For the last time people. Skins don't mean skill.

MythPuppy·Dec 25, 2016·29 votes·2,516 views

Seriously, can we just toss that out the window? Last match I played, I was supp. And my adc was just being, for lack of a better word, Dumb. he kept jump into 2v1s he couldn't win and dying , And that led to other team getting fed. ( I mean we won, but still ) But my thing is, my team didn't blame him for feeding. No, they blamed me because I was using a skin and not one-shotting people. They said it didn't matter how bad he was. It just mattered that I wasn't better. No joke, someone actually typed "You're using a special skin, you should be getting pentas every 5 seconds!" And apparently there are skin "classes" now. they go as follows

No skin: Okay player Ultimate skin: Worst player. Will feed no matter what Legacy skin: Best player to have on your team ever

Seriously, who started this? This is not how any of this works....

74 Comments

420 gramsDec 25, 201611 votes

Paying for a free game doesn't make you better

Brain Errör 404Dec 25, 20162 votes

Especially a free game with no pay to win services. Cause I can name multiple games where paying for it actually does make you better.

Fondling GemsDec 25, 20162 votes

Well if we want to get into technicalities while a lot of them have been fixed up there were certain skins that were actual advantageous to own. Super galaxy rumble had much smoother and cleaner animations than Rumble for a really long time, 90% of pro players used the skin because it was just an upgrade since the Q was more accurate and the walk cycle was much smoother, more accurately displaying where your character was.

Other skins like Underworld TF made your abilities hard to see until that got changed a few months ago. Frost Queen Janna is the most used Janna skin in professional play because the edges of things like her ult are easier to see in teamfights.

So while it isn't like other games where you can pay for direct advantages, there were (and still are some) skins that provide a clearer playing experience or other benefits that the base skins did not have.

That being said for the most part I do agree with you, just wanted to point out that there are some elements of pay ~~to win~~ for advantage in league.

Suspicious XebraDec 25, 20161 votes

Dark Star Thresh had a somewhat bigger hitbox on his Q too

Fondling GemsDec 26, 20161 votes

Not actually true. Gameplay wise he is exactly the same, it is just the visual that is different. It is like how despite Super Galaxy Rumble being much smoother than normal rumble, there wasn't any mechanical difference. The change was that the visuals were more/less accurate.

Thresh Q is larger on one side than the other. The visual of the hook shows this. Dark Star thresh has a ball shaped Q, and thus does not accurately portray the shape of the hitbox. As such it feels like it is larger because it can go within X distance of you on one side but that same distance will hit you on the other side.

That is specifically a case of the new skin not changing the mechanics, even though the visuals are displaying said mechanics slightly differently.

Blackstone01Dec 25, 20161 votes

Elementalist Lux recently had the Q animation being hard to see near the end of it.

Fondling GemsDec 26, 20161 votes

Yeah but they are going to be fixing that, so I wouldn't really count that one.

CantHandleMySwagDec 25, 20168 votes

Well Project Yasuo will always feed. It's scientifically proven.

xWatersDec 25, 20163 votes

{quoted}

Well Project Yasuo will always feed. It's scientifically proven.

lol

IcyPepperDec 25, 20168 votes

skins = wins

KoKobotoDec 26, 20162 votes

A delicate and complex law that was created somewhere of 600 BCE. Those who went with it we're shunned by society today they are weaved across countless texted and have become immortalized in the history of human.

EschetonDec 25, 20166 votes

Sidenote: Advanced bots have skins and are better than beginner bots. And can be quite intimidating when first encountered.

Part of why skins are expected to win.

BeatzBoyFTWDec 25, 20165 votes

What grinds my gear the most:

#People buying Elementalist skin on a Mastery 1 Lux.

LauchmelderDec 25, 201615 votes

Don't get mad now:

I bought her with Lux Mastery 0

TerozuDec 28, 20162 votes

I hate you...

Ra1ugaDec 25, 20164 votes

What grinds my gear more:

Having to deal with said lux

Cryo00Dec 25, 20161 votes

What grinds me even more is people buying the skin and not even using it. Looking at you Gbay99.

PaladinNODec 26, 20162 votes

What grinds me even more is people buying the skin and not even using it.

Guilty as charged!

