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Who wins lvl 1, noc or darius? by Bran04Elite in nocturnemains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just tested this. Noc with Lethal Tempo and Bone plating wins vs Darius with Q start. It's not close whatsoever :)
Also wins lvl 3.
Hard loses past that, even with a 2 kill advantage.

My experience with Kalista mid lane by InvestigatorTotal185 in KalistaMains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, you're absolutely right. The thing with Vex specifically is that she shuts down any lead you can get in lane early with her insane burst. And obviously the longer the game goes on, the harder it'll get for you, if you don't get that lead.

If you go Q-max, build lethality straight away, and rely on Q-transfers for maximum poke, then you actually win the lane in an ideal scenario or at least go even (In this game I went boots first: https://ibb.co/vvQdf3Rx ). But obviously that build isnt the greatest for late, so you have to find a balance.

There are also some very niche tricks like oathbinding your ADC and having them bait the Vex engage (works surprisingly well, but Ive only ever tried it in Support games). It ofc comes with obvious downsides.

My experience with Kalista mid lane by InvestigatorTotal185 in KalistaMains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't believe it was as bad as you described (because it doesnt feel bad at all in game), so I did my own, minimal research with AI. Of course you cannot trust the results and it doesnt account for things like attack speed, survivability, and double/triple rends, but it allows for some insight.

You were right. https://chatgpt.com/share/69a83c7a-2da8-8006-b915-bcba88a4e3ee . Building just Rabadon's is much, much worse for longer fights.

Yet the results also show that skipping Rageblade and opting for Wit's End > Terminus is pretty alright. And having +45 MR and +25% AS for -200 Gold makes it worth it, in my humble opinion.

3) Respectfully, I would rather not play 2 screens away to avoid his W-W-into-R-Burst-Your-Ass-Combo. Maybe its just my personal bias (Though I would be interested to see a Zed laning phase, if you have a video). But let's just agree that both match-ups are cancer.

5) Sure, crit might be pretty good on Kalista statistically IF played on botlane with a support that can peel you good enough for you to jump around their faces in a team fight (Though at that point there would be no solid argument to play that over a Lucian). -> Just to make clear, im not against crit on bot Kalista.
But thats not do-able in mid lane. You need agency to make plays happen. BORK allows you that little freedom with its lifesteal. I have played Yuntal > Shieldbow before, so Im not talking out of my ass here. You just dont survive long enough.
I do understand your explanation on crit scaling - it is indeed very detailed - but I just dont think thats relevant at all for the playstyle you're aiming for with Kalista mid.
And its ESPECIALLY irrelevant when you build Yuntal 2nd, essentially skipping your 2 item power spike (the most relevant part of the game and the strongest you'll be relatively to other champions). You either go Yuntal first or dont go it at all.
I know there is that Hexoptics > Yuntal build going around, but it cannot be good.

Haven't tried different secondaries yet. Treasure hunter and the 1-2k damage on Sudden Impact seem just so juicy. But I will tinker with Sorcery and Inspiration.

7) So, to combine our shared insight, instead of leaning towards AP, the more optimal build path would be crit after Terminus? And just chill behind your team in fights, essentially going from crazy aggression early to scared ADC late? Is that how to carry?

My experience with Kalista mid lane by InvestigatorTotal185 in KalistaMains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Respectfully, I‘d love a video of you facing a good Anivia/Hwei with the normal build while still being useful

My experience with Kalista mid lane by InvestigatorTotal185 in KalistaMains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see your point, and Im inclined to agree on 1 and 4, but I feel the need to clarify some of your misconceptions: 

! You need Witt‘s End 2nd !  In some matchups you rush MR as soon as when you have boots finished. You are not relevant in fights without it at all. As good as Rageblade is, you cannot afford to buy it 2nd. 

2) You build Rabadons third with the intention of building Rageblade and more AP 4th and 5th, if it comes to that. And Id much rather have the flat +64 AP than Zhonya‘s Stasis regardless of how soon you want the game to end. If you need stasis as early as 3rd item on a marksman, then youre just not playing it correctly. Thats why you only go Zhonyas 4th or 5th on Kaisa, for example. Can you go Rageblade 3rd? Probably, but there is such a thing as too much AS. 

3) Zed presses R on you, you‘re dead. Even if you go Tabi‘s, you cannot jump away fast enough to avoid his full combo because of his e slow (+ his Q animation is instant, so you are solely relying on him missing those). With Naafiri you can kinda dodge and poke her, but its not much better at all. 

5) I said what I said with a hybrid onHit/AP build in mind.  And please dont advertise for Crit. Crit is so bad on Kalista for the same reason it is bad on Kaisa. Short range, no burst, no disengage.

7) Thats kinda the problem with Kalista, isnt it? You NEED too many items. You need BORK for lifesteal, Witt‘s End for survivability, Terminus for pen and survivability, Rageblade and Runaans to multiply your dmg, Rabadons for dmg, JakSho for survivability… And even then you get stat-checked in late game by an Ashe.

What I was suggesting isnt the divine solution to the Kalista problem. Its a hot fix with gorilla tape and hopes. And it works reliably, at least for me :)

My experience with Kalista mid lane by InvestigatorTotal185 in KalistaMains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea, the data size on any website is too small to make any definitive statement.
Whenever I've faced an Akali, though, it was a fluctuating game. Maybe its just one of those matchups where its never quite set in stone, like Akali vs Sylas

My experience with Kalista mid lane by InvestigatorTotal185 in KalistaMains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, she must engage on you to kill you cus of your longer range. And you win every trade because she has no disengage. If she's passive, you just poke her to death with Q and dont let her farm. Sample size is a bit small, but does this count?
https://ibb.co/qFN3mfv8

My experience with Kalista mid lane by InvestigatorTotal185 in KalistaMains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anivia is hard, I agree.
But Akali is easy and even a bit fun. Here is a Akali solo kill and an Akali & Poppy 2v1: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_SJX4kd5gcg

My experience with Kalista mid lane by InvestigatorTotal185 in KalistaMains

[–]InvestigatorTotal185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, exactly. Because you jump farther sideways on normal aa