I pick ignite in normals, or if I'm facing Soraka (and have kill potential). Otherwise exhaust is just generally more useful to protect your carry. The enemy team almost always has someone who can get to your carry.

Of the unconventional supports I've tried, Rumble is probably my favorite.

 

Support Veigar with Relic Shield and Mejais is surprisingly viable.

 

Oh yeah, definitely. It's why I prefer my support to have exhaust too, and why if they choose not to, I would just take the exhaust myself.

 

I did not know people thought Ignite was a troll summoner in botlane. Sure, you're not gonna see it in LCS much due to the power of exhaust, but it can be an effective way to snowball your lane in yoloque. It's great on kill lanes like Leona/Graves and the like.


Anyway, I've been trying out Kalista and holy shit she is fun. The jumps are so bullshit and her E is a punch in the dick after a long engage. Plus we finally get a viable fadeaway pull with Blitz, which is just icing on the cake.

As for build, I honestly have no idea what is best, but I love the Runaan's build. I've been waiting patiently to find a champ that I can play who won't get me reported for building it. I just love being able to kite and damage three enemies at once.

Problem is that it cuts into building crit or armor pen, both of which are important obviously. I hate myself for it, but I've been trying out Sneaky's no crit max lifesteal/attack speed build:

'Zerker Greaves
Ruunan's
BOTRK
Bloodthirster
Last Whisper
Defensive item of choice.

You're still a strong tank buster due to Rend, Armor Pen and health shred. Obviously you do less damage than a crit build, but you are basically unkillable by anything without tons of non skillshot hard CC or insane reliable burst. Plus having 42% life steal with red pot is dirty.

edit:

Holy crap. Just watched a game on Sneaky's stream with this build and he did more damage to champs than every other person combined. While 2v5ing with his support. What a stomp.

 

Picking Kass and generally fucking with the ADC's game was the troll here I believe.

 

On another note, fuck afkers in placements D=

 

New Akali makes me somewhat sad... Due to losing the Q-E proc combo, her damage output rate plummeted. An extra irony that it's especially noticeable against anyone with mobility of some sort... which is a lot of people. It even felt like an extra slap in the face to not just be against Katarina, but to have her proccing her Q with her spin, but she's got an upcoming rework, so... eh.(and I went 10/1/## anyway, I think)

I did have two kills unable to be completed due to the lost 100 ult range, but that's not really a remotely similar loss of function.

Well, getting used to not doing the habit of R->E to trigger a Q will be a minor effort, I suppose. I noticed myself still doing it a bunch during the matches I've played since. Or even just Q, then attacking something else in a creep wave, followed by E.

 

I'm most annoyed because I'd rather they just gave her a total rework than what they did. The E change just changes how she plays enough that I don't want to relearn.

 

Spoilers for C9 vs TL:

Spoiler

It seems Christmas has come early for me. Just watched Sneaky stomp Piglet with his Kalista build. Damn that was fun to watch.

pls no nerf

 

Spoiler

>3-0 Kalista today every one with the same build path
>Pls no nerf

Son you might want to sit down cause I've got some news for you

 

I was actually giggling watching this. Such a satisfying game.

 

apoc

Spoiler

Yeah, it was pretty amusing to see Kalista picked three games in a row.

As for balance, I reserve judgement. She was played by some of NA's most experienced ADs and had favorable matchups. Maybe she's OP, maybe the build path is particularly effective. God knows people are still trying different things with her.

Still think it's hilarious that Rend has no cap. I know it's different to percent health abilities, but when you can out Smite junglers you know things are crazy.

 

She also highlights a newfound and disturbing trend I've seen in Riot's released champions: the complete lack of reliance on ultimates for both her and Rek'Sai and to a certain extent Azir. Their ultimate does not form an actually integral part of their kit, leaving them as perfectly strong and viable champions capable of doing their jobs with just three skills, and then getting an additional utility skill on top of their existing kits.

 

To be fair the same can be said of any Adc. I'd argue the trend she really highlights is mobility creep. when am Adc no longer has to choose between attacking and moving it becomes an issue.

 

Disturbing? I'm quite in love with this trend of champions. They feel unique.

I wish i didn't suck at adc, Kallista looks super fun. She's awesome to watch too.

 

To be honest though, Azir's ult is about as integral to a kit as you can get. He simply cannot survive in a teamfight without that ult, as his range is comparatively short for an AP mage and requires constant attention (not simply burst and zhonyas).

 

Build RoA first on Azir. Helps a lot.

 

I consider that basically core on him.