3 Lethality items vs 3 older, more "typical" AD marksmen items

Lets compare two 3 item builds: the 3 common lethality items against the 3 (old) more "typical" marksmen damage items

#Lethality has cheaper items.

= 2900g where as = 3600g = 3250g where as = 3700g = 3100g where as = 3600g Totals: 9250g to 10900g making lethality 1650g cheaper

#They also give more than just a high amount of raw damage. All of them have passives/actives which can be used immediately after purchase, where as the other items usually have limited availability windows or circumstances or do not become fully effective until later in the game.

= Instant +20% movement speed active with +20 ooc where as = Requires you to actually crit to get the bonus 50% damage = +20 ooc movement speed, ward/trap detection and disable passive, and bonus true damage scaling off of lethality on first shot once in vision of enemy champion, where as = Mana restore requires you to crit, bonus CDR after initial 10% requires an additional 30% crit chance to max it out = +20 ooc movement speed and a free spell shield every 30 seconds which can be active for up to 10 seconds after a 1.5s channel where you still can do shit while channeling, where as = +20% lifesteal which can over heal you into a shield based on champion level, but requires you to be at full health for the bonus shield to be made and also requires you to maintain the shields up time by dealing damage while also not taking any within a 25s time frame.

#Raw Attack damage?

= 60AD where as = 70AD = 65AD where as = 75AD = 60AD where as = 70AD

The 3 older "typical" marksmen items actually win out this one with a total of +215 AD where as the only +185 AD (a 30AD difference), the 3 lethality items would net you.

#Defense

• Lethality items would give you a spell shield, 35MR, +20% movement speed, and ward/trap detection and disable.
• The other items would give you 20% lifesteal and a shield based on your champion level once you are max health.

#Reliability in fights

• Lethality items deal their damage on both autos and abilities (basically anytime you deal any physical damage). They also grant 10% CDR and 20% movement speed. Can give first auto bonus true damage, can block 1 spell, can reveal and disable traps/wards.
• The others items apply only to auto attacks (unless the ability specifically says it can crit) and give a 40% crit chance and 20% life steal. They also give about +23% CDR to use abilities a bit more often. Can provide a shield if at full health. Critical strike's bonus damage increased by 50%.

I would say that they are potentially both equally strong builds, but depending on how the fight is played out and other additional factors like heal reduction and total enemy armor, one build could be superior (currently, the lethality build is often times stronger since its components get countered less by commonly built items and can also be used reliably more often).

#Weaknesses

• Lethality is weak vs a lot of armor and health but also is weaker over longer, drawn out fights. Loses 60 movement speed when entering combat. Limited ability use with no mana sustain.
• The other build is weak against heal reduction and specifically (but also armor and health). But its damage is also gated by your crit chance and attack speed. Prone to get caught more often in enemy abilities and CC due to not giving any movement speed buffs. Builds items are all pretty expensive to work through and requires 3 purchases. Apart from the shield and 20% lifesteal, gives no other passive defensive stats and no permanent defensive stats.

The lethality build seems to have less impactful weaknesses than the other build.

#Strengths

• Lethality gives a lot of early-mid game power and burst. Provides a lot of passive ooc movement speed. Spell shield. Ward and trap reveal and disable. Some armor pen (lethality obviously). Initial engage (especially from being hidden by brush or FoW) will deal a lot of bonus damage. +20% movement speed active for chasing and escaping. +10% CDR. Very efficient builds with a lot of build tiers with cheaper items. +35MR.
• The other build is better over longer, drawn out fights since it offers a good amount of sustain (both mana and health). About half of your autos should deal extra damage (if they crit). Bonus shield if at full health and still dealing damage with autos. Gives somewhere around +23% CDR.

I would say lethality, again, is the better build because it offers a lot more, for less gold, and sooner. Plus fights do not necessarily go long, but they always have a starting couple of seconds which is where the lethality build shines.

#Overall

I would say lethality is the better 3 item build in most cases. It offers a lot more to the fight than the other 3 item build for less gold and nicer, smoother build paths.