Never Start Doran's Blade in Solo Queue

Hello there summoners! This post specifically pertains to AD carries and solo queue. A lot of pros start with Doran's blade when they have a sustain support, such as Soraka, Sona, or Alistar. For a 5v5 arranged team, this is a great idea.

For solo queue, this is a terrible idea.

Why? Well it's simple, you really don't know what your support's going to do...unless you're duo queuing with him/her of course.

Problems:

• Solo queue people DC.
• If your support DCs and you're holding a Doran's blade, chances are you'll get out-harassed with no ability to retort.
• Solo queue supports die.
• If your sustain support decides to overextend and die, those heals won't be very effective will they?
• Solo queue supports might not ward very well.
• That ward in the little bush is great and all if a slow jungler decides to hide there, but honestly more and more junglers realize that the tri-bush is a much more effective way to gank.

Solution: Start with Boots + 3 pots

• This gives you room for error if your support DCs or dies
• This gives you the ability to kite, harass, and position better than someone with Doran Blade
• This gives you more potential to escape from jungle ganks

Naturally, if your support isn't a sustain support you'll want to get Boots + 3 pots anyway, but even with Soraka, I'd say Boots + 3 pots is the way to go.

Just remember, in solo queue, expect the unexpected. Playing consistently without relying on your teammates is the fastest way to gain ELO.

 

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