LoL: Mr. Mandalcio’s Revision of Champion Difficulty

POLISHING CHAMPION DIFFICULTY

Vol.1 Second Edition

CLARITY & CONSISTENCY

DEFINING CHAMPIONS

EASY / HARD A Public Service by Mr. Mandalcio

Table of Content

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Introduction

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Grading Breakdown Mr. Mandalcio’s Method:

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Core Mechanic

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Insight Ceiling

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Mechanical Ceiling

11 Interplay 12

Mr. Mandalcio’s Recommended Picks

13 Off-lane 14 Jungle 15 Middle-lane 16 Marksman 17 Support 19

Champion Difficulty Index (Aa-Ir)

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Glossary

Author’s Note League of Legends is a global game, and not everyone can read english well, if at all. When possible, I will use arithmetic, graphics, and simple, easily translatable language to make my content understandable for the largest number of players.

There is also gaming terminology in the presentation that players may not have encountered before, or which won’t make sense when translated directly. In order to compensate, I’ve included a glossary at the very end of the document. Please refer to it if you come across any unfamiliar jargon!

About Me Nautilus Enthusiast Amateur Coach Amateur Lurker CLG’s Theory Crafter

Mr. Mandalcio

Life Long Gamer

Introduction Why did you make this presentation?

When teaching players League of Legends, I am always surprised by the amount of misconceptions about what makes champions “good”, “bad”, “easy” or “hard”. I think this is partially due to the lack of resources available in-game to inform players. While I don’t have the power to change those, I can build on the learning material accessible outside of client.

Who is the target audience?

This guide was primarily designed for players in the Bronze, Silver, and Gold match-making brackets. If you are Platinum or higher and have come across this guide, congratulations on your achievement! Hopefully you find the discussion on champion difficulty/mastery interesting and thought-provoking.

What are going to be covered? TL;DR • Create and explain new ratings for all 130 champions • Discuss flaws with the current system • Explore what makes up skill, while also touching upon mastery • Recommend champions that are good for learning and improving at LoL 6

Mr. Mandalcio’s Grading Breakdown The largest flaw within the current rating system is the lack of clarity for how scores are created. Even if we agreed all of the current gradings were accurate, the numbers always seem random because they lack context.

My system divides “skill requirement” for any champion into four new categories: Core Mechanics, Insight Ceiling, Mechanical Ceiling, and Interplay. Before we go any further, I’ll define what each of these terms means in relation to our discussion.

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Core Mechanics

“How effective is this champion when we have a monkey behind the keyboard?”

Somewhat similar to the “skill floor”, by Core Mechanics, we are referring to the amount of effort/skill required to use a champion’s abilities at a beginner’s level.

The champion’s effectiveness with minimum possible skill is a major factor for this category

How much the champion needs to manage their resources (mana, energy, charges, etc.) also plays a role in this category.

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Insight Ceiling

“How important is knowledge and know-how for maximizing this champion’s impact?

The Insight Ceiling covers a wide array of knowledge-based proficiencies, skills, and techniques. Knowledge tends to deal with “how”, “when”, & “why” rather than “what” (those are mechanics).

Examples: Interactions for abilities, champions, & items, knowing abstract ability uses, and understanding itemization for a champion thoroughly.

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Mechanical Ceiling

“How much does this champion’s potential improve at the highest skill level?”

Somewhat similar to the “skill ceiling”, by Mechanical Ceiling, we are referring to the effort/skill required to utilize a champion at maximum possible efficiency.

Mechanical Ceiling is about “application” and “execution” of abilities. Generally, this means ability combos, animation cancels, APM requirements, and the complexity of ability rotations.

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Interplay

“How much does this champion need to play around the opponent to find success?�

Interplay is the last category, and tends to be the most consistent in contrasting low or high difficulty champions.

When a champion gives the opponent more options, they are simply harder to use.

Examples: High Inerplay:

Low Interplay:

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Mr. Mandalcio’s Recommended Picks If you login to League of Legends solely for fun, I encourage you to play whatever champions entertain you the most. If you login to League of Legends to improve your gameplay, I urge you to follow my list.

Why? In order to become a better player, you need to solidify your fundamental skills. It is much harder to build fundamentals when you are playing a complex champion beyond your skill range.

