Hi everyone and welcome back to another episode of Weird Pick Wednesday! This week we're looking at a Flavor of the Month (FOTM) pick that doubles as a weird pick since well...it's fairly strange...
With the introduction of the new Runeglaive jungle enchantment, players are starting to play Ezreal mid with smite to take advantage of the abilities it provides. Check out the details below!
Note: As of Patch 5.13, Runeglaive enchant no longer procs Luden's Echo
Introduction
Hi everyone and welcome back to another episode of Weird Pick Wednesday! This week we're looking at a Flavor of the Month (FOTM) pick that doubles as a weird pick since well...it's fairly strange...
With the introduction of the new Runeglaive jungle enchantment, players are starting to play Ezreal mid with smite to take advantage of the abilities it provides. Check out the details below!
With the introduction of the new Runeglaive jungle enchantment, players are starting to play Ezreal mid with smite to take advantage of the abilities it provides. Check out the details below!
How to Play
Runes: Ability Power Quints, Magic Penetration Reds, Armor Yellows, Magic Resist Blues
Masteries: 21-0-9, standard AP laner masteries
Abilities: Q, E, Q, W then prioritize R > Q > W > E
Core items: Skirmisher's Sabre + Runeglaive Enchantment, Ionian Boots, Deathcap, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass
Masteries: 21-0-9, standard AP laner masteries
Abilities: Q, E, Q, W then prioritize R > Q > W > E
Core items: Skirmisher's Sabre + Runeglaive Enchantment, Ionian Boots, Deathcap, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass
Why It Works
Ezreal Q Changes to Magic DamageAs a result of the Runeglaive enchantment, Ezreal Q now changes directly to magic damage, meaning that AP Ezreal now gets a direct benefit from maxing Q, a higher range and less mana costly spell compared to AP Ezreal's normal spell of choice, W. Incidentally, since it counts as an auto attack, it also procs his skirmisher sabre passive as well.
Built-In Sheen
As everyone knows, Sheen is an absolutely amazing item on Ezreal for any type of build, so with Sheen already included in Runeglaive, Ezreal doesn't have to drastically modify his normal core items to fit in the new item.
Smite Summoner
Using smite means Ezreal can assist with securing Dragon and Baron.
Potential Pitfalls
Smite Summoner
Having smite does mean that Ezreal won't be able to carry Ignite or a defensive summoner, which is generally favorable on mid laners.
Low Waveclear
Just because Ezreal now has more waveclear than before doesn't mean that his waveclear's any good. It's still quite bad compared to the majority of other AP mid laners.
All Skill Baby
As you know, Ezreal is a 100% skillshot based champion. This means that it does take high proficiency to use his effectively, especially since his skillshots all have a very narrow range of effectiveness.
Having smite does mean that Ezreal won't be able to carry Ignite or a defensive summoner, which is generally favorable on mid laners.
Low Waveclear
Just because Ezreal now has more waveclear than before doesn't mean that his waveclear's any good. It's still quite bad compared to the majority of other AP mid laners.
All Skill Baby
As you know, Ezreal is a 100% skillshot based champion. This means that it does take high proficiency to use his effectively, especially since his skillshots all have a very narrow range of effectiveness.
Conclusions
AP Ezreal is definitely much stronger than before, and is certainly a viable pick at the moment. However, as a high skill champion with a low margin of error, I wouldn't say he's particularly overpowered just yet. Maybe after Runeglaive is further buffed...
Suggested Rating: Mid Tier 2
What do you think about Ezreal with Smite? Comment below!
Click here to check out more Weird Picks
Updates every Wednesday ~
Latest Weird Picks
Latest Weird Picks:
- #18: Support Yorick
- #17: Nautilus Top
- #16: AP Irelia
- Click here for more!
you messed up a few things. just from personal experience and looking at probuilds, blue or purple smite is the best. Also if you go tear and smite,your early game is way to weak. so morelonomicon is sometimes built,not always as runglave and blue buff helps with mana.
ReplyDeleteThe rest is acurate
You do so much dammage with this build
You should include the 20-25 minutes he needs to scale (much like AP Kog), and lack of CC. Most mids can also roam far better because they can waveclear quickly and head bot/top + they often have CC to pick someone off.
ReplyDeleteAs far as advantages, his burst and mobility are all excellent later and he's quite fun.
