When should you buy Boots of Speed?

Dr Poro·Aug 24, 2015·1 votes·2,625 views

I usually buy boots of speed as soon as I have 325g that I can't spend on an ingredient for my first major item. But... Boots of speed seem pretty overcosted imo. 325g for just 25 MS. Is it even worth buying it so early or are you better off getting some pots and saving the gold to finish your first item sooner?

Are there certain lanes where you have to buy boots sooner? or later?

For example, when I play ADC and I have 1200g on first back (or death). I buy a Pickaxe for IE and boots of speed. As a jungler, I buy boots of speed whenever I have the money and can't spend it on my jungle item. Is it worth it or should I get my first item (IE or jungle item) first at all cost?

9 Comments

redniwediSAug 24, 20152 votes

As a top lane main I treat them as the counterpart to Mobility Boots. Ninja Tabi and Mercury Treads are counterparts, and so are Berserker Grieves and Ionian Boots of Lucidity, so why shouldn't the last two be as well?

Unless you are specifically against the god of slows you can completely ignore the slow resistance, as it's all about movement speed. Do you need to be fast in combat, or do you just need to quickly move between places? In top lane I often get Boots of Speed for the faster in combat movement speed. I play immobile champs so I get them early, but on someone who has natural mobility you can fit them in whenever it is needed most (usually around the time opponents are upgrading their boots).

AMYS GRAVEAug 24, 20151 votes

I think the OP is referring to boots of speed (basic boots) not boots of swiftness (the slow resist ones).

redniwediSAug 24, 20151 votes

Oh... That's an odd question then. I'll highlight the part of my post I still feel is applicable.

Old Man TeetoAug 24, 20152 votes

Skill Shot/dodgeable abilities on enemy? - Boots on 1st or 2nd buy.

Lots of towers dying or lots of roaming starting? - Boots ASAP (Tier 2 if truly past laning phase)

Enemy team relies on running you down? - Boots by 3rd buy.

Flash is down and you're likely to be ganked? - BOOTS NAOW (and wards)

CoolKnightSTAug 24, 20151 votes

+/- 10 minutes, that's the best average time to get them.

Count BuffonAug 24, 20151 votes

Probably first or second recall. Every once in a while, I'll postpone them if I have 800 for Sightstone or something great like that, but it can be really annoying playing around being slow that late in the game. Luckily 325g isn't forever, even for a support.

If you can't buy something really nice, boots and a ward is better than 400-600g on almost anything IMO. ADC can postpone boots for Zeal, but Pickaxe+Boots can be good too for about the same money. I just play it by ear a lot, and I have boots after recall 1 or 2 90% of the time. Jungle needs Boots 1 even more badly, probably more than anything else after Machete.

bot lane bastardAug 24, 20151 votes

buy it when u need it meaning buy it when u feel u are too slow moving around or in ur rotations, zerker greaves arent worth for the attack speed unless u need them for the MS as well, so unless the map is open dont get boots

ShonjlAug 24, 20151 votes

I would say trying to get Tier 1 boots as well as a core item of your first major item on your first back is the most preferable. As for upgrading them, it depends on the champ. On people that need to be fast or mages that like the magic pen, I would upgrade them as soon as you can, preferably also with your first item. On ones that it doesnt matter, I would do it around the 2-3 item.

Like when I play Garen, I get T1 asap and upgrade them asap. But on say Morgana support? I don't even focus on boots until like 3-4 items in

Sir Jack LeeAug 24, 20151 votes

I generally play jungle so this may be different but I usually get them after i completed the jungle item or halfway through my next item (especially for hecarim, free damage with the item)