I will never build Ardent Censer.

Mârty·Jun 21, 2014·13 votes·7,526 views

Hi!

I've been a Janna main for three seasons now, and I'm here to talk about my thoughts on the new item.

This item is a really cool attempt at giving traditional supports some itemization choice. Unfortunately, it's never going to find a slot in my build.

The passive is really cool, and at a glance, it seems to provide all the stats a traditional support would love. Some AP to scale their abilities, CDR, a bit of mana regen, and movement speed to help with roaming. It sounds really good on paper, and I was really interested to give it a shot.

Before I could get in a game, I thought about how I could fit it into my build.

When would I want this item?
How would I make sure I nail that 40% CDR cap, without going over?
Is it worth an item slot?

My masteries give me 10% CDR. I usually get an unholy grail because the mana regen and 20% CDR are invaluable on a traditional support, leaving me at 30%. Finishing my Frost Queen's Claim rounds me off nicely, and very early, at 40%, while giving me a nice active.

If I want to include the new item, I have to take 10% cdr off somewhere in my build. I really like the active of Frost Queens, as well as the increased gold generation from being able to farm minions while proccing the passive, so I'm reluctant to remove that. I chose to substitute athene's with the ardent censer, and find some other way for that last 10% CDR. The results were rather underwhelming.

I had the option of getting an early chalice, and turning it into a crucible later on in the game, which would round me off at 40%, while still providing me with really nice mana regen.

This test build costs:

2200 FQC
800 Sightstone
2200 Ardent Censer
2450 Mikael's Crucible

For a total of 7650 gold.

7650 gold would get me 40% CDR, enough mana regen to sustain me in prolonged fights, and 80 AP, a 25% attack speed passive buff on my shield, and a cool (but long cd) active on mikael's, working like a cleanse/heal. and some movement speed.

Instead, I choose to build like this:

2200 FQC
800 Sightstone
2600 Athene's unholy grail

At this point, for 5600 gold, I have reached a 40% CDR cap, and I have enough mana regen to sustain myself. I reach the CDR cap and mana regen 2k gold earlier than with the previous build, AND I have 110 AP, on top of 25 MR. The only thing I'm lacking here is 20 AP, the 25% attack speed passive buff, and the mikael's active.

1600 - Needlessly Large Rod

This puts me at 7200 gold build, and provides me with an extra 80 AP.

This extra 80 AP puts me 110 AP higher than the other build at the same gold cost, while also contributing towards the building of a deathcap.

1700 - Death Cap

The Death Cap round off puts me at a final cost of 8900 gold, and a total of around 280 AP.

If I get a rod on the other build, I'll have a total of 160 AP, at a final cost of 9450 gold.

A summary of the two builds:

Build 1.

Total cost: 9450 Gold

Cost for 40% CDR and lasting Mana Regen - 7650 Gold

Stats:

160 AP
8% MS
Enough Mana Regen
40% CDR
Mikael Active
Ardent Passive
40 MR

Build 2.

Total cost: 8900 Gold

Cost for 40% CDR and lasting Mana Regen -** 5600 Gold**

~290 AP
40% CDR
25 MR
Enough Mana Regen

I will ALWAYS opt for build #2. The main reason for this is how quickly I can rush that 40% cdr, and the mana regen. On a traditional support, especially Janna/Nami, nothing feels worse than running out of mana. I value 40% cdr rush tons more than a 25% attack speed boost and mikael's active.

The extra AP also scales my shield, slow, and heal. The extra heal from the AP on this build far surpasses the heal on the crucible. While it can't cleanse CC, it applies to everybody on my team.

The gold cost of the other build, it takes way too long for me to actually reach the full potential. How often will a support get 9450 gold to round off their perfect build?

My final thoughts on the item

It's really cool, but I can't see myself building it because it doesn't provide me with what I need early. CDR is a stat that I want, ASAP. I HAVE to build a chalice, no matter what traditional support I'm playing.

I always feel that chalice is required. Because I'm building a chalice, I only have two build options. Unholy Grail has the 20% cdr, and insane mana regen in a prolonged team fight with its passive.

Unless I am specifically aiming for a SUPER late game build, I will not be buying this item as a core part of my support build.

While people might opt for the ardent censer/crucible build, I will always take the path of unholy grail.

I don't expect everybody to agree with me, but I've made my case.

