Infinity Edge Public Service Announcement

Recon1212·Jun 13, 2018·37 votes·12,930 views

Since IE has been changed I have see A LOT of people buying the item at awful times. This post is to hopefully help some who haven't seen how IE has been changed.

IE is an item that is best built with a preexisting crit item already built. I have seen so many people buy it first item, and in a few cases people bought something after it that wasn't crit.

I understand that some champs (ex. Jhin) have crit in their kit, but other than those few exceptions I see no reason people should still be buying that item first in any scenario. Other than its base stats, all the gold is being spent on passives that have no use with no crit.

Thank you for reading, and I hope this helped those of you who were still in the dark!

24 Comments

SteelflameJun 13, 20187 votes

IE should never be a first item on any champion, period. Not even Tryn is a good IE user first item, because it is only efficient on him when he is over 70% rage or so, and he will struggle to build up his rage with base AS and no crit other than his passive. He wants at least another completed AS item like BorK first, then probably the Zeal item, then IE.

You should always have a completed Zeal item before completing IE. You can build double BF if you want to just fine, just do NOT build IE until you have at least 25% crit to back it up to make it gold efficient to complete.

Finally, IE's value flat out scales up with the global level/armor of the enemy team so that it's crit true damage actually is being used to even penetrate armor. It's at it's lowest raw value early game, and it's highest endgame.

DragonSheaJun 14, 20181 votes

{quoted}

IE should never be a first item on any champion, period. Not even Tryn is a good IE user first item, because it is only efficient on him when he is over 70% rage or so, and he will struggle to build up his rage with base AS and no crit other than his passive. He wants at least another completed AS item like BorK first, then probably the Zeal item, then IE.

You should always have a completed Zeal item before completing IE. You can build double BF if you want to just fine, just do NOT build IE until you have at least 25% crit to back it up to make it gold efficient to complete.

Finally, IE's value flat out scales up with the global level/armor of the enemy team so that it's crit true damage actually is being used to even penetrate armor. It's at it's lowest raw value early game, and it's highest endgame.

True, the same reason why you never buy item 3053 or item 3083 first. They are not core items on champs.

Skins ProjectJun 14, 20182 votes

Dey core but not solato items

NubulasJun 14, 20181 votes

{quoted}

IE should never be a first item on any champion, period. Not even Tryn is a good IE user first item, because it is only efficient on him when he is over 70% rage or so, and he will struggle to build up his rage with base AS and no crit other than his passive. He wants at least another completed AS item like BorK first, then probably the Zeal item, then IE.

You should always have a completed Zeal item before completing IE. You can build double BF if you want to just fine, just do NOT build IE until you have at least 25% crit to back it up to make it gold efficient to complete.

Finally, IE's value flat out scales up with the global level/armor of the enemy team so that it's crit true damage actually is being used to even penetrate armor. It's at it's lowest raw value early game, and it's highest endgame.

Tryndamere 70% crit with one item

Need Gold 4 TentJun 14, 20181 votes

I can see zerks into IE though, since zeal price has gone up.

i kick routersJun 14, 20181 votes

[deleted]

NubulasJun 14, 20181 votes

{quoted}

I have AS from runes and BF is always nice to punch up damage Just an example of a champ that can use IE early. IE is the only crit I get on Tryndamere

Rage blade deaths dance titana IE boots....in any order this is devastating.

5050BSJun 14, 20181 votes

Tryndamere is the exception

HàrrowRJun 14, 20181 votes

{quoted}

IE should never be a first item on any champion, period. Not even Tryn is a good IE user first item, because it is only efficient on him when he is over 70% rage or so, and he will struggle to build up his rage with base AS and no crit other than his passive. He wants at least another completed AS item like BorK first, then probably the Zeal item, then IE.

You should always have a completed Zeal item before completing IE. You can build double BF if you want to just fine, just do NOT build IE until you have at least 25% crit to back it up to make it gold efficient to complete.

Finally, IE's value flat out scales up with the global level/armor of the enemy team so that it's crit true damage actually is being used to even penetrate armor. It's at it's lowest raw value early game, and it's highest endgame.

