In League of Legends, shields are one of the most frustrating mechanics to deal with. They can absorb massive amounts of damage and give champions the ability to survive critical moments in team fights. To level the playing field, anti-shield items have been introduced, specifically designed to counter shields and ensure that damage dealers can break through these defensive abilities. In this article, we will explore the concept of an anti shield item league and how these items work, as well as when and why you should use them to optimize your gameplay.
Understanding Shields in League of Legends
Shields in League of Legends grant temporary protection to champions by absorbing damage before it hits their health pool. Several champions in the game either possess shield abilities or rely on shields to protect their allies. Champions like Janna, Karma, and Lulu are known for their shielding power, which can make fights feel imbalanced if not properly countered. These shields can buy time for the champion to heal, reposition, or avoid fatal damage, making them a key part of defensive strategies.
In high-level games, particularly in team fights, shields can make a substantial difference. For instance, a well-timed Karma Mantra-E (Inspire) can shield an entire team, completely negating burst damage. Similarly, champions like Sett or Tahm Kench use shields to survive long enough to deal significant damage or reposition. Without proper tools to deal with shields, your damage dealers may struggle to break through, allowing the enemy team to sustain through crucial moments.
Why Anti-Shield Items Matter
Anti-shield items are designed to directly counter shielding effects by either reducing the strength of shields or completely nullifying them. These items provide an answer to shield-heavy team compositions, allowing you to break through the defenses of champions who rely on these mechanics. Having the right anti-shield item can make all the difference in a close fight, especially against compositions where shields determine survival.
In recent seasons, shields have become more prevalent, both from itemization (such as the infamous Immortal Shieldbow) and champion abilities. This led to a growing need for specialized items to balance gameplay and prevent shielding from overwhelming other mechanics. Riot Games addressed this by introducing and tweaking items with anti-shield properties, making them more accessible and necessary in certain matchups.
Key Anti-Shield Items
Serpent’s Fang
Serpent’s Fang is one of the most effective anti-shield items in the game, particularly for AD (attack damage) champions. This lethality item has a unique passive that reduces the power of incoming shields by 50% for melee champions and 35% for ranged champions. It’s an excellent pick for assassins and other burst-heavy champions who need to ensure their damage hits through shielding champions like Lulu or Karma.
- Cost: 2600 Gold
- Stats: +55 AD, +12 Lethality, and +18 Lethality for melee.
- Passive: “Shield Reaver” – Dealing damage to an enemy champion reduces any shields they gain within the next three seconds by 50% (melee) or 35% (ranged).
When to buy Serpent’s Fang: This item is ideal when facing shield-heavy supports, such as Janna, Karma, or even enchanters like Lulu. Champions like Zed, Talon, or even bruisers such as Wukong can greatly benefit from this item when dealing with high-shielding opponents.
Chemtech Putrifier
Chemtech Putrifier is another powerful anti-shield item, but it works best on supports or AP champions who need to counter shields while also applying Grievous Wounds. This item is a great pick for enchanter supports who can both heal and apply anti-shield effects to help their team deal with shield-heavy enemies.
- Cost: 2300 Gold
- Stats: +50 Ability Power, +15 Ability Haste, +100% Base Mana Regeneration.
- Passive: When you heal or shield an ally, their next attack or spell applies Grievous Wounds, reducing healing by 40% and decreasing the effectiveness of shields.
When to buy Chemtech Putrifier: This item works well on support champions like Soraka, Janna, or even Karma. If the enemy team has strong shielding and healing abilities, Chemtech Putrifier can be the perfect hybrid item to address both issues simultaneously.
When to Purchase Anti-Shield Items
Knowing when to incorporate anti-shield items into your build is key to maximizing their potential. These items are particularly important against compositions with champions that rely heavily on shields to survive skirmishes and team fights. Below are some scenarios where building anti-shield items can turn the tide of the game:
- Against Shield-Heavy Supports: If the enemy team has enchanters like Lulu, Karma, or Janna, who constantly apply shields to their carries, an anti-shield item can ensure your burst damage breaks through and eliminates these squishy backline champions.
- Facing Bruisers or Tanks with Shielding Mechanics: Champions like Sett, Tahm Kench, or even Mordekaiser have abilities that grant them powerful shields. Anti-shield items can prevent them from sustaining through your damage output, especially in crucial 1v1 or team fight scenarios.
- Dealing with Shielding Items: Certain items like Sterak’s Gage, Immortal Shieldbow, and Bloodthirster provide champions with shields, giving them survivability when they should be vulnerable. If the enemy’s key damage dealers rely on these items, incorporating Serpent’s Fang or Chemtech Putrifier into your build will give you a massive advantage.
Choosing the Right Item for Your Champion
It’s essential to choose the right anti-shield item based on your champion’s role and build path. For AD champions, Serpent’s Fang is often the go-to option, especially for assassins or champions that rely on burst damage to take down squishy enemies. For AP champions or supports, Chemtech Putrifier can provide both utility and sustain while also countering shields and healing.
- AD Assassins: Zed, Talon, Qiyana, and Kha’Zix benefit greatly from Serpent’s Fang, as it allows their burst damage to remain effective even when shields are involved.
- Enchanter Supports: Champions like Nami, Soraka, and Janna can build Chemtech Putrifier to both protect their allies and counter shields on the enemy team.
- Bruisers: Some bruisers, such as Wukong or Riven, can also opt for Serpent’s Fang to maximize their effectiveness in extended fights, especially when facing shield-heavy tanks or bruisers.
Conclusion
Anti-shield items are an essential part of the game’s ecosystem, especially in the current meta where shields can heavily impact the outcome of fights. Understanding when and how to use items like Serpent’s Fang and Chemtech Putrifier can give you a significant edge over shield-reliant opponents. By incorporating these items into your build at the right time, you ensure that shields don’t negate your damage, allowing your team to secure key objectives and dominate team fights.
When playing against shield-heavy compositions, always be mindful of how much value an anti-shield item can bring to your team. The right item choice can often be the difference between victory and defeat, especially in tightly contested games.
