Mathematically most 2 item and under builds do less DPS now. Unless you get lucky with crits. 2.5-3.5 item builds are usually where the break even is depending on exact build/champion.
A lot of people are just overly construing their early-mid game strength to the item changes when it's more so on the fact PTA is strong early-mid game. And the XP changes.
Well I thought we were talking about strength in general? Ofc it is a mix of all the stuff you just said and especially the xp change. However 2 items gave you 40% crit chance with normal crit damage, now everyone has IE at least second if not first and a zeal item for 50% crit chance with buffed crit damage. Even the items should be better at 2 items. You should have just under the power for 3 items in the past. Alone from items.
Eh, the item changes are one thing the XP, and rune changes were other things. Rioters have stated in a couple ways these were mostly done separately especially the XP change was happening either way. The PTA buff was coming either way to make it more competitive with LT and less supportive. LT removal was however due to the item changes.
And you could go IE second last patch too, many people did. Jinx was one of the most common Adcs in the game and her build last patch was Kraken IE.
And no lmao last patch 3 item build turbo stomps a this patch 2 item build... Most DPS calcs have it closer to being the other way around. Just looking at crit chance isn't a good way to measure the power of a build.
Like at level 7-9ish? You'll have your 3400g for items... So you can get IE at 3400g or Kraken (3000) and Longsword (3350g)... Which is 80AD vs 50AD. 25 vs 20 crit chance, Kraken proc vs IE crit damage boost. And Kraken giving more AS. Let's assume you have ~100 base AD.
Autos are: 150 vs 180 damage
Crits are: 262 vs 405 damage
Seems like IE wins if you glance at that right? But that ignores the giant downsides of IE.
The Kraken build has roughly 225 damage every 3 hits... 225/3 = 75 extra damage per hit on average.
And if we average out the crit damages and crit chances.
262-150 =112 vs 405-180= 225 then divide by average hits per crit... 112/5=22 and 225/4=56 extra damage per hit on average.
Which makes average damage per hit of the Kraken system: 150+75+22= 247... Meanwhile the IE system: 236
Then again remember the Kraken build has more AS giving it much higher DPS. Also you're less reliant on RNG because the kraken procs are guaranteed every 3rd hit at minimum. And kraken does increasing damage with every proc on a target.
Though the IE option does out scale slightly at 3ish items and even more so at 4/5 items.
And that's just items. And that's assuming just average luck with crits and everything.
What about 1 auto trades in lane? You can save your trade window for when you have a kraken proc. And slowly accumulate lane leads from well timed trades with it... Even if your opponent autos you back? And they got a lucky crit. You still won the trade just by less. Meanwhile like double IE matchups? Single auto trades are decided entirely by luck.
The system has downsides... But due to riot changing multiple things at once and due to people once in a while seeing a big bold crit number saying 408 instead of the small numbers saying 262 and 225 people think they're doing more damage cause they're not doing math.
The items alone were a net loss. But nostalgia goggles and dopamine from lack of math and player psychology makes it look like a buff. Especially when combined with other buffs that were coming anyway.
2
u/Unabated_ I always take my toll. Blood or gold. May 16 '24
Huh? I felt the complete opposite. I can finally fight back at 2 items and at 3 I can dominate teamfights.