TL;DR

If I choose to build ardent censer, I don't have the mana regen and CDR I need until later in the game. I also delay my deathcap significantly, which is core to the utility scaling on my kit.

Therefore, I will always go build #2 over build #1.

86 Comments

RiotRiot BaconhawkJun 23, 201410 votes

So I know I'm a Gold I scrub but I don't always build Chalice... oftentimes I finish FQC and Sightstone and go boots 2 before looking at any other items. Since I'm a Karma main, though, perhaps my build is dictated by my kit/playstyle...or maybe my MMR ;)

cawws and flies about overhead

(grats on Post of the Day!)

Hyrum GraffJun 23, 20143 votes

https://i.imgur.com/QDyM0oW.png

Edit: damn, your ratio of ranked karma:other stuff is higher than mine...

##I challenge thee to a 1v1*, may the best karma win

*Or maybe a 2v2, since you seem to main karma support, and I play karma, well, everywhere (but mainly mid).

edit #2: Took away the 'babies' comment so maybe I"m not as scary :P

Sir ArmaMalumJun 23, 20141 votes

If this happens, I demand a spectator slot! You know...if that's alright and all :P

Hyrum GraffJun 24, 20141 votes

Maybe the Babies comment scared her off :O

RiotRiot BaconhawkJun 24, 20143 votes

we'll fight fo sho

sizzles expectantly

MârtyJun 23, 20142 votes

It might also be that karma doesn't have a mana cost on her ultimate, and her skills do have slightly lower mana costs than Janna/Nami!

Unholy Grail is still amazing on her, if I were to play support karma I'd probably still do my janna build #2 with sorc pen boots thrown in (or maybe merc treads for you, since you get caught so much <3)

kitcat300Jun 24, 20141 votes

I love this item on karma, free attack speed to my entire team is fun. Although with my current build path item 3158 item 2045 item 3092 item 3190 addding it wold give me 55% cdr.

Now im still deciding what boots I should get now.

Hyrum GraffJun 24, 20142 votes

Before I address ardent censor with that build, let me just address that build:

I'd suggest either dropping the support masteries or dropping the boots of lucidity. With this build, you won't be dealing much damage. Therefore, the ability to soak up damage as you provide cc and shields, is nice.

If you drop the support masteries, you can opt for 9-21-0 tank masteries.
If you drop the boots, you can opt for merc treads, and get the last 10% cdr from a Frozen Gauntlet. It gives you tankiness, the cdr you need, more mana to sustain spam, and that awesome passive for even more peel.

From there, you can replace any of your 10% cdr items with ardent censor.

GoumindongJun 21, 20146 votes

This is a problem with support itemization in general, not just Ardent Censor.

Ardent Censor's problem is that it doesn't really have any power in it.

MârtyJun 21, 20145 votes

Riot gave traditional supports all this cool AP scaling, but there's next to no support items with a good amount of AP on them.

Support itemization could use a lot of help.

KSHarrisonJun 21, 20144 votes

I think they did that on purpose. If you make support items with AP, then mid mages build them. They created the items at a time also when mid mages were going support (Annie meta, which followed the Zyra meta...and now, we're back to Zyra). Making high AP support items brings mages into bot lane which overshadows traditional supports.

GoumindongJun 21, 20141 votes

Not necessarily. You can absolutely make gold efficient and build efficient AP items that mids won't build. A half decent example would be the old Haunting Guise. Haunting Guise was rarely purchased before Liandrys torment came out. Much of the reason for this was because it was a 1400 gold dead end item. AP's have to balance more playing for the mid game with playing for the end game, and a 1400 gold dead end item, even if it was fairly strong, would set you back a slot as you were producing your core expensive items (making them harder to complete) while also setting you back from your end game build because you were going to have to sell it.

This is only a half decent example because there were many times when Guise was actually more slot efficient than the other options but people didn't realize it(this was due to its Pen not its AP). But the core of the concept remains the same. Its entirely possible to have efficient items which work for the stats that supports need without overlapping into the purchase space of other roles and ruining their itemization paths.

edit: That being said, i am not sure that Janna really is an AP support. She was in Season 3 when you could rush Morellonomicon and be hilarious. But that was more a factor of her high scaling and utility combined with her very small multiplicative scaling. As gold ramps up, supports with more multiplicative scaling do a lot better [E.G. Morgana with her upwards of 3.4 AP ratio ] and the lack of true support items which are not flooded with CDR and MP5 beyond what any support could ever hope to use limits the ability of utility champions to have the same effect as the high scaling champions because utility items end up less gold efficient always.

