Rune Question

[Gildersleeve]

What is the general thought on getting the runes that escalate with each level or that are absolute values? For example: +0.15 armor / level (+2.7 at level 18) vs. +1.41 armor.

Anyways, I've been focusing my level 3 runes on the escalating ones, but part of me feels the early game advantage would outweigh the late game benefit. But I go back and forth on it.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Vydel]

I look at them kind of like how many levels will it take for my build up runes to match that of the flat runes? If I can get to the same level as the flat runes by around level 7-8 I go with the build up runes...

What character and what type of play style are you going for with said character? or is this just a general use type page?

[Gildersleeve]

That's a good way to look at it. I should whip out excel. Though I think I saw a big downloadable excel that has the runes on them, maybe I'll do some analysis with it. Which makes me a nerd I think.

[xackery]

If you have scaling runes make sure you're a champ who can solo a lane well, which FROM MY PERSONAL OPINION a good soloing champ is not one who necessarily can kill minions alone like warwick, or push crazy like mordekeizer, instead it's someone who can defend a tower against multiple champions like Sivir by killing the minions.. This gives you a competitive edge leveling in a lane even if outnumbered.. EXP quint runes combined with level 18 escalating items is a nifty combo too. :)

Another good way is to find a champ who can escape messy situations (e.g. shaco) and has the stay power to live a while.. if your champ isn't always leading the team to level 18 then runes that scale aren't as useful to you, if you die a lot too that makes level 18 runes less useful.. :)

If you're a champ who's typically underleveled (Rammus for example), i think leveling runes aren't as good.

Also with armor runes, I find the masteries are more useful than the runes (typically)... especially since armor is so cheap to buy item wise in game, and also is easy to counter (last whisper, black cleaver, stark's, etc) your runes doing armor penetration or cooldown redux or even dodge can be more handy than armor runes..

[Blackmoses]

anything/18 is always stronger than the direct runes. But it depends and what you are playing. Is it a 5v5? or maybe a 3v3? in a 5v5 the game can be expected to last long enough to where it's worth using runes/18, however in a 3v3 game it won't last longer that 15 20 min so runes/18 not quite as good.

Also remember that your runes will go up at the same time you're buying items. Also remember that your champion base stats go up each level. So with runes/18 with each level up your champion will be that much stronger that he normally would have.

As far as the previous post says about survivability in lanes early game I use flat HP quints to take care of my early game laning phase. This allows me to focus on runes that get more powerful per level. If you're really worried about it get a catalyst early in combination with HP Quints.

[Xine]

Just as a random fact.

Runes that scale with level are generally geared to match up with their flat value counterparts around 13.

I have all leveling runes except for my reds because magic pen doesn't have a leveling option.

Most of the champions I play tend to hold and stay in a lane well. By the time you hit level 9 the difference between the two is negligible, and then again at end game 18 the leveling runes shine.

[Cornholio]

Here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AnUtWy3ckLGddEZQY3FGR1dfeTJRaFp5bVlXcmszN mc&gid=0

Good rune info sheet.