When your main becomes FotM

Vesarixx·Jul 20, 2016·121 votes·5,931 views

And everyone and their dog suddenly tries to tell you how to play them by just reading off the recommended items

http://wersm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/wersm-mozart-not-impressed-657x360.png

127 Comments

RookPusherJul 20, 201617 votes

Main support. You'll rarely have this problem. Or wait for a game.

VesarixxJul 20, 20165 votes

This was a support game

5000000000000000Jul 20, 20165 votes

Sona ?

VesarixxJul 20, 20164 votes

yep, some guy was complaining about the damage build losing 40 damage on the Q and telling me to build ardent censor, even though at level 18 the combo actually gained 3 damage, only time you lose any damage is when you don't proc your passive

Dr PoroJul 21, 20161 votes

Have you actually tried the meta build? I think it would be much easier for you to get gold that way. I mean, if I were to see someone build tear and probelter on sona support in Diamond, I'd also frown upon them. There's a reason why the meta builds have the highest winrates. If people who main sona have a different build than those who bandwagon, why does the bandwagon build have a higher winrate? Wouldn't people who play sona all the time be more experienced with her and play her better?

It's okay if you like your snowflake build. But you must acknowledge that it is in your team's best interest if you build something that is proven to work. Maybe your build works, but they don't know that and they want the best for themselves so they prefer something that they know is good. Flaming is still bad and having a snowflake build is no excuse. However, I think there's nothing wrong if they're just trying to tell you how to build. Even with the knowledge of you being a sona main, I'd still tell you to change your build. If you were challenger tier with that build, I'd have more trust in the viability of it, but perhaps there's something that keeps you down at silver. I said the same thing about a Thresh mid main who complained about the same thing (others not liking his off-meta ideas). He started playing champs with high winrate and is now gold I in 2 months time.

VesarixxJul 21, 20161 votes

I have tried the meta build and I actually do use it in some games, it's more about what I think will work best in that specific game, if I have an ADC that is more late game focused I will likely go for the mikaels and/or ardent censor, but for more aggressive ADC, in this case it was a Lucian I opted for more damage, which is why I picked up the early revolver for the passive synergy, I built it into the protobelt later to get the CDR cap but I might also just sell the revolver for another item if it's more useful. Seraphs is something I've actually found very useful, I've been building it since before the rework, the shield is nice but it also provides some of the highest AP from a single item, and the mana refund passive that it gained recently has basically solved any mana issues Sona might have with the new ult passive. If my team is all AD or has a utility focused mid then a damage heavy build is going to be better.

If people who main sona have a different build than those who bandwagon, why does the bandwagon build have a higher winrate?

The average win rate for this patch was about 57% before the hotfix, mine is currently 67%, so it's not as if I'm way behind the rest of the Sona players.

** If you were challenger tier with that build, I'd have more trust in the viability of it**

The same things that work in challenger may not necessarily work for lower ranked players, for example Kalista has an abysmal win rate in most ELOs but that win rate goes up dramatically when you look at masters or challenger, not only can the players at that ELO control Kalista at a higher level but they can more safely rely on their team to know how to play with that specific champion on the team to a higher efficiency. Likewise the healing build is great if you can pretty reliably have a competent team that will be able to carry with you enabling them, but here in silver you get ADCs that don't know how to kite or position and might have 40 farm at 10 minutes, so the extra damage can be more useful than trying to make sure an Ezreal that built tear into cull stays at full health. The meta build might be something that doesn't fit my playstyle as well, if someone plays primarily assassins then tank fizz/akali/ekko probably wont really fit their playstyle as much as going with the assassin build whether they're meta or not.

Rank aside I would encourage you to try some elements of this build before dismissing it, I'm not building these items just to be different, I get them because I've found some synergy with Sona's kit or because they have worked out quite well in the past or in specific situations. I've been spending a bit of time recently on r/Sona mains and I've seen some other players picking up seraphs as well, and when I've suggested revolver to a few people there they have reported some pretty positive results after trying it out, it's actually turning out to be a better early game pickup than a sheen.