I handpicked 3 champions for each role with the intent of optimizing your learning process. If you insist on playing characters outside my list, then browse my index. Any champion at or below 5 stars in average difficulty is a fairly safe pick for learning by my standards.

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Off-Lane Recommendation Ignore the haters. Mastering Garen will build a foundation for the essential skills you need to succeed. Ability combos, CD management, trading, wave control, and much more is built into Garen’s kit. Victory awaits, Summoner.

Another off-lane powerhouse, Trundle boasts strong stats, strong abilities, and almost no losing matchups. Although Trundle lacks the raw killing power of Garen, he makes up for it with superior scaling and utility later in the game.

Learning Cho’gath will not only demonstrate the value of reliable laners, but the strength of tanky, utility champions. Unlike most tanks, Feast offers Cho’gath a high-power removal tool against exposed enemy carries.

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Jungle Recommendation Jarvan IV is perhaps the most difficult champions on this list. However, he’ll also grow the most with your (improving) skill. Jarvan IV is flexible enough to fill almost any role a team may need, and his abilities are very rewarding when used correctly.

It is hard to go wrong with Nunu, especially if you are new to or nervous about jungling. The Yeti is healthy, impossible to bully, performs as a simple but decent ganker, and offers an unrivaled control of neutral objectives and jungle camps.

The classic “gank-tank�, Rammus will give you a feel for what it is like to play a high-volume ganking champion. Rammus lacks the snowball potential of other high-pressure junglers, but has a much more reliable middle/late game presence.

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Middle-Lane Recommendation Don’t let her age fool you; Annie is the deadliest champion you can bring into your arsenal. Pyromania is one of the strongest offensive passives in LoL, allowing her to escape ganks, or blast opponents right off the map.

Kayle’s abilities are very straightforward, allowing you to concentrate on crucial decision making and positioning. She boasts clutch, high-impact utility despite dealing incredible damage, especially in the late game.

Vladimir hyper-scales like Kayle, but focuses on abilities instead of autoattacks. His weak laning should provide a taste of what it is like to play a champion who doesn’t dominate early. Vladimir’s sustain still makes him forgiving overall.

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Marksman Recommendation Between Double-Ups, Love Taps, and Thunderlord’s Decree, Miss Fortune brings immense trading potential while laning. CSing is easy thanks to Love Tap, and one well placed Bullet Time is all it takes to devastate team fights.

Have fun outplaying your enemies and seizing the initiative? Sivir is the markswoman for you. Her short autoattack range is mitigated by high speed and powerful abilities. On the Hunt is one the strongest engage tools you can have in solo-queue.

Unlike Miss Fortune or Sivir, Ashe wins fights through crowd-control, high sustained damage, and long-range. Handling Ashe’s low mobility will test your positioning, while her range will provide opportunities to improve at CSing.

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Support Recommendation Leona is the aggressive, initiating support. Solar Flare is one of the lowest CD hard-engage tools in LoL. Combined with the rest of her CC, Leona will teach you to punish enemies that misposition with terrifying burst.

By far the best harassment-style support for learners, Sona’s strong poke is balanced by her fragility and low CC. Mastering Sona will teach you about mana management, minion aggro, and positioning for laning phase and team fights.

Taric’s most remarkable qualities are his consistency and endurance. Positive into many match-ups, Taric’s reliability will allow you to focus intangibles like vision control and warding without worrying about losing laning phase.

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Champion Difficulty Index Part 1: Aa - Ir

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Aatrox The Darkin Blade

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Blades of Torment and Dark Flight are both skillshots with % health costs and long CDs. This is noticeable, but missing does not cost him much DPS.

Most of Aatrox’s mastery comes from dodging CC, orb-walking, and toggling Blood Price/Thirst for maximum effect in team fights.

Ahri The Nine-Tailed Fox

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Ahri’s skillshots are straightforward, but her power relies on damaging enemies efficiently and CCing the right targets.

Ahri’s Spirit Rush works for outmaneuvering enemies, but also provides great freedom for her defensive positioning.

Akali The Fist of Shadow

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Akali has huge flexibility when it comes to item builds, especially for an assassin. She must pre-plan dives around her burst and Shadow Dance charges.

Assassins tend to be weak early. Skilled Akali players exploit the limitations of their opponents to survive laning phase and stay relevant mid-game.

