Calling All Rat Mains

Troy242621·May 22, 2016·2 votes·899 views

Really been enjoying Twitch lately, but I've run into a couple of (very specific) issues, hopefully specific enough that it makes it easy to advise me!

Does Twitch really get out-traded until about level 5, or am I just misplaying? (AA>W>AA>E)
If he really does get out-traded for this long, his laning phase seems abysmal; how do I survive it and still maintain respectable amounts of CS?
During teamfighting, is it right for me to not join immediately, and to wait on the outskirts until I see an opportunity to pop ult and unleash on them?
How do you handle receiving minimal amounts of peel during teamfights?
How do you handle a lane such as Draven/Leona, or Caitlyn/Karma?

Thanks in advance, Twitch mains!

14 Comments

Gunslinger744May 22, 20162 votes

Twitch is a late-game carry. His early is weak as hell, as a general rule I avoid trading until I have at least a BF Sword. Preferably a BF and a Zeal. You can potentially all-in at this point. Don't let harass go unanswered however, trade with one or two autoattacks. Keep it short.
His lane is bad, not abysmal. Avoid dueling and focus on farming until you get aforementioned BF sword and Zeal.
Sounds about right to me, don't forget to use the reset on Q to reposition and keep them guessing. Even stealthing and not moving can throw them off.
It's tough, unless you're fed Twitch will die when he's singled out. Avoid teamfighting and try to use your stealth to find and kill single targets, preferably squishies in warded areas. With proper items, tagging a target with 3-4 autoattacks and an Expunge will often kill them.
Hard lanes, but not impossible. Keep farming and out of their range when you can. Twitch is a late teamfight carry, he will outscale both in teamfights and he can surprise them with his assassinations from stealth.

Conclusion: A very important part of his kit is the attack speed boost he gets when he exits stealth. After you get Infinity Edge and preferably Statikk Shiv, use Ambush to roam around the river and jungle and destroy lone enemies by surprising them with the Ambush attack speed buff and an Expunge. Use the reset on Q to disappear when the job is done.

In teamfights, resist the urge to run in with your team unless you're behind. Instead try to stay around the edges, in a bush or the jungle, then go in with Ambush and pop the Spray and Pray for massive damage. Expunge and use the reset on Q to reposition, chase or get away.

Troy242621May 22, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Twitch is a late-game carry. His early is weak as hell, as a general rule I avoid trading until I have at least a BF Sword. Preferably a BF and a Zeal. You can potentially all-in at this point. Don't let harass go unanswered however, trade with one or two autoattacks. Keep it short.

His lane is bad, not abysmal. Avoid dueling and focus on farming until you get aforementioned BF sword and Zeal.

Sounds about right to me, don't forget to use the reset on Q to reposition and keep them guessing. Even stealthing and not moving can throw them off.

It's tough, unless you're fed Twitch will die when he's singled out. Avoid teamfighting and try to use your stealth to find and kill single targets, preferably squishies in warded areas. With proper items, tagging a target with 3-4 autoattacks and an Expunge will often kill them.

Hard lanes, but not impossible. Keep farming and out of their range when you can. Twitch is a late teamfight carry, he will outscale both in teamfights and he can surprise them with his assassinations from stealth.

If I return trades, I inevitably lose more health than them, and eventually get all-in'd or hardcore denied CS. That's exactly what I'm looking to avoid :c.

Thanks a ton by the way.

Gunslinger744May 23, 20161 votes

Do you start Doran's blade? Always start Doran's on Twitch.

I generally don't trade at all early and get very very agressive along with my support once I have a BF Sword. This can throw an enemy laner off as they might not expect the sudden boost in damage.

Stealth in with a cc heavy support and BF sword, Venom Cask for the slow and bonus stacks and let rip. Stack 'em as high as you're comfortable with (Should be 6 with Venom Cask and Ambush attack speed bonus) and Expunge. Or if your support is Braum for example who can really lock down an enemy, keep firing and Expunge for the kill. Don't be afraid to roam, your Stealth will help you pass wards and unseen into mid lane for a deadly gank. Once rolling with an IE and a Shiv you can actively hunt certain enemy champions. Preferably ones that are bad at dueling (i.e Nami, Soraka, Caitlyn, ...)

Open up with the Venom Cask and stack Deadly Venom to 6. Expunge and keep firing if they survive. Once they're dead, disappear with the reset on your Q. Make them feel unsafe in the jungle to force them into teamfights which you will likely win with Spray and Pray.

Don't forget your trinket! Buy a Sweeper if you're getting warded and the blue trinket if you're looking for prey. Blue trinket can also throw off enemies when you use it properly, for example when you use it to kill people twice in a row you can use it again to scare them off, because last time you used it 2 of them died. See what I mean?

Keep them guessing. Get inside their heads. After laning phase you're playing Shaco but better. Confidence is key.

Troy242621May 23, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Do you start Doran's blade? Always start Doran's on Twitch.

I generally don't trade at all early and get very very agressive along with my support once I have a BF Sword. This can throw an enemy laner off as they might not expect the sudden boost in damage.

