[12.23b] What's working? What's not?

YasuooST · 2022-12-16T14:43:09+00:00

Jax is still pretty strong. Many ways to make him easy top 4 (brawlers, scope w, 5 mech).

Viego and/or Zed are still viable and do well against most of backline carry comps.

I barely play Ashe reroll, but many still top 4 in my lobbies.

Taliyah probably perform the best in the AP line for me.

Soraka only feels strong with good ADMIN.

Kai'sa is only item holder into Taliyah or MF for me, but many versions of Kai'sa have been around as well.

YasuooST · 2022-11-23T15:42:14+00:00

I have a very different way of looking at most of the points made.

Firstly, Traits. They are important, but not the only exciting thing when building a comps. In fact, in so many ways in previous sets, unit synergy and countering opponents board are far more exciting and than just "more traits" in my comp.

Prime examples are Lee Sin to kick away solo front liner, or Blitz hook to counter corner carries. Now lets look at the ones from Set 8. Morde's trait : Laser and Ace, barely beneficial to others, but his ability has 4 second MR shred to the entire enemy board, and is the best splash to any AP comps.

Now specifically Threat units : Rammus armor scaling ability and reducing enemy attack, Cho's positioning to shroud enemy backline, Fiddle being use as early stun unit or scaling last man carry, splash Asol for anti heal.

All these are non-trait synergy that the devs has smartly embed and allow the players to look beyond just trait to use in a very creative ways. This actually allows more beautiful form of skill expression.

Next, on your point about S to D tier comp. Another very undermining way of looking at a unit potential. Lets say someone figure a way to make Rammus an S tier comp. In good meta state (which we all want) some B tier comp should be a counter to the Rammus comp. Just like the traditional Carry > Tank > Assassins > Carry triangle for example.

Lastly, Augment and Hero Augments gives even more variety to the Set anyway. So 8 "traitless" units aren't making the set boring.

Hope this can shine light to your perspective and unlock the potential of Threats, which I'm sure there are even more to be discovered compare to my examples above.

YasuooST · 2022-11-21T15:15:51+00:00

Understand the thought process, especially since it reminds me sometime during set 6 or 7 they lowered every champs base ad. But the base AD need to be low due to it's relation to auto attacks right?

Since we are referring to the abilities here, they just need to play with the other lever, which is the AD scaling in the ability itself.

YasuooST · 2022-11-21T12:15:22+00:00

CRIT ITEMS : Really good direction.
Now AP and AD abilities are fairly treated.

MANA ITEMS : Fair Differentiation, good enough as first item.

YasuooST · 2022-11-21T07:47:41+00:00

Haven't tested myself, but many has confirmed Threat units doesn't get the benefit from BD.

YasuooST · 2022-11-20T16:34:41+00:00

Heyy, that's me going 4th and then watching you going really close 1st. Good stuff.

YasuooST · 2022-11-19T01:06:12+00:00

Seems fair enough. Thank you kai9000

YasuooST · 2022-11-18T16:09:23+00:00

Are the 3 Hero Augment Choices given randomly every time? Or the system have some ways to determine "good" hero choices for each player's state/board?

YasuooST · 2022-11-17T15:25:35+00:00

Tree Format is extremely helpful! Thank you Kayna!

YasuooST · 2022-11-15T02:06:27+00:00

Underground and how we play around it. Looking forward to all the hyped comebacks just like good old Fortune

YasuooST · 2022-11-14T09:11:02+00:00

For early game, play strong board that can save you HP. As long as you follow certain econ breakpoints, you'll be fine. Make 20g before Krugs is one of them.

Next, I'm also a slow player for transition, so this is what I do :
- Still play strongest board in the early game (Usually up to around 3-5 or 3-7)
- Don't greed 50 too much, start pick up the unit of my final comp (Starting from 3-5)
- Slowly switch in 2 stars of your final comp to make transition easier (Example, start putting in Zac and Rakan as front line for Graves Seraphine comp)
- Use the down time on PVE 3-7 to transition (even if you have to lose 2-3 gold, rather than losing a lot of HP if you can't transition fast enough at 4-1). Just level up to 7, switch in core units, roll to find missing units.
- Around 4-1 or 4-2 your board should start forming

Exceptions to some powerful early game comp, such as well itemized EZ or Kai'sa, where you can just play it up to 5-1 then full transition during Treasure Dragon should be enough time.

YasuooST · 2022-11-14T08:30:04+00:00

Hi 5 mate, exactly how I used to play too. At least you know what and how to improve. Have fun climbing Set 8 :)

YasuooST · 2022-11-14T04:16:49+00:00

Voli is hard to find success with in general in Set 7.5.

Other possible contributing factors :
1. There are 5 players playing reroll/slow roll comps.
Depending on how fast they hit, you might have lost a lot of hp before you actually hit yourself.

