Cookie Cutter Builds

Chromatic Eagle·Nov 16, 2014·3 votes·3,094 views

Essentially most ADCs have very similar builds. Normally, what changes is which items you rush first. APCs on the other hand, are apparently forced to build virtually the same items every match. Regardless of what champion you play. Is this ok? Should this change? Are other roles and lanes pigeon-holed into the same builds? Take melee top lane for example.

7 Comments

Star WardenNov 16, 20143 votes

Katarina doesn't build like Lissandra, and neither of them build like Nidalee

No one has a cookie cutter build more than actual adc's and even then it is a matter of preference on certain items as well as need for the match

EndlessSorcererNov 16, 20143 votes

Honestly, ADCs are moving away from cookie cutter builds as well. Most ADC's have multiple build paths or their own twist on the build to suit their kit. A standard build is something like item 3006 item 3031 item 3087 item 3035 item 3072

Ezreal has item 3158 item 3078 item 3153 item 3035 item 3031 or whatever the current iteration of blue build is. Corki has item 3020 Twitch has item 3006 item 3142 Graves has item 3072 Vayne has item 3087 MissFortune has item 3071

While many of the same items may appear in their builds, their build order and purpose can vary greatly between champions.

AP builds are also pretty flexible. Burst mages may get item 3128 item 3135 Siege/Poke mages may get item 3174 item 3089 AP bruisers or initiations may get item 3027 item 3157 Dot mages may get item 3151

NeoScoutNov 16, 20142 votes

this should definitely be changed, sick of seeing IE being rushed

7ha7guy777Nov 16, 20141 votes

Malzahar can build in a variety of ways depending on the enemy champions and what role he's playing. not every mage can utilize lich bane so Viktor is somewhat unique even if you ignore the fact that he has a unique item. Maybe it's just the "meta" mages that have "cookie cutter" builds which is why it seems like all mages build the same items

NoMonkuNov 16, 20141 votes

They all have similar builds. The problem, though, is that the items all have stats you basically need. How would you break up the items so that it would even be worth it to have alternative build paths. At least ADC itemization actually has some actual choices now compared to a few seasons back, so it is shifting towards less "generalized" builds and becoming more flexible. I don't think a quick instant change with items would be good because all the champions are currently designed/balanced around this, changing the items means they'd have to be redesigned/balanced around the new items again as well, which seems like a HUGE waste of time/resources that can be used on other things.

SukishooNov 16, 20141 votes

ADCs have a wide range of builds... it all depends on who you are playing, what your play style is, how good you are at it, ect.

Like if I'm Lucian I'd build something like item 3277 item 3153 item 3142 item 3031 item 3035 item 3026 or item 3078 item 3102

If I were Sivir I'd go item 3252 item 3004 item 3508 item 3031 item 3035 item 3026
or item 3072 item 3153

When being Ashe I'd go item 3252 item 3004 item 3209 item 3035 item 3153 item 3025

If I'm MissFortune I've gone item 3252 item 3004 item 3508 item 3115 item 3078 item 3026
or item 3172 item 3071

Hell, when I've been Quinn I love doing a rather odd build such as item 3252 item 3022 item 3083 item 3031 item 3071 item 3072

So yeah, you've got plenty of options

Kuroi86Nov 16, 20141 votes

With as many champs present in the league as there are, you're going to see many champ builds start to look similar because some of the best items fit numerous situations. You ask top lane, okay. Pantheon item 3071 item 3143 item 3111 item 3035 item 3190 item 3068 Malphite item 3025 item 3110 item 3102 item 3151 Renekton item 3074 item 3065 Nasus item 3078 item 3075