Reign of Gaming

Every Single Item?

Yes, every single non-ingredient item, right here, right now.

The tiers are loosely based on necessity. How likely is a team comps going to need this item? What is the number of champions that greatly benefit from it? What are the number of champs that pretty much have to get it? How often does this item show up in a game, i.e., if there is a game, what are the odds that this item ought to show up on one of the ten players?

Tier 1: This should be on your team most games, assuming you can get the money for it. These items convey great benefits to yourself and the rest of the team. Every team comp should revolve around these items and assume that they will be purchased at some point. These items can even be purchased on multiple champion types. This was Heart of Gold in S2 and it used to be Philosopher’s Stone (I feel it’s in tier 2 now).

Tier 2: These items can be items that are often required on many champions, but not on a champion type (bruiser, mage, support, etc.) or team comps. These items are excellent and standard staples. Amongst the total  group of ten players, the odds are that this item will be found there, or at least aimed for. These items show up in the majority of games, and often are purchased more than once in a game. Note that AD carry items will be here because it is acceptable to not buy a BT because you’re buying IE, or vice-versa.

Tier 3: This tier contains items that are required on a few champions at the most, if at all. These items can usually fill the gaps in many builds. These items aren’t bad, but they will only have a moderate presence.

Tier 4: These are items that are very niche and only good on a narrow range of champions or strats. None of these are required purchases on anyone. In some cases, they are strong and useful, but they are never a requirement, ever.

Tier 5: Simply outclassed items. It’s not that these items don’t do anything, it’s that they are noob traps and that your money can always be better spent, without fail. Only the cheesiest and most focused of coordination could make use of these items. Avoid in Solo Queue.

Are you ready? In order of cost, Flask first, Triforce last. 

 Item Tiers as of 12/10/12

Crystalline Flask: This item will be in almost every game. Every single role might need one of these. It gives 300 HP and 120 mana per trip. It would take a Fairie Charm 3 minutes and 2 seconds to equal just the mana part. It would take a Rejuvenation Bead 5 minutes to equal just the health part. When you sell it, the difference is 135 gold, which is the equivalent of four pots, which this gives you in just two trips. Pots sells for 13 now and have a higher risk of purchase. No-brainer here. 2.

Mana Manipulator: You only get this with Shard of True Ice. And you’ll probably want the Pick first. Also, if you get this early or first, there’s Sight Stone, Phil Stone, wards, and Pick itself that you are choosing to put second. Only get this if you and the carry agree that you are going to go poke/spam in the very early game. Otherwise get flask/wards into Sightstone or charm/wards into Philstone. 4. 

Doran’s Blade: You could hypothetically go Vampiric Scepter first on your first trip back, but there’s no guarantee of affording that. Despite the nerf to stacking them (remember, they sell for around 190 now), ADC’s will always be getting at least one. And a few bruisers, too. I don't adding a Lifesteal Quint to your page will change this. 1.

Doran’s Ring: Stacking these is not as good because they were intended to be all your mana regen for late game, where it’s spamming spells in poke fights. However, almost any mana-based mage will still get at least one of these. 1.  

Doran’s Shield: You never have to get this, but the passive makes it a really good item vs. ADC’s for the cost and against auto-attack based bruisers like Nocturne or Xin. Nice to get when you’re behind, or early on vs. certain matchups. 3.

Emblem of Valor: This gets a 1 because of Aegis of the Legion, not because of what it is. It’s nice for the cost though. If you lane-gank, beware of the aura on this giving you away. 1.

Sightstone: This should be purchased by every support and some junglers and tops. There shouldn’t have to be a debate. It gives 250 gold’s worth of health. It gives you free wards for life. Use 6 wards and you’ve paid it off. The more you use, the more money it saves you. Also, these wards are only 10 gold when killed versus 25 for real ones. 1.

Philosopher’s Stone: I feel you could go charm first, then use it for Manipulator or Chalice later, then if you lasted long enough, buying a Sightstone first, then ingredients for the many other support items available. With Biscuit and Explorer’s Ward and Pickpocket, you really can do that. 2.

Tear of the Goddess: This is only a 3 because of champs like Ryze, Yorick, and Urgot. Most champions will do better in their quest for sources of mana and mana regen than to get this. Mids can get Athene’s. Bruisers/AD’s largely shouldn’t get Manamune. 3.