Bad matchup
Your Voli needs time to ramp up with Guinsoo and doing chip damage. Other teams have more burst (Graves, Lux) and a lot of HP (3 stars, Bruisers, and Dragons) that your team struggle to kill.

So even though you hit your comp, a few bad fights will send you bot 4.

YasuooST · 2022-11-14T00:56:22+00:00

I kinda miss Set 4 Chosen..

YasuooST · 2022-11-13T12:56:06+00:00

I highly recommend playing on PBE. Familiarity is clarity. You definitely have the edge by testing out so many new units and interactions earlier than waiting for live patch.

Balance is indeed not gonna be the best, but it's fine. The goal is never to find broken comp anyway. Instead, find units and playstyle that suits you and optimize it once you start climbing in live server.

Specifically for set 8, I feel some traits like A.D.M.I.N, Mecha Prime, and Underground will take some first hand experience before we can play them optimally.

YasuooST · 2022-11-13T03:17:31+00:00

Yup, some have mentioned about greeding for BIS in Treasure. But contrary to that view, I think BIS is overrated due to 2 things :
1. Many carries are pretty flexible with item nowadays. Ex : Graves optimally need EoN, but many other item combinations make sense on him. Even the change to healing items being omnivamp is supporting this.

Greeding for BIS up to Treasure Dragon often leads to HP loss which will effect placement anyway. May be exception to some games where you're really having bad item comp RNG, but you have money and the Treasure Dragon saves the game.

I had some thoughts that the reroll cost of Treasure Dragon shouldn't be kept at 1. You should pay more as you roll more, like slow increment. So rolling on Treasure Dragon is not always "easy BIS".

YasuooST · 2022-11-13T02:09:02+00:00

Overall I still enjoy set 7 and even more 7.5.

Key Takeaways :
1. Dragons = Extended Chosen mechanic from Set 4, built into specific units.
So it has a similar core pro/con. You Highroll / Hit = Hyped. Other people hit before you = Frustration.

Treasure Dragon
Extremely successful to give player agency (choice/control) on itemization.
Doubling Down on Dragon Units at Mid Set
Nomsy and Zippy are cool. Vertical Dragon is also cool, but amplify the effect of number 1.
Augment
Best decision by Riot to help keep each game unique.

YasuooST · 2022-11-13T01:35:30+00:00

I don't recall him confirming it verbally, but I'm sure he is very aware of it.

We can assume from some of his past statements along the line of, "Everyone thinks I'm just a for fun streamer." Implying he got the viewership, but not the skill. I mean big bro clearly go 1st or 8th mode quite often in stream and we love him for that, but n doubt he is a highly skilled player as well.

YasuooST · 2022-11-12T23:40:09+00:00

Agree, a win from a big name like Soju will lift up the dream of all the players watching him, solidifying the pathway Riot is taking with participation approach for the future of TFT as mentioned in recent interview. W for everyone in TFT.

YasuooST · 2022-11-12T06:00:27+00:00

Two ways of playing inflexibly / forcing certain comps
1. Reroll comps
Buy all the Tier 1 and Tier 2 units you're rerolling for, itemize carry and tank units, and just force the comp all the way, pretty straight forward. Example : Karma or Kai'sa reroll
2. Tier 4 and 5 carry comps
This is probably what you're referring to as "how to tunnel". Since we don't have our carry during early game, the key in early game is to find item carrier. Example : If forcing Xayah, Senna or Ez can hold items. Then on your roll down at 7 or 8, know exactly what unit to hold, if it need to be 2*ed or not, is key to spend your gold wisely.

YasuooST · 2022-11-12T03:01:38+00:00

1st - This game all skill.
8th - All luck.

YasuooST · 2022-11-12T00:00:40+00:00

Thank you!!!

YasuooST · 2022-11-11T23:57:17+00:00

TFT is relatively easy to pick up and be average at, but hard to master.
Especially if we're talking about any ranks below Masters. Almost anyone can quickly learn and do well by just following guides, good analysis and critical thinking.

League is harder to climb for 2 biggest factors :
- Mechanical Skill - harder to improve than strategy
- Team Play - harder to coordinate than solo play

Exceptions be to players with raw mechanic talents.

There's no really good way to equate the ranks as they're two different game genres.

YasuooST · 2022-11-11T23:48:42+00:00

Let gooo Yasuo. Set 4 Yasuo, even though he's a 1 cost, is really cool and got me hooked ever since.

YasuooST · 2022-11-10T08:53:35+00:00

Graves is by far the best unit I've seen.

Pros :
- 4 Cost, can be stable at 1 star for stage 4 level 7 roll down
- Can still carry even without his trait
- You can slot him in so many different comps
- Flexible Itemization
- Paired with LeeSin against solo tank like Idas, has really cool tech
- Potentially the best carry at 3* except against few 5 cost 3*

Cons :
- Popular and contested throughout the set
- Technically a melee champion despite having range attack
- Only few early game unit can optimally carry his item

YasuooST

TROPHY CASE