Assassin itemization is BORING!

48983507DEL1··1 votes·459 views

I don't care if Lethality is all the rage right now. Building the same items every game, no matter the situation, isn't interesting or strategic.

If I'm playing Talon, Zed, Kha'Zix, or AD Rengar, I'm always going to buy item 3142 item 3147 item 3814 item 3071 regardless of the team composition I'm up against. Changing it up is inefficient 90% of the time, and the only real question is whether I build Night's Edge before or after Duskblade.

In comparison, lets look at itemization for Mages.

When I'm playing Annie, I have at least 6 different items I can purchase first. item 3027 item 3165 item 3285 item 3152 item 3001 item 3157 are the ones that immediately pop into my mind. None of them are a better first item in every situation, and each one has its positives and negatives.

After those, my build only branches out even more.

Do I go Morello then Luden's for a giant heap of damage?

Do I try and save for a Deathcap for a larger reward, but greater risk?

Do I pick up Zhonya's/Abyssal for some defense?

Do I grab the Rylai's/Liandry's combo to ruin their tanks?

There's so many different buildpaths, and there's really no set-in-stone best build. Yea, some of the items are weak in comparison to their AD "counterparts" (Zhonya's VS Night's Edge/Maw), but that's probably because all AP items are balanced to have no distinct strongest item.

In conclusion, I'd really like to see some versatility in the Assassin's build path. Making Lethality stack only encourages people to build all three items no matter the circumstance, leading to a boring itemization that lacks any sort of strategy.

2 Comments

Erockandroll1 votes

How much variation do you actually expect out of Assassins? If their designed to do one thing, they will build towards that one thing, and very rarely do they need to actually adapt their build path towards the enemy, presumably because their targeting the glass cannons.

Also, AD Assassins are pretty much entirely casters. And it will be difficult to Justify adding additional AD caster items, when Varus, Jhin, whatever, is pretty much dominating with those items.

About the best flexibility your going to get from Assassins is if they start building Fighter items, and played more like a Diver that a full glass cannon Assassin. Yet people just complained when the likes of Fizz or Ekko, was capable of doing exactly that.

48983507DEL11 votes

I expect more than simply making 3 items that every assassin wants, no matter the situation.

For example, I shouldn't be punished for skipping Night's Edge against an all AD team composition. Yet, if I decide not to buy it, I won't have my required spellshield, I won't have my required penetration, and I won't have the extra Duskblade damage.

They need to make it less of a requirement to stack every item on top of each other.

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