Masala ChaiJul 20, 201616 votes

Like how Viktor is supposed to rush item 3198 .

yep yep.

DessemJul 20, 20161 votes

I can usually tell who actually plays Viktor and who's playing him because he's popular by their itemisation with regards to Hex Core. If they rush maxed Hex Core, they're just playing Viktor because he's FotM; I don't think I've seen any real Viktor player lately argue that it's of immense importance to finish Hex Core pre-level 13 over items like Rylai.

MarshbouyJul 20, 20164 votes

wth? I first timed viktor and even i knew not to rush a maxed hex core...

DessemJul 20, 20165 votes

Praise be to your foresight, you took the time to figure out how to build Viktor instead of just going, "He's FotM so he must be strong."

MarshbouyJul 20, 20165 votes

it was actually back when he was super off meta, didn't even read a guide xD

Vellich0rJul 21, 20161 votes

Personally I prefer perfect core rush. That into an immediate rylais gives you better play making potential with the q speed boost, w displace, and the faster ult is almost essential to get all of your procs off on prime targets. It also offers extremely strong mana and AP and boosts your pure waveclear. To me it's the best all around start unless you need something like early survivability against a Leblanc or something.

DessemJul 21, 20162 votes

Now, you usually get Hex Core MK1 around level 5~6. Hex Core MK1 gives +3 AP per level and +15 Mana per level.

Level 6: Prototype Hex Core: +6 AP, +60 Mana Hex Core MK1: +18 AP, +180 Mana

It'll take you 1750 gold to finish Perfect Hex Core.

Suppose it takes you to level 9 to get that amount of gold.

Level 9: Hex Core MK1: +27 AP, +135 Mana. Hex Core MK2: +54 AP, +180 Mana. Perfect Hex Core: +90 AP, +225 Mana.

Comparitively, you've spent 1750 Gold to gain 63 AP and 90 Mana. If you instead spent that gold towards Rylai, you'd have a Needlessly Large Rod and either a Ruby Crystal or Amplifying Tome.

NLR + Amp Tome = +80 AP (50 gold leftover) NLR + Ruby Crystal = +60 AP, +150 Health (85 gold leftover)

Suppose at level 11 you get an additional 1450 gold to spend towards Rylai. (ignoring boots and all for now)

Level 11: Hex Core Mk1: +33 AP, +165 Mana Perfect Hex Core: +110 AP, +275 Mana Rylai's Scepter: +100 AP, +400 HP

If you rushed Perfect Hex Core, you additionally can afford an NLR at this point for another +60 AP. Your total becomes +170 AP.

Comparitively, this means that you have two situations:

Hex Core MK1 + Rylai's Scepter +133 AP, +165 Mana, +400 HP, total expenditure: 4450 Gold OR Perfect Hex Core + NLR +170 AP, +275 Mana, total expenditure: 4250 Gold

If you rushed Perfect Hex Core, you get +37 AP and +110 Mana, but you have -400 health and no Rylai's Scepter Passive. Instead, you get bonus movement speed on your Q (30%), repositioning on W and a faster R (20%).

If you rushed Rylai, your every attack slows the enemy by 40%. This means your R's speed boost is somewhat negated (while affected by Rylai, the speed difference between your R and your target is less than if you just sped up your R), and the only real disadvantage you suffer is the loss of W's repositioning (which is harder to land without a slow, and less valuable when not everyone's grouping for teamfights yet) and your Q won't help you dodge skillshots (but it'll make it harder for opponents to escape W, E or R).

The idea behind rushing Rylai is to improve the reliability of your spells at the cost of opting into your later upgrades slightly later. W's repositioning is nice but not absolutely vital, R's movement speed increase isn't necessary if you can slow down the enemies more than you can improve your R's movement speed.

