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Picking Up A Champion

Tsen·10/15/2014, 11:06:44 AM·8 votes·1,494 views

Every now and then my chat box are focused on champion discussions (friends, randoms, and friends of friends) and sometimes a few would make me facepalm. An example would be this Varus free week. Someone liked his concept (kit and lore) and heard that "AP Varus is OP". Proceeds to take it straight into norms, does not do well, and just drop the champion entirely.

General Tips On Picking Up Champs: #Start with bots or custom games then move up when you're comfortable Just ignore everyone who says "oh this champ is so easy, just face mash keyboard and gg". NO. Certain champs click with certain people while others don't. (I can't for the life of me no matter what anyone says) You need to get a feel for a champ first, their attack animations, kit synergy, and builds. (Side note, pick up champions on your own opinions, not because this guy in your game happen to carry 21/2/xx, and don't avoid a champ just because "Don't play __________, lol scrub")

#Recommended Builds -> Customized Builds -> Gimicks Yes, sometimes the recommended builds makes absolutely no sense ( + ??), but it's there as a standard for beginners. It helps you understand what works while you are learning that champ. In the example's case: Graves benefit from atk speed due to quicker stacking of his passive. (There are of course better items than runaans for atk speed that gives crit and dmg as well but that belongs in a Graves guide). Definitely don't try out unconventional things until you get the basics down.

That's about all I'm willing to type for now, feel free to post general tips/ideas of your own on picking up champs.

16 Comments

Decrit10/15/2014, 2:23:47 PM2 votes

Upvoting for sensibilization: it is just a simple thing that many overlook. About recommended items i agree that they suck, but just as a starter while against bots it helps a but to better understand the character ( in a way or an other ).

Tsen10/15/2014, 6:41:25 PM2 votes

There seems to be some misunderstanding here:

Recommended Builds > Customized Builds > Gimicks

by > i don't mean "is better than" sorry lol, i'll tweak that to make more sense. I meant they should follow recommended builds first, then make their own conventional builds before doing things trolly like atk speed lulu, ap varus, ap shaco, or even ad/on hit/tankmo

(The above work because the players who play them that way understand how to play them from experience)

Diana x Me10/16/2014, 6:16:40 PM1 votes

Not sure who the heaviest is. Probably Cho Gath. That would not be easy.

But if you mean like who you pick up for a date then definitely Diana.

If you mean learning then I will say their are various amounts of champs with low skill floors and high skill cap and vice versa. Some you can only get good with playing In a real game while others you can just go into bot games and stuff. You can still practice csing with them in bot games.

Magma Lux Mid10/16/2014, 6:31:03 PM1 votes

I play new champs in PvP because bots don't let you get a good feel for the champ.

Tsen10/16/2014, 7:44:42 PM1 votes

Acgift:

It's true that getting better at the game itself, bots don't you any good... But they serve quite well for practicing mechanics, because they are so predictable and easy, where in a game with "live" opponents, you might have so many other things interfering while you try and figure out just how to get your timings and positioning right.

Kuroi86:

Bot games are good for practicing the mechanics of your champion, as well as csing under pressure. This gives you a stress free environment where you can learn just where Trist can jump over terrain, or figure out her ranges, where you can gain a grasp of her basics as well as how to cs with her or any champ.
When transferring from bots to pvp, start off cautiously, don't play aggressively because you'll make mistakes and your opponent will be much more likely to capitalize on it.

These two have done a much better job at explaining why bots are useful than my own attempt. Again: If you are more comfortable with pvp, then go for it, but bots are always helpful.

Ur little sister10/18/2014, 2:27:32 AM1 votes

I just read a guide and then pick them in ranked. I'm diamond. I don't feel like I learn anything from bot games or normals. I dont play a lot anymore, so my normal MMR is complete crap. Bot games on average have higher lvl of play than the normals I get into :/.

You know what would be cool? If your ranked MMR was a hardcap on your normal MMR. As in your normal MMR is at least your ranked MMR, no matter how little you play it. Then I could get into actual practice matches without just having to wing shit in diamond :/.

Worgslarg10/15/2014, 11:12:50 AM1 votes

Umm.

Recommended builds suck. If you're looking for builds, you need to either be looking on lolking/mobafire, or even better, be able to come up with your own builds.

Tsen10/18/2014, 3:18:28 PM1 votes

I'm diamond. I don't feel like I learn anything from bot games or normals. I dont play a lot anymore, so my normal MMR is complete crap. Bot games on average have higher lvl of play than the normals I get into :/.

Lol wow. No comment. xD

Ryoukai10/16/2014, 1:34:56 AM1 votes

I'm kind of a newer player, so sorry if this is dumb to ask, but: by the whole bots thing, do I have to really play on bots? I feel like playing bots would be kinda bad in two ways: bots do not think or play like real people, so I may develop bad habits playing vs them; and the fact that there is no team builder for bots means I can't secure I get the champion or lane I want, which means I may take four whole games until I manage to get mid (which has happened to me before).

I just feel a bit too attached to Team Builder, as it allows me to choose the champion and class I want so that I can practice. I suppose a good option may be to make a custom game though.

I was playing so matches as Tristana and after getting some really, really good games in, I figured I was competent enough to go PvP with her. I got mauled.