What midlane mage should I buy in 8.3 and beyond?

Katarinint·Feb 11, 2018·3 votes·1,115 views

Hello, everyone.

I play midlane, and am looking to buy a new mage for 3150 BE or lower. I am not sure whether I should buy Lux, Karthus, or any other mage around that price. I really like Lux, because if you hit your Q, and your abilities are up, they experience what some people seem to experience, a light before death. This is known as Final Spark. The only thing is that I am not sure if I should buy her, or some other champion. If someone could give me some suggestions, it would be appreciated! Best of luck on the Fields of Justice, Kuroserval

Thanks to everyone who has responded, I am probably going to try Anivia, as well as purchase Lux. (I already own Anivia) If anybody has any other suggestions, feel free to comment.

30 Comments

SlythionFeb 11, 20182 votes

Have you thought about Anivia? With Liandry changes, I suspect she's gonna be quite a champion to deal with. I've been enjoying playing her recently

Edit: just saw someone else already recommended Anivia. I would definitely back them up on that, and she's incredibly good to climb with when you get good with her.

KatarinintFeb 11, 20181 votes

Thank you. I am definitely going to look into this Anivia thing, however I may take some getting used to the playstyle, as I haven't really played anything besides assassins recently. Any tips?

SlythionFeb 11, 20181 votes

As a previous Syndra/Xerath player, I'm finding it hard to switch from the heavy bully/trade/harrass laning phase to Anivia's passive "be safe and farm it out" style. But you gotta do just that.

Anivia's auto attack animation is pretty slow and difficult to last hit when you first start playing her, don't be afraid to E occasionally for the last-hit. You really shouldn't be looking to seriously trade with your laner, and it's really not worth it unless you land a stun for that bonus damage on the E followup. You're ultimate is a great waveclear tool, but it's extremely mana hungry.

The 2 main things I've been struggling with when playing her are respecting weak (but safe) laning phase + managing mana successfully. Always start Tear, although I'm not convinced it's always best to upgrade from there as a first item.

ZapMyHeartFeb 11, 20181 votes

{quoted}

As a previous Syndra/Xerath player, I'm finding it hard to switch from the heavy bully/trade/harrass laning phase to Anivia's passive "be safe and farm it out" style. But you gotta do just that.

Anivia's auto attack animation is pretty slow and difficult to last hit when you first start playing her, don't be afraid to E occasionally for the last-hit. You really shouldn't be looking to seriously trade with your laner, and it's really not worth it unless you land a stun for that bonus damage on the E followup. You're ultimate is a great waveclear tool, but it's extremely mana hungry.

The 2 main things I've been struggling with when playing her are respecting weak (but safe) laning phase + managing mana successfully. Always start Tear, although I'm not convinced it's always best to upgrade from there as a first item.

You sit on Tear until you finish ROA and Sorc Bots. At the moment, upgrading Tear is not the best option, as it still takes time to charge it up to Seraph's Embrace. With the new AP changes, finish it early may possibly be viable (needs more assessment though).

SlythionFeb 11, 20181 votes

I actually was having a conversation with a d3 mid main who's played a lot of Anivia, he goes to my uni. He said he often doesn't even build ROA. idk though, I still do it sometimes, although I feel like Liandry's 2nd item is gonna be more viable for her in 8.3

ZapMyHeartFeb 11, 20181 votes

{quoted}

I actually was having a conversation with a d3 mid main who's played a lot of Anivia, he goes to my uni. He said he often doesn't even build ROA. idk though, I still do it sometimes, although I feel like Liandry's 2nd item is gonna be more viable for her in 8.3

Mmm, I build it because there is so much burst in the game and need it to basically survive after early game. Plus, even more mana. However, with Liandry's being switched to max HP instead of current, it could possibly be a good item to rush.

ZapMyHeartFeb 11, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Thank you. I am definitely going to look into this Anivia thing, however I may take some getting used to the playstyle, as I haven't really played anything besides assassins recently. Any tips?

She is very slow. Slow MS, slow AA, and slow casting abilities. As well as mid-range. Knowing this would help prepare you on your decision making.

Her early game mana costs are atrocious. You need mana all the time (via Tear). Save harassing until level 6 and up unless you can land a Q successfully to follow up E.

E's damage is meh when the enemy is not marked with Chill. Keep that in mind when you are harassing or trying to go all in.

W can be used to see in bushes. Her high cooldown cost is something to think about, however.

She has burst-style play patterns, however, she is primarily a control mage. Utilize her W and R in ways that zone and separate the enemy team when possible. However, improper use can be a detriment to your own team (e.g. Accidentally blocking your teammate from escaping, or walling your teammate from netting a kill). W and R can also be used defensively via zoning the enemy team away from your/neutral objectives.

Vapor Wave VibesFeb 11, 20181 votes

None of the above. Go with morde

KatarinintFeb 11, 20181 votes

Thanks for your honest, well thought out, and helpful opinion. It has been noted, and ignored.