I disagree. Challenging is still better cus as a real man AP Ez doesn't let them run away like a Blue smite does. Furthermore tear is just too good on ezreal not to pick up.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with Mac. Challenging smite for duels and tear is core. Probably even more of core if the PBE holds.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you consider it core? I've never had any mana issues after Morello or Athene's and that lets you get a quicker power-spike. The 20% CDR will probably do more for you late game than the extra AP from Seraph's too.
ReplyDeleteI dodge every time someone picks this in my Queue. Not because its a bad pick, but because everyone who picks it is usually 100% garbage.
ReplyDeleteThe extra mana synergizes with runeglaive which restores % based mana. Tear is most commonly built on champions with built in CDR or massive mana costs(Ezreal fits CDR). The added ap does have a large impact as you have 5 things scaling off it (runeglaive+all spells). It let's you shamelessly spam spells before fights. It gives you a defensive active you don't have because you are running smite.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to further ease his poor waveclear, Nashor's tooth might be worth considering as it keeps your passive from being useless, plus it essentially raises the AP ratio on his Q. Not perfect for 100% of games, but could help in specific sircumstances.
ReplyDeleteI can just see the guys at Rito facepalming cuz they created another smite-in-lane scenario. It's worth noting that you can Q the Wraiths over the wall to get the mana return effect, although you dont really need it after getting tear.
ReplyDeleteEzreal spams spells and his W has fairly high mana costs for relatively low cooldown. Ez can get a pre-20 minute Seraph's fairly easy which gives him an insane midgame boost. Ezreal doesn't really need the cdr but he can get it from other items. Will of the Ancients isn't a terrible 3-4 item on ezreal, and if needed just take cdr runes/blue buff. Morello can still be built as a 3rd item after tear and glaive and then you can just spam all day xD
ReplyDeleteYou can do the same thing with gangplank and in one patch AP GP goes from absolute crap to strongest duelist in the game
ReplyDeleteJust had 3 team builder setups in a row with AP Ez running smite. No thanks--I don't want every match to be someone trying this for the first time.
ReplyDeletenot bad for gp
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts for having scaling cdr runes
ReplyDeleteSo I think we all got taken by surprise how strong AP/Smite EZ is right now.
ReplyDeleteJust depends on the skill of the player. I tried it for my 2 days ago and went 17-3. It's really strong but your right. If someone cant hit skillshots then their screwed
ReplyDeleteThe Chilling Smite is best imo because of the slow. Allows you to kite much easier
ReplyDeletei think u havent played with AP ezreal yet. This sh*t is really OP!
ReplyDeleteBut norms are for trying new things
ReplyDeleteThey are not for trying new things for the first time--if you haven't played AP Ez ever, and you're going to go mid with smite because it's FOTM(inute), you're hurting your team. Do a couple bot games and warm up at least.
ReplyDeleteHere's a rule of thumb: if your teammates can instantly tell that you're going to hurt the team, you're doing it wrong.
bots are rubbish you don't learn anything for them
ReplyDeleteranked is for playing serious
your not harming anyone by making your team lose in normals.
He has like a ~65% ban rate right now, but his win rate is ~50%
ReplyDeleteHe is the 2nd most banned champ, but the 55th highest win rate. He only face rolls in lower ELO when the person playing him can hit skill shots proficiently. He has clear weaknesses and counter play. I think people are over reacting.
This way of building is 100% viable and works well. However I'm going to have to disagree with you. Tear is not a core item, in fact I never build this on him in his current state nor do I build morello, I also don't have mana issues. I also think purple smite is better for him. His weakness is his early game, it lacks in damage and his wave clear is low. You shouldn't be spamming abilities in the early game because the lack of damage makes it not worth it, instead focus on farm, then get purple smite to control the wave. Usually I have much higher CS than my enemy and have complete control of the lane waves by the time I'm level 6-8
ReplyDeleteyes you are and 10/10 i would report you for negativ attitude when you do so and reading your comments, you would.
ReplyDeleteWell if you are building morellos you are 100% right, you should not be spamming abilities BUT with the buff to archangels/seraph's you are very wrong to not buy it. While it was less black and white at the time of my original comment it is 150% core now with how much ap you get from it (if think it is something like 140-159 with runeglaive?). As for the smite that can be somewhat personal preference. For example if you see a farm lane/push war in your future purple smite is probably the way to go but if you are against say, talon that mini exhaust could very well save your life a couple times.
ReplyDeleteYou are very right about smite, it is kind of dependent on the situation, but over all I'd say I like purple better in most situations. As for tear, I still disagree. It is a good item to have but by spending that gold on a tear early on, you are prolonging your already long weak early game damage. and even without tear your late game damage is extremely strong.
ReplyDelete