Same thing with the PROJECT skins. I bought them only for the limited loading frame. Except PROJECT: Ashe. That one I bought for the dance.

reaperteaserDec 26, 20162 votes

even worse, when they refuse to change forms

Papa AndreiDec 25, 20162 votes

Won the skins as part of a for fun mini christmas contest where I live. Played lux maybe 6 times since S5. Holy hell is she amazing to play. LAZERS

LifaFreezeDec 26, 20161 votes

I mean, I bought lux because I opened the skin in a chest and decided it was fate so i played a couple games with her

Spicy RiceDec 26, 20163 votes

I've spent over 1k on league, dammit if I'm going to save money now

SckullzzDec 26, 20161 votes

{quoted}

What grinds my gear the most:

#People buying Elementalist skin on a Mastery 1 Lux.

Why? That't doesn't make sense. Having money and buying a purely cosmetic skin has literally zero relation to skill level...

GULAG 4 UDec 25, 20164 votes

Mandatory rule of thumb:

Project Yasuo: Feeding trash Bloodmoon Yasuo: Toxic trash HIghnoon Yasuo: God

Ra1ugaDec 25, 20161 votes

i do fine with project yasuo [slayer-jinx-unamused]

GULAG 4 UDec 25, 20162 votes

It's a joke

Ra1ugaDec 25, 20163 votes

so is the our yasuo/their yasuo xD

ActivatingEMPDec 26, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Mandatory rule of thumb:

Project Yasuo: Feeding trash Bloodmoon Yasuo: Toxic trash HIghnoon Yasuo: God

True tho, except the blood moon. I'm really not too toxic and have never claimed Yasuo takes skill: I just think it looks badass

reaperteaserDec 26, 20161 votes

same, i got blood moon kennen even though the only thing i can do right on him is press r f then whatever zhonias is on

EschetonDec 25, 20163 votes

Another sidenote: Skins can make your skills harder to read. Either because hard to see or just unfamiliar with the visual of it so the muscle-memory reactions kick in later than with the familiar base skin.

Not to mention invisible Nidalee spears...

Death and DoomDec 25, 20162 votes

used to be a bigger issue, they reworked most of the bad visual skins and its mainly fine now.

xxxDogmanxxxDec 25, 20162 votes

I bought Elementalist Lux because it was cute. Yes, I am a mastery level 6 with her, but still, Cuteness > Skill.

BobaFlautistDec 25, 20162 votes

I mean a lot of people think it's kinda dumb to buy a fancy expensive skin for a champion you suck with, because it means you don't actually know if you'll continue to enjoy playing them as you learn their appropriate play pattern more and more.

For example, I think I like eve, but what I really like is one-shotting adcs from stealth 45 minutes into the game. But I don't like having the expectation of applying huge pressure to all lanes with a champion with a rather fragile early game that struggles to scale without snowballing, and so if I bought a fancy, expensive eve skin, even though I sorta like her now, it would likely go to waste.

A lot of players also don't have tons of money for skins, so they only buy them on their absolute favorite champions and when there's an especially cool skin. When they see someone buying a skin before even playing a champion, it rubs them the wrong way because it feels like a pointless flaunting of disposable income.

PaladinNODec 26, 20162 votes

When I buy a skin, it's because I like the skin, period. It's often regardless of which champion the skin is attached too. And as I only play ARAM, I even rarely get to see it (which is a pity, but I blame the usual unpleasant experience that is Classic - now only Blind Pick - for that)

But some examples: I unlocked Morgana back in the day, just so I could buy Ghost Bride Morgana on is release. Same thing with Zed and Master Yi and their PROJECT skins. Though I just wanted the limited skin cards.

Fortunately, one can't be held accountable for what one spend ones money on by others in a video game.

That said, the Hextech system sorted it out nicely for those not willing or not able to financially engage in this game.

SckullzzDec 26, 20162 votes

{quoted}

I mean a lot of people think it's kinda dumb to buy a fancy expensive skin for a champion you suck with, because it means you don't actually know if you'll continue to enjoy playing them as you learn their appropriate play pattern more and more.

For example, I think I like eve, but what I really like is one-shotting adcs from stealth 45 minutes into the game. But I don't like having the expectation of applying huge pressure to all lanes with a champion with a rather fragile early game that struggles to scale without snowballing, and so if I bought a fancy, expensive eve skin, even though I sorta like her now, it would likely go to waste.