MârtyJun 21, 20143 votes

If ardent censer had 80 AP, I still don't see mid laners building it.

KSHarrisonJun 21, 20142 votes

What about Lulu or Nidalee mid? What about a return of Janna mid? Kayle mid? Trying to think of other mages mid with shields/heals, maybe Lux.

You not only have a competitive AP item, but you also get %CDR, mana regen to help spam spells, and every time you shield yourself you guarantee a won trade with the % attack speed bonus. The % MS is always useful as well.

It may not beat out the current Athene's, but Athene's is grossly OP which is why it's so dominant even in your support arsenal. Athene's aside, I think Censer could be quite strong.

I'm not sure if this is a bad thing, though.

Penguin EclipseJun 21, 20144 votes

The AS passive can't be applied on yourself though.

KSHarrisonJun 21, 20142 votes

Yeah the nesting here is a pain. I also wonder if the passive is one of those things that people need time to figure out its value.

Angry MonsterJun 21, 20144 votes

good numbers

The only problem is that u are not giving a numerical worth to Mikael Active. The pros think that on a support it is worth more than alot of other things.

I am not saying you are wrong though. it really is personal preference

MârtyJun 21, 20143 votes

I mentioned that I value the 40% cdr rush far more than the mikael's active. Being able to use my ultimate more often mid-game, on top of the shield spam without worrying about going OOM is something I value more.

Pros are just players with an opinion, I value it just as much as any other player's opinion, so that's generally irrelevant.

Edit: I would really love having some choice when it comes to my builds, but that 40% CDR is so important to me, and it HAS to include a chalice. This forces my builds to be a specific way. Mikael's just delays that 40% cdr too much, AND lacks AP. With a kit that has a total of 3.75 + 0.02AP MS + 0.06AP Slow scaling, AP is very important.

12talesJun 21, 20144 votes

Catching people is how games are won.

Catching people is how your opponent wins, too. A timely Mikael's can be the only difference between an ADC that gets chain CCed to death, and an ADC that lives to fight.

MârtyJun 21, 20145 votes

The reaction time required to get actual value out of that mikael's active, I just can't see myself using it properly enough to justify the purchase.

I used to buy the item. The build I opt for now generally has a higher success rate. The increased power in my whole kit is worth the trade off.

My issue with mikael's isn't that it's a bad item, choosing to build mikael's delays my build in other ways. It's sort of a combination of issues that makes me ignore the item in general.

OrisiJun 21, 20145 votes

I really do agree with this. Given the choice between Mikaels and Grail, I will always go grail. Because the simple fact is unless you are both 1) playing at a reasonably high ELO and 2) playing with a decent team who you can verbally communicate with the chances of that Mikaels paying off are so low that the value of the active becomes essentially zero. Sure, the passive is great if you can use it, but the times when using it pays off, without that communication/expectation from those you play with, it makes the gold investment much less valuable compared to a measurable stat increase.

The Yetii RiderJun 21, 20144 votes

It's funny how you mention the 25 MR on Athene's as a highlight in your Athene's build but completely disregard the 40 MR offered by Mikael's Crucible in its build.

Sire HippingtonJun 23, 20143 votes

Ardens Censer got the same problem as Morellonomicon for me: the mana-regen

Neither item offers the sustain i need, so i would need a chalice anyway.
But Athenes and Mikaels both offer enough manasustain on their own, so the mana-sustain of other items becomes somewhat obsolete.
So the only viable(for me) option is Morellos+Ardens, wich leaves me with no defens stats at all... Overall, getting Athenes or Mikaels for mana always seems the better option, as u gain sufficient sustain from just one item and some tankiness and cdr on top, wich is prettymuch all i want as support

MârtyJun 23, 20143 votes

This is a good point, I generally agree. Any sort of mana regen item that isn't a chalice doesn't feel anywhere near useful enough, and after I have that chalice any extra mana regen I get seems rather irrelevant.

RiotRiot SotereJun 24, 20143 votes

Hiyas!,

Your build is substantially different than my own Janna build. I opt for the item 3069 into item 3190 start. Glad to see you're making use of that AP scaling. I never plan on getting enough money to complete a item 3089 . :( I also don't value mana as highly as you. I regret not having it every game but I still don't build much towards it.

