Why do Tier 1 and Tier 2 Runes Exist?

Whyu·3/22/2014, 3:14:34 PM·3 votes·863 views

What's the point in having Tier 1 and Tier 2 Runes? They don't upgrade in any meaningful way to Tier 3 Runes.

It's literally a waste to spend your IP on those Tier 1 and Tier 2 runes. It's a trap to punish players who don't know any better.

I don't see the point of non-upgradable Tier 1 and Tier 2 runes.

Meanwhile, rune slots are gated by level anyway. So you're limited in what runes you can use anyway. What's the point in having to wait for level 20 before you can buy Tier 3 runes anyway?

You may as well remove Tier 1 and Tier 2 runes, and just have one tier of runes that you can buy from level 1.

That would mean that new players wouldn't be wasting their money on Tier 1 and Tier 2 runes that simply aren't good enough at level 30 to allow them to compete on an equal footing.

So, what am I missing? Are Tier 1 and Tier 2 runes necessary to punish players for some reason?

12 Comments

Kira Onime3/22/2014, 4:19:01 PM2 votes

T1 could have an argument made for them but T2 really have no reason to be.

Sir ArmaMalum3/22/2014, 4:48:38 PM2 votes

They are the remnants of when the game was first released, it was a leveling reward for people climbing to 30, as it took longer than it did now. Or at least it was thought they would. (Speculation) I believe the reason nothing has been done quite yet (it's being worked on as a side project I think) is because while there's no point to it, it's more of a major inconvenience in IP and time rather than anything unbalanced in the game.

ploki1223/22/2014, 4:17:19 PM2 votes

Actually, T1 runes are so cheap that I don't see them as that bad, on top of that they do break slightly the barrier of entry by making you get used to runes before you have 30 slots to manage.

T2 are the black plague imo.

Hullabaloo9073/23/2014, 12:45:37 AM1 votes

You can upgrade them, but it really is not cost effective at all. they should mkae the rune combiner less terrible.

ShinRaigeki3/22/2014, 3:38:17 PM1 votes

I agree whole heartedly. They could be passed off as "lower level alternatives for lower level players", but honestly they don't help a thing, ever. They just end up getting people to report you in ranked for bringing them along to troll.

BossKiiwi4/8/2014, 6:43:56 AM1 votes

I think tier 3 should be available at lvl1 because new players already probably don't know as much so if they had some suggested runes or something they could at least be on the same level statistically as everyone else.

Icethorne3/22/2014, 4:53:05 PM1 votes

I agree with this question. I myself am a newer player that has a lvl 30 account. I bought alot of tier 1 and tier 2 runes and ended up realizing that it was a huge waste of IP. It gave little to no real advantage these should be removed.

However, I do not agree with making the tier 3 runes available at lvl 1. Rune Pages should be unlocked at a certain level. This will allow players to learn the champions they play with intimately before choosing a rune path for each specific champion. Maybe even put in a short tutorial about the rune pages and the effects they can have on gameplay.

TheeChameleon3/22/2014, 7:27:22 PM1 votes