Item Tier List

[quote=Jebus McAzn]This will be an attempt to create an item tier list. The format is a combination of the formats used by CLG's Elementz and Solomid's The Rain Man on their respective tier lists. [i][b][u]The following items are not part of the tier list: Basic items (like [[Cloth Armor]], [[Pickaxe]], [[Needlessly Large Rod]], etc), Gold per 10 items, Doran's items, potions, red/blue/green elixirs.[/u][/b][/i] Items nearing the top or bottom of a tier are either hard to place or just borderline good/bad for that tier. In general, the tier lists are arranged in order of viability. It's difficult to say, though, whether an item like [[Infinity Edge]] is stronger than [[Rabadon's Deathcap]], since they have entirely different purposes. If there's any criticism you have, point it out! This is a community effort! * Tier 0 - [[Sight Ward]], [[Vision Ward]], [[Oracle's Elixir]] * Tier 1 - [[Mercury's Treads]], [[Trinity Force]], [[Wriggle's Lantern]], [[Infinity Edge]], [[Rabadon's Deathcap]], [[Catalyst the Protector]], [[Banshee's Veil]], [[Aegis of the Legion]], [[Madred's Razors]], [[Randuin's Omen]], [[Berserker's Greaves]], [[Void Staff]], [[Eleisa's Miracle]], [[Hextech Revolver]] * Tier 2 - [[Hextech Gunblade]], [[Frozen Heart]], [[Last Whisper]], [[Guardian Angel]], [[Glacial Shroud]], [[Rod of Ages]], [[The Bloodthirster]], [[Phantom Dancer]], [[Atma's Impaler]], [[Force of Nature]], [[Rylai's Crystal Scepter]], [[Abyssal Scepter]], [[Madred's Bloodrazor]], [[Youmuu's Ghostblade]], [[Lich Bane]], [[The Black Cleaver]], [[Wit's End]], [[Ninja Tabi]], [[Shurelya's Reverie]], [[Sunfire Cape]], [[Will of the Ancients]], [[Sorcerer's Shoes]], [[Warmog's Armor]], [[Zhonya's Hourglass]], [[Ionian Boots of Lucidity]], [[Morello's Evil Tome]], [[Executioner's Calling]] * Tier 3 – [[Quicksilver Sash]], [[Archangel's Staff]], [[Spirit Visage]], [[Boots of Mobility]], [[Frozen Mallet]], [[Malady]], [[Guinsoo's Rageblade]], [[Deathfire Grasp]], [[Chalice of Harmony]], [[Manamune]], [[Thornmail]], [[Stark's Fervor]], [[Hexdrinker]], [[Soul Shroud]], [[Haunting Guise]], [[Mejai's Soulstealer]] * Tier 4 – [[Sword of the Divine]], [[Cloak and Dagger]], [[Moonflair Spellblade]], [[Boots of Swiftness]], [[Nashor's Tooth]], [[Sword of the Occult]], [[Tiamat]], [[Leviathan]] * Incomplete - [[Phage]], [[Zeal]], [[Sheen]], [[Warden's Mail]], [[Tear of the Goddess]], [[Bilgewater Cutlass]], [[Mana Manipulator]], [[Fiendish Codex]], [[Emblem of Valour]], [[Kindlegem]], [[Stinger]] [u]Tier 0 [/u] - BUY WARDS GODDAMMIT KILL ENEMY WARDS GODDAMMIT [u]Tier 1[/u] - These items have merits in more than one category, whether it's just raw power, stats per gold spent, effectiveness, universality, or some combination of those. Items on this list are generally the go-to items for most champions. They're exceedingly good at what they do, which is why you may see some weaker or non-upgraded items in here because of how strong they are early on. [u]Tier 2[/u] - These items are slightly more situational than the ones in Tier 1. While still excellent, they're not necessarily as all-purpose as their Tier 1 buddies. [u]Tier 3[/u] - Highly situational or slightly sub-par items that you would either only see on a specific champion, on a specific team composition, at a specific time, or in general just not as often. These items aren't necessarily bad items - they may excel in certain cases - but they're just not as amazing. [u]Tier 4[/u] - Items that are either completely non-viable or are extremely limited in their use to a specific case for a specific champion or team. [u]Incomplete[/u] - Items that are built into something else. Some items that can still build into other items are placed into tiers 1, 2, 3, or 4 because of their viability as an early game stand-alone item. Items not in those categories are placed here. Basically, if you see an item that can still be built into something else that appears in tiers 1, 2, 3, or 4, it's strong enough as a niche early or mid game item that it can be categorized in the tier list. Discuss. Flame me, argue with me, support me, etc. I've definitely made some kind of mistake with this list and there's probably some item too high or too low. Point them out! Argue your case![/quote]

