Kage's Lucky Pick: Which Upgrade is for You

Kage's Lucky Pick is a very popular item in both solo queue and duo queue.  It is bought generally by support players and AP mid players.  The pick upgrades into three distinct items (in summoner's rift), each with their own advantages and disadvantages.  This article will discuss the lucky pick and then explore each upgrade in depth, and hopefully help you decide which upgrade to buy based on the situation you are facing.

When should I buy Kage's Lucky Pick in the First Place?

The pick isn't for everyone.  Ever since season 3 has shifted away from the GP5 meta the popularity of this item has declined.  Howver it is still excellent, and should be purchased regularly (but not always) by support players, as well as sometimes by AP mids (especially if you are struggling with farm, but not with staying alive).  It provides a small boost in ability power, but really the gold per 10 stat is why people purchase it.  As a support player this will help you generate extra income for wards and other items. Once you have the pick, you next decision is which (if any) upgrade you will pursue. 

(Win percent for Kage's Lucky Pick)

The First Upgrade: Morellonomicon

Morellonomicon is an excellent upgrade from Kage's Lucky Pick.  This item is most commonly seen on AP mids looking for the cooldown reduction, but is highly underrated on supports as well.  It gives the largest flat boost to ability power of any of the items, as well as a whopping 20% cooldown recuction. The unique passive should also not be forgotten about.  In this meta it is very commong for both bruiser top laners and AD carries to bring some form of sustain.  This healing reduction will help prevent them from using that sustain to survivie in fights (especially useful against champions like Mundo, Hecarim and Nasus who have build in sustain).

For support this item is most commonly seen on mage supports who have the potential to wave clear or do relatively high amounts of AP damage such as Zyra and Janna (for a good example of this check out Jordan "Patoy" Blackburn).  The drawbacks of this item are that it is the most expensive recipe of the three, it provides the least utility for your team in team fights, and you lose the gold generating passive from Kage's Lucky pick upon upgrading. 

(Win percent for Morellonomicon)

The Second Upgrade: Shard of True Ice

This is my personal favorite upgrade, but that doesn't mean I build it every single time. This one is most common for support. I am quite sure it has been built on other roles to great success, but support is the most practical place for it. The positives of this item are that you get to retain the gold/10 generating passive which is super useful on supports for keeping up that income (note this does NOT stack with the passive from another pick), the mana regeneration aura which can be a lifesaver for your teammates in long turret sieges or extended pushes, and the amazing and underrated active.

This item is probably the strongest of the three for team fighting.  The active can be used on your initiator as a combo to disorient the other team even more or really on anything standing between your carried and the other team (even yourself!).  It's a great additional source of peel if used correctly so pick this up if your team lacks CC or you are just struggling to peel effectively.  The  only real downside of this item is that it provides less flat AP than morellonomicon.

(Win percent for Shard of True Ice)

The Third Upgrade: Twin Shadows

The third upgrade from Kage's Lucky Pick is nearly as fun as shard of true ice.  This item is common on both supports and AP mids (especially on Twisted Fate for the extra long distance chasing power).  The stats on this item are not bad, but it is really all about the active.  Upon activating two ghosts will seek out the two closest champions on the map, slowing any they come in contact with.  This can be used to scout bushes, chase, flee, peel for your carry, and even to spot invisible units.

The downsides of this item are the mediocre nature of the stats it provides and again that you lose the original gold generating passive.  Pick this item if your team is facing things like Sona or Jayce that are letting the entire team flee and engage quickly  or individual mobile champions like Nidalee and Riven in order to provide someadditional control about where and when you fight.

(Win percent for Twin Shadows)

Ultimately remember that none of these items are "better" than the others. They all have appropriate circumstances in which they should be bought. Try each of them out and see what works for you!