Boards›Gameplay

Confusion about Shaco

Kraythax··2 votes·492 views

Been trying to learn the zen of Shaco and I was in the practice tool and trying some builds and a couple of the things confused me.

  1. I have read online and watched videos that state that Shaco gets AP based bonus on first basic after Q but when I loaded on death caps my backstab damage didn't change against the dummy. So did this get nerfed?

  2. Are the AP builds still viable? 2 of Shaco skills, his E and W use AP but if you build full AD they will be gimped and if you build full AP his basic damage and backstab will be gimped. It seems like Shaco has a personality disorder here. Only 2 items give both AD and AP but don't concentrate on either.

  3. When it comes to Shaco's backstab it seems like that is gimped as well. Using the build Bloodrazor, Berzerkers, Ghostblade, Gunblade, Rageblade and Bloodthirster I can get my single hit crit damage up to over 700 by level 12 in the practice tool but my backstab only does 350ish?? Why doesn't my backstab do at least the same damage as my crit. It seems that Riot have hard capped the backstab to be capped at 180% AD but I don't know why.

Note that I am still working on my mechanics, these numbers come from practice tool. Thanks for feedback.

7 Comments

L Psy Kongroo2 votes

  1. Shaco's Q no longer grants bonus damage on his next attack; it is strictly a mobility spell now. His Backstab scales with 40% AP, but Deathcap's passive is unique, so you won't get as much AP from stacking them as you would buying other AP items.

  2. Pink Ward (one of the best AP Shaco players in the world currently) seems to think that AP Shaco is still viable. His thoughts on this are detailed in this video. As for my personal thoughts as a Shaco main, I'd have to concur with Pink Ward, but only when it comes to AP Shaco TOP. Jungle Shaco is still exclusively AD.

  3. Trying to build hybrid Shaco isn't very effective. You either want to spec fully into AD or AP, not try and do both at the same time. Some people still swear by bruiser Shaco, but with his E now scaling off 120% bonus AD, you get far more value out of glass cannon Shaco.

Kraythax1 votes

What AP items would you recommend if not rageblade and gunblade. Assuming you are building AP of course.

BLACK REALM GOD1 votes

zhonya.

Kraythax1 votes

What AP items would you recommend if not rageblade and gubblade. Oh and I built in the practice tool a full ad 6 bloodthirster Shaco and my DPS was abysmal. So by glass cannon do you mean crit chance, speed DMG or just pure damage?

L Psy Kongroo1 votes

{quoted}

What AP items would you recommend if not rageblade and gubblade. Oh and I built in the practice tool a full ad 6 bloodthirster Shaco and my DPS was abysmal. So by glass cannon do you mean crit chance, speed DMG or just pure damage?

My usually build as AP Shaco is Gunblade > Luden's Echo > Lich Bane > situational. Typical situational items include Morellonomicon, Zhonyas, Rabcap, Banshee's, and Void Staff.

You will want Gunblade with full AP Shaco because he benefits from all the stats it gives and aids tremendously with your burst. Be sure to use it BEFORE you throw your E, since the E deals more damage based on missing HP. Lich Bane + Backstab proc + Gunblade + Ludens proc + E to finish them is the typical combo and still packs a punch after the nerfs. Boots are either Sorcerer's Shoes or Ionian boots, depending on how much CDR you have already.

BLACK REALM GOD1 votes

shaco is a manipulation assassin. you have to have a pretty good understanding of your opponents psyche in order to use shaco. the best players of shaco make some of the best homicidal maniacs in real life.

i joke.

for real though shaco is ap and ad based. so your builds will need to have both types of damage. that doesnt mean buy items with both types of damage.

if you want to succeed as shaco you're going to need the heavy damage items and some flat penetration and lethality.

any armor or magic resist you get will be transferred over to your clone. items that require an allied champion work with your clone also.

item 3147 item 3814 item 3100 item 3142 item 3117 item 3151 make for some okay items.

edit

and as for your questions

no ap no longer modifies the backstab

yes some ap builds are still viable, but using them without physical damage will make it impossible to farm. gunblade and rageblade arent for shaco. they're for fighters.

backstabs are capable of being executed on demand. so you only get a slight increase in damage from using them. they're not criticals. they're more or less just a passive situational damage buff. like caitlyns headshots.

More from Gameplay

3 Refunds per season, upvote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay764 comments
7,167
votes
3 Refunds per season, upvote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay156 comments
3,510
votes
UPVOTE FOR URF
Gameplay606 comments
2,440
votes
Yes plz.
Gameplay456 comments
1,721
votes
3 Refunds per season, up vote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay114 comments
1,716
votes
When is ANYONE at riot going to address the awful new player experience?
Gameplay634 comments
1,383
votes

More by Kraythax

Yasuo's Passive is what makes him Overpowered
Gameplay18 comments
11
votes
Ornn Impressions after 20+ games. Riot needs to do some work!
Gameplay19 comments
10
votes
Master Yi and Yasuo are REDICULOUSLY overpowered.
Gameplay51 comments
6
votes
Gamer Age Poll
Gameplay10 comments
6
votes
Dear Riot, Why I have quit and uninstalled after $215 Spent
Player Behavior27 comments
6
votes
Ranking should be changed to be about player performance and not wins.
Gameplay5 comments
4
votes