Tired of blindly following popular builds and hoping for the best? Using a 'lol item planner' lets you craft custom item sets tailored to your champion, playstyle, and even specific matchups. It's about going beyond cookie-cutter builds and truly dominating the Rift.
At a glance:
- Unlock personalized builds: Learn how to create item sets that perfectly match your champion and playstyle.
- Understand key planning tools: Discover the best resources for theory-crafting and optimizing your item choices.
- Adapt to any situation: Master the art of adjusting your builds on the fly to counter your opponents.
- Master in-game item sets: Learn how to create and use custom item sets within the League of Legends client,
Why Use a Lol Item Planner? More Than Just Copying Pro Builds
While copying pro builds can give you a baseline, a proper lol item planner helps you understand why those builds work and, more importantly, when they don't. League is a constantly evolving game. Patches change item stats and champion abilities. What worked last week might be suboptimal now. A good item planner gives you the tools to adapt.
Consider these scenarios:
- Facing heavy AP: Your standard AD carry build won't cut it. You'll need to incorporate Magic Resist items earlier than usual.
- Enemy team has multiple tanks: Armor penetration becomes crucial. Knowing which items to prioritize and when is key.
- Playing a scaling champion: You might want to prioritize early game mana sustain to reach the late game power spike.
Understanding the stats of key items allows you to adjust your build to fit the situation.
Tools of the Trade: Your Lol Item Planner Arsenal
Several tools can help you theorycraft. Each has strengths, so picking the right tool matters.
1. In-Game Item Sets Builder:
This often-overlooked tool is built right into the League client. It's safe, easy to use, and allows you to create custom item sets that appear in the shop during your games. No more tabbing out to look at a guide mid-game!
- Pros: Accessible, safe, integrated into the game client.
- Cons: Limited features compared to web-based planners.
How to Use the In-Game Item Sets Builder:
- Open the League of Legends client.
- Go to the "Collection" tab.
- Select "Items."
- Click "Create New Set."
- Give your set a name (e.g., "ADC - Anti-AP").
- Choose the champions the set applies to.
- Create item blocks (e.g., "Starting Items," "Core Build," "Situational").
- Drag and drop items into the blocks.
- Save your set.
Tip: You can create sets from scratch, import sets, or edit existing sets.
2. Statcheck.lol:
Statcheck.lol is a build calculator that allows you to input your champion, level, and desired items to see your stats.
- Pros: Provides detailed stat breakdowns, allows for item filtering.
- Cons: Requires manual stat analysis.
Example Using Statcheck.lol:
Let's say you're playing Zed and want to compare the damage output of two item builds: - Build A: Youmuu's Ghostblade, Eclipse, Serylda's Grudge
- Build B: Youmuu's Ghostblade, Duskblade of Draktharr, Edge of Night
Using Statcheck.lol, you can input Zed's level, select these items, and compare the Attack Damage, Lethality, and Ability Haste of each build. You can then use this information to determine which build is better for your specific playstyle and the enemy team composition.
3. League of Legends Items Database
This tool helps you find indepth information and stats about all items in League of Legends. You can use this tool to research items to use in your strategy guides.
Example Using League of Legends Items Database:
Your team needs more magic resist. Using the database, you can compare Kaenic Rookern (2900 gold, 400 Health, 100% HP Regen, 80 Magic Resist) against Force of Nature (2800 gold, 400 Health, 55 Magic Resist, 4% Movement Speed). The database exposes the unique advantage of Kaenic Rookern to provide a magic shield.
Crafting the Perfect Build: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating effective item builds isn't just about picking the "best" items. It's about understanding your champion, your role, and the current game state.
Step 1: Know Your Champion
- Identify Core Stats: What stats does your champion rely on? (e.g., Attack Damage, Ability Power, Attack Speed, Health)
- Understand Scaling: How does your champion scale with different stats? (e.g., bonus AD, total AP, bonus HP)
- Consider Playstyle: Are you an aggressive early-game champion or a scaling late-game champion?
For example, a champion like Master Yi scales heavily with Attack Speed and Attack Damage. Therefore, your build should prioritize these stats. Conversely, a champion like Malphite scales with Armor and Health, making those stats more important.
Step 2: Analyze the Enemy Team - Identify Damage Types: Is the enemy team primarily dealing physical or magic damage?
- Assess Threats: Which enemy champions are the biggest threats to you?
- Consider Crowd Control: Does the enemy team have a lot of crowd control?