Kage’s Lucky Pick: This and Phil Stone combined equal a 1, as a support in the game is generally going to get at least one of these. It builds into three items now, and one of them keeps the gp10 at the end. Two have lovely actives. 2.

Spirit Stone: It’s this or Razor if you’re in the jungle. And it’s closer to what the old Phil Stone gave. However, the dichotomy of this item compared to cloth/wriggle’s locks out a lot of junglers, and I sorely hope there is a change made. 2.

Vampiric Scepter: Every AD Carry picks one of these up. It’s the only source of lifesteal in the game. Nothing to say here. 1.

Avarice Blade: Not bad, but not a single person ever has to get it. It builds into four items, but none of those are essential items. A nice alternate source of GP10 to other champion types that got owned by Heart of Gold’s removal. On the other hand, if you get denied CS, yuck. Note his item makes Atma’s and Shiv more tempting options. 4.

Kindlegem: Spirit Visage, Shurelya’s, Locket, Zeke’s. A common necessity. 2.

Chalice of Harmony: Now it builds into a support item! The removal of Meki means you can do a 2 charm start if you’re going Athene’s, making this item even better. 2.  

Berserker’s Greaves: AD Carries. 1.

Ninja Tabi: Costs more. Still awesome, could see it even more on junglers with the tenacity stone upgrade and the tenacity mastery. 1.

Fiendish Codex: Needed for Athene’s. And two other items, but they are bleh items. On Athene’s alone: 2.             

Boots of Mobility: Sometimes a jungler or support will get these, but they don’t have to. Nothing new about these. 3.

Boots of Swiftness: From worthless to niche. Combined with relentless mastery you can stop 35% of a slow. So if it’s 30%, it’s 20% instead. It of course depends on how many slows another team has (and there are free ones in Wraith Collar and Shard now), but it makes some champions less kitable now. Also, Spirit of the Ancient Golem is a common tenacity source now. 4.

Ionian Boots of Lucidity: Same old. 3.

Eleisa’s Miracle: fun fact--if you get Mastermind, and this, you can reduce the 540-second cooldown of Revive by 162 seconds. It also is efficient purely from a regen standpoint. Shurelya’s is only ten of each compared to 10/15 on this, but Shurelya’s this ain’t. I can think of no reason to get this, rather have Chalice if so permastarved for mana. You're also getting rid of GP10 really early, because you need three levels to level it. 5.

Warden’s Mail: It’s still good. It builds into two strong items. The debuff is automatic now, and attack speed was reduced across the board. Also notable is that unlike the last Warden’s Mail, it doesn’t take a chainmail to build, and you can get 50 armor just from 2 cloths and a 500 recipe. 2.

Sorceror’s Shoes: I suppose sometimes a mid will go Merc’s or Lucidity, but not very often. 1.

Alacrity Boot Upgrade: Level 1 boots give 25 and for less. By the time you’d actually want to spend money on a boot upgrade, another one is probably preferable. And if not, you’d probably need more defense or offense than you would just another 15 movespeed—it’s going to be teamfight phase. 4.

Furor Boot Upgrade: ADC’s can kite and run better with this, and champions that had trouble being kited will be assisted by this. 2.

Distortion Boot Upgrade: enormously bad. How much benefit would a couple extra Flashes, Teleports, or Ghosts be? Are you even going to get both? When will you even manage to get to level 2 boots, then upgrade to this, all while giving up 475 that you could use for 10 damage + a ward, 20 MR + a ward, or 180 health? If you get it later on teleport, you will not be needing tp as much. If you get it earlier, you give all that stuff up. There isn’t a smooth time to buy it. Overall, yuck. 5.

Captain Boot Upgrade: ironically, the most expensive upgrade is best on supports and junglers but these are nice for when you’re pushing or when someone gets fed, or when a jungler or top gets huge and farmed. You could roam with these a little during mid-late game and push the creeps accordingly, but that’s just the fun and not the useful part.  2.

Homeguard Boot Upgrade: easily the best boot upgrades. Great for anyone getting sent to back to base a lot. Great for teleporters. Great for defending your base in late game. Great for rushing back out after you heal from baron. I wouldn’t be surprised if these get a cost increase—Furor is 650, Captain is 750 and these are…475?! 2.

Zeal: Nerfed, but still inevitable. Shiv or PD? Either way, you’re getting this. 1.

Hextech Revolver: The same people who got this before will get it now. An actual unchanged item! 3.