Alistar The Minotaur

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Alistar’s Headbutt → Pulverize is easier to perform than ever, but Alistar’s difficulty really comes from good positioning/timing for the combo.

Enemies must play around Alistar’s strong CC. However sometimes, Alistar must hold off on aggression to effectively defend squishy allies.

Amumu The Sad Mummy

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Bandage Toss is a long range skillshot and Amumu’s most difficult ability. The rest of his kit is extremely simple and hard to use poorly.

Amumu’s weak early game is the most difficult part of the champion. Curse of the Sad Mummy is great for catching foes and securing team fights.

Anivia The Cryophoenix

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Anivia’s abilities are simple, but the CDs are long.

Frostbite is weak without the debuff. Players must also deal with her infamous autoattack animation.

Glacial Storm opens up more options for Anivia, Her playstyle is balanced around managing her own position while disrupting her opponents’.

Annie The Dark Child

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Annie’s defining trait is her reliability. CSing with Fireball means she rarely goes OOM. Tibbers allows for instant stuns followed up by huge burst.

At higher MMRs, opponents are wary of Annie’s damage. To remain effective, Annie must overcome her short cast range, even without Flash.

Ashe The Frost Archer

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Most of Ashe’s abilities are difficult to use incorrectly, and all of them have an obvious “cause & effect”, or simple outcomes.

Ashe’s low mobility forces her to be on the lookout for enemy engages. Her long range and nonstop slows create lots of counter-play.

Aurelion Sol The Star Forger

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Aurelion Sol is very unusual. Celestial Expansion is powerful, but also his only real source of damage. It takes time to adjust to using the range properly.

Aurelion Sol is all about keeping enemies at the Outer Limit. The experience of positioning him and his stars is comparable to Orianna and her Ball.

Azir The Emperor of the Sands

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Azir’s learning curve is massive. To be brief, all of his abilities are easily misused in isolation, let alone as part of a flashy combo.

Azir must factor himself, soldiers, and opponents into positioning. All 3 change on a whim, and a single Conquering Sands may dictate life or death.

Bard The Wandering Caretaker

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Bard must be mindful of his position + trajectory and his opponent’s to land stuns. Tempered Fate is what makes Bard the most difficult support in LoL. Bard possesses multiple item build paths, skill orders, and strategies for every matchup. His chimes and Magical Journey radically alter roaming.

Blitzcrank The Great Steam Golem

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Blitzcrank’s abilities are not very complex. However, his entire kit is balanced around the gigantic displacement and range of Rocket Grab.

Blitzcrank’s mastery is mostly derived from his CD management, map awareness, positioning, and capacity to “mind game” and outplay opponents.

Brand The Burning Vengeance

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Despite having very simple abilities, Brand’s mana costs are quite high. His power is reliant upon on hitting both Pillar of Flame and Sear.

Brand’s high damage is countered by his low mobility. Awareness and positioning are what define Brand as either a volcano or a walking R-Button.

Braum The Heart of the Freljord

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Braum makes for a great introduction to defensive supports. His abilities are simple, yet somewhat more forgiving than the likes of Alistar.

Unbreakable was made to interact with enemy projectiles. The shield encourages smart, predictive blocks in addition to reactive, reflexive plays.

Caitlyn The Sheriff of Piltover

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Caitlyn is the model defensive and safe markswoman.

Her skillshots are mitigated by the long range of her abilities and autoattacks.

Smart Caitlyns’ understand their lane opponents and exploit Caitlyn’s early strength. Her power curve is uneven, so she can’t afford to lose lane.

Cassiopeia The Serpent’s Embrace

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

It is easy for Cassiopeia to sink Twin Fangs into an immobilized victim. However, landing Noxious Blasts without help is a skill that must be practiced.

Cassiopeia is generally avoided at the highest levels. She is not bad, but most find mastering her risky, rapidfire playstyle extremely difficult.

Cho’gath The Terror of the Void

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Cho’gath’s kit is amongst the simplest in LoL, even with two skillshots. Similar to Annie, Cho’gath has a high impact despite being so easy to play.

Due to his incredible tankiness and potent CC, opponents are forced to play around Cho’gath’s long CD, but dangerous abilities.

