I can't deny that there are far better players than me out there and lots buy dorans items, to me they seem very inefficient (except dorans ring). As they don't allow for pots and can't be upgraded, could someone tell me the primary benefits of starting dorans over sword and pots? Same for cloth and pots vs shield. Show me what I'm missing.
disregardable1 votesSo, what you're actually asking is why bring Dorans Blade over Long Sword. The lifesteal+extra health is more valuable than 2 pots. 360 gold is so little that there's no reason to care about whether or not it can be upgraded.
Variks the Loyal1 votesDoran's items are more gold efficient in the early game, and offer much needed stats.
Doran's Blade will offer more extended sustain than Sword+3 pots, because of the health and life steal.
Doran's Shield is more sustain than Cloth+5 pots, because of the health, health regen, and the damage reduction passive. There are still cases where Cloth armor is better, like against Renekton, Darius, or Riven, because Cloth+5 will give more immediate sustain and damage reduction. Live for a while, upgrade it to Chain Vest, and TP back to lane (Assuming top).
Mid laners like Zed and Yasuo take favor the Sword over the blade because they'll likely take more harass early, and the 3 pots is more sustain in a short time than a Doran's Blade.
Renaille1 votesDorans items are extremely cost efficient and give you stronger all in potential.
You buy them for lane dominance, or when you're behind in lane and need some cheap power to get back into the game.
Kazaashi1 votesThey are EXTREMELY cost efficient, until around 15 mins into the game. Then you are better off getting something for upgrading.
Miku Lv991 votesThey are very efficient. Yes they don't build into something else but they make you a lot stronger in lane early game. Without them, you're very weak to an all-in and it's easier for them to zone you out of cs and it's a lot harder for you to scare them away from getting their cs. With the extra sustain you can even live from taking a lot more harass in lane so you can get more cs, even if there are no all-ins. They might not be efficient endgame but with all the extra gold you're able to get from having them earlier they're definitely worth it.
Eyu Aradic1 votesshield is better if you're facing a champion that has a targeted spell that does magic damage, such as teemo or rice. Blade is better for the durability that it provides you, ideal against an all in lane. Ring gives you 6mp5.
NoMonku1 votesIt depends on what champion you are playing. In most cases a Dorans item can be bought on ALL champions and be stacked and be useful(except shield). They don't upgrade, but they offer more immediate power with that one buy then getting something that can be upgraded to something else. 
and 
are good examples. Outside of AD caster based champions, going Doran's blade is superior, especially on ADC's. If you fight or trade early on in the game, a Doran's blade gives superior stats to a longsword, giving you an extra 70 hp and 3% LS, while giving 3 less AD. The extra tankyness helps you take more hits and lets you stay in lane longer with the LS, which gives you sustain. Also if you get another one, which is often common if you back early on and can't purchase 
or 
, you can CS easier and hopefully survive the lane.
If you can actually beat someone while taking the item that can be upgraded, I say go for it, but I feel the main reason you are winning is because you either are playing champions who can actually go down that path or you are outplaying them. If it is you outplaying them, if you do run into a superior player, you may end up losing the matchup instead because of your poor itemization choice.