Supports want to maximize their CDR as soon as possible, which makes them highly value items with CDR. Then they reach the cap, and many of the attractive items have CDR in their statline, and that portion would become wasted.

Oversimplifying matters a bit: if item 3504 had no CDR, it wouldn't be an option until after the 40% cap. This way, people may find a way to fit it into their build if they value all of the stats on the item and want to increase the power of their allies.

We do recognize that the CDR crunch is something we need to resolve. Ardent Censer should be a neat new item, but it's not going to be for everyone and it certainly doesn't solve support itemization.

MârtyJun 24, 20144 votes

Try the FQC into Grail.

You'll be shocked at the difference.

There's (in my opinion) two major issues with mana regen and CDR.

Mana regen, as a stat, feels very crappy to purchase if it's not a chalice. If you already own a chalice, then any mana regen purchased after that feels unnecessary (even though it's multiplying the power of the chalice passive).
CDR is something that I want 40% in ASAP, but cdr is spread across a ton of different items all costing 2k+. I'm always going to opt for the shortest route to 40% cdr, meaning any 5th or 6th buys with CDR will be a waste of gold.

I tend to just go zhonya's after the deathcap. It would be nice if I had more choice, but at this point the best option for me is "Rush 40% cdr, get a chalice, stack AP".

GoumindongJun 26, 20141 votes

Even with/without the CDR Censor isn't in a great spot. 25% attack speed is not a potent buff, and the rest of the power is very "later". You're essentially paying 1100 gold over a codex for the 25% attack speed buff

GoumindongJun 26, 20141 votes

As an aside are there any plans for fixing support itemization?

RiotRiot SotereJun 29, 20143 votes

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: I like your post regarding efficiency. We have a couple of designers exploring that topic, which stats we want to emphasize on items on a role by role basis, and whether or not supports are in a good place in terms of their forced purchases (sightstone + gold generation).

MandaariJun 29, 20141 votes

The latter part of this post made my day. I noted that supports were being forced into those purchases as soon as they came out. I'm glad to see it's being looked into.

On a personal level, I really hate that supports are forced into getting SS + gold gen virtually every game. Additionally, I really hate that a lot of support power comes from item actives/passives like Coin, Crucible, and sightstone.

OrisiJun 29, 20141 votes

Agreed. Personally I've been feeling for some time now that, with the addition of the trinket concept, the sightstone concept could've been integrated as a fourth trinket. While this would remove the option for the support to have a sweeper, it could be scaled much like the current trinkets do; providing one ward per return until level 9 (maybe a bit lower), when it generates 4, then a gold upgrade to receive 5. You would remove the 800 gold outlay, and obviously as a trinket it wouldn't provide health, but it would provide the wards for a support, and could actively force other roles to become more aware of vision control through the game, something I think some players lack. The issue would be preventing EVERYONE from getting one, which I think would have to be tied to a one-per-team rule, and yeah, it's something that I think needs a bit of work, but could be done.

GoumindongJun 30, 20141 votes

Nice. Thanks for reading it. It would be pretty cool if we could get some updates on your teams thinking when you've got all your thoughts together.

Hyrum GraffJun 23, 20142 votes

2200 FQC
800 Sightstone
2200 Ardent Censer
700 Forbidden Idol
For a total of 5900 gold, you have reached your cdr cap. Is this enough mana for you to sustain yourself?

If so, you can go straight to your deathcap from there, and wait until later to pick up mikael's.

ErockandrollJun 23, 20142 votes

Support itemization is weird. Especially with the gold gen Items, along with the mana sustain item. Which guaranties you will be flushed with CDR.

The most noteable thing with item 3098 is when you finally upgrade it to item 3092 , The Tribute passive is no longer disabled on minion kill. I usually upgrade this if I have to transition from a support to more of an APC.

I am not sure I want to take item 3174 anymore since the MR and Mana regen have been nerfed. If I don't need the MR I would rather take, item 3165 Which is slightly cheaper, and the grievous wounds will hurt the enemy sustain.

Try combining item 3504 item 3165 it will combined most of the stats of the current grail with additional utility. If you need extra damage as a harass support, try item 3151 . The %HP will cause pretty good harass damage even without much AP. And the magic pen helps your base damage to have more effect.