Corki The Daring Bombardier

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Corki is straightforward pre-6, but everything changes once he gets access to Missile Barrage and The Package.

Hextech Shrapnel Shells make Corki’s item builds highly unique. Understanding the benefits/costs of his autoattacks are key to competence.

Darius The Hand of Noxus

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Corki is straightforward pre-6, but everything changes once he gets access to Missile Barrage and The Package.

Darius’ goal is to spread Hemorrhage and unlock Noxian Might. His enemies will focus on exploiting his low mobility and limited range.

Diana The Scorn of the Moon

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Diana has very diverse itemization compared to most champions and can be played in multiple lanes. Clever players are sure to take advantage of this.

An assassin/bruiser hybrid, Diana’s decision making and role depends upon her opponent’s champions as well as her own team composition.

Dr. Mundo The Madman of Zaun

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Hitting multiple Infected Cleavers can be quite difficult, but Dr. Mundo’s other abilities are all very manageable, even for a novice.

Early, Dr. Mundo’s health costs keep fragile and hardly an “ultra-tank”. He must carefully pick engagements with stronger foes until then.

Draven The Glorious Executioner

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Draven is truly the most difficult marksman to play in all of LoL. There is simply no easy way to master his unique Spinning Axe mechanic.

Draven’s abilities and items are clear-cut. Executing them in practice is far more difficult against opponents who play around Spinning Axe.

Ekko The Boy Who Shattered Time

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Timewinder and Phase Dive are simple, but Ekko’s other abilities require lots of experience. Like Akali, Ekko’s itemization is very diverse for his class.

Ekko needs to play 4 seconds ahead of his enemies and himself. Given how much counterplay exists in his abilities already, this is a challenge.

Elise The Spider Queen

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Elise became a jungler due to high mana costs, and her impact is dependent upon hitting Cocoons.

Elise’s ganks are amongst the deadliest in LoL.

Elise has several points of mastery, but the most variable are based on clever uses of Rappel and exploitation of her Spiderlings.

Evelynn The Widowmaker

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Although one of a few ultra-unique champions in LoL, Evelynn’s abilities are quite easy to perform.

Shadow Walk’s permanent invisibility breaks LoL physics, altering strategy for the 9 other players.

Evelynn’s itemization is the most diverse of any champion in League by far.

Ezreal The Prodigal Explorer

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Ezreal’s abilities can all miss the desired target.

Although very safe, mana management is a huge deal for Ezreal, and must be learned.

Contrary to popular belief, missing Mystic Shots is a big deal. Its easier to watch high-level Ezreal play to understand what I’m talking about here.

Fiddlesticks The Harbinger of Doom

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Fiddlesticks’ basic abilities are point-and-click, leading to a very smooth experience for beginners.

Fiddlesticks’ power is heavily concentrated into Crowstorm, which opponents will try to anticipate with wards. Fiddlesticks is one of the few champions who relies on vision control to function at all.

Fiora The Grand Duelist

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Since her rework, Fiora has become one of the highest skill-cap champions in the League. One does not simply pick the Grand Duelist on a whim.

Fiora outplays you, or you outplay her. If the summoner directing her is good enough, it is possible for any matchup to become a skill matchup.

Fizz The Tidal Trickster

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Fizz’s abilities aren’t that complicated. However as an assassin, most of his difficulty comes from CD management, foresight, and positioning.

Like Fiora, Fizz’s staying power comes from his evasion and mobility. Fizz needs to predict and dodge powerful abilities from foes to survive.

Galio The Sentinel’s Sorrow

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Mana is a HUGE issue for Galio. However once he purchases items to remove that weakness, even newcomers can have a blast with this champion.

Idol of Durand has massive impact, and smart players will be wary of Galio’s initiations.

Gangplank The Saltwater Scourge

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Chaining Powder Kegs is essential, and the only way one learns is tons of experience and practice.

Yes, Powder Keg is that important. Gangplank’s farming, lane trading, and team-fighting is loaded into this one ability. Master GP players can inflict unreal amounts of AoE damage at extensive range.

Garen The Might of Demacia

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Durable, resourceless, and straightforward, I believe Garen is the best champion one can play to learn League of Legends.

Contrary to popular belief, Garen is a bruiser, not a tank. The typical Garen build should mix defense with strong armor penetration.

