Skin Theme Matchup: Arcade vs Dragonslayer
Hello again everybody!
I apologize if you were waiting quite awhile for this. I had some trouble with my computer where the entire post (nearly finished) was completely deleted THREE TIMES. When you write something this long, and it all gets deleted from a bug, it becomes quite discouraging to keep on trying to write it.
As for the people who are just now seeing this next iteration of mine for the first time, and happened to miss out on the old conversation of Blood Moon vs Battlecast, you can find it here.
As you may have noticed, Riot is starting to complete skin lines, and even send out skin lines that have a full team already dedicated to it (such as the Pool Party line). I figured I would dive into these team comps, and evaluate how they would work. Also, I thought it would be interesting to analyze a possible matchup between the teams, and give my own opinion, while also asking for the opinion of the community, of how that match would possibly play out (under the assumption that each player playing that champ has very good understanding of how that champ works (or, how we like to say "mains" them)).
My next iteration of this series will focus on two more skin lines that are actually quite popular among the community: Arcade vs Dragonslayer!
http://i.imgur.com/OsqwvW5.png
Now, you might be saying; "But Electro, these skin lines are not complete!" Whereas this is true, both skin lines are only in need of one more champion (Arcade needs a top laner, and Dragonslayer needs a mid laner). Thus, I have chosen two champions to fill in those missing roles, and these two champs, I believe, would fit in quite nicely with their respective team comps, mainly due to what they bring to the field, and their general playstyle.
But enough of this blabber, onto the matchup!
The Arcade Line
Top: Irelia http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/341/0/1/arcade_irelia_by_blueberry_cat-d5nbdks.jpg
This Arcade Irelia concept was presented to these boards a few months ago, and, judging by her playstyle, she fits in perfectly with the rest of the team.
Jungle: Hecarim http://riot-web-static.s3.amazonaws.com/images/news/August_2013/gamescom_skins/Arcade_Hecarim_Splash.jpg
ADC: Miss Fortune http://cdn.cloth5.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/arcade_mf.jpg
Support: Sona http://www.leaguesplash.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Arcade-Sona.jpg
Team Comp Breakdown
At first glance, this lookd like a pretty whacky team, but if take a closer look (and I don't mean at MF's splash art), you will see that this team is incredibly versatile! They have EVERYTHING!!! A beefy but mobile front line, with a VERY high damage dealing back line which itself is backed up by a healing support. Every damage type available in the game, decent AOE, but also the capability of picking off people one by one. Awesome initiation and decent disengage, a MASSIVE threat to objectives such as Dragon and Baron. 3 stuns (4 if you count fear as a stun), a slow, and a knockback. The list goes on.......in fact, the only thing that this team doesn't have is a super tank (such as Maokai or Mundo).
However, I believe the weakness for this team lies in large cooldowns, and large mana costs. Irelia is already known for her early mana problems, and relies on the mana from Sheen to sustain her. Hecarim usually has to start with the blue buff in order to go through the jungle easily, Veigar has a passive that directly affects his mana due to his high mana costs, and Sona is utterly useless without mana (I am unfamiliar with MF's mana sustain). Plus, this team heavily relies on major abilities in order to teamfight, which is both a strength and weakness in of itself. If you blow all of your key abilities (mostly the ultimates), your teamfighting potential falls through the floor. So, if the enemy team can survive the onslaught of the first few seconds of the teamfight, they'll come out on top easily.
The Dragonslayer Line
Top: Pantheon http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEX5qsYnBEE/U1b3gRmO7iI/AAAAAAAAPDo/Kau7kA28UOU/s1600/Pantheon_Splash_6.jpg
Jungle: Jarvan IV http://www.leaguesplash.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DragonSlayerJarvan.jpg
Mid: Diana http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8c/cc/83/8ccc836183221d52ceb3cd5323dbe331.jpg (Unfortunately, there is no Dragonslayer Diana concept art. So, I found this instead!)
Now, before any of you start yelling at me as to why I chose Diana, let me explain. First off, I do not understand why so many people consider her a bad champion. Yes, she does need some retuning, and possibly a slight rework, but, I feel as if she is in the same position as Talon: still really damn good, you just have to know what you're doing.
Secondly, Diana has a very brawly playstyle, and, by judging the rest of the team, it fits in perfectly! We also needed an AP mid to somewhat counteract the MASSIVE amount of AD on this team.
Team Comp Breakdown
This is a very brawly team. They like to dive in, and make sure they are the last ones to come out. Each champion has some sort of dueling potential (yes, even Braum). Their decently mobile, can take one hell of a beating, and have enough crowd control to keep even Kassadin under lock and key. They can also stick to their target VERY well. Since all of the champions (except for Panth) are auto attack reliant, one Q or auto attack from Braum, and you pretty much have yourself a stunned target.
Although, every team comp has a weakness, and I have to say it would be the single target focus of this team. Yes, you have some AOE, but all of these champions prefer to stick to a single target. They aren't as much of a pick comp as the Blood Moon line is, and certainly have teamfighting capability, but not so much as their rivals in this matchup, or The Battlecast line.
The Hypothetical Battle Review
LANES
Top: 
vs
I'm pretty sure we all can see who this matchup favors. You ever wonder why you hardly ever see Irelia go against a Pantheon? It's because Pantheon will absolutely eat her alive. Panth can not only dive onto people, he can also stop dives dead in their tracks, and Irelia's playstyle is focused quite heavily on diving. Also, Irelia is very vulnerable to constant poke, and if you have ever laned against a Panth, you'll know that those constant targeted spears hurt ALOT. But wait! Thats not all! Irelia is also reliant on the passive from Sheen, but Pantheon can block ALL the damage from that one proc with his passive, then proceed to tear his opponent limb from limb.