Stealth in with a cc heavy support and BF sword, Venom Cask for the slow and bonus stacks and let rip. Stack 'em as high as you're comfortable with (Should be 6 with Venom Cask and Ambush attack speed bonus) and Expunge. Or if your support is Braum for example who can really lock down an enemy, keep firing and Expunge for the kill. Don't be afraid to roam, your Stealth will help you pass wards and unseen into mid lane for a deadly gank. Once rolling with an IE and a Shiv you can actively hunt certain enemy champions. Preferably ones that are bad at dueling (i.e Nami, Soraka, Caitlyn, ...)

Open up with the Venom Cask and stack Deadly Venom to 6. Expunge and keep firing if they survive. Once they're dead, disappear with the reset on your Q. Make them feel unsafe in the jungle to force them into teamfights which you will likely win with Spray and Pray.

Don't forget your trinket! Buy a Sweeper if you're getting warded and the blue trinket if you're looking for prey. Blue trinket can also throw off enemies when you use it properly, for example when you use it to kill people twice in a row you can use it again to scare them off, because last time you used it 2 of them died. See what I mean?

Keep them guessing. Get inside their heads. After laning phase you're playing Shaco but better. Confidence is key.

Yeah I do start Doran's but I usually rush GB. Is that wrong?

I usually do get blue as soon as I back after lv.9 because that trinket is just OP.

Thanks!

Gunslinger744May 23, 20161 votes

I wouldn't say Ghostblade rush is "wrong". But it's more of a late-game item for Twitch as both stats the active gives are readily available to him with Ambush and the armor pen is negligable when your attacks barely do damage in the first place. Resistances are low early, a BF Sword coupled with a Shiv will do WAY more damage. And it's mixed because of Shiv's passive, therefor buying a Chain Vest won't be enough to shut you down completely.

I always get BF sword ASAP. If I can't buy it when I have to back I buy a Zeal and farm until I can buy a BF. The sword is my que to start fighting and snowballing.

My build order goes BF > Shiv > IE > Greaves. That's my assassin Twitch core, after that I can start reliably blowing up squishes and I change my build to suit the situation. Rarely if ever do I build a Ghostblade.

Also, NEVER buy Death's Dance! The passive damage over time delays your stealth! If you absolutely need lifesteal consider a Botrk or BT.

FluffyRockMay 22, 20162 votes

Try and get a support that has all in potential ie: Leona, braum morgana and get an early lead. Drven Leona lane turns into you fighting under tower. Late game Twitch shouldn't need peel if played correctly. Stealth and assassinate ADC, Stealth reset go for mid laner and then regroup with frontline for your peel.

Troy242621May 22, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Try and get a support that has all in potential ie: Leona, braum morgana and get an early lead. Drven Leona lane turns into you fighting under tower. Late game Twitch shouldn't need peel if played correctly. Stealth and assassinate ADC, Stealth reset go for mid laner and then regroup with frontline for your peel.

Sounds like early game I'm just incredibly reliant on my support, then. What if they aren't really able to offset the others' pressure? Should I just accept the fact I'm going to lose lane, get denied 20 CS and deal with it? Just prepare for mid game as best I can?

FluffyRockMay 22, 20161 votes

Thats what happens, Every lane has good and bad matchups. Twitch has some good and bad matchups as well and you just have to accept it how it is.

Troy242621May 23, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Thats what happens, Every lane has good and bad matchups. Twitch has some good and bad matchups as well and you just have to accept it how it is.

Of course. Was just curious what you felt is the best way to handle it. I appreciate all the help! Thanks!

Critmaster GarenMay 23, 20162 votes

im confused. which rat?

Teemo Twitch

hue.

Troy242621May 23, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Critmaster Garen,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=apEEfNnG,comment-id=0002,timestamp=2016-05-23T16:28:12.527+0000)

im confused. which rat?

hue.

Said rat, not Satan's anus.

Critmaster GarenMay 23, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Said rat, not Satan's anus.

fair enough.

chesticleesMay 23, 20161 votes

As far as laning is concerned, yes, Twitch's laning phase is not good. However, it does not mean you shouldnt be trading or getting poke off on your opponent when the opportunity arrises. Play good positioning and be opportunistic. Having a support with hard cc makes laning with Twitch a heck of a lot easier, as you can more easily deal damage without taking any yourself.

As far as items are concerned, BoRK, GB, IE, and RH are core to his build. In what order you get them depends on the situation and your play style. For instance, I prefer more AS early on Twitch plus sustain since he is such an auto heavy champ with low health and has AD built into his ult, therefore I usually go BoRK into RH. If its a heavy squishy field, then rushing GB into RH is the best option I find. Deft and Doublelift tend to go the BoRK route too and do pretty well (in the games that I have seen them play Twitch).

Finally, Twitch is one of those ADC champions that the more you play him, the more of a feel you will get for him and the better you will do. His kit is easy to understand, but capitalizing on what makes him strong can take some time. Losing lane is not the end all for an ADC, especially for Twitch, just dont feed, farm up when you are able to, and make smart engagements. Without your ult, you can get wrecked by other ADCs even out of stealth (Lucian's burst is no joke). His game strength is a near linear increase with game length, so just stall till you can get the items you need. You'll do fine.

Troy242621May 24, 20161 votes

I feel like regardless, Twitch isn't a very good ADC right now. He just can't win trades against competent opponents unless they misplay, and against competent opponents, he's just going to be denied too hard.

Sucks because I love him so much.