Boards›Gameplay

Champion Diversity? Master Yi Seems Left Out

GigaBowserX··3 votes·976 views

Hello, I am GigaBowserX, and I have a comment/question that I would like to submit regarding the idea of champion diversity. My question is this: how can I play my favorite champions without having to worry about the current meta or how the game is currently played? I am thinking specifically of my favorite champion, Master Yi, and how in the current tank meta, he is extremely disadvantaged. Some people even believe that he is simply an inferior champion. One summoner had this to say on the forums:

"Without any stuns, Yi cannot effectively teamfight and can only attack stranded enemies.

Yi's squishy-high damage kit is why you see so many just go for backdoor rather than participate in team fights. It still wins games, but should only be used if your team has room for it.

It is worth noting that Master Yi is probably not a good pick in ranked, because he has no form of cc and he is a one-trick-pony, regardless of how you build him. Anyone with any notable rank will know when to stun him, when to ignite, and how to avoid alpha strike." - The topic, entitled, "Is Master Yi a Good Jungler?" can be found here: http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=3264904

I do understand that team composition is something that needs consideration when choosing a champion for a specific game. However, I constantly find myself being countered by the likes of Vi, Malphite, Udyr, and even Shaco (although he is not a tank) when playing Master Yi, whether it be in blind pick, team builder, or ranked.

What I am saying is that even though I am mastery level 4 with Yi and have almost reached 5, I find that I lose much more with him than with tanky champions. Any champion with crowd control has an advantage over him. My win rate with Master Yi is somewhat pathetic because of his undervalued kit. The summoner in the topic above did note that Yi has no CC whatsoever, and I feel that some kind of stun or slow or something added to Yi's kit would make him a much more viable champion. Being immune to slows during his ult is nice, but it is a far cry from the buffs he needs.

To sum up: I really, really love playing as Master Yi, but I also like winning, and when I keep losing to "meta" picks, it makes the game a lot less fun to play. I have other mains - Skarner and Nautilus, mostly - but I really don't want to have to give up my favorite champion in order to win. :( I respectfully submit these comments and requests in the name of champion diversity.

Sincerely,

GigaBowserX

Edit: I have tried playing Master Yi top and mid, which seems to work a little better than jungle, but I have played him in the jungle the longest because others seem to always claim top and mid (they are highly coveted positions). He faces similar challenges in those roles, too.

9 Comments

Variks the Loyal3 votes

It's a hard time for carry junglers. None make enough gold to carry unless they get kills early.

It's not a Master Yi thing. It's a carry jungler thing. Ya don't see much Rengar, Pantheon, or Diana (Just a few examples) because of it. If you aren't tanky or bruisery, the meta isn't friendly right now.

Which is fine. Metas change and evolve, and just last season, Rengar and Pantheon were common jungle picks. Their time will come again. Meanwhile, the people who struggled to use Sejuani and Malphite and Maokai can enjoy their hayday.

GigaBowserX1 votes

I like your comments! I do remember when it was all about Pantheon, and some Rengar...Diana seems to do pretty well still, though. I don't know, metas have always bugged me, but you're right, they change. It's just frustrating that meta play has to be more of a "just deal with it" thing than something you can work around.

3TWarrior1 votes

jungle is master yi's only role pretty much now unless he gets counter-jungled, which is basically a death sentence

he has incredible clears, but I think the reason he doesn't do well enough is because people are trying to build him as a regular carry instead of a 1-shot knockout, but both builds are effective

I don't know why he's not viable though. he's the assassin. he takes chances and with ghost + ult, you can do whatever you want unless hit with targeted crowd control...though I assume that's a lot of ranked

GigaBowserX1 votes

Definitely, I have been counter-jungled as him and it makes any progress nearly impossible O.o

So by 1-shot knockout, what do you mean? I usually build a combination of attack speed, crit, and AD, but 1-shot would be...just AD? I've thought about how powerful his Q could get by building straight AD.

And yeah, I guess ghost might help...I've tried it, but flash has more applications. Cleanse, though...now there's an idea. :D

windwolf7771 votes

{quoted}

So by 1-shot knockout, what do you mean? I usually build a combination of attack speed, crit, and AD, but 1-shot would be...just AD? I've thought about how powerful his Q could get by building straight AD.

What he means is pretty much along the lines of Enemy sees yi near them Oh shi-boom sound of Ult, Ting sound of item 3142 , item 3153 effect, first hit and the sound of lightning from item 3087 rip you. I don't think he actually means a LITERAL 1 hit kill, but so much burst in a very short time that you either A, just can't react at all or B. have minimal reaction time and can't do enough to fight him off

GigaBowserX1 votes

That makes sense, I do think BoRK is essential, but I usually only go with either shivv or ghostblade, not both. That's because it seems to me that just building tons of crit and attack speed doesn't help unless you have damage to back it up. But maybe I'm wrong - I've been wrong before, and many times at that. XD

Edit: Also just got out of a game playing Yi top against Rengar. I did okay but was eventually dominated in the face by his multitude of slows, roots, and ferocity speed boosts, not to mention his ability to hop right onto me from a distance. Even while running with my ult, he could ult and catch up to me, then root me. I couldn't even see him because of his stealth until it was too late. GG. It's frustrating, to say the least. I ended with 12/9/3, but our team lost. Meanwhile, Rengar was 13/1. :/

windwolf7771 votes

{quoted}

That makes sense, I do think BoRK is essential, but I usually only go with either shivv or ghostblade, not both. That's because it seems to me that just building tons of crit and attack speed doesn't help unless you have damage to back it up. But maybe I'm wrong - I've been wrong before, and many times at that. XD

Edit: Also just got out of a game playing Yi top against Rengar. I did okay but was eventually dominated in the face by his multitude of slows, roots, and ferocity speed boosts, not to mention his ability to hop right onto me from a distance. Even while running with my ult, he could ult and catch up to me, then root me. I couldn't even see him because of his stealth until it was too late. GG. It's frustrating, to say the least. I ended with 12/9/3, but our team lost. Meanwhile, Rengar was 13/1. :/

All good mate. The reason many build yi full as is because ofhis passive. It does hit for 50% damage, but on hit effects hit for 100%. Meaning that item 3087 lightning will proc for full damage, item 3153 gets a double proc, etc, etc

And about Rengar. Did you try to meditate his burst? Or carry a item 3364 as your trinket? Try to alpha dodge his snare? Not asking to be an asshole but just curious

MLDzXnRRR1 votes

Don't play Yi, if you are not playing for fun... You are playing a champion that brings nothing to his team, even Katarina has more utility with her Grievous wounds ult. Also do you think that playing vs Yi is fun for the enemy? If you are fed, you use Q and 1 auto to murder almost anyone, then repeat, because of his resets - this is very toxic playstyle with almost no counterplay.

Vecuu1 votes

I've seen three Yi's in Diamond within the past couple of weeks. He was jungle, top, and mid in those games.

He won all three games.

Yi is high risk, high rewards, can totally work, but has an extremely selfish playstyle. You have to be able to dodge skills with Alpha Strike consistently.

Cowsep is a good streamer to watch. If I'm not mistaken he's Diamond in Korea.

More from Gameplay

3 Refunds per season, upvote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay764 comments
7,167
votes
3 Refunds per season, upvote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay156 comments
3,510
votes
UPVOTE FOR URF
Gameplay606 comments
2,440
votes
Yes plz.
Gameplay456 comments
1,721
votes
3 Refunds per season, up vote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay114 comments
1,716
votes
When is ANYONE at riot going to address the awful new player experience?
Gameplay634 comments
1,383
votes