To itemize against tanky opponents in League of Legends, you should consider building items that provide armor penetration or magic penetration, depending on the opponent's resistances. Items like Last Whisper or Void Staff can help you deal more damage to tanky champions by penetrating their defenses.
Understanding Tanky Opponents
When facing tanky opponents in League of Legends, it is crucial to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Tanks are characterized by high health pools, resistances, and crowd control abilities. They excel at soaking up damage and disrupting the enemy team in fights. To itemize effectively against tanky opponents, one must consider the unique attributes of these champions and build items that can counter their durability and mitigate their impact in the game.
Armor Penetration and Magic Penetration
Armor penetration and magic penetration are essential when dealing with tanky opponents. Armor penetration items like Last Whisper, Lord Dominik's Regards, or Mortal Reminder are crucial for cutting through the high armor values of tank champions. Magic penetration items such as Void Staff or Sorcerer's Shoes are equally important against tanky champions stacking magic resist. By investing in penetration items, you can significantly increase your damage output against tanky opponents.
Items with % Health Damage
Building items with percentage health damage can be highly effective against tanky opponents. Items like Blade of the Ruined King, Liandry's Torment, or Kraken Slayer deal a portion of the target's health as damage, making them particularly potent against high-health tanks. These items ensure that your damage output remains relevant even against opponents with massive health pools, allowing you to chip away at their durability over time.
Anti-Tank Items
League of Legends offers specific anti-tank items designed to counter champions stacking health and resistances. Items like Black Cleaver, Morellonomicon, or Serpent's Fang are tailored to shred through tanky opponents efficiently. Black Cleaver applies armor shred and reduces the enemy's armor, while Morellonomicon inflicts grievous wounds to reduce their healing. Serpent's Fang is effective against shield-heavy champions, mitigating their defensive capabilities and making it easier to burst them down.
Survivability and Kiting
Survivability is crucial when facing tanky opponents. Building defensive items like Guardian Angel, Sterak's Gage, or Zhonya's Hourglass can increase your durability and provide you with additional tools to outplay tank champions. Surviving their initial engage and kiting them around with movement speed items like Phantom Dancer, Dead Man's Plate, or Frostfire Gauntlet can give you the necessary advantage to outmaneuver tanky opponents and capitalize on their weaknesses.
Adaptation and Flexibility
Itemization in League of Legends is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is essential to adapt your build according to the specific tanky opponents you are facing and the overall state of the game. Analyze the enemy team composition, identify the primary threats, and adjust your itemization accordingly. Being flexible in your build path and adjusting your items based on in-game developments can give you a significant edge when playing against tanky opponents.
Conclusion
Itemizing against tanky opponents in League of Legends requires a strategic approach that combines penetration, percentage health damage, anti-tank items, survivability, and flexibility in build choices. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of tank champions and tailoring your itemization to counter their durability, you can increase your effectiveness on the rift and secure victory against even the tankiest of opponents.