Mobalytics Coaches Corner: A Double Take on Energize and Crit-based ADC's

This article is a guest post written by Freddy Chen from Mobalytics

In Coaches Corner, Mobalytics coaches Hewitt "prohibit" Benson and Adam "Morïarty" Isles take you through a likely overlooked aspect of the potential synergy between Ferocity Keystone Mastery “Warlord’s Bloodlust” with the Patch 7.9 changes to Rapid Firecannon (RFC). Time to Energize!

 A Duel of Masteries

From a very top down view, ADC’s in League of Legends are all about consistency as they want to be putting out steady damage at a predictable range. As a result, most ADC’s will tend to spend points on Fervor of Battle because of its reliable output, instead of Warlord’s Bloodlust more unreliable activation.

 
Image credit: http://leagueoflegends.wikia.com

For those unfamiliar with Energize, it’s an item effect that charges up stacks when you both auto attack and move. At 100 stacks, your next attack becomes Energized, applying whatever buffs are determined by the item.

Considering Warlord’s bursts of healing/movement speed, it would appear to be a logical choice, especially for crit-focused ADC’s like Caitlyn and Jhin. Unfortunately, due to the way Energize works, Warlord’s effects would often proc at full HP and during the beginning of teamfights, instead of when those ADCs need it most against assassins and divers.

A new Rapid Firecannon appears! And some math!

However, Patch 7.9 brought a new change to RFC, increasing Energized stack generation speed by 25% and range on the Energized auto attack burst. Prohibit took the time to calculate how many auto attacks it would take to proc with/without RFC incorporating the following variables:

Attack Speed >> Time b/t Autos

Time b/t Autos * Movement Speed = Distance travelled b/t Autos

Distance travelled b/t Autos / 30 (units travelled for 1 Energy) = Energy gained during Distance travelled b/t Autos

Energy gained during distance travelled b/t Autos + Energy Gained Per Auto (12) = Final number (Energy gained per auto while kiting)

For Jhin, with his need for perfection and slower attack speed (greater distance travelled as a result), combining new RFC with Warlord’s allows him to proc every 4 shots - a perfect match for Whisper’s 4-shot magazine. Other ADCs with normal attack speeds should proc around 6 auto attacks with RFC and Warlord’s and generally 7-8 auto attacks without new RFC.

New RFC allows you to get the proc from Warlord’s more frequently, which potentially means having a burst of healing/movement speed at the right time to disengage. With ADC’s that already take Rapid Firecannon, consider taking Warlord’s over Fervor.

Will you take Warlord’s more frequently now? Let us know what you think in the comments below and sign up for Mobalytics to start improving your League of Legends game today. That’s it for this issue of Coaches Corner and we’ll see you on the Rift!