Linna ExcelJun 21, 20141 votes

I never finish frost queens. I sit on the second one and sell it when I'm at getting close to a full build or I need a core item now and it has made up for its cost.

Second if the item is worth it, it's fine to go over the CDR limit, it just becomes less cost effective when you do.

Finally, if your ADC knows how to use the buff, then Ardent Censer becomes more valuable. So it's probably more useful gold and higher.

MârtyJun 21, 20145 votes

That slow is essentially a glitterlance with an AoE at the end. I used to do the same as you, then I learned how ridiculously powerful having that tool available to you is. Catching people is how games are won. FQC does exactly that.

If I were to purchase the item, it wouldn't be until well after death cap, which rarely happens in my games. I never actually achieve that gold total in a game, so even if I ignored the CDR, I still would never get to it. I'd also opt for an hourglass over it regardless, 120 more ap over 30 in that slot (considering the mana regen and the cdr are both useless) has more value.

My ADC knowing how to use the buff doesn't make a difference to me. I tried using it a few times in my ranked 5s (challenger) games, and asked my ADC how he felt when I used the item. He couldn't even tell I buffed his attack speed, and it didn't feel different to him.

I'm just not convinced by the item.

OrisiJun 21, 20144 votes

I completely agree that, for the cost, the item itself doesn't give the boost I'd want it to give on most characters. The stats are coming off the build-in items, with 550g giving you 3% speed, 2MP5, and the attack speed boost. On items that, frankly, give more gold-efficient bonuses on every other item they build into separately. The only champions I'd ever think of building Ardent Censer on are Karma, Thresh and maybe Alistar, and the latter would only be if I was pushing a very utility-based build, because all three can easily apply the passive to your entire team at once through their E's, which with CDR are all going to be around 15 seconds or less. But that wasn't the target of Ardent Censer, Janna and similar supports are, and I feel it missed the mark on these champs.

AfroNinja6810Jun 24, 20142 votes

Through their E's

For Thresh, it is his W. :P

Linna ExcelJun 21, 20142 votes

I tried using it a few times in my ranked 5s (challenger) games, and asked my ADC how he felt when I used the item. He couldn't even tell I buffed his attack speed, and it didn't feel different to him.

Okay, this is a little more worrying to me. I wouldn't normally worry if someone in lower elos was complaining about a support item being worthless, but when you get to higher elos, you've got to take a second look at things.

Stat wise, this seems close to being useful. However I personally wouldn't buy it mainly because of the lack of AP. I mean I like the movespeed, the mana/5 isn't bad, and the CDR is nice if you need a little more (not everyone does). However supports need bang as well as efficiency and I could get twin shadows which gives me more punch for about the same cost. The only thing I'd lose is a little extra mana.

Even with the passive, it seems like Ardent Censer has a bad opportunity cost to your next option: twin shadows, which would also help you peel for your ADC if needs be.

MârtyJun 22, 20142 votes

I just tried a build that substituted ardent censer over FQC, and the build just felt very underwhelming. I did it a few times, and I did different things each time.

I can't live without that FQC active, it's way too good, the item is such a good investment of my gold that it's not worth replacing. I'm over ardent censer, back to my standard build!

Linna ExcelJun 22, 20142 votes

You know, I've never really looked at the Frost Queen for that active. But then again I hate having too many items with actives to keep a track of.

MârtyJun 22, 20142 votes

It's a great catch and peel tool. Very underrated active, once you learn to use it when you need it.

MEMEME670Jun 22, 20141 votes

Wait...what? You're not going to build an item that can provide substantial benefit to your team in teamfights, because it doesn't provide stats YOU want?

That's just not how support works. If you want to be selfish, I suggest you play a different role, as although item builds have changed since season 2, the overall idea has not.

You give up gold (and therefore the effects of items) in order to make your team better overall. At the core, that is what the support role does in league, and Censer fits that.

Also, did you consider removing the 10% cdr from masteries? This frees up the cdr that you feel you need free in order to not go over the 40% cap, and doesn't cost you any gold in your build.

CuixJun 24, 20141 votes

Janna really doesn't need THAT much mana regen. Chalice regen is necessary if you're spamming or sieging, but she doesn't particularly want to do either. 20 mana per 5 from FQC and Censer is already a lot, and the Meditation mastery is a fine choice. The 10% CDR from masteries is similarly non-essential. If you really want the Intelligence mastery, then that + item 3158 + FQC + Censer is a neat 40% at a fairly low cost.

