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Silver Serpants = Noob trap?

Faith Breaker·7/25/2015, 11:42:48 PM·35 votes·8,039 views

So after a few games playing Gangplank in my usual style after his rework (As in, not considering SS stacks out right) I decided to try to play him like Nasus stacking his SS stacks instead of Q stacks. Since before I'd not been able to get enough SS to upgrade his ult in a game. It seemed to end too fast but I knew it was also bc I wasn't focusing SS stacks.

Then I play a few games like this and realize I am doing WORSE. I am given the option to either use my q to harass enemy champ or last hit a creep to stack SS. Ideally we wanna stack SS to unlock full potential of our ULT for late game. But what I see happening is my lane opponent just harasses and out lanes me. I can last hit under tower and that's fine but I'm more or less NOT THERE. Its' like I have no lane presence, outside of using his TbF passive to trade I must use my mana and my cool down's so I last hit creeps with q, to stack SS.

But by the time I upgrade my ult the first time, I feel weaker then I ever have with Gp, and my lane opponent comes back with equivilant if not superior items then me and is still ahead in terms of ability to engage in trades confidently in their favor. I feel like the playstyle of stacking his SS for full ult is a trap, as I have better performances playing Gangplank in situations where my q is mostly a Harass tool, using it to enable me to trade more often.

What do you guys think?

Edit

That title typo tho?

76 Comments

ponkzy7/26/2015, 12:34:42 AM47 votes

youre supposed to stack it using your barrels. if you last hit the barrel with your parrley and it kills all the creeps you can get up to 50 ss in one go

DrShoking7/26/2015, 12:01:53 AM15 votes

you have to moderate between farming and harassing with q. Ideally you want to use your barrels to kill multiple minions and harass the enemy.

Skillsh0tN00b7/26/2015, 12:41:47 AM10 votes

Just one simple question: What about the barrels? You can detonate them with Q, and the Parrley detonation will collect silver serpents. Again, I'm just asking a question.

ElJanitorFrank7/26/2015, 3:58:25 AM8 votes

Go at it with a hybrid mentality, not a nasus mentality. You shouldn't just be focusing on stacking this one ability the entire laning phase.

I would say it's probably better to Q barrels and get harass + multiple stacks simultaneously.

That being said, USE YOUR BARRELS. Not just to Q stack, use them for everything as much as you can. They're free and do lotsa damage and you can do some nifty stuff to activate them. You could put a 'primer' barrel in a bush when your opponent isn't looking, then link another barrel to it and instantly detonate it, without your opponent being able to react.

If I can throw in my 2 cents, I'd say that new GPs E is his most important ability.

50000000000000007/25/2015, 11:59:59 PM7 votes

Even if you don't get SS, you get extra gold from farming with Q. It's still worth it.

RottedApples7/26/2015, 4:13:33 AM6 votes

question: are you using barrels? because if you are then you shouldn't have too many problems.

I think the passive should only apply to champions though. I don't like using it accidentally last hitting when i really want to put it on my enemy.

Erockandroll7/26/2015, 4:26:29 AM6 votes

Keep in mind your barrels, cause everyone else seems to think that your forgetting them.

His Barrels Augment your attack, dealing it's physical damage in an AoE. Applying On hit effects like sheen, and can critically strike. And gives you the Parley gold if it kills minions.

You should have no problem clearing wave, once you have Tri Force, Maxed your Q, and maybe one other damage item. After which You should be able to build Health and CDR, to increase your ability to fight.

Lastly keep in mind that his Barrels reset his passive. You should have no problem using his Barrels and Harassing you lane opponent at the same time.

It may be difficult to get your first upgrade, but it will accelerate when you get latter into the game.

Sightless667/26/2015, 4:34:38 AM6 votes

Silver Serpent stacking in lane is indeed a trap. The vast majority of your extra last-hits will come from the combination of your Q and your barrels once you have a completed item and can split push a bit. You can get 48-56 Serpents a wave this way. That dwarfs any small benefits you get from passively last-hitting in lane. The Q should still be used to last-hit when necessary, but doing so shouldn't be your primary goal.