[quote=Searz]FLAME ON HERP I don't like the idea of this, but I guess it could work. Items that need to be moved up: * DEFINITELY Tier 1: Will of the Ancients (the item is OP for that price, they gotta nerf it) * Tier 2 imo: Abyssal Scepter(great on tanky champions that don't build Void Staff), Atma's Impaler(why would Warmog be here if not atma?), Quicksilver Sash, Shurelya's Reverie, Sunfire Cape, Thornmail, Zhonya's Hourglass(the buff actually makes a difference) * Tier 3 imo: Boots of Swiftness, Cloak and Dagger, Soul Shroud Items I can't decide on: Between tier 2 and 3: Frozen Mallet(it can certainly beat Warmog on some champions), Spirit Visage(gives really good stats even it it's not super cost effective) Items that need to be moved down: * Tier 4 imo: Haunting Guise, Hexdrinker, Sword of the Divine Zeal, Sheen, Phage aren't "incomplete"?[/quote]

[quote=Jebus McAzn]I haven't seen WotA used very often, but it is quite cost effective, hence the reason I have it in 2. I'm still a little iffy on it but I'll take that into consideration. Scepter I was on the fence about, but it probably is tier 2. I'll move Atma's up accordingly as well because Atma's without Warmog's is often seen while the opposite is not. QSS is situational, I'd take it on Swain and Mundo or any champion vulnerable to ignite, or if the enemy has a suppress, but apart from that it's not that common. Reverie I'm iffy on. Explain? Sunfire I've found to lack a lot of punch for the money you spend on it. Same for Thornmail - Randuin's and FHeart just seem to outdo it. Forgot Hourglass got buffed. Moving up. I dislike BoS. Tabi+Nimbleness outdoes it. I've actually seen Spellblade used more than C&D but on casters and DPS I'd still just take Merc Treads or just run without Tenacity - the reason Miracle is up there is because it's super strong ATM on tanky deeps and tanks. Reasoning behind Shroud? FMallet just falls behind compared to Triforce IMO. Either that or just get a Phage and move on to your next item. Haunting Guise I'm also on the fence about. Hexdrinker I'm keeping in 3 because it's useful in certain scenarios and is a decent AD item in general, although it could do with a buff. Idk why SotD is in 3, I'll move it down. The reason why the Triforce components aren't "incomplete" is because they have a niche role. Zeal can be purchased early to improve maneuverability on carries and general AS. Zeal before B. F. Sword is viable on a lot of ranged DPS right now. An early Sheen helps the burst on many champions, like Morde/Nasus/ANYONE THAT USES TRIFORCE. Early Phage improves bulkiness and is often seen on, say, Corki.[/quote]

[quote=caucheka][quote=jebus mcazn]i dislike boots of swiftness[/quote] opinions! boots of swiftness > zerkers also drop mejais down. otherwise pretty much what searz says.[/quote]

[quote=Jebus McAzn]Only reason I have Mejai's in tier 3 is that it's actually powerful on early game burst casters in low-mid ELO only. But occasionally you'll see a Karthus in high ELO just carry a game. Of the 3 stacking items, it's the best, but it's still in tier 3.[/quote]