Catalyst the Protector: Nerfed but cheaper, and RoA is better now. And you have another (bad) option now to build it from! Not a big enough change to change who does and doesn’t get it. 3.

Mercury’s Treads: Spirit of the Ancient Golem make Tabi even more common by being purchased on junglers, because that item has tenacity, and is awesome. Tenacity is also in the Defense Tree now. But these are still solid and still the same, and still a great item. 2.

Stinger: Not a bad item, but its ending options are usually not desirable. I do feel it could be like a Brutalizer of attack speed if you're feeling lacking for AS. 4.

Sheen: Unlike Catalyst, there is another viable option for this item. Pretty much anyone can build something out of Sheen now. Same as it ever was on its own, but one of the few items that is now accessible to more champions.  2.

Ruby Sightstone: there’s no question about whether to get this, it’s when. You may wish to finish another item before upgrading to this one. Like its first piece, it too is efficient.  You pay 600 and get 175 health, which is the cost of a Ruby. That’s 125 gold for the extra ward you can have out at one time, and you only need to place a 3^rd ward twice to recover the cost. 1.

The Brutalizer: This is the same as before, but it builds into Black Cleaver now. 2.

Hexdrinker: Despite the nerf, the buff to AP ratios on supports, along with the defense cost and penetration changes, make this item respectable. It’s only 1350 to get that shield ability and some decent stats. 3.

Phage: It’s possible to have a team where this won’t be a purchased item, but you’d have to have a non-triforce ADC and a non-bruiser top and jungler. It’s nerfed, but it’s still Phage. 2.

Haunting Guise: also about the same as before. Manaless who got it before will still get it, not many will want to get this that weren’t before. 3.

Glacial Shroud: still a great component, and it now has two solid build options. 2.

Wriggle’s Lantern: this item is much better now. It’s more important vs. a big jungle, and the passive does more damage, and while the lifesteal is now only 10%, lifesteal got nerfed across the board to give 10% on every single item but BT. And this one is the cheapest source, at a simple 1600.  2.

Quicksilver Sash: If you need it, you need it, if you don’t, you don’t. 3.

Shard of True Ice: some teams aren’t going to need the cc from this. Phil Stone/Reverie, Collar, and Sightstone are all in competition with this item. Very inexpensive and the active is 60 second cooldown, and you keep the GP10. On some people, the stats for this are better, but Shurelya’s active is just plain better. 3.

Wraith Collar: Really strong stats for the cost, but mids usually have Athene’s and Abyssal to worry about, while supports could get everything mentioned above instead, and Shard. The active is really cool, but it’s only a two minute cooldown and you’re not keeping a GP10. Good item if no one else on your team wards. 3.

Executioner’s Calling: 1.5 seconds eh? I wrote an article about this item's new passive. No way is Dr. Mundo going to let you auto-attack him all the way through his ult when he has a huge movespeed buff and a cleaver he can use to get away. Maybe if the team uses lots of summoner heals. Maybe. 5.

Bilgewater Cutlass: Two items build out of it now, so both hybrids and AD champs can get it now. 3.

Sword of the Divine: as strong as it is, you have other priorities usually. It’s also not cost-efficient, and if you get a kill the cooldown only goes down by half. In sustained teamfights it won’t work too well. It’s somewhat of a gamble item—I think it’s best used if you know you can score some early and late-game kills off of it which makes it a nice payoff, but I wouldn’t just casually get this. You have to know what you’re getting into. 3.

Locket of the Iron Solari: not required on anyone at all, but one of the most efficient items in the game. If jungle gets the Aegis, I could see champs like Alistar or Leona getting this as the second and only major completed item besides Ruby Sightstone. 4.

Malady: not even Teemo has to always get this. It is possible to use it well, but rarely. 4.

Shurelya’s Reverie: So hugely nerfed, but I don’t think people will give it up so easily. It builds out of the only 5 gp10 item left (the other 2 gp10s are 4 and 2 now), and the active is strong defensively and offensively. 2.

Manamune: Muramana at the end is pretty weak, but it’s nice this charges more quickly for the few people would’ve gotten it anyway. 3.

Last Whisper: While tweaked, this item’s role and the factors affecting whether to get it hasn’t changed in any way at all. 3.

Aegis of the Legion: See above. 1.

Thornmail: Almost a noobtrap, this item is similar to what it was before as well. It is a little stronger now that lifesteal has been nerfed. 4.