Gnar The Missing Link

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Mini and Mega Gnar’s abilities are not difficult in isolation. Gnar’s difficulty comes with managing rage and timing transformations for solid initiations.

Gnar is potent, but laden with opportunity for counterplay in both forms. Much of his damage can be avoided or mitigated through good positioning.

Gragas The Rabble Rouser

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Gragas’ basic abilities are relatively easy to execute, but finding angles for Explosive Cask for picks only comes with confidence and practice.

A tanky generalist, Gragas can flex into a variety of item builds. His combination of base damage, CC, and mobility offer high value to any team comp.

Graves The Outlaw

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Graves has powerful burst, but his damaging abilities are all skillshots with long CDs. Unless Graves is ahead, even Smokescreens must be well placed to gain the edge in fights.

Despite being ranged, Graves skirts melee range to maximize New Destiny’s damage output.

Hecarim The Shadow of War

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Hecarim is a simple bruiser whose diverse itemization allows him to specialize either as a durable initiator or a semi-carry.

True to form, great Hecarim players always look for open flanks, taking advantage of speed and mobility to force unexpected engagements.

Heimerdinger The Revered Inventor

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Heimerdinger’s Evolution Turrets allow him deal significant damage by passively positioning, in a manner most comparable with Singed.

In low MMR, Heimerdinger just mindlessly pushes.

In high MMRs, turrets are used to control objectives, scout fog of war, and zone in team fights.

Illaoi The Kraken Preistess

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Landing Tentacle Smashes and Test of Spirit is critical for Illaoi’s damage output and survivability.

Similar to Darius, Illaoi’s stark strengths are matched by stark weaknesses. To win team fights, Illaoi generally wants to fight against champions that dive. This allows her to avoid being kited.

Irelia The Will of Blades

Average Difficulty Core Mechanics Insight Mechanical Interplay

Irelia has strong scaling with levels and items, so learning not to fall behind in the early game is the key to successful games with her.

Irelia has excellent stat growth. Prioritize heavy defense after your core offensive item is finished to take advantage of her extended trading power.

Glossary Aggro When a computer-controlled unit attacks any other unit.

APM Actions Per Minute. Often used to describe a champion’s mechanical difficulty or intensity.

Crowd-Control (CC) Any ability that removes and/or diminishes control over another player’s character. Total disables such as fears, roots, and stuns are called “hard” CC. Partial disables such as blinds, silences, and slows, are called “soft” CC. Farming Killing minions and monsters to build up income.

Flexible 1) A champion that can buy and use a large variety of items effectively.

2) A champion who can, when specialized correctly, fulfill multiple roles.

Fog of War Dark areas on the map and mini-map where activity cannot be seen.

May only be lifted by the presence of friendly units, and occasionally by special abilities.

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Generalist Label for a champion with a wide variety of capabilities.

Itemization A very complex aspect of LoL. Essentially, it is the number of items that are good for a champion in various situations.

Kiting When a ranged champion attacks and retreats from a melee champion in rapid intervals. The ranged champion plays the “kite”, while the melee champion plays the “string”.

Last-Hit (CS) A finishing blow on a neutral or unfriendly unit that awards gold. “CS” refers to killing computer-controlled units.

MMR Match-Making Rating. Often referred to as elo.

Nuke Any damaging ability.

OOM Out of Mana. May reference other resources, like energy.

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Orb-Walk Inherited from Defense of the Ancients, it means to attack, then move, in rapid intervals. Also known as “attack-move”.

Power Curve When a champion is strong or weak at particular points in the game, assuming average gold values. Most power curves do not trend upward smoothly over time.

Rotation (Abilities) When a champion’s abilities are chained together (combo) for maximum effect.

Scaling Refers to a champion’s effectiveness over time as gold values naturally inflate from farming and fighting.

Scripting Use of a computer program to augment mechanical play.

Semi-Carry Refers to a champion that is not normally played as a dedicated carry, but can become one if their gold value is accelerated enough.

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Skillshot Any ability that has a projectile component, where something (or someone) can be launched in a direction. Abilities that automatically strike the selected target are referred to as “point-and-click� instead.

Snowball When a champion scores multiple kills back-to-back, and their gold advantage accelerates out of control.

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Thanks for reading Master Mandalcio CLG Theorycrafter

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