One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that counter picks dont matter in low elos.

JavelinJoe·Feb 17, 2016·2 votes·612 views

While true that player skill levels are not as high as other ranks when in bronze and silver, counter picks do not apply to that. Counter picking means that fundamentally, the kit of your selected champion performs well or doesn't perform well with the other champion. More or less, does the 5 abilities (pqwer) and stats that you have grant you an advantage over the opponents. This has 0% to do with the individual player's skill level. Now, playing a counter pick that you have no experience playing with or as is stupid. Comfort picks are first priority, but if you can get one that is also a counter. Do so.

3 Comments

QuephaFeb 17, 20162 votes

The hardest counters in league of legends pale in comparison to the skill difference between a bronze player on a champion they're comfortable with and another bronze player who is playing LeBlanc for the very first time. Oftentimes the things that make a champion into a hard counter don't even matter in bronze elo because their understanding of the game makes those advantages worthless. A Lux that tries to auto for her passive procs against an Annie will lose what champion.gg told them was an easy matchup.

Something specific that happened to me was picking Garen top lane and the enemy countering with Kayle. I figured I was in for a rough time where Kayle would harass me with autos and push in my turret, but Kayle opened up her poke with a Q every single time. Opening with your slow turns a poke into a trade with Garen since I could cleanse with Q, charge in and go all Demacia on her, and come out waaay ahead because of the player's poor knowledge of the match-up.

SimpumbaFeb 17, 20161 votes

IMO counters really dont matter if you don't know the matchup EXTREMELY well. I'm not saying low elo players are bad, but I don't think they understand the full concept of abusing the fact they could counter, but why do it when you don't know a champion? I'm at plat elo, with above 50% winrate, and counterpicks sometimes still don't matter unless its a HUGE counterpick(Lee sin vs akali top/mid?) Like earlier, I got countered so hard, but I was playing my main champion. Due to me knowing a LOT about my hero, I easily outplayed the counter.

TL;DR Countering doesn't matter unless its a champion you're very good with and the player knows how to play around with his champ

Aeolian MelodiesFeb 17, 20161 votes

People say that counter picks don't matter in lower elo because:

The skill difference between opposing laners may differ greatly (from someone who actually is Silver to someone who is newly ranked but is going to get to Plat and above and is just storming through). Someone who belongs in higher elo will most likely stomp someone who actually belongs in lower elo regardless of the champion match up on paper.
Sad but true, many lower elo players cannot utilize items and champion kits at their fullest potential, so the reason why X is strong vs Y might not even be taken into account (example Janna is very strong vs Leona because her Q interrupts Leona's E, shutting down her engage attempts that do not include her ult, but if the Janna is unaware of the interaction between Howling Gale and ashes, or can't do it properly because she does not have the reflexes, she'll most likely get eaten alive).

To be fair (and this is a good thing), this game does not have "counters" as much as it has tougher match ups that you will most likely win if you are a better player. I can't think of a single match up where your lane is 100% screwed up by the picks alone, mostly it's about how you play the lane. Even against an opponent who can shut you down, there is the possibility to get fed off their teammates.