Spirit Visage: The change in MR selection leaves this one of the better (or only) options for MR on some champions. If you are top and you aren’t the one buying Aegis/Bulwark, and Hexdrinker won’t be enough, well, yeah. And for those who like it before, it’s simply better, because it’s more cooldown, more MR, and a stronger passive. 2.

Mikael’s Crucible: An optional item. Tons of mana regen, but Phil Stone/Reverie and Shard are competing with it. Some people don’t need that much. And the cooldown is really long. It can be the right item to buy but it isn’t always. 3.

Morellonomicon: Get Grail and learn how to Ignite properly instead. 5.

Wit’s End: Irreplaceable for some champs. Better than Hexdrinker for some people. Nerfed, but it needed to be in context of item set changes. Its role hasn’t changed. 3.

Void Staff: See Last Whisper. 3.

Tiamat: This item can be be very helpful to some jungles and tops as it now gives all ad champions the ability to wave clear. Unfortunately, Black Cleaver is better on many champs and is better in teamfights, and Blade of the Ruined King is better in duels. After BC gets nerfed this might go up to a 3, or become acceptable on a narrow range of champs, but right now it's not the best. Not a 5 simply because you could maybe get one AFTER Black Cleaver...in a long game. 4.

Atma’s Impaler: defensively it is now more cost effective, and it now builds out of Avarice Blade. It’s a little more attractive and you can build this without being embarrassed, but you still can’t base your damage off of it as in days of yore. With Black Cleaver and the need for health stacking, this item might become more important again. It depends on the Black Cleaver nerf. 3.

Spirit of the Spectral Wraith: Very similar to WoTA, and nice stats for magic junglers. 4.

Spirit of the Elder Lizard: Wouldn’t you rather just get Lantern if you want this stuff? The passive is for laning poke stuff, and at this point you don’t need it for clearing. As a jungler, I’d rather get the Golem upgrade and get a better damage item elsewhere. 4.

Spirit of the Ancient Golem: The best Stone upgrade. For 2400 gold, 500 health, 30 armor, 14hp5, 7mp5, tenacity. It was not possible to have all this that early in the game for this price in Season 2. Not at all. The biggest problem with it is that you get no armor ‘til it’s finished. I’d prefer it if it costed 2400, but built out of Ruby, Cloth, Stone, and then cost 1025 after that, instead of belt, stone, and then finally, when finished, you get the armor. Or build it out of chainmail, have it cost more, and have it give 40 armor at the end. Putting armor in the early build on this item would really make it so that Wriggle’s junglers don’t outclass regular ones. You can get boots of Mobility or Tabi on a jungler and still have tenacity now, which is awesome.  2.

Banner of Command: How well did Promote as a summoner spell work again? Also, disparate stats. Supports are going to want GP10 and items that help teamfights, and junglers want to get Aegis. This one really doesn’t. It’s great for backdooring and the hilarity that brings, but that is a stale topic. It’s also expensive. If you’re mid and you want armor and AP, just get Zhonya’s for 700 more. Zhonya’s gives 50 AP, 20 armor and for 700 more gold. The hp/5 and passive/activate just aren’t worth the money. Ditch this noobtrap. 5.

Zeke’s Herald: Damage instead of attack speed! Maybe even a top or jungler would get this. Also, it is a flat 10 lifesteal to everyone, and when everything except BT gives 10 lifesteal, that makes the buff stronger. 3.

Nashor’s Tooth: Stronger because it didn’t get nerfed. But, it is still Nashor’s Tooth. 4.

Will of the Ancients: See Hextech Revolver. Usually no need to finish this, better to move on to other items. 3.

Statikk Shiv: It’s nice that this builds out of Avarice Blade and helps with wave clearing. At high-level, PD is strictly better for team fights and burning. This item is purchased much more forgivably in solo queue because you’ll have less money and it’s good for kiting and poking—the passive stacks faster on movement than straight attacking. 3.

Banshee’s Veil: Curious changes. This will be a nice counter in the lane phase to some people. Nerfed stats, but the passive is better. Also, fewer MR options make this better too. If you're a non-magic user you have this, QSS, and Visage as your only big MR options, so it might be better to get this item if you don't benefit from Visage's CDR and passive, and can use BV's passive and mana/health advantage instead. As a jungler you should be getting Aegis/Bulwark first anyway. 3.