A lot of players also don't have tons of money for skins, so they only buy them on their absolute favorite champions and when there's an especially cool skin. When they see someone buying a skin before even playing a champion, it rubs them the wrong way because it feels like a pointless flaunting of disposable income.

Everything here is a complete assumption and is all opinion. There is still zero link between skins and skills. How do you know what money most players make? Do you have data? Do you have averages and charts? Having a high skill level with a champ is one out of many reasons to buy a skin. What about personal preference? Humor? Looks badass? Sick animations? Favorite theme? Holiday? The list continues.

Point being, skins has NOTHING to do with skill.

Immortal spaxDec 25, 20162 votes

b-b-but here in bronze skins deals 5% more damage, wtf?

PaladinNODec 26, 20162 votes

"Skin = pro. Such is the order of things." <-- That is the joke. Why someone actually takes it seriously, I have no idea.

I frequently see offenses like "sell skin" etc., but I rarely see anyone go "refund champ", regardless of their performance.

If they do bad without a skin, there is always attack on their person. "Retard", "noob", "idiot" etc. Why those who says those things have usually not said a damn thing previosuly - like, actually being helpful - before resorting to personal attacks is beyond me.

Likely a combination of various factors regarding how society is where they live, if I were to guess. Then sad person thinks it's the way to behave everywhere else.

But this has somewhat dulled down with the release of the Hextech system. Before, it was generally accepted - and also usually the fact - that someone with an expensive skin actually were really good with that champion. One didn't usually spend real money on some cosmetics that we don't own at all without proper cause, like, skill to show for it.

Today, though, everyone can have any skin on any champion for free, without a single shred of experience with it. Myself, for example. I finally unlocked the Spirit Guard Udyr skin shard that I have had laying around for quite some time as a Christmas present. I unlocked Udyr, the champion, only moments before.

Silly NeekoDec 25, 20161 votes

Well someone had to address the elephant in the room.

Sorry udyr but you wernt fooling anyone anyways.

But really though, its kinda funny how people just assume one team will win or one team will lose based on skins or whatever.

Only thing i use skins to determine is if they have a general sense of how to play their champ. If they have a skin, they might but its a higher likelyhood, if they dont, then its a toss up.

Legacy skins to me just mean they are lucky or forked out cash. Skill is irrelevant when it comes to that.

bad arcade kittyDec 25, 20162 votes

{quoted}

Legacy skins to me just mean they are lucky or forked out cash.

you can get a plenty of legacy skins right now, they are sold every year, old legacy skins (i.e. those like, say, muse sona or leopard nidalee) and snowdown skins on christmas, harrowing skins on halloween, championship and challenger skins around beginning/end of the competitive seasons

as for limited skins, you don't get those from the chests, they just mean that this account is old or reached gold at a certain season

EschetonDec 25, 20161 votes

Skins usually imply a certain dedication to the champ. Much like champion mastery. Doesn't ensure skill or immunity to a bad game though.

TerozuDec 25, 20161 votes

Umm hextech crafting exists.

Fondling GemsDec 25, 20163 votes

However are you more likely to unlock a skin for a champ you spend time on or one you barely ever play?

TerozuDec 28, 20161 votes

Either it's an RNG... which is my point, which means ur reply is meaningless, and I don't understand why people are upvoting you agreeing with my statement, but not my statement...

Fondling GemsDec 28, 20161 votes

Because while Hextech is RNG, you have the choice of what to do with the shards, as such one is more likely to unlock the skins for champions they play, just like how I can buy a skin for any champion, but I am more likely to buy one for a champion I play frequently.

Ulquiorra995Dec 25, 20161 votes

Especially now when crafting is a thing. I might decide to pick up a new champion just because I got an awesome skin for them.

CowseedDec 25, 20162 votes

O_O ....I do that....

NarasimhaDec 25, 20161 votes

The general assumption is that if you have a skin, its going to be on someone you're good at. Otherwise why have the skin? And I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but chances are you're not going to enjoy a good skin on any champ if you lose all the time with them.

bad arcade kittyDec 26, 20162 votes

{quoted}

The general assumption is that if you have a skin, its going to be on someone you're good at. Otherwise why have the skin? And I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but chances are you're not going to enjoy a good skin on any champ if you lose all the time with them.

or you got it from the hextech crafting or you are an impulsive buyer