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Riot, what role is supposed to beat what? What is the rock paper scissors formula in this game?

Raptorspls·4/6/2016, 7:32:46 PM·2 votes·1,620 views

So I was thinking, which I don't do often, that the current meta of tanks doing shit tons of damage is really annoying. It made me think back to the reasons behind the very existence of roles. The amazing rock, paper, scissors, of rpgs big and small. Stuff as simple as, adc beats tank, tank beats mage, mage beats adc. Now the roles as defined in league of legends right now are, mage, tank, adc, brusier, assassin. (If I missed one i blame it on my lack of thinking)

IMPORTANT NOTE: For any game that requires mechanical skill, this rock, paper, scissors, Spock formula is only softly enforced through stats and ability kits.

Keeping that important note in mind I wanna know what are Riot's exact ideas in regards to roles and the rock, paper, scissors formula? What place it has in league of legends? How strictly is it enforced during champion design? If this system is a core part of league of legends how well do employees believe it is being implemented right now?

TLDR; Does each role balance out and counter each other in a rock, paper, scissors style? Was this ever intended?

23 Comments

Xelnex4/6/2016, 8:00:08 PM3 votes

I dont think it's as simple as rock paper and scissors. its a game where you have to react, and think, and not blindly go any of the rock paper scissor thingy. (which you win by luck unless you are manipulative)

If the opponent is a mage, and you know it, and you buy armor, you'll die. if your opponent is an AD, and you buy MR, you wont survive. if you see the team is tanky, with armor, use magic damage for best results. etc.

Its a game to see how you react during the game. its more of a strategy game than any lucky stuffs. Its never right to say that assassins beat adc. Use vayne or jinx and stun the assassin and boom, adc beats the assassin. (or paper beats the scissors).

But as far as the meta goes, the tank protect the adcs by getting hit by skill shots, which they can because of health and resistance. ADC stands at the backline safe from everyone dealing damage from a far. Support heals the adc, and supply a huge amount of CC needed to prevent the enemies from moving. Assassins are there to hunt down the adcs, even if at times it can cost them their lives. Mage are there for extra alternate damage, because if you use only adcs in your team, the enemies can and will use armor and viceversa.

Hope this helps [slayer-jinx-catface]

Illiad4/6/2016, 7:44:01 PM2 votes

If there is a rock-paper-scissors-laser-spok in league Support would literally be beaten by all of them xD

Modmar4/6/2016, 7:36:48 PM1 votes

It was not ever intended for a rock paper scissors type game. Which is why specific champions do different things better than their counter-parts.

Rammus I'm sure you're familiar with this guy, he's a pure armor tank. -BUT- Galio This guy also exists. He is a tank, but counters AP instead of AD.

While these guys are both tanks they counter different things rather than a rock-paper-scissors thing. Both of them are tanky, and can put out good damage, but they exist for different reasons.

Athenes Lulu4/6/2016, 8:54:20 PM1 votes

It's not even rock-paper-scissors, but more like rock-rock-paper.

Ideally it should be rock-paper-scissors, but in a game this big plus Riot style balance... nope.

Though in general for DPS, tanks > bruisers > assassins/mages > ADCs > tanks, or something like that, if that's the kind of answer you're looking for.

Raptorspls4/20/2016, 5:24:18 PM1 votes

GG riot made a whole dev blog addressing what I posted about essentially http://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/news/game-updates/gameplay/dev-blog-classes-subclasses

Chaos Milk Tea4/6/2016, 7:45:17 PM1 votes

Some roles have clearly defined strengths and weaknesses with relation to other roles.

Assassin>ADC>Tank>Assassin for example. This is, for the most part true.

Purple Death4/6/2016, 7:38:20 PM1 votes

This is what they wanted way back in season 3 maybe 4 but it's clear they want tanks to rule the rift here, they did it with juggernaut update, now again but worse. Now they do more damage then an adc and assassin combined. Last night I playing some adc I was vayne doing pretty well 7-3 or something and a darius comes up to me presses Q and R I died instantly 51% true damage.