Once you can easily clear a wave with the barrels, then you should absolutely be stacking up serpents while split pushing. Before that, it's not really necessary.

TheVishual7/26/2015, 5:38:03 AM3 votes

[{quoted}](name=Faith Breaker,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=fz0xgVTp,comment-id=,timestamp=2015-07-25T23:42:48.180+0000)

So after a few games playing Gangplank in my usual style after his rework (As in, not considering SS stacks out right) I decided to try to play him like Nasus stacking his SS stacks instead of Q stacks. Since before I'd not been able to get enough SS to upgrade his ult in a game. It seemed to end too fast but I knew it was also bc I wasn't focusing SS stacks.

Then I play a few games like this and realize I am doing WORSE. I am given the option to either use my q to harass enemy champ or last hit a creep to stack SS. Ideally we wanna stack SS to unlock full potential of our ULT for late game. But what I see happening is my lane opponent just harasses and out lanes me. I can last hit under tower and that's fine but I'm more or less NOT THERE. Its' like I have no lane presence, outside of using his TbF passive to trade I must use my mana and my cool down's so I last hit creeps with q, to stack SS.

But by the time I upgrade my ult the first time, I feel weaker then I ever have with Gp, and my lane opponent comes back with equivilant if not superior items then me and is still ahead in terms of ability to engage in trades confidently in their favor. I feel like the playstyle of stacking his SS for full ult is a trap, as I have better performances playing Gangplank in situations where my q is mostly a Harass tool, using it to enable me to trade more often.

What do you guys think?

Edit

That title typo tho?

New GP is a noob-trap in general... I have so much fun playing against him in lane now versus him being a moderate threat before if you knew how to play him

Matezoide7/26/2015, 12:22:59 AM3 votes

Ult upgrade is a luxury. You are supposed to get just one in most games

bad manner kid7/26/2015, 1:49:28 AM3 votes

I don't consider Parrley + barrel to be a thing until you have trinity force + another AD item.

It's ridiculously hard to time the barrels early on because anyone with a brain can beat you to attacking it if they know your going to shoot right as it ticks to the last hp. You're basically just feeding them 10g and burning your Q cd.

New GP barrels are borderline useless in lane except running away. I think it's a fun mechanic but its definitely not a "mini game" as the preview describes it

Jacknife7/26/2015, 3:03:25 AM3 votes

I honestly don't like to plug myself, but I posted earlier on a possible buff to help him farm SS stacks. http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/ynBljTE5-so-after-a-few-games-with-gangplank-i-have-some-thoughts

9kODfjxKtG7/26/2015, 1:33:17 AM2 votes

Here is something I posted earlier. Build ravenous hydra and farm away with your barrels and poke at the same time. The main point is rush HYDRA before anything else.

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/tips-tricks/EwnNmvft-gangplanks-ult-upgrades-and-the-silver-serpent-cost

Beltalowdah7/27/2015, 5:33:09 PM1 votes

Really now? I end most of game with at least 2 upgrades, 3 isn't a rare occurance either.

Beerstein7/27/2015, 5:35:31 PM1 votes

I find it interesting that the issue you speak of would be solved with a support, perhaps GP bot lane and a solo ADC or Quinn top. Don't be afraid to break the meta. GP being bot lane with his ult at 6 would make ganks really dangerous down there too.

The short of it is that perhaps before asking for the champion to change you should try changing your play style for the champion.

Just for clarity I'm saying it's worth trying, and think it would work well. How well it will work I can't say for certain at any given MMR, for all I know it'll fail.

Beerstein7/27/2015, 6:53:29 PM1 votes

Another option for riot rather than players like my previous suggestion is give people 50% stacks for shooting someone in the face.