Hi. Could you talk a bit about flat MR vs. scaling HP gylphs? It's something I think about a lot, but haven't made the switch from MR to scaling HP yet. What are the pro's/cons, and when does the health become better?
Hello,
Well, several things. The first of which is rune slots, yellow versus blue.
Yellow runes are most useful for: Scaling HP, Scaling Armor, Scaling AP.
Blue runes are most useful for: Scaling CDR, Scaling AP, Flat MR.
Of the three yellows, scaling armor is only good against AD mid laners, and scaling AP is for those who prefer more damage. Scaling HP is universal against everyone and combos with resistance items a bit better.
Of the blue runes, scaling CDR is the most critical, followed by flat MR, then scaling AP. Most mages take CDR because that stat is harder to come by and it is quite valuable to have. Those with defensive utility, or a need to survive, often run flat MR in AP match ups. Scaling AP is for those who have no need for the first two choices, or simply want more direct damage.
On a single group comparison (e.g, 9x MR vs 9x Scaling HP), they all usually break even around levels 6-9. Specific item builds is what pushes each other ahead at that point, such as a RoA + Armor/MR build vs HP + Zhonya's, etcetra. Thus, I will refer to the general purposes of which runes you would go for.
If you want a single rune page, Scaling HP + CDR is extremely universal and most every midlaner (AD and AP) will benefit from it. Your upfront damage may or may not suffer a little, but you will be durable and not terribly reliant on CDR itemization.
If you want an offensive AD and AP page, you might run: Scaling HP/Armor + Scaling CDR/AP vs AD, and Scaling AP/HP + Scaling CDR/AP vs AP. Some people, like Syndra, benefit more from direct damage than explicitly defensive runes. Others, like Orianna, don't utilize damage early enough for it to be super compelling.
Thus we arrive at the decision tree for rune setup, really. What areas of defense do you reinforce, what areas of offense do you buff, what utility do you want to take. The fine details of this is champion and playstyle specific. All six of these choices are valid, but the context in which you play is what changes the answer.
I would, for instance, run Scaling HP and Flat MR on Orianna vs an AP match up, or scaling CDR in place of MR against ADs. She survives better, the CDR combos with items, and she'll come out of lanes quite comfortably. She doesn't spike early game enough for a rush of damage to matter, like LeBlanc.
Speaking of LeBlanc, I might run Scaling AP + Scaling AP/CDR, if I feel like I can shotgun the enemy midlaner. Or, if I got counter picked, I might do Scaling HP + Flat MR/Scaling CDR, and build something like RoA or Abyssal Scepter to survive. So, I have options depending on my immediate needs.
So on, so forth.
Well, several things. The first of which is rune slots, yellow versus blue.
Yellow runes are most useful for: Scaling HP, Scaling Armor, Scaling AP.
Blue runes are most useful for: Scaling CDR, Scaling AP, Flat MR.
Of the three yellows, scaling armor is only good against AD mid laners, and scaling AP is for those who prefer more damage. Scaling HP is universal against everyone and combos with resistance items a bit better.
Of the blue runes, scaling CDR is the most critical, followed by flat MR, then scaling AP. Most mages take CDR because that stat is harder to come by and it is quite valuable to have. Those with defensive utility, or a need to survive, often run flat MR in AP match ups. Scaling AP is for those who have no need for the first two choices, or simply want more direct damage.
On a single group comparison (e.g, 9x MR vs 9x Scaling HP), they all usually break even around levels 6-9. Specific item builds is what pushes each other ahead at that point, such as a RoA + Armor/MR build vs HP + Zhonya's, etcetra. Thus, I will refer to the general purposes of which runes you would go for.
If you want a single rune page, Scaling HP + CDR is extremely universal and most every midlaner (AD and AP) will benefit from it. Your upfront damage may or may not suffer a little, but you will be durable and not terribly reliant on CDR itemization.
If you want an offensive AD and AP page, you might run: Scaling HP/Armor + Scaling CDR/AP vs AD, and Scaling AP/HP + Scaling CDR/AP vs AP. Some people, like Syndra, benefit more from direct damage than explicitly defensive runes. Others, like Orianna, don't utilize damage early enough for it to be super compelling.
Thus we arrive at the decision tree for rune setup, really. What areas of defense do you reinforce, what areas of offense do you buff, what utility do you want to take. The fine details of this is champion and playstyle specific. All six of these choices are valid, but the context in which you play is what changes the answer.
I would, for instance, run Scaling HP and Flat MR on Orianna vs an AP match up, or scaling CDR in place of MR against ADs. She survives better, the CDR combos with items, and she'll come out of lanes quite comfortably. She doesn't spike early game enough for a rush of damage to matter, like LeBlanc.
Speaking of LeBlanc, I might run Scaling AP + Scaling AP/CDR, if I feel like I can shotgun the enemy midlaner. Or, if I got counter picked, I might do Scaling HP + Flat MR/Scaling CDR, and build something like RoA or Abyssal Scepter to survive. So, I have options depending on my immediate needs.
So on, so forth.
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Fred Cooper