EDIT: Also, you have more stats earlier because your Perfect Hex Core needs time to catch up to the value of NLR + Amp Tome if you want raw AP instead of some survivability.

Vellich0rJul 21, 20161 votes

level 11 is when you spike either way, I prefer the perfect core rush because it gives me more raw AP, and I feel like that raw AP earlier is better in most situations. That HP is a wasted stat early for me because until team fights come I am not going to be positioning where someone would be able to dive me, so I would rather get all of my raw AP items to outburst an enemy mid, and the mana which lets me maintain my spell rotations longer to get that sweet sweet cs. This build spikes earlier for 1 v 1 burst and gives me a smooth transition into teamfights once I grab that all important rylais.

TyrekGoldenspearJul 20, 201611 votes

Azir is now on the free rotation.

I am prepared to deal with teammates wondering why I don't follow the recommended list for Azir to a T.

MarshbouyJul 20, 20167 votes

"why did you get berserkers?"

TyrekGoldenspearJul 20, 20168 votes

"Well because blah blah blah DPS blah blah lack of tanks blah blah plenty of MPen from runes blah blah"

"...This guy's stupid. Reported. Berserkers are for ADCs you noob!"

YurÌ on IceJul 21, 20161 votes

{quoted}

"Well because blah blah blah DPS blah blah lack of tanks blah blah plenty of MPen from runes blah blah"

"...This guy's stupid. Reported. Berserkers are for ADCs you noob!"

you're not supposed to go berserkers after the recent nerfs, you know that?

TyrekGoldenspearJul 21, 20162 votes

No I did not. Though I suppose it would make sense since the extra attack speed won't make up for the damage lost like extra magic pen would.

łnśaneJul 20, 20168 votes

Don't forget their ban rate starts to increase because of it :D. "oh everyone is playing/banning this champ time for a nerf!"

Had a game where some dude was trying to tell me how to play Miss Fortune :D. While i'm sitting here with 200k+ mastery and lvl 7 laughing my ass off. No I don't give a rats ass about the korean build, I very much prefer my high crit build thank you! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

VesarixxJul 20, 20162 votes

Yeah, same deal, this guy had 12 Sona games spread out over 3 seasons compared to the several 100 I have

Biff ManlyJul 21, 20164 votes

item 3070 Quinn

warpenguin555Jul 21, 20167 votes

"Malz why do have item 3027 and not item 3165 "

https://media.giphy.com/media/wTUr3J4G4BPEI/giphy.gif

ive been playing him longer than you have asshole. if i want a RoA ill get a RoA

VesarixxJul 21, 20166 votes

Thought that was a suggested item on Malz at one point

CheekynorthJul 20, 20166 votes

What even is FotM?

VesarixxJul 20, 201613 votes

Flavour of the month

Masala ChaiJul 20, 201626 votes

Flavor of the Month, it's like ice cream; some new ice cream flavor comes out and then that thing becomes really popular even though it may not be the best tasting one; as a result it's put on display in Ice Cream Shops. Put that into League Context, for example; Viktor, Hecarim, and Irelia aare FOTM; even though other champions have higher winrates, they are still insanely popular because of new power, even though they weren't really popular before. Then in addition to those new fangled popular flavors, we have classics that never go out of style and are thus are always on displays like Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry, say stuff like Yasuo, Zed, Vayne, Lee Sin and Lucian.

CheekynorthJul 20, 20165 votes

Makes more sense than OP's comment below mine. Just saying 'Flavour of the month' does not help at all

EDIT: Ok people what's with the downvotes. All I mean was it conveys nothing. Telling me what it is helps only little, as I would still not have known what it meant

EDIT 2: Seriously I forgot that google existed for a moment because I was distracted can you not constantly downvote me for being distracted

DrugothJul 20, 201624 votes

I think claiming that spelling out the acronym is no help at all is reaching pretty far man.