Facing a team with heavy AP damage? Consider including items like Banshee's Veil or Force of Nature. Against heavy CC, Mercurial Scimitar becomes a valuable option.
Step 3: Choose Your Core Items
Core items are the items that are essential for your champion to function effectively. Choose 2-3 core items that provide the stats and passives that your champion needs.
Examples of Core Items: - ADC: Infinity Edge, Phantom Dancer
- Mage: Luden's Companion, Rabadon's Deathcap
- Tank: Heartsteel, Jak'Sho, The Protean
Step 4: Select Situational Items
Situational items are items that you build based on the specific game situation. These items can help you counter the enemy team, survive burst damage, or provide additional utility.
Examples of Situational Items: - Anti-Heal: Morellonomicon (vs. healing-heavy teams), Chempunk Chainsword
- Armor Penetration: Lord Dominik's Regards (vs. tanks), Serylda's Grudge
- Magic Resist: Banshee's Veil, Force of Nature
- Crowd Control Removal: Mercurial Scimitar, Mikael's Blessing
Step 5: Consider Item Order
Item order is just as important as item selection. Think about which items will give you the most impact early in the game. - Early Game: Focus on items that provide lane dominance or sustain.
- Mid Game: Prioritize items that increase your damage output or survivability.
- Late Game: Build items that maximize your scaling and teamfight potential.
Step 6: Test and Refine
The best way to refine your item builds is to test them in-game. Pay attention to how your build performs in different situations and make adjustments as needed.
This is where the beauty of a lol item planner comes in. It's about experimentation. Don't be afraid to try new item combinations and see what works best for you. And be sure to check out this Build your perfect LoL items to get a solid foundation.
Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Item Planning
- Stay up-to-date with patch notes: Riot Games frequently changes item stats and champion abilities.
- Watch professional players: Pay attention to the item builds that pro players are using.
- Experiment in practice tool: The practice tool is a great way to test out new item builds without risking your rank.
- Analyze your replays: Review your replays to see how your item builds performed in different situations.
Decoding Item Stats: A Quick Reference
Understanding item stats is crucial for good item planning. Here's a quick breakdown of some key stats:
| Stat | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Damage | Increases the damage of your auto attacks and some abilities. | Essential for AD carries and bruisers. |
| Ability Power | Increases the damage of your abilities. | Essential for mages and some supports. |
| Attack Speed | Increases the rate at which you attack. | Essential for AD carries and some bruisers. |
| Crit Chance | The chance that your auto attacks will deal bonus damage. | Synergizes well with attack damage and attack speed. |
| Armor | Reduces the amount of physical damage you take. | Essential for tanks and bruisers. |
| Magic Resist | Reduces the amount of magic damage you take. | Essential for tanks and bruisers. |
| Health | Increases your maximum health. | Essential for all champions, especially tanks and bruisers. |
| Ability Haste | Reduces the cooldown of your abilities. | Essential for all champions. |
| Lethality | Armor Penetration, allowing you to deal closer to true damage. | Essential for assassins. |
Quick Answers: Common Item Planning Questions
Q: Is it always best to follow a recommended build?
A: No. Recommended builds are a good starting point, but they may not be optimal for every game. Adapt your build to the specific situation.
Q: How important is counter-building?
A: Very important. Counter-building can significantly increase your chances of winning, especially against specific threats.
Q: What happens if I build a tank item on an ADC?
A: You'll likely sacrifice damage output for survivability. This can be viable in certain situations, but generally, it's not recommended.
Q: How much does item order matter?
A: Item order matters a lot. Prioritize items that give you the most impact early in the game.
Q: I am new to the game. Is an lol item planner too complex for me?
A: All the items and stats can be overwhelming at first, but any amount of planning is better than none at all. Start small. Pay attention to the recommended items, but look for hints in team compositions when you could adapt.
Your Actionable Takeaway: Build Smarter, Not Harder
Stop relying on pre-set builds and start thinking critically about your item choices. Use a lol item planner mindset to analyze the game state, identify your champion's strengths and weaknesses, and counter the enemy team. Experiment, refine, and dominate the Rift with custom item sets designed for victory.
Quick Start — Lol Item Planning Simplified:
- Pick a Champion: Choose your main champion.
- Identify Core Items: Figure out 2-3 core items that always work.
- Use In-Game Item Sets: Create a basic item set with those core items.
- Note Enemy Damage: During a game, notice what kind of damage they deal (AD or AP).
- Add a Defensive Item: Add a situational item based on their damage (Armor or MR).
- Refine: After the game, think about how those items felt. Iterate!