[quote=The_Nameless_Bard]I think Nashor's tooth is more useful than you give it credit for, but I also build it on champions most people wouldn't bother to build it on.[/quote]

[quote=Searz]The active on Reverie is just pure awesomesauce. The CDR and HP and regen and the fact that it builds from Philo all just make the item very attractive. I've even seen it on HotshotGG when he plays Cho (point being that it's great even outside of supporters). Thornmail deals 30% of damage dealt BEFORE armor back to the target. That is at high armor levels about the same damage as you take or even lower, and you got lots more HP than the enemy. Can force the enemy carry to ignore you or die, even when you're not attacking them. It's not as good as the other armor items, but is better in some cases. Sunfire is soo tier 2 worthy. It gives stats for almost how much it costs AND it gives passive DPS. 35DPS might not seem like much, but it's still really good after the nerf. 40 was flat out OP. Really great on tanky DPS. I'm unsure about C&D, so feel free to ignore that one. @Soul Shroud: 10%CDR for the entire team is great. It can help quite a bit teamfights and the mana-reg helps your team a lot in pushes. Haunting Guise might be T3 worthy, but the ONLY time it's viable is if you aren't buying Void Staff AND your lane enemy is tanky. QSS counters stunlocking and is awesome against suppression. Also great against enemies with annoying CC. Makes the need for tenacity much smaller. I will say that I would place it kinda low in tier 2, but I still think it's tier 2 worthy.[/quote]

[quote=Trojan995]I disagree hextech gunblade should be so high. Despite being really cost-effective, it's ONLY good on champs that can build hybrid - [[jax]], [[kayle]], akali as a last item. It really doesn't belong as a "first resort" for many champions. I think [[moonflair spellblade]] should be tier 3 - while it's not a great item all the time, it's certainly good against champs like [[nasus]] and [[veigar]]. Mages can just get away with getting [[sorcerer's shoes]] early on and getting the spellblade later on when they need it. I'm not sure about [[cloak and dagger]], but I think it'd be fine where it is, just because it doesn't provide much.[/quote]

[quote=PsiGuard]Am I the only one who finds [[ninja tabi]] "highly situational?" Even against teams with 4 AD carries, I would still build [[Mercury's Treads]] half the time due to the awesome CC reduction, not to mention the small amount of MR that will help against small amounts of magic damage. I think Ninja Tabi should be moved down a tier. I also believe [[Nashor's Tooth]] (AS, AP, manareg and huge CDR? Works wonders on hybrid builds like [[Teemo]] and [[Kayle]]. It should definitely be on par with [[Malady]] and [[Guinsoo's Rageblade]]) and [[Boots of Swiftness]] (Certainly champion specific, but can be used to great effect for chasing, escaping, positioning and dodging skill shots) should be moved up a tier. I pretty much agree with the rest though. I hope more people read this.[/quote]

[quote=Temzilla][quote=Trojan995] I disagree hextech gunblade should be so high. Despite being really cost-effective, it's ONLY good on champs that can build hybrid - [[jax]], [[kayle]], akali as a last item. It really doesn't belong as a "first resort" for many champions. I think [[moonflair spellblade]] should be tier 3 - while it's not a great item all the time, it's certainly good against champs like [[nasus]] and [[veigar]]. Mages can just get away with getting [[sorcerer's shoes]] early on and getting the spellblade later on when they need it. I'm not sure about [[cloak and dagger]], but I think it'd be fine where it is, just because it doesn't provide much. [/quote] It's "good" on anyone who uses skills. It's only truly effective on high farm, hybrid, or niche characters (kog'maw, Tryndamere, Yorick, Yi), but it's probably the best overall offensive+defensive item in the game for sustained damage characters. WotA is better for most casters though. I think that Sorcerer's Shoes + Void Staff is over rated, and you should get Merc Treads if you buy Void Staff.[/quote]