Eunbi BiasJul 21, 201617 votes

I thought it was face of the mountain That's what I used it for*[slayer-jinx-wink]*

CheekynorthJul 21, 20167 votes

Conveys less than a detailed description is what I mean

If I was to just read 'Flavour of the month' I would know it is that, but what it meant I would not know

I'll edit the comment

AFK PushJul 20, 20163 votes

Whatever becomes pick/ban or "op" in the current patch. If you were there for the preseason 5 changes to the jungle cinderhulk, gromp buff, etc. made most tanks super strong. Then champs like Sejuani Gragas became FOTM.

My favorite was patch 4.20 with the skirmishers and devourer on Warwick ult, meaning he did a shit ton of true and on hit magic on his ult (insta deleting anyone). https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VQYa1YNkTO0/maxresdefault.jpg

LuggJul 21, 20166 votes

https://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/69559244.jpg

This is what really happens when your main becomes FOTM.

Athenes LuluJul 21, 20165 votes

http://puu.sh/q4mtJ/c1b825a71e.jpg http://puu.sh/q4mvO/ba90ea4350.png Literally the recommended items for Lulu support.

This is going to be hilarious, people who play enough Lulu knows that her ult isn't even coded as a heal.

Witch of BabylonJul 21, 20164 votes

Got flamed for building Lich Bane on Sona

VesarixxJul 21, 20161 votes

That's actually pretty much exactly what happened

Silent CrescendoJul 21, 20161 votes

[deleted]

VesarixxJul 21, 20161 votes

With the new passive on her ult you can run oom pretty fast even with the regen from support items, tear increases your mana pool which not only increases the spell casts before you go oom but also synergizes pretty well with the meditation mastery, the % mana return passive and the amount of AP you get from seraphs are also incredibly useful, and the shield can be used to survive longer in fights than you would have otherwise.

I do get frost queens in some games, it's a very useful item especially for maintaining a lead as it can be used to aggressively push up the vision line without fear of getting picked, it's pretty underutilized for that purpose as well, as for other utility items these aren't always necessary, it's similar to playing Zyra, Brand or Vel'koz support, the high damage that they provide is the main reason for playing them, in the case of Sona however, her abilities all have utility scaling to begin with, so the higher AP you get from a more mage focused build still benefits her team, E grants more movespeed, W heals and shields still scale with AP, as does the damage reduction and slow from W and E power chords, so you don't really lose out on much utility, the on hit portion of Q that your team mates get also scales with your AP, across a whole team that's a potential 300(100% AP) extra damage every 2.64 seconds at rank 16+, not even accounting for the powerchord damage and the proc from sheen, eye of the watchers and revolver/protobelt.

DarkfireAMJul 22, 20161 votes

I will build Sheen on Sona after sight stone from now until the end of my leauge days. No one is going to tell me otherwise.

TrustN0ONEJul 21, 20163 votes

[slayer-pantheon-rainbows] More like my all my mains become fotm and were beaten to death with the nerf bat

Battlecast SonaJul 21, 20163 votes

let us take a moment of silence for the Janna Tornado Range Nerf circa 2015.

[zombie-nunu-tears]

(alsohilol)

KyogiriJul 21, 20162 votes

Yorick No one will FoTM this until his rework which is probably gonna be on october.

TequilaZombieJul 21, 20164 votes

October of which year? They champion is not even released yet!

Sahn UzalJul 21, 20162 votes

Cough

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/developer-corner/B2y4p4vE-pre-worlds-early-game-update?comment=0020000100000000

WutsKrakenJul 21, 20162 votes

Kassadin This guy in Season 3-4 during and after worlds, always insulted me for playing a "broken" champion when just a few weeks before I was flamed for playing a "trash" champion. Also people gave me a lot of crap for not rushing item 3070 item 3027 on him. People failed to realize that cut down his powerspike SO MUCH you may as well play someone else

Trundle Season 4-present. People didn't know he existed after his rework and in the age of Renekton Shyvana DrMundo he still was nonexistent for about 2 months. These days people scream at me for not rushing item 3074 and instead taking old school item 3153 vs tanks