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AP inefficient Item Curve

BoutsofInsanity··3 votes·1,050 views

So I just noticed that for Ap carries, the item curve is inefficient when compared to ad carries. In order for an AP carry to get the big damage out they have to farm for 1600 gold to get anywhere good. 3 core items are 1600 gold, and the one item that is significant for countering an AD burster is extremely expensive.

Compare that to AD champions who carry. Most assassins just grab a brutalizer, and a blade of the ruined king which both have extremely efficient cost curves. Even the AD defense item against AP champions is better. You can get some good MR and damage and shield for 1350. Which builds into Maw after 875 and 975. Which is way more efficient then compared to the 1600 then 500. That 1600 gold period is of you not getting more powerful. Now, Athenes Grail is a good example of a good power spike. Its efficient, but it doesn't help champions who don't need that mana.

I feel that the items need a significant rework of their cost and what they do. I think the reason the meta is currently revolving around ad assassins is because its more efficient to play them, rather then to play AP mids. This is more apparent in Solo Q then in team games, because team comp is more important.

4 Comments

Gozy43 votes

I agree with this! Ad assasins often build the Brutalizer which is very cost efficient (1337g) while ap casters have to either wait for a Needlessly Large Rod (1600) or buy Seeker's Armguard which is not gold efficient when bought (as it needs stacks to become so) and makes it harder to reach your power spike as it is mainly a defensive item. Apart for that there is many different good ad items which are built from cheap basic items which means that even when forced to recall as an ad caster you can always come back in alne with part of the item you want to build while most ap casters have to wait for much more gold to buy their main items (usually Needlessly Large Rod). Ofc if you could go for a Seeker's Armguard (and so building something which is composed by cheaper items) but you don't want to do this if you have a lead on your opponent before bying becasue this is a defensive item and you won't be able to increase your lead buying a defensive item. Then your ad opponent has a chance to catch up as he can buy cheap items (two Long Swords or a Vampiric Scepter) meaning that he is going to have an item advantage on you.

Duke Anax3 votes

Forgetting half the items are we?

Haunting guise is a direct counterpart to Brutaliser.

Seeker's Armguard is a direct counterpart to Hexdrinker.

WotA is not as strong as BotRK, but it's just as easy to build and a lot cheaper. Morello is also easy and cheap and a counter to BotRK.

And for AD champs the BF Sword items are just as difficult to get as the Large Rod items.

neranin1 votes

We need to lower the cost of ap items especially amplifying tome so ap champs can start with amplifying tome and 3 potion.

BoutsofInsanity1 votes

"Apart for that there is many different good ad items which are built from cheap basic items which means that even when forced to recall as an ad caster you can always come back in lane with part of the item you want to build while most ap casters have to wait for much more gold to buy their main items (usually Needlessly Large Rod)." Thus they have an advantage.

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