Sunfire Cape: there are 8 health/armor options (7 if aegis/bulwark is counted as one), and the rest offer better auras and activates. However, it is 110g cheaper than it was last season and has all the same stuff on it. It is the same as in Season 2. 3. 

Guinsoo’s Rageblade: Super insane on the few people who can use it, but the range of people who can is narrow and even then those champions don’t have to get it because of other acceptable options. I’m talking Kayle, Jax, Diana (jungle), Nidalee, Elise.  4.

Guardian Angel: Much weaker, but oh that passive. Best on ADC’s still. I feel the passive nerf is a bigger deal than the stat nerf. 3.

Abyssal Scepter: Just about every team is going to need one of these. Ridiculous item. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is nerfed again one day. 1.

Warmog’s Armor: Worse than last season, but much less gold and time involved. Immediately better at the first, but former is better at half its stacks. I think Atmog’s is much, much better this season, though definitely not required, and health is much more abundant and accessible now. Black Cleaver’s even got it now. 3.

Archangel’s Staff: No one new will be getting this. Too much time and effort. Maybe Ryze will finally finish this instead of just sitting on Tear. But Grail is better for almost anyone else. 3.

Youmuu’s Ghostblade: Black Cleaver is so much better! This is for auto-attack chase people, like before, and we know how that role plays out…note the active has a cooldown of 45 seconds instead of 60 now. 3.

Runaan’s Hurricane: Good luck getting the position required to use this effectively to the point it does more damage than a Phantom Dancer. Yes, it’s very nice on Kog’Maw, though, isn’t it? 4.

Athene’s Holy Grail: Still solid. 2.

Rod of Ages: Catalyst passive is weaker, but it only lost 75 total mana at the end to cost 235 less. 3.

Phantom Dancer: Still the best for what it does, easily. 2.

Ohmwrecker: Noob trap. Might be okay in laning phase on, say, Singed, where you benefit from the passive and you want to get this and Rylai’s instead of RoA and Rylai’s so you can have the armor. Can help a top laner push down first tower more easily but there are other items that make you tankier on the tower while making you better on every non-tower teamfight. Not efficient, and the ability is highly, highly overrated. 5.

Zephyr: Almost a noobtrap, but you can manage to use this successfully in rare cases, such as Kayle, Jax, or Irelia vs. a team with a bad mid that is the only source of magic damage. Or, if the meta changes enough, against a team with no magic at all. Thing is it costs a lot more than Wit's End, and if you get this you obviously didn't get Merc's. MR issues, man. 4.

Rylai’s Crystal Scepter: Cheaper for the same! Its role in the meta is about the same. 3.

Blade of the Ruined King: eat your heart out, Executioner’s Calling. This item will help you vs. tanks and fatties, no doubt. However, it is important to note it’s better vs. health than it is armor. Always strong on a few, sometimes strong on more. Very matchup dependent. It’s good, but it has a lot of competition at this cost level. This item is best for duels. Remember: Bloodthirster is just the most damage/lifesteal straight up. Hydra is AOE/clearing. Cleaver is team armor reduction. Make sure you choose the right damage item for the team comps. 3.

Liandry’s Torment: It will not be worth it to finish it usually. Great in laning phase and poking and on a few select champs, but always optional. Remember, HG is 3, but this is 4. It is 1485 to get 50 AP and the passive for this. That’s all you get. You can get a big start on a lot of other items with 1485 gold. 4.

The Black Cleaver: Most teams will want one of these, even though it just got nerfed. Excellent on a very large range of champions, and a no-brainer item. When in doubt just buy this thing and you’re fine. Yay. Now some bruisers get to increase their option of single damage source from one (Triforce) to two (Triforce and this). Oh boy. Prenerf: 1. Postnerf: 1 or 2.

Lich Bane: Interesting changes, more affordable, overall it’s for the better. It’s better in early game than it was before due to the free 50 damage added on its proc. Except wait, it deals magic damage now, so even though it’s less damage at much higher AP levels, it’s now magic damage. Still, it’s for the same people as before, despite being better. 3.

Deathfire Grasp: Rabadon’s is so closely within reach and it builds out of NLR now and not pick. Yuck. You even lose 20 AP on finish. The proc is a flat 15 on the first hit, and you absolutely have to get the follow up afterward to get the best use out of it instead of just idly poking with it or using it as a finisher. I’d seriously only get this on combo stalwarts like Eve, LeBlanc, or Veigar. And even then, maybe get Rabadon’s first. 3.

