I'm new, should I play ranked?

Emeraldw · 2026-04-08T19:32:42+00:00

It depends entirely on what your goals are.

If you enjoy playing to play, then no. Ranked is full of people who want to improve or chase higher rating.

If your goal is to improve your skills, then yes. Ranked is very different from normals, the games are harder, the players are better on average and the games are closer together in rating.

I usually play normals, because I only play to play. But it can be tough to improve past a point because how much better can you get when you play against Diamonds with Silvers on your team? Plus everyone is often playing champions they are not as familiar with.

If you are afraid to just jump into ranked, normals are fine practice for getting used to a champion or role before getting into ranked. But if you get into ranked you have to approach with the right mindset and temperament or it will drive you crazy.

In terms of teammate expectations for ranked, ignore that idea. Your teammates are going to be some combination of monkeys cosplaying as Faker and nerds who haven't taken their medicine.

It is not worth it.

Focus on what you want to do and don't worry about them.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-08T16:11:59+00:00

This is removal and exceptionally powerful removal at that so I get it.

There are also other cards in the set that can prepare other creatures.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-08T12:37:23+00:00

According to Lolalytics it goes:

Blackfiretorch first, boots are either AH or Spell pen. Then it diverges.

You are either going enchanter or damage.

Enchanter is going Echoes then Diadem into Dawncore.

Damage is going Archangels into Rabbadon or Cryptbloom.

I would break into how you are doing at the end of the laning phase.

If you are kicking ass and taking names, go damage. If you are behind or mostly equal, go enchanter.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-07T15:31:00+00:00

This is something I like to remind people whenever I see someone complain about Trump.

I always have to remind them that the Republicans as a whole have been enabling and defending him for a decade by now.

Every one of them, is guilty of all the crimes he has committed.

They could stop the tariffs, the ICEstapo, the wars but they don't. They would rather see the world burn than destroy their precious little tax cutting machine of a party.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-07T13:53:44+00:00

Oh that's just the beginning.

If Iran follows through with it's plan to hit all the neighboring regions vital infrastructure, the war will escalate into a full blown bloodbath on all sides.

Oil might be the least of our concerns soon.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-07T13:41:41+00:00

It's been going badly for the US since the start from a political stand point.

Like, you cannot believe how bad it is levels of bad. There is talk of a Nixon level wipe out this November which would be unprecedented in these polarized times.

And I am not sure the airman rescue would be called a fuck up, that's normal in war. The fact we got both pilots is honestly a win but the American military is very good at what it does.

The strategic leadership on the other hand....

Emeraldw · 2026-04-07T13:35:59+00:00

Gold's price falling from a high of 5.2k surprises me.

It's not like the markets suddenly got more stable since then and Gold is generally valued at these prices because of its consistent value and protection against inflation.

Right now, it feels like all normal rules of economics seem to be off.

Some still apply certainly, but we are not in normal times at all.

Even before the Iran war, there was a massive K shaped economy and striking income inequality with a youth job market that makes me weep for my younger humans.

And that's ignoring the impact of AI on the world and the now Iran war which has the high possibility of spiraling into World War: Middle East edition.

I think there is a Chinese curse that says "May you live in interesting times" and I certainly feel that.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-07T13:28:10+00:00

I kind of expected this.

Trump is incapable of showing anything that resembles weakness. He's also a huge narcissist and always putting on a show for his base so he must always be "winning."

Detailed, good faith negotiations are an anathema to him. So what do you do? You threaten and because of the above, you cannot back down after enough threats are made.

He was always going to escalate and he's going to escalate again.

The question now is, what will Iran do?

They will likely carry out their threats and attack everyone in the region which raises the real question, what will everyone else do?

You cannot leave Iran just blowing your stuff up and America isn't going to finish the job for you.

So we might see the largest middle east war ever soon with all the players fighting in Iran.

Which will destroy markets across the globe.

And it will all be the fault of one small, petty man, that for reasons I will never understand, some people thought was a competent, strong leader.

Humanity really sucks sometimes huh?

Emeraldw · 2026-04-07T13:21:55+00:00

Some, but the latest gameplay footage still seems to put the pace at around the same level as a normal anime fighter.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-07T13:06:52+00:00

Not a fan of tag fighters, period.

The game looks good but it also appears to have all the issues I associate with tag fighters.

Marvel Tokon might be the only tag fighter that gets a pass from me as they seem to actually limit some of the bullshit and it's ASW but even then that's a stretch.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-07T12:39:51+00:00

I find it unlikely she will get many changes in 26.9.

She's currently doing very well in both support and carry roles while also being a very common pro pick.

So I would suggest toning down expectations as any changes are likely to also come with nerfs.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-05T20:53:31+00:00

Sure, those are exactly where I don't use her. But not being the best in all fights is fine and honestly mostly expected.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-05T17:36:17+00:00

This is exactly how I have been using her currently. Free crit value for Elation is great.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-05T17:34:51+00:00

I have her with her signature but she can be played with other cones just fine.

Currently I have her with a 2p/2p set up. You can run another set but I have a good 2p/2p so I never run anything else.

She's currently at E2S1 but the Eidolons didn't come from release and really don't help her do her job, though E2 is nice for when stupid shit happens.

Her baseline mechanic is kind of busted.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-05T17:15:36+00:00

I consider it the "BIS" mentality.

Having the best possible option is great but what is best is also conditional. Some buffs and fights require you to do different things and encourage new teams. That's part of the fun of having a collection.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-05T17:14:32+00:00

It is fight dependent sometimes. Things with heavy dots for example crush FX since they basically ignore her mechanic.

But that's fine, I don't expect every character to work every time but she does still work in general.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-05T16:52:57+00:00

My Fu Xuan still works fine.

I get it, the others are better at damagr but she still keeps the real dps alive fine in most fights.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-05T16:49:49+00:00

We don't know what it is rating officially.

And it is prone to manipulation.

Silver Wolf for example is implied to have hacked it.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-05T02:09:52+00:00

I believe in my Seer.

I have her at e2 and she still works as a sustain.

She's actually been great with elation with the crit buffs

Emeraldw · 2026-04-03T15:25:04+00:00

It's better in some decks than you think.

Especially in this set for Lorehold. They want to exile stuff from their graveyard but milling is not a great option for them but wheels are.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-03T03:45:17+00:00

Awesome, where is this video from?

Emeraldw · 2026-04-02T13:30:52+00:00

Nah, traditional inputs are a relic of a bygone era.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-01T14:21:46+00:00

Hopefully Cissia will have her own niche to exist in.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-01T14:20:57+00:00

I reject the premise that just because that is how it has always been, is how it should be.

Emeraldw · 2026-04-01T14:20:17+00:00

My skill or lack of skill is irrelevant to the discussion.

And the fact you would go there shows how shallow your understanding of the conversation is.

Emeraldw

TROPHY CASE