery on him a few weeks back, so I don't think the issue is inherent to tank supports. The lack of warding is probably the biggest issue (if you're not opting for sightstone, then I'd probably prefer yellow trinket...if you swpt a whole lot of wards then perhaps sweeper was worth though), but that combined with potentially not being seen as a support (and afterall, you weren't supporting there, you were essentially just being a solo lane tank) could also be contributing.

edit: If you were graded as a braum top (or y'know, braum not-support), then the lack of kills would probably be a big factor. I've seen intentional solo lane braums do some scary on hit things in previous patches, so braum getting his hands bloody is definitely a thing.

This is a question I'd love to get a Riot answer to: was I graded as a support or something other since I was stuck soloing 1v2?

Errastas5/31/2016, 4:31:02 PM1 votes

0/1/18 was enough to grab me S on Ali. Also skipping SS was probably why you didn't get it.