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Am I ready for Normal "draft" matches?

mvargus·2/5/2015, 8:53:11 PM·1 votes·2,007 views

I'm only at level 18, so I'm still climbing toward ranked matches, but I was wondering if/when I should start trying out the normal draft matches to get used to the champ selection system. I also want to know what people think of my champ pool. I'll admit I need to work on some champs, but I figure I can use bot/custom/twisted treeline matches to practice them if I need to.

My champ pool right now (Bold for primary in a lane)

Top: Irelia, Riven (I have 9 games on both, but prefer Irelia as I've had more success with her. I need practice on both. Jungle: Sejuani ** (I've had limited success with her so far as I don't have runes. I do own Elise, but need much work to make her viable) MId: Diana, Annie, Cassiopeia (I have no champ I can say I "main". I definitely need more practice in this lane.) ADC: ** Jinx, Sivir (I have more games on Jinx than any 2 other champs and have had quite a bit of success.) {I have Ashe, but don't play her anymore] Support: Zyra, Janna, Sona (I don't know why, I like playing Zyra, but I need an ADC who understands her abilities to do very well.)

Ideas, suggestions? I'm not really interested in adding champs at the moment, as I'm storing up IP to purchase runes for when I hit Level 20 and get start using tier 3 runes.

11 Comments

QuantumLight2/5/2015, 8:56:46 PM1 votes

its normals, even if its called draft. i think of it as warm ups for ranked, with slightly longer queue then blind pick

the time you need to start asking this question is "am i ready for ranked". dont just jump into it as soon as you hit 30... the skill gap between 29-30 can be huge

The Chin2/5/2015, 9:43:14 PM1 votes

as long as you're able to fill any position then you're ready for draft

GummyBearWookiee2/5/2015, 9:57:34 PM1 votes

Sure. Don't be afraid of normal/drafts. If you have more than enough champs to play...dive in. Doing so will also greatly improve you at other positions...normals is where you learn, so dont' worry if you're not good at every role. Doing this is what will eventually make you good at those roles.

Kelloggs2/6/2015, 2:39:13 AM1 votes

This may have been said below (but TL;DR):

IMO, draft queue pre-30 is rough because most people don't queue for it. On one of my accounts (similar lv, 18ish) I wait endlessly for Normal (Draft) queues. I find it much easier to jump into Blind Pick and just fill as necessary.

TL;DR: Go try draft!! Queue too long? Go blind pick.

cuddlykitten42/7/2015, 3:21:19 AM1 votes

I actually advocate blind pick as the training grounds for ranked. The only disadvantage it presents is lack of experience in the ban and pick method draft uses. However, blind pick (to a lesser extent, but more consistently fun, team builder) gives you much much more. In draft you'll want to pick characters based off of what is being picked by the other team. While this is good and all, it doesn't let you get realistic experience fighting your counters, or for that matter, fighting against strange matchups. Knowing how to counter an opponents pick is great, but being able to monkey stomp someone who counter picked you is better. It also gives you some experience in dealing with trolls since they are more abundant in blind pick. Oh the irony lol. Ultimately though, every game you play, whether you win, lose, go op, or get destroyed, will make you a better player. Don't fall into the hate trap. Always be a team player, and listen to the other players and they're suggestions (jerks omitted from this of course). You never know who will randomly give you an idea that makes you amazing at a champ. As far as ranked goes, you may not start where you want in the tiers, but as long as you stick in there, stay positive and kind to other players, and always make attempts to get better I promise you will get to Infinity and Beyond.....see what I did there?