Had a really satisfying experience playing league last night. This is a comeback story, and also one of turning a trash-talker's words back against them.

The Context:

So picture this, I'm experimenting with unsealed spellbook and smite in the top lane. The idea is to counterjungle the enemy jungler sometime during the early game. I haven't figured it out quite right yet, and I kept getting put on red team so I don't get to invade the much easier and safer to invade red buff.

The story:

This game I chose Vi (one of my mains for top lane). It goes poorly at lvl 1 and I am forced to take Q and burn my flash to escape the enemy Lux and Jayce. I complain in all chat about them "ruining my fun."

Because I started a jungle item and I got nothing for it, and burned flash AND started Q, I have a really terrible first few levels. Then Jayce starts talking trash in all chat. I'll admit it was a little upsetting, since it wasn't really fair; he didn't beat me himself, more of I defeated myself with my poor execution of the strategy I was attempting to pull off.

But all that aside, I kept up in farm and timed my recalls so I missed as little XP and farm as possible. Unsealed spellbook allowed me to swap smite for teleport and the reduced cooldown helped me to recall and TP back more frequently. So overall, despite getting harassed a lot and killed once, I kept up in farm.

Then something magical happened. Our mid-lane AP Nasus ganked for me 2 or 3 times in like a 5-7 minute span of time. With our jungler's help we managed to take first turret just half a second before our own bot tower fell. And even though we only killed Jayce on the last of those 3 ganks, it got me back into the game because Jayce was forced to recall each time. Jayce made some demeaning comments in all chat about me getting babysat by an off-meta mid laner, and I started to participate in the trash talk. "aww poor baby is sad they got 2v1'd!"

By this point I had caught up, I had large amounts of gold to spend so I finished my first item and got pieces for my next one. I attempted to duel the Jayce and he beat me several times, forcing me to back with low HP each time. He made another comment about how I had been "getting f'd all game." And I responded with, "Sorry I was too busy making plays elsewhere to bother trying to beat you." Which was true, I had roamed and stolen the enemy's jungle several times. I finish my second item. Then I proceeded to 1v1 the Jayce over and over again beating him each time. I cheerfully turned his own words back on him, asking "what was that about getting f'd? Please say it louder!"

He had nothing to say in all-chat for the rest of the game. And hot damn it felt so good to put somebody in their place after they talked trash without earning the right to do so.

Also I finished the game 7 and 1. So yeah, getting stomped by dueling in lane doesn't mean you have to give up. Find ways to time your recalls and take farm where you can get it (such as the enemy jungle when you see the enemy jungler is at dragon or ganking bottom). Even a terrible early game can lead to sweet sweet vengeance. Have patience and don't tilt. It is so damn rewarding when you manage to pull off the comeback!