A look at the Season 5 changes besides the jungle

Preseason is a great tool to embrace all the changes before ranked play comes back. Preseason has been ongoing for a while and the changes are not feeling so scary anymore. However, there are still things I would feel like I need to take a closer look at now before season 5 begins. The jungle has been very covered all over the internet but what about all the other features? I will look into these for a greater opportunity for you to really embrace season 5 now that it’s basically here.

A key word Riot has been using in their updates is strategic diversity. Basically, this means that Riot wants their players to have more options and roads to travel when it comes to strategies such as countering for example.

Strategic diversity is a relatively vague word however. Riot is clear when they emphasize that they do not want to fiddle with the mechanical and tactical skills but rather focus on the strategic gameplay. In the past, Riot has felt that the only way to change the meta is to nerf the champs that make the current meta just a bit too strong. This time, they want to bring forward several champions to add to the meta to “create an ecosystem where multiple strategies can prosper”.

For multiple strategies to prosper without changing the mechanics of the champions the easiest way is working with the items. Previously, items mainly added strength to the champions by all passive stats. Riot does not want to remove these items because it means that if you have a gold advantage you will be more powerful. Instead, they want to add items so that you can choose more carefully (again, strategic diversity) which item is the most suitable from game to game. Riot has worked with specializing the offensive items while generalizing the defensive items instead.

The best way to work with this is by picking a team comp that you like and purchasing items that work with that idea. If you instead need to defend yourself against the enemy team the items will be more generalized so that you can defend against several team comps with the same item. Righteous Glory is not only good for engaging on poke teams but also a good escape when you need to back. This opens up for more strategic diversity.

Elixirs were also introduced into season 5. This is another type of way of boosting your champion and can be used together with your whole team if you plan of finishing the game for example. There are four types of elixirs.

Elixir of Ruin

Grants health, damage to towers from you and by nearby minions. Minions also gain movement speed. 

Elixir of Sorcery

Grants ability power, mana regeneration, bonus true power against champions and towers (there’s a cooldown for that effect on champions).

Elixir of Iron

Grants increased size (easier to protect carries), slow resist and tenacity. You also leave a trace behind you that boost allied’s movement speed.

Elixir of Wrath

Grants bonus attack damage and dealing physical damage heals for a % of the damage dealt. Kills and assists extend the elixir with 30 more seconds.

 

Embrace the ways to strategize and your season 5 shall be successful.