Hell might awell build it as a last item lol

An DraoiJun 15, 20181 votes

{quoted}

IE should never be a first item on any champion, period. Not even Tryn is a good IE user first item, because it is only efficient on him when he is over 70% rage or so, and he will struggle to build up his rage with base AS and no crit other than his passive. He wants at least another completed AS item like BorK first, then probably the Zeal item, then IE.

You should always have a completed Zeal item before completing IE. You can build double BF if you want to just fine, just do NOT build IE until you have at least 25% crit to back it up to make it gold efficient to complete.

Finally, IE's value flat out scales up with the global level/armor of the enemy team so that it's crit true damage actually is being used to even penetrate armor. It's at it's lowest raw value early game, and it's highest endgame.

On Tryndamere however it's at least usable as a first item. Optimal? Maybe? I'm not a Trynd player. But usable, since he has innate crit chance.

ADCS who rush IE are fucked because it doesn't provide crit chance now, only double crit chance from other sources. and the bonus true damage only comes from critical strikes. Without built in crit or another crit item, you're spending all that gold on 80 AD

Autrah FangJun 14, 20183 votes

Honestly, I only started to see people buy IE first item after it was changed to what it is currently. Before, I always saw people buying a full zeal item with a BF first. It's as if they want to have an item that's only half effective on purpose.

VztahJun 14, 20182 votes

they're prob just used to rushing it

Modl Ryden lJun 14, 20181 votes

crit adc build path are nearly identical to before patch 8.11. But a BF, sit on it, finish a Zeal item then build IE.

This way you still retain some AD and still build your attack speed to stay on track to what you attack speed should be at certain stages at the game.

Crit builds are just really slow now because of the nerfed build cost of zeal items. Which could be toned down honestly by like 100 or 200g. 600g was a little steep for stats that's dependent on another item for it to be effective.

NubulasJun 14, 20181 votes

[{quoted}](name=l Ryden l,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=z4EZQdLP,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2018-06-14T01:29:10.519+0000)

crit adc build path are nearly identical to before patch 8.11. But a BF, sit on it, finish a Zeal item then build IE.

This way you still retain some AD and still build your attack speed to stay on track to what you attack speed should be at certain stages at the game.

Crit builds are just really slow now because of the nerfed build cost of zeal items. Which could be toned down honestly by like 100 or 200g. 600g was a little steep for stats that's dependent on another item for it to be effective.

So why did they change it? If makes no difference, why the change?

Few can use IE now when you just want damage and crit without the zeal items. But Stromrazor is ok????????? Jihn SR, walks around with last shot...BANG third or more of your HP gone.

Modl Ryden lJun 14, 20181 votes

{quoted}

So why did they change it? If makes no difference, why the change?

Few can use IE now when you just want damage and crit without the zeal items. But Stromrazor is ok????????? Jihn SR, walks around with last shot...BANG third or more of your HP gone.

Well I said the build path is identical. The costs are actually pretty major changes.

Back then Infinity Edge existed as a marksman rush item or a melee luxury item. Right now IE can't be a rushed item nor can it be a top-off. Stormrazor is a middle ground as it's an all inclusive item that delivers IE-like mechanics without needing other items for it to work.

Stormrazor's passive also scales with attack speed. So the lower the attack speed to longer it takes for the 100% critical strike to charge. It does work on Jhin if you take time to run or walk around reloading or spacing the timing between auto attack but you have to actively not be attacking in order for it to activate.

But overall they changed it since IE rushing is what kept marksmen to influential in the bottom lane. When you can get free 2.5 auto attacks in a 1-in-5 chance with one ranged basic attack you've basically got a mobile turret on your side. Which is why the marksmen bot lane became meta. You always had cannons on your side ready to plink the opponent to death. Now it's changed to anyone who can deal reliable amounts of damage can go bot lane.

As for the crit-dependent marksmen they now can acheive 100% critical strike rate with their usual item 3094 item 3087 item 3031 build, it'll just cost 1500g more than usual. Which when you look at it cover the cost for the extra 20% crit that would have gone to a 3rd zeal item and then some.

