@Meddler: Thoughts on current state of Ghostblade ADCs?

Dessem··2 votes·551 views

Twitch, Draven, Lucian mostly. Especially the latter achieved 52% winrate at a 51% playrate per champion.gg.

There's nerfs for Lucian on the PBE (20% AD ratio off his Q, and range reductions), so I expect he'll fall into line. However, Ghostblade into Black Cleaver's become popular in this patch on Lucian, with Ghostblade into a Zeal item for Twitch/Draven.

At 3200 Gold, it's slightly cheaper than Infinity Edge, and all its components are cheaper too. Gives a large edge in lane aggression through armour pen, active, identical AD, some CDR. Its components are also cost-efficient, especially Dirk helps trade with its bonus damage passive.

Wasn't previously a very popular purchase, recently became a highly popular purchase.

What're your thoughts on that? What's Riot's data show?

10 Comments

chesticlees3 votes

I don't think you can use Twitch as an example. I think GB has been core to his build for quite some time (previous to this season).

Dessem1 votes

I absolutely believe you. I'm not an ADC main, though, and just noticed a larger number of Twitch in my game all building Ghostblades. Is it just Lucian/Draven who've trended towards a Ghostblade for early lane dominance then?

chesticlees2 votes

Honestly, it isn't for lane dominance. Lucian and Draven both have very strong laning phases (you can argue which is better) and whatever item they build first isn't because they need it to have a strong lane. With that said, I think its just a case of some players exploring other item build paths and finding one that works well in most cases. Both Twitch and Draven buy Ghostblade not just for its stats, but also for its passive. Last season, Ghostblade did not give as much flat AD, but it did give crit. Both Draven and Twitch were very effective with the item even without the huge flat AD that it has this season because of the active. It gives non mobile ADC champions the ability to self peel, or chase, if things come to that point.

With that said, this season, both Lucian and Draven benefit heavily from the new Ghostblade because of their high AD ratios on each champion's main damage ability, i.e. Lucian passive and q and Draven q. The armor pen makes them hit harder, and the active gives more utility. If you think about the bonus AS from the active, it really does make sense why Lucian would benefit from it. It makes him more mobile, and lets him proc his passive faster as well as hit for more damage.

As far as Ghostblade on Twitch, it isn't a necessary build like it was last season. Infact, unless there are alot of squishies, I typically don't buy it. I find having more flat AS to be better in most scenarios for Twitch, as you don't become too reliant on an active to be effective (i.e. more reliable kiting). Plus, you can already get alot of AD from Fervor and his ult as AD built into it too. I would much rather build more crit, lifesteal, or cc reduction (MS) instead, as he is very very susceptible to cc.

Troy2426212 votes

Aside from Lucian, none of those champions are really over-performing. All I ever see is Lucian/Ezreal right now.

Dessem1 votes

Sure. Just curious about the recent development and how Riot feels about it. ADCs opting for Ghostblade instead of Infinity Edge is interesting, since it makes implications about the strength of each item.

Sohleks1 votes

Twitch and Draven historically have had ghostblade as one of their builds for a long long time.

For Twitch the active synergizes nicely with his ult and the stats synergize with his assassination powers.

Draven just gets really big ratios on all his autos; all that armor pen and temporary mobility makes his axes a whallop.

It's nothing new for two traditionally unorthodox picks.

Both champs are making a tradeoff at 2+ items by delaying crit scaling (especially Twitch). The flat armor pen slightly falls off as champs get more armor from their base stats per level.

The real trouble is when you factor in further armor pen Black Cleaver. Because the last whisper we had in previous seasons is gone this combo becomes relatively viable for tank busting. Only Lucian and Miss Fortune do an excellent job with this item combo. However miss fortune now has crit scaling on her ult which detracts from the potential difference. And miss fortune well lacks a lot of consistency more popular picks have.

Dessem1 votes

Thanks for correcting me there then; not an ADC main, and both are so infrequent I never noticed their builds much. (Though Twitch is seeing more play lately. May just be me.)

RengClaw1 votes

blame the koreans

MunchCrunchLunch1 votes

ghostblsade is op. gives top tier ad. top tier armor pen CDR and one of the best offensive actives in the game.

Dessem1 votes

I actually gave that a whirl. Played Tristana, first item Ghostblade, second item Runaan, Berserker Greaves and 3 AS Quints. 2.37 attack speed at level 18 off of Q + Ghostblade active. Movement speed helps with positioning (and once helped me escape), E did a tremendous amount of damage, was pretty fun.

Of course since I am a garbage ADC I did get lowest damage in the game overall, but despite being so behind I could reliably assassinate anyone I W-E-Q onto.

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