RE: Champion Pools

EkkoFroffles·Apr 6, 2015·1 votes·1,020 views

The majority of the time in ranked, I go top lane or jungle, as I'm trying to use the "main a role" (fighter/tank) approach to move up. But whenever it would come to me playing mid, the only champion I felt comfortable enough with that could slot in there was Wukong. I have a 54% win rate with him in 35 matches, including those matches when I went mid (and lost), so I've just assumed I could translate my success top and jungle to mid, especially since Wukong mid isn't unheard of.

However, I've yet to win playing Wukong mid, and that being my only option when I'm forced to mid seemed kind of crappy on my part. So I used this as an excuse to start following through on one of the more popular tips for getting out of bronze, which is having a champion pool for each role. And I was just wondering if I could get some feedback on where I stand now with relation to those champion pools. You know, if a particular champion pool should be bigger or more varied. Stuff like that.

For each role, I'll first list my go-to champions, then the ones I can see potentially joining their ranks, and lastly the ones are 100% not for me.

Top: Mains: Garen, Malphite, Wukong. Possibilities: Darius, Jarvan IV, Lissandra, Pantheon. No: Dr. Mundo, Jax, Jayce, Maokai, Riven, Rumble, Singed, Sion, Tryndamere, Vladimir, Xin Zhao.

Jungle: Mains: Amumu, Vi, Warwick, Wukong. Possibilities: Jarvan IV, Lee Sin, Pantheon. No: Nidalee, Sion.

Mid: Mains: Heimerdinger, Wukong. Possibilities: Azir, Katarina, Lissandra. No: Ahri, Annie, Zed, Ziggs, Zilean

Support: Mains: Sona. Possibilities: Blitzcrank, Leona. No: Janna, Morgana, Thresh.

ADC: Mains: Caitlyn, Tristana. Possibilities: Sivir. No: Ashe, Corki, Jinx, Kog'Maw.

Top lane, I worry I don't have enough diversity, which is why I hope to add Darius (hyper carry) and Lissandra (CC) to the rotation. Jungle, I think I have a nice mix already, but would love if I could somehow make Lee Sin happen for me. He's a ton of fun, yet I don't know if I can master him enough for it to ever be worth choosing him over one of my other options. Mid, Heimerdinger is the first champion I've really taken to. I was a huge fan of Azir when he was first released, but am way out of practice and he's been since nerfed. If I can work him and Lissandra into the rotation, I think that'll be more than good enough for a role I'm almost never stuck playing. Support, it's just a matter of gaining more experience with Blitz and Leona. Though I've yet to find a support I truly love. Lastly, ADC's another role you don't often get forced into, so Cait and Trist seems sufficient to me. Two ADCs whose kits make them safe options for people with awful ADC mechanics, such as myself.

14 Comments

EkkoFrofflesApr 6, 20151 votes

I didn't want to make this post any longer than it already was, so that meant failing to list some champions that I either plan to try (and expect will fit my play style) or haven't played enough to weigh in on yet. For example, I tried Sejuani in PBE today since she's such a powerhouse and am not yet sure if my ceiling with her will be high enough to bother buying and using her in the actual client. It'll take more testing to determine that.

Quantum BreadApr 6, 20151 votes

Why and how ....that you do not have Vlad in your top or mid arsenal is beyond me with the right team not even matchup with games going later this season late game Vlad just utterly destroys the late game tank meta...Tbh I think you need to add him in a spend extensive times in normals solo or with friends and learn him. He isn't pulled out frequently in mine maybe at most 3-4 out of every ten games but he is very strong when played correctly. :D

EkkoFrofflesApr 6, 20151 votes

I'd just rather spend time with champions I immediately take a liking to and feel comfortable with, and Vlad is not at all one of those. I was failing hard... against bots in co-op. Sure, the top lane combos in co-op are trollish and not the easiest, but it was pretty bad. So bad that I don't see myself ever coming anywhere close to mastering him.

Quantum BreadApr 6, 20151 votes

Shame once you get the hang of him he is a very useful champ to have in you pool, but as well I took an extreme liking to him and played the shit out of him in normals before going into ranked (around 1k games). Like I said before he is a pretty situational pick but can do very well.

EkkoFrofflesApr 6, 20151 votes

Yeah, he's a pain to face, as I know from experience. One match I started 0-2 against him as Garen and the only reason things turned around for the team and I is we focused him the rest of the match. Matches like that make me wish I could be a threat with him... yet I don't see it happening anytime soon. There are a lot of "OP" champions I'm awful with because they just don't fit my play style and Vlad happens to be one of them.

Big HansApr 6, 20151 votes

For mid I think its important to have either a good mage or assasin in your pool. That is usualy what is expected from mid. Unless someone already picks a mage for top for whatever reason then you can play your tank in mid too but you are going to have a hard time if you rely on melee farming.

The most annoying mage to me is LeBlanc. If you are good with her you can pretty much carry the whole team.

EkkoFrofflesApr 6, 20151 votes

So in that case I should put some time into Katarina and Lissandra? Should I see how I like others like Fizz, Malzahar, or Yasuo too since they all seem to dominate low ELOs? I get the feeling I'll need to learn a lot, since I've seen matches where the bans are Akali, Katarina, Fizz, Yasuo, and two others.

And how does LeBlanc's difficulty level compare to the likes of Azir, Zed, and Lee Sin? Zed, I don't ever see myself being even serviceable with. Azir and Lee Sin, on the other hand, are deceptively simple to learn and it's just mastering them that proves difficult.

P.S. Sejuani has now joined my jungle rotation, meaning I now have an alternate for if Amumu's banned or chosen by the enemy team. Worked on my Pantheon a little as well, but still need to see where I am in normals first.

Jungle PawsApr 6, 20151 votes

Don't play azir if your bronze

EkkoFrofflesApr 6, 20152 votes

Just because I'm bronze and Azir is one of the more difficult champions to learn doesn't mean I shouldn't even bother...

IcyPepperApr 6, 20151 votes

that being my only option when I'm forced to mid

I have not once seen someone forced into mid. It seems like the most popular role that first pick will take (and then immediately get hard countered because they didn't use their noggin).

EkkoFrofflesApr 6, 20151 votes

It does happen. Rarely. Very, very, very rarely. Like once every 50 games sort of rare. The same goes for being stuck playing ADC, which is even odder because I'm open in every champ select about how ADC is my last resort. Funnily enough, though, I'm 2-0 with Caitlyn thanks to my team carrying me the first time and facing a crap team with an AFK bot lane for much of the match the second time.

However, my best champion, win rate wise, is Amumu. Never would've guessed I'd go 6-0 with him. Guess tanks and CC are just too OP for bronze.

Frank327Apr 6, 20151 votes

I'd pick up Karma or Lulu if I were you. Good in midlane and support (where you seem to have the least champions) and they're lane bullies in the early game with good utility in late game.

But if you're feeling most comfortable with tanky champs, pick up a support like alistar/braum/leona first.

EkkoFrofflesApr 6, 20151 votes

I will be sure to give Karma and Lulu a look once I have the IP. Flexible champions are always a plus.

EkkoFrofflesApr 7, 20151 votes

Yeah, I tried Lulu, since she's free, and my GOD she's squishy. Without getting some health runes or something, I can only imagine I'd be completely screwed in a ranked match if I tried to support as her. I was getting pounded by bots. Though it was a Lucian/Brand combo, which is obnoxious even if you're not squishy. Alistar, on the other hand, is decent.