NubulasJun 15, 20181 votes

[{quoted}](name=l Ryden l,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=z4EZQdLP,comment-id=000300000000,timestamp=2018-06-14T20:55:11.829+0000)

Well I said the build path is identical. The costs are actually pretty major changes.

Back then Infinity Edge existed as a marksman rush item or a melee luxury item. Right now IE can't be a rushed item nor can it be a top-off. Stormrazor is a middle ground as it's an all inclusive item that delivers IE-like mechanics without needing other items for it to work.

Stormrazor's passive also scales with attack speed. So the lower the attack speed to longer it takes for the 100% critical strike to charge. It does work on Jhin if you take time to run or walk around reloading or spacing the timing between auto attack but you have to actively not be attacking in order for it to activate.

But overall they changed it since IE rushing is what kept marksmen to influential in the bottom lane. When you can get free 2.5 auto attacks in a 1-in-5 chance with one ranged basic attack you've basically got a mobile turret on your side. Which is why the marksmen bot lane became meta. You always had cannons on your side ready to plink the opponent to death. Now it's changed to anyone who can deal reliable amounts of damage can go bot lane.

As for the crit-dependent marksmen they now can acheive 100% critical strike rate with their usual build, it'll just cost 1500g more than usual. Which when you look at it cover the cost for the extra 20% crit that would have gone to a 3rd zeal item and then some.

so now marksman bot is useless, my team pushes and feeds and then flames e for 20 minutes because my early game only gets one chance to survive. Not carry mind you, just to survive and be somewhat helpful at 30 minutes in , I have to have a solid early game with no outside feeding and pushing.

Love having to buy the extra 20% crit I dont need and can't use.

And I have to pay more for the inefficient buy.

Bot lane is fuct.

But all the top and mid laners still think it is like before.

And no one , I mean no one understands why I don't want them constantly pushing the wave at 4 minutes in.

Need to stop the 4 minute snowball or let me FF at 5 minutes instead of waiting until 15.

Need Gold 4 TentJun 14, 20181 votes

How does it work on Ashe though? I'm curious.

AsudurgaJun 14, 20181 votes

AA, Q, true damage slows with crit damage like a machine gun.

Need Gold 4 TentJun 14, 20181 votes

without a zeal item?

AsudurgaJun 15, 20181 votes

Well so long as you have ANY crit percentage. Though I haven't tried it because I hate playing ADC, I would assume the build would start off by rushing a item 1038 then building a item 3085 before finishing into item 3031 . Then suddenly you're popping off with a huge amount of shred on 60% crit.

Need Gold 4 TentJun 20, 20181 votes

I know how it works on most ADC. But if you didn't already know, Ashe doesn't actually "crit". I think how old IE worked with her was that it was a static % increase to her AA with no RnG. So, how does it work on Ashe now? Does she "crit" every AA even without buying any crit except for IE? That would give her true damage from the get go, meaning she can legitimately rush IE first item. Or is she considered to not have crit at all, making IE's true damage passive useless on her?

Painted CeltJun 14, 20181 votes

I think you're correct. I was struggling playing marksmen on my other account when I would try to rush crit items like was meta for the last couple seasons, then I thought back to the old days when AD+survivability were typically built first, so I started building 2 of the following (depending on situation): item 3026 item 3139 item 3156 item 3072 item 3153 item 3812 item 3508 Followed by crit items and/or rageblade and I found that works much better. So now I do something like: item 1038 > item 3006 > > > item 3085 > item 3031 > ? Crit seems to be fulfilling a role as a strong scaling lategame damage output option that works well against all targets and is balanced.

The only thing that I don't like is that item 3046 item 3094 item 3085 item 3087 all give 30% crit chance which means that you end up with 120% crit chance whenever you try to reach 100%. I think it's perfectly balanced like that, but going over 100% crit chance bothers me a little bit. I would rather these gave 25% crit chance each just because I would prefer if they added up to an even 100%. I don't think they'd need compensation buffs for the 5% crit loss either.