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Who gets the Rift Herald (gold+ advice please)

Better Jungler··3 votes·4,363 views

I wont give all details but:

  • We have a 2-2 aatrox top, successfully split pushing into the tier 2 top turret.
  • I'm playing Kayn jungle, 4-0 and hitting all lanes.
  • We have all dragons available, and all outer turrets down.
  • Me and aatrox tag team the herald, then both stand on the buff.
  • I (kayn) got the buff.

He had some heated words for me, but I calmed it down to a simple debate.

My opinion: Herald goes to the jungler, if the jungler is doing well, and ganking often. This is because the jungler has the opportunity to unleash the herald in any lane he wants.

Aatrox opinion: He is successfully split pushing top lane, giving herald to him may allow him to break the inhib turret and open the gates for other lanes to push in their tier 2's.

We debated for a bit, before finally agreeing to disagree. Both of us have reasonable points. Where do you think the herald should go?

Edit: Loving the responses, its pretty evenly split. For those curious, I got the herald and ended up getting 2 mid towers with it. Our aatrox started losing 1 v 1's to tryndamere, and went from 2-2 to 2-7 by the end of the game. I understand this isnt really related to the herald decision, but I feel like Jungler was the right call in this specific scenario.

Edit 2: We won the game.

26 Comments

Poison Bolts2 votes

either one is fine in theory, but if you give it to him, you don't have toxicity lowering your chances of winning the game

Better Jungler1 votes

I was able to defuse the situation after he got a few insults out on me:P

We did end up winning luckily

RiotRiot Sotere4 votes

This is a pragmatic way to go about it. At that stage in the game I'd normally opt for the top laner. The best case scenario there is he creates tons of pressure on his own and gets an isolated Herald after killing his opponent.

Poison Bolts1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot Sotere,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=feMtPrfk,comment-id=00000001,timestamp=2017-10-03T07:21:50.565+0000)

This is a pragmatic way to go about it. At that stage in the game I'd normally opt for the top laner. The best case scenario there is he creates tons of pressure on his own and gets an isolated Herald after killing his opponent.

in solo queue i feel like a jungler will want it for themselves, especially a 4/0 jungler because they can pop into a lane and use it when necessary rather than forcing it to be used in top lane at some point, assuming the top laner plays on an island up there, but both can be benficial

there's also the feeling of "i have to carry and make the decisions that will gain me my LP at any cost" along with the MANY times people have been burned and learned their lesson when trusting someone else with their role, their champion, or even with in game stuff like following up

the best thing you can do is avoid toxicity, and do things that will yield you a high chance of success, or don't attempt it at all unless it's a do or die moment like a baron steal in a close late game type of game.

Better Jungler1 votes

To me is just seems likely that he will go to split push the inhib turret, and get ganked by their team before he gets anythign really accomplished. Of course this would open the map to the rest of the team to get some tier 2's and dragon...

Gah, theres no real right answer.

I think in this case, I did the right thing because shortly after this exchange with top lane, he started losing 1 v 1's to the enemy Tryndamere, who then in turn became a problem for the rest of the team later on. I took the herald mid lane, and was able to get the tier 2, part of the inhib turret, then rotate to dragon with my mid laner while my bot lane pushed in their waves.

Mig891 votes

As a support main I always try to take the rift herald because you dont lose ward coverage during having it. With SS I can ward and move around the map freely by the time teams are usually taking herald.

R0XTAR2 votes

True, it is more instinct; no real right or wrong answer. But you did make the right call for the situation, but alas it could've been completely different any way you slice it. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

ZapMyHeart2 votes

I think it comes down who is more comfortable/reliant in getting the most out of the Herald. Unfortunately for blind pick, it's difficult to communicate in a split second before making a decision to take the Eye.

Personally, I expect the Jungler to have first dibs on it unless they were really behind or is an inexperienced player (and cannot use it optimally) due to the fact that they rotate through the lanes and have the opportunity to summon the Herald to open up into any lane that would net the highest amount of objective lead.

As a laner, I prioritize the Eye to the Jungler unless otherwise pinged. As a Jungler, I prioritize myself to take the Eye. I will ping if I want my teammate to take it when I see that they would make better use of it. But it all comes down to communication. If my team thinks they are able to make better use of it, they should speak up during the Herald fight and not after it dies.

Better Jungler1 votes

Agreed.

XxxLumberJackxxX2 votes

I play a pretty selfish 'trust no one but yourself to carry' style so I always advocate myself taking everything whenever possible.... I'm also terrible at the game.

Game theory wise if your split pusher is ahead he should take it.

R0XTAR1 votes

^ Also in doing so, you draw more attention to top lane with a fed Aatrox with Rift Herald pushing in the enemy base. This would allow him to take pressure for your team and open up ADC and mid lane pressure, thereby giving your team the extra gold advantage and even more control of the map and enemy jungle. I would opt for giving it to top as long as he doesn't waste it as soon as he gets it.

EDIT: I'm assuming the 2-2 Aatrox is fed on CS due to having a successful split-push. Theres also the situation where if you know it will go to waste top, to take it yourself and use it bot lane to divert attention there to let him continue his pushing topside.