(BTW that was actually pretty funny)

KatarinintFeb 11, 20181 votes

Midlane Mordekaiser sleeper OP for 8.3?

Vapor Wave VibesFeb 11, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Midlane Mordekaiser sleeper OP for 8.3?

Not for 8.3 he's for 8.4 unless they nerf the liandry. One r one kill if they don't

KatarinintFeb 11, 20181 votes

:-) Mordekaiser

Toxicate13Feb 11, 20181 votes

Anivia, Morgana, Twisted Fate, Malzahar (if you want to save up a little bit more)

KatarinintFeb 11, 20181 votes

Thank you. I already own Morgana and Anivia, but I am not so good at Anivia. Is she worth putting some time into? Anivia

Toxicate13Feb 11, 20184 votes

{quoted}

Thank you. I already own Morgana and Anivia, but I am not so good at Anivia. Is she worth putting some time into?

She is insane if you're good with her. She is one of the hardest champions to execute properly, but if you get good with her it's very rewarding. Look up Froggen on YouTube. He's like the best Anivia player

KatarinintFeb 11, 20181 votes

Thanks. I have been kind of unsure while playing her, but I like her kit. Thank you.

Dark NephthysFeb 11, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Thank you. I already own Morgana and Anivia, but I am not so good at Anivia. Is she worth putting some time into?

Yes and she'll probably get a bit better with the new Liandries as others have mentioned + with all that extra mana coming to item 3003 will help her a bit. It is a bit difficult to get used to some match ups and her lane phase is kind of meh at times but once you put in the time with her, she can be a monster in team fights.

l MrD lFeb 11, 20181 votes

Karthus is very unreliable imo and theres other scaling champs that are more reliable

TF is apparently doing really well right now but its knowing when to use your ult and mastering his W .. getting then gold cards out quicker and reliably without accidentally ulting and throwing a blue card

Lux IMO is a good all round champion ... does well on her own.. can get good picks has a very good team fight presence ... her main prpblem though is having long CDs and anyone who is good will abuse that

KatarinintFeb 11, 20181 votes

Thanks.

Shuriman CuratorFeb 11, 20181 votes

None of the above, pick Garen

KatarinintFeb 11, 20181 votes

{quoted}

None of the above, pick

DEMACIA!!!!!! spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin

I have no time to give Judgement to posts like that... excuse meh bad puns

Meep ManFeb 11, 20181 votes

I think Karthus, Brand, Anivia, and Veigar are looking like good picks with the upcoming item changes. All of them are playable now and seem to be major benefactors from the upcoming item changes due to the increased ability for Mages to deal with Tanks with the changes as long as they can deal sustained damage.

Note that, if you go with Karthus, you'll have to learn to ins and outs of him as he is a weird Mage (sometimes you want to die as long as you are in the middle of the enemy team).

Xerath Aim BotFeb 11, 20181 votes

Malzahar Vladimir Veigar

Are good choices to pick up.

Lux

Is ok but falls off if enemy catches up and is also lackluster against bruisers and tanks in this meta.

DoodlzzzFeb 11, 20181 votes

unless you want to spend 1000000 hours mastering TwistedFate , he's not recommended for me

Anno the MainFeb 12, 20181 votes

You dont need that much. You need like 10 games to get used to picking the right cards and getting the rythm in wich they switch. You need like 5 games of every hard matchup, and most of them wont accure, as mid lane isnt that much assassins any more and shifting to roaming and controlling mages. He has only 1 skillshot, 1 enhanced auto attack, and 1 as-buff. And his ult is, well, you wont miss that at all i think. So if you play mid. The basics are last hitting and getting to know, when to go in and when to not. TF isnt that hard mechanically. But REALLY hard in point of decision making. But learning that on him will improve that points on every other mage to. So i would really suggest tf.

XxDRAGONsAK47xXFeb 12, 20181 votes

Buy Anivia

koshkyraFeb 12, 20181 votes

if you want to have fun, any of those three is fine (i main lux and i think shes really fun)

if you want to win, anivia malzahar or orianna is good

SwiftKitten88Feb 12, 20181 votes

out of those 3 options.. i would go for Lux

Taric the GayFeb 12, 20181 votes

Definitely Ezreal. Hands down.

http://www.auplod.com/u/pdolua802d6.png

Anno the MainFeb 12, 20181 votes

Get TF. He will teach you how to roam. And how to win the map and not the lane. If you are good with him, you can win your lane, the jungle through his insane wave clear and pushing(you can help the jungle invade etc.) and the top and or bot with your ult(right now bot is more snowbally and bot lane wins most games, so right now ulting bot for the sweet double kill is mostly the best decision). Apdo(rank 1 challenger korea multiple times with multiple accounts) play tf a shit ton. And even faker suggests tf to learn how to roam, watch the minimap as midlane and learn how to win the map.