I do not see Irelia winning in this matchup at all. She will have to rely very heavily on Hecarim if she wants to gain any sort of advantage.
Jungle: 
vs
Due to the new jungle, most junglers will have a hard time in the very beginning, and these two are no different. Hecarim does have slightly better sustain then Jarvan, but Jarvan deals more single target damage. Thus, in terms of staying healthy, they are about on the same line with each other.
That being said, in terms of clear speed, Hecarim definitely takes the crown. AOE is just better at clearing camp. Plain and simple. As for ganking, Jarvan is the obvious better choice, and because of his ganking potential (being able to jump onto a target from nearly half a screen or more away) is why he was considered as one of the top picks in the LCS. This has quite possibly all changed now due to the jungle changes, but he still holds that awesome ganking potential. Hecarim can do the same thing, but for him it involves alot of running, and thus can be stopped dead from hard crowd control.
If they were ever to find each other in the jungle, Jarvan could easily come out on top. Hecarim is not known for his dueling potential, and although Jarvan isn't much of a duelist either (not like Pantheon or Vayne), he certainly has more potential then Hecarim. However, if Hecarim could possibly get a jump onto Jarvan, he could possibly find himself a kill. It just depends on the timing of the jump, and how healthy Jarvan is when it happens.
Mid: 
vs
Quite an interesting matchup. Being a Diana main, I haven't gone against many Veigars with her, so, I can't exactly remember how it all went down. However, looking at it from an analyst's perspective, if Diana can avoid Veigar's stun, she should easily come out on top. Diana tends to excel against those "safe" mages, an Veigar is no exception. That being said, Veigar is known for one thing, and one thing alone: DAMAGE. His ult is probably one of the highest damage dealing ults in the game. If you throw in a Deathfire Grasp in with it, and throw it on an AP champion, odds are, they won't last long. Even against AD champs, it still has the capability of blowing whoever it is targeting into dust. If Veigar can land a stun on Diana, then get a full combo off, she won't stand a chance, even with her shield.
Bot: 
vs
The bot lane matchup is pretty much night and day in terms of playstyle and functionality. MF and Sona would want to stay back, poke, and farm up as much as possible, whereas Vayne and Braum will constantly be looking for something to dive in on and sink their teeth into. If they do dive, Sona can disengage just as easily. If MF and Sona go aggressive, Vayne will tear them both apart with the help of Braum's crowd control.
There is one distinct advantage that the Dragonslayer bot lane has over the Arcade bot lane: Unbreakable. Braum's shield is like Yasuo's wind wall; it blocks all incoming projectiles. Both MF's and Sona's ultimates are projectiles, meaning Braum can soak them both up very easily, and since both ultimates are VERY crucial to their gameplay, Vayne could then easily take hold of her new found advantage.
I feel the outcome of this lane will be determined by the timing and placement of MF and Sona's ultimates, but also the timing of Braum's shield. Whoever can outsmart the other team will easily take the lead in lane.
Teamfighting
Come mid game, the Dragonslayer team should hold a decent advantage, especially in the top and mid lane. Pantheon will more then likely steam roll Irelia, and Diana should have been able to get a kill or two off of Veigar if played correctly. Once teamfighting actually starts, it is difficult to determine who could come out on top. The Arcade team is actually quite reliant on that squishy back line, so, if the Dragonslayer team can get to that backline, the entire Arcade team will fall apart. That being said, the Arcade team has some pretty strong, and potentially game changing ultimates. If they can get those ultimates off onto the right people, then the Dragonslayer team will have no choice but to retreat.
The Dragonlayer team, however, has a TON of threats on the field. I'm sure we all have seen a fed Pantheon at least once. He can carry a game just as easily as Akali can. Since Panth would more then likely win the top lane, he could continue to steam roll the rest of the arcade team. Throw in Diana's strong mid game, and Jarvan's awesome engage, the Arcade team may not be able to stand a chance.
If the Arcade team can hold off until late game, though, when both Irelia and Hecarim can soak up more damage, and Veigar has enough damage to take down even Braum in one full combo, then they might be able to come out on top. Vayne's late game is no joke, that's for sure, but Veigar's is better, and unlike Vayne, of whom will eventually hit a power cap, Veigar continues to build in power as the game goes on. If you can keep him alive long enough, he can just as easily wreck an entire team as Vayne can (especially if Vayne is his first target). Thankfully, he has a Sona to back him up on that.
Conclusion
I feel that the Dragonslayer team would win this matchup. The mid game power from Pantheon and Diana would just be too much for the Arcade team. Also, if Pantheon gets fed off of Irelia, then the Arcade team has even less of a chance at winning, since it is quite difficult for Irelia to come back from a lost lane. Also, the Dragonslayer team has plenty of tools in order to get to that back line, and completely wipe them out.
If the game gets to late game, the entire thing will rest upon the shoulders of the two late game hyper carries. If Vayne gets to Veigar, game over. If Veigar gets to Vayne, game over. But, in order to get to that point, the Arcade team has to survive the mid game, which, I do not think they are capable of doing.
Anyway, that's it for this iteration! If you at all enjoyed this article, the feel free to upvote it (it is not required at all, though) that way more people can get in on the discussion! But, before I leave you, I would like to ask one last question:
What do you guys think? Will the Arcade line win, or will the Dragonslayer line win?