Glory971 votes

In the end it doesn't matter too much who spawns it right? A jungler can gank a lane and then spawn the rift herald and utilise to pushing pwer quite well. But for the toplaner it's just that much easier to utilise the rift herald to it's maximum potential. Additionally you can't use your trinket/sweeper as jungler before you pulled of the next succesfull gank which is kind of bothersome.

k wìx1 votes

I dont think the Herald is being utilized to full effect in the majority of games anyway. People think of it as a split-pushing tool and I dont think thats the best use of it.

I think you should just gather all 5 lanes into one and use it as a teamfight/initiation tool. Basically dive on anyone who tries to attack the Herald. It kinda forces the enemy team into making mistakes as they are trying to burst it down before it hits the towers.

This creates a tremendous teamfight advantage. Not only that, but it allows the Herald to absolutely decimate a lane, I've seen it happen once or twice, where we completely supported the Herald and got all 3 towers down in addition to an early inhib, all on an ace and the Herald.

As a split-pushing tool, one champion can essentially destroy it, and you usually get a single tower out of it, but the above situation is superior in every way, and its not that much harder to pull off.

Kyunsei1 votes

Frankly speaking, it doesn't matter. Just let it go to whoever wants it, this way you are sure it won't tilt anyone.

Better Jungler1 votes

We both wanted it:P

Illâoi Evê Siôn1 votes

I'd give it to the top lane so he can go back quicker and keep up the pressure.

Xion The XIV1 votes

I would say Aatrox should get it. Rift herald should go to the split pusher. If you give it to aatrox top and then tell your other laners to push Bot they are forced to make a decision. Send 2 or 3 top lane to stop aatrox and rift. Or let it take a min of 2 towers. This happened to me in a recent game. Our jungle braum took rift herald and we pushed top lane from tier 1 tower to taking their inhib. The enemy decided to stop our bot lane push. They picked wrong of course.

But yea the Rift should a majority of the time go to the split pusher unless you all decide to just try and take mid.

DtimeD1 votes

I'm Gold 5 zero LP that means I can answer right?

If you think the top laner is incompetent, take it for yourself. Solo queue is a dangerous place and when it comes down to those decisions, you need to decide which player would make best use of it.

Better Jungler1 votes

Of course! I am gold 5 0 lp as well:P

Kirius Dark1 votes

Most of the time Id say the jungler. Get a gank off to get that laner low, dead or go back then you can use the herald to take the turret. Can choose to go to other lanes to open up the map as well.

Aatrox being 2-2 isnt that fed and wont be able to deal with the laner and jungler when they show up, whereas if you're there with a laner their jungler needs to show up just to break even otherwise they lose a tower. If he was super fed and can 2v1 then sure he can take the herald

iNinjakun1 votes

Tbh as tryndamere player, I want this herald buff when Im not Stupidly behind in exp/gold. As another person said, it gives me the ability to recall faster and pressure more efficiently. But in some case its best to let the jungle have it because if youre really ahead, and you can easily 1vs1 their top laner, you dont even need the herald to take top or bot, meanwhile they have to send mutliple people to defend and your team can take mid turret ezpz in most case.

Rotala macrandra1 votes

If Rift Herald is taken at ~18 minutes, give it to the split pusher. Why? Because he can push bot lane when Baron spawns at 20'00". This diverts enemy resources to the lane farthest from Baron. This also allows your team to more easily take Baron. First push out the bot lane waves, summon Rift, then wait for enemy response before starting Baron.

If, however, the Jg takes Herald at ~18 minutes, he's forced to stay around Baron because the enemy team may be taking/contesting Baron. Summoning Herald either top or mid lane allows the enemy team to kill it and quickly move towards Baron to contest.

Similarly, if the Jg summons Herald prior to Baron spawning, the enemy team can kill it and move towards Baron to establish/contest priority before it spawns. In either case, the Jg with Herald significantly reduces the ability to take Baron with little contested and reduces Herald's ability to take objectives.

If Herald is taken any time prior to 17 minutes, the team would likely benefit the most if the Jg takes Herald because of the increased ability to pressure any lane, especially if none of the tier 1 turrets have been destroyed yet.

Friendly Ram1 votes

Yorick Hey i solo harold might as well pick him up.

Quepha1 votes

why were you even fighting over herald? i hate having my trinket slot locked off.

THE GERMAN WALL1 votes

In soloq jungle or roaming support or someone with tp usually have a better macro, therefor should take the herald. Sololaners with bad macro spawn it at the wrong time in the wrong place, are interruped by hardcc or don't use the fast recall, though there is plenty time left. And to be honest, top has the least impact in game, actually not worth to be spawned for a sololane no one cares about. For example: Use it after a won teamfight on bot to get at least 2 towers or 1 tower + inhib or even more. Early spawns can get you platings or use it to get first tower bonus. If top is stomping lane, I don't mind leaving him the herald, so I can focus to play around other objects/lanes. But if he is behind, I would never do that. Or spawn it as distraction to push a lane, so you can outnumber the enemy team in the next teamfight or run down another lane to take turrets/inhib.

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