A patch buffing level-three champions is a patch I like and something I've been advocating for since Dec. 2019. There's some crazy changes, and with that, I'll be introducing some INTeresting comps. Also, how the flamingo did Ashe escape nerfs this patch? Instead of nerfing Jhin and Teemo separately, just nerf Ashe.
TL:DR
- You can right click on items to get recipes.
- Gunblade is now playable.
- Blademasters is now a top-three comp instead of an instant first.
- Blaster Brawler is significantly better.
- Dark Stars is now a top-four comp and should be used to transition into Peeba.
- HoJ is occasionally playable.
- Bard gets less mana level one, but it's only a one auto nerf.
- Four and six Chrono got a significant buff.
- A bunch of champions got buffed at level three. Here's the list of relevant buffs: Malphite, Ziggs, Ahri, Annie, Blitzcrank, Lucian, Nautilus, Ezreal, Rumble, Vi, Vayne.
Game Changing
- A new Galaxy, Salvage World, has been added. When you sell a champion with complete items, those items will break down into their component items. Pog.
- Star Cluster Galaxy has been removed. Screw everyone who disliked this Galaxy. This Galxy was lit! You can hyper roll crazy things like TF carry in Star Guardians. It was so cool, but because level-two Bard was available, everyone lost their mind. Just remove Bard as a Carousel option 4Head.
- If you're new or lazy, you now don't have to memorize item recipes; they're listed out in-client.
- Hextech Gunblade can overheal for up to 400 health. This allows it as a great third item on Shaco, Jhin, Urgot, Aurelion Sol and maybe Jinx.
- Statikk Shiv deals 5.6% less damage, but will deal an extra 85 true damage if the target has a shield or is CC'd. This makes Shiv an interesting third item, but I don't think we'll see a resurgence. However, this is an optimal item on Ekko now as it should work with the attack-speed slow from his ult.
- Mana Reave from Ezreal, Shroud and Mana-Reaver increases mana costs by 25% less. This is a big hit to Shroud of Stillness, one of the most cancerous items in the game.
- Fiora has 11.1% more health. More streaking I guess.
- Master Yi does 14.3% less ultimate damage at level three. Blademasters will still be able to streak and be incredibly disruptive in the mid game, but I believe this knocks them down to a top-three comp and not a guaranteed first.
- Jinx has 7.1% more attack damage. Play Blaster Brawler I think.
- Jhin has 5.6% and 5.3% less attack speed at levels one and two. I think this solidifies Dark Star as a transition into Peeba and not as a complete composition.
Major
- Hand of Justice heals for 50% of all damage dealt as one of its two effects. I mean, it's a huge buff, but it requires a Tear, so probably still rarely playable.
- Runaan's deals 7.1% more damage. I'm very surprised by this. I have no idea what stat they're looking at, but Runaan's is a really strong item already. This screams Jinx comp to me and is a slight buff to Ashe.
- Chrono gives attack speed 14.3% and 33.4% faster at four and six. There's a few comps that only use three Chrono, like Blaster Brawler and Blademasters, which could allow a fourth Chrono at nine, possibly a Wukong.
- Zed steals 32% and 25% more attack damage at levels two and three. This should be relevant at two for Rebels and is a really strong rebalance if you get Blademaster Spat.
- Bard requires 20% more autos, or six instead of five, to ult at level one. This doesn't kill Bard, but it does strongly disincentivize throwing in Bard freely.
- Annie does 16.7% more ultimate damage and shields for 14.3% more. Unsure why we're buffing Mech, but ok.
- Blitzcrank does 57.3% more ultimate damage at level three. This actually allows you to roll a bit and hold for Blitz three in Blaster Brawler.
- Rumble does 10% more ultimate damage at level three. Another surprising buff as BBQ Rumble is a comp and Mech is pretty strong.
- Vayne does 22.2% more ultimate damage at level three. We take Cybernetics buffs lads!
Minor
- Solari gives 9.1% and 7.1% more health at levels two and three. I'm surprised they buffed the item as I feel it's really strong on comps with a bunch of melee units or Infils, like Cybers, but this is probably a buff to increase its playrate.
- Infiltrators always take 0.6 seconds to jump regardless of positioning. There's no longer an advantage to putting them further up.
- The Mech does a bit less ultimate damage at levels three through five.
- Six Rebels grants 7.1% more shielding. This could be relevant due to the GP and Ziggs buffs, but I highly doubt it.
- Fizz does 12.5% less ultimate damage at level one. Neat, but why not nerf his level two ult as well?
