When to Upgrade Boots?

Woodakoodashooda·Oct 3, 2016·1 votes·2,043 views

Boots are a staple in builds because, without them, your champion feels as though they are permanently slowed in game compared to champions with them.

But with so many essential items in game, when is that additional MS critical to your game? When can you afford to take gold away from one item build path simply to optimize your boots?

Obviously it should probably happen sometime before mid game, right? But how high on the list of priorities of items is that upgrade? Is it worthwhile to rush the upgrade for an MS advantage over an enemy even if it means sacrificing a little early damage? Or is it better to put it off a little while longer to complete other items and, if so, how many items should be completed before upgrading boots falls into consideration?

4 Comments

oSEXYPLATYPUSoOct 3, 20161 votes

Cassiopeia

what boots?

SlythionOct 3, 20161 votes

you do it when it's convenient or, in if movement speed is essential for your kit ( Darius Mordekaiser Volibear ) I would assume after the 1st or 2nd item (even in the middle of your second item)

Brutalitops01Oct 3, 20161 votes

Depends on the champion, really. On ADCs, I personally usually get tier 1 boots after my first item and tier 2 boots after my second, maybe opting to go for them sooner if I need to dodge something (looking at you, Blitzcrank Thresh and Morgana ). If it's necessary for your kit for you to move fast, I would probably go right for tier 2's after my first item.

It's your own call to make when you feel you need boots, but remember not to get them too early; they don't give you anything to increase your damage at all. If I can't afford anything else I want to buy at the moment, I'll often spend some gold on tier 1 boots. Really, just whenever it's convenient, or when the first turret drops is a good rule of thumb. When the first turret drops, you should start rotating around the map a bit more, transitioning into the mid game. You'll definitely want them by then so you can rotate faster.

StrawberrycocoaOct 3, 20161 votes

item 1001 are usually my first item purchased after I finish my first primary item. In most cases I'll finish it while building my second, or shortly after. More move speed can be vital in rushing around to objectives or to escape from or secure a kill, and most of them give a helpful stat anyway. I've had matches where delaying my T2 boots too long got me killed or lost me kills when I couldn't escape or keep up.