MârtyJun 24, 20142 votes

I used to do boots + unholy grail + 5% from masteries for a fast 40%, then I noticed how much of a gold waste the boots were. Boots are now my ~5th buy, if I need merc treads that is.

I have played Janna a ton, and I have tried so many builds on her. I will always run out of mana if I don't have a chalice. It's a must-buy, that or I sacrifice how often I use my Q. The only reason I get 10% from masteries is because I need 20 utility points for the 5% movement speed. The last 9 points I see no reason to dump into defence, as it gets me next to nothing, so naturally I opt for the 5% CDR and AP in the offense tree.

20 MP5 definitely does not solve my mana issues.

CuixJun 24, 20141 votes

Sure, tier 2 boots are not a necessary early buy on Janna, but that 15% CDR is cheeeaaap.

No clue how you run out of mana that consistently. There's so much mana regen available everywhere, and she benefits so much from even frugal ability usage since her passive and W passive are gorgeous.

9 in defense is really helpful if you're using her huge mobility to get a lot of deep vision for your team, which is one of Janna's most salient strengths. 12ish AP in lane is barely noticeable if it does anything at all, and 22 AP at level 18 is almost literally negligible. The CDR is fine for your particular needs, I guess, and Expose Weakness might sometimes be nice, but resilience in lane and while warding ends up being worth way more.

Hell, the 10% item active CDR ends up mostly wasted in your build, since the only item actives you're using are either CD-less (consumables, sightstone) or fine to just not have always up (FQC). Maybe putting those points into Expanded Mind would help your mana troubles, I'unno.

MârtyJun 24, 20142 votes

9 points in defence does absolutely nothing for me. If I'm caught to the point where I'm dead, the effective ~100 health that defence mastery gives me will not save me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have needed that slight amount of health.

If I did barely make it out alive, I made a huge mistake as a Janna player, and whatever ward I wanted to place wasn't worth it.

12 ap and 5% cdr, plus expose weakness, wins my lanes. I am constantly applying that AP throughout the game. The extra kick it gives my shield and ultimate heal is enough to outshine whatever bonuses the defence tree gives me.

Mana is a serious issue for how I play. I set up tornadoes constantly. I'm almost always using it if it's off cool down, and with very good reason. Charging a Q and predicting the game's flow over three seconds, being able to catch one or two people out, that's how I win games.

I could easily conserve my mana and wait for a fight to explode. That's not how I play Janna.

I don't care much for the 10% active cdr, like I said the only reason I go 21 utility is because I want that 5% movement speed. Over the course of season 4, I have tried LOTS of mastery pages. 9/0/21 gets me what I want as fast as possible.

I have no need for tankiness in lane either. I rarely get in range for harass, and don't take much damage. If I do take a lot of damage, I make sure it's a worthy trade.

Papy MougeotJun 24, 20141 votes

I'd say you should compare FQC vs ardent censer. The gold generation stop at frostfang so you don't need to finish FQC to get the max gold. Then you have to choose between those 2 items to get your last 10% cdr. I think in some game you should get Ardent censer instead of FQC.

Papy MougeotJun 24, 20142 votes

I think we should just put a medium tier ardent censer and an upgrade.

ardent censer1

+30 ability power

+10 mana regeneration

+10% cooldown reduction

ms removed

UNIQUE PASSIVE: Your heals and shields on another unit grant them 25% Attack Speed for 6 seconds. This does not include regeneration effects or effects on yourself.

cost lowered

recipe forbidden idol + amp tome

and an upgrade

ardent censer

+60-80 ability power

+10 mana regeneration

+10% cooldown reduction

UNIQUE PASSIVE: +8% movement speed

UNIQUE PASSIVE: Your heals and shields on another unit grant them 40% ? Attack Speed for 6 seconds. This does not include regeneration effects or effects on yourself.

recipe ardent censer 1 + Aether Wisp

MârtyJun 24, 20142 votes

I have tried this. I'd get the frost fang and delay it for the censer.

I'm delaying a "finished" item by about 1k gold, and I'm not getting that AoE 80% slow. I'll take an 80% slow over 25% attack speed any day.