- Teemo has 5% less attack speed. Neat.
- Gangplank does 22.2% and 16.7% more ultimate damage at levels one and two. This basically compensates for the Mech nerf but no other comp will play him.
- Malphite's shield is 16.7% larger at level three. I've got him to three a few times when playing Blaster Brawler. It could be a nice edge you get over your opponents provided it doesn't cost too much.
- Ziggs deals 9.1% more ultimate damage at level three. Bomberman could be playable again?
- Ahri does 13.3% more ultimate damage at level three. Sometimes relevant in Star Guardians.
- Lucian does 9.1% more ultimate damage at level three. Cyberroll anyone?
- Nautilus stuns for 20% longer and does 25% more ultimate damage at level three. Now it's actually worth expending the gold for him.
- Ezreal does 100% more ultimate damage at level three. God damn that's a big ult buff. I'm rolling for this champ lads!
- Vi does 22.7% more primary ultimate damage and 20% more secondary ult damage. I occasionally roll for her, so neat!
Insignificant
- Sword Breaker has a 32% increased chance of disarming. Nice meme.
- Four Space Pirate still doesn't have a 50% drop chance.
- Six Vanguards gives 10% less armor, which means they reduce like 2% less attack damage. Firstly, Vanguard Mystic isn't playable anymore. Secondly, 2%. Edit: it's less than a 1% reduction in damage resistance.
- They made a bunch of "Chase Traits," or traits you usually can only get with spat, like nine Star Guardians, better. Have fun in normals!
- A ton of champions have been buffed at level three. Instead of mathing everything out, I'm just going to list every irrelevant buff here: Leona, Poppy, Darius, Morde, Gnar, Riven, Janna.
Compositions
Blademasters and Astro Snipers are a bit worse but still should guarantee at least top three. Dark Stars should be used to transition into Peeba.
Peeba
Named after TFT streamer Peeba, if you ever just have a bunch of good stuff and you're streaking, you should transition into this. If you don't have a clear comp but you're winning, you should transition into this. And, if you're playing Dark Stars, you should transition into this.
Just stack A' Sol and Neeko.
Cybernetics
A comp that's been completely untouched. Just fast eight, get some stuff, fast nine, and get Thresh, Urgot.
How did Ashe not get nerfed again?
Mech Sorc
From last week's post:
"Not much to say here. Roll at six a bit, roll at seven a bit, go eight, temp Ziggs until you find GP, then possibly throw in Thresh, Urgot at nine if the game is still going.
I played a weird variant of the comp [July 31] and it seems good. Consider going this in Dwarf Galaxy."
Blaster Brawler
Jinx and Chrono got buffed. Roll at eight for your stuff, then go nine to put in a Wukong.
Don't forget the Thresh Urgot combo.
Astro Snipers
This is another comp that can kinda transition into Peeba. Here's again a quote from last week:
"I haven’t had too much success with this comp, mainly because of positioning I think. After watching a few streams, I think this might be good positioning for Teemo, but I’m unsure.
Lulu is more important than Karma level eight, then go nine and throw her in. Be careful where you position Gnar as he doesn’t ult as easily as you’d think."
Blademasters
Just get Recurve Bows 4Head.
Again, not an instant first, but you should still at least get third. I have no idea how to position by the way.
Egirls
Get Blue, streak, stack Syndra, streak, get Xerath, GG. Questions?
Dark Stars
For the millionth time, you should use this comp to transition into Peeba. If not, you can still get a solid top-three placement with it, but you should only go this comp if you're losing or don't have enough gold to transition.
Fornari's Definitely Not Meme™ Comps
Read the title. What do you think is about to happen?
Mech Bomberman
Of the four comps, this is the only one I can recommend. I got first in tournament with it once, so seems good.
Lose until Kruggs, put blue on Ziggs, hyper roll after Kruggs for Ziggs, Malphite and the other stuff, win streak your mind off, go six, roll until Fizz or good stuff, slow roll until you're strong or panicking, win some more, fast nine, GG.
I'll be testing this more so I can answer questions.
Hyper Roll Blaster Brawler
It's like Blaster Brawler, except you roll at six and play Kog. Just keep rolling until you hit Kog, Lucian and a third unit, then fast eight and roll into eternity.
I got fifth once with the comp, but I'd still like to test it more.
Chrono Cyber
Pretty much everything in this comp got buffed. It has to be good, right? (I got eighth with this, but I'll still be testing it.)
Cyberroll
I have no idea what I'm doing :).