Zhonya’s Hourglass: champions with this item become untouchable, and the item itself untouched by any nerfing whatsoever, same cost and stats. Amazing. And there’s the Artificer mastery now, too. 2.

Frozen Heart: Weaker, but still excellent. 2.

Randuin’s Omen: Manaless champs have to get this if they want a single source of large armor that is over 50. GA is much worse and gives 50, or you can perhaps get Sunfire instead. While much worse than last season, it is still strong and will probably still see play. The nerfs don’t necessarily mean this item is horrible; they mean it was stupid good last time. The no-cloth requirement is a plus also. The active is weaker, but it is guaranteed to proc this time. 3.

Rabadon’s Deathcap: Nerfed, and justly so. Nice that it’s only 3200 instead of 3600 though, to compensate, and all that went into the recipe cost. 2.

Maw of Malmortius: Better than before because it’s less expensive. Still generally not worth finishing, usually best to leave Hexdrinker as is. 3.

Runic Bulwark: Maybe not at solo queue, but you will see this every non-short game at high level play. It is a huge defense against mages. 60 MR on the wearer, and 30 to teammates. Sorc Boots and marks and Haunting Guise alone equals 8% / 38 magic pen.  1.

Frozen Mallet: Not much to say here. 2.

The Bloodthirster: This item got nerfed in numbers, but is even better now because of the nerf to lifesteal across the board. It is the only lifesteal item besides Doran’s Blade that doesn’t have a flat 10% lifesteal whatsoever. 2.

Iceborn Gauntlet: While it isn’t as much damage as Triforce, it is still 125% over 100% for the proc and it gives a guaranteed slow, unlike Tri, which was for auto-attackers. This is a nice alternative on some triforce champs and is a great addition to some champs who would get Frozen Heart before, but not Triforce now. 3.

Hextech Gunblade: This item has subtly changed. It now stacks the spellvamp. The passive is less damage but it cools down faster, especially in drawn-out sieges, poke-fights, contests, and laning. Note 5 of the AP was transferred to damage. Overall, an improvement, but still for the same people. 3.

Ravenous Hydra: See Tiamat. Pretty efficient damage wise, this gives champs AOE presence that couldn’t have it before. The active has only a 10-second cooldown. Cast time varies by attack speed. If you get this you’ll have at least 200 damage anyway, and a 200 aoe min every 10 seconds isn’t bad, you’ll usually get to cast it twice in a teamfight. Also great for clearing jungle and pushing, if you need more in that department. Stiff competition though (see Black Cleaver, Blade of the Ruined King). 4.

Infinity Edge: Nerfed, and justly so. 2.

Mercurial Scimitar: Overrated. On a bruiser, why not get Maw for cheaper and with much friendlier ingredients? On an AD Carry, you are paying 15 more gold than a Last Whisper to get 60 damage on top of this item. The active is the same. 2150 gold for 60 damage. You could just get another BF Sword and something else for that. What’s that? It’s your 6^th item and you resent that one doesn’t give damage due to buying one defensive item? At high level play, that will sometimes happen, and that’s a bone thrown to very high level ADC’s that get to late game that have to buy QSS. For the rest of us, I don’t know why you’d care about this item, or ever buy it unless you’ve made over 10,000 gold. Always, always finish the other items before upgraded QSS. Upgrade QSS last. This item is technically a boon to ADC's, but it should be an afterthought, and never completed unless QSS is the last uncompleted item in your build. 4.

Trinity Force: Our last and most expensive item. You got nerfed but we still love you, baby. However, there are no GP10s to sit on while farming for this, and the game goes a little faster now, I feel. BotRK and Black Cleaver are going to be acceptable replacements. Atmog's may be, too. Tons of damage coming through for another season? It's tough to say how much less important it will become. 2 for now. 

Notes

• Boot upgrades, Black Cleaver rework, Blade of the Ruined King, Runic Bulwark, Crystalline Flask, Spirit Stone, and Sightstone are the most important new items. The rest are purely optional and are niche, situational, or junk. Of these, Liandry's Torment and Mercurial Scimitar will see the most play. 
• Spirit of the Ancient Golem is the best Spirit Stone upgrade.
• Most items have stayed the same in their place in the meta, even though tweaked. The biggest change is to Sheen, Brutalizer, Zeal, Avarice Blade, Haunting Guise, and Kage's Lucky Pick, purely because of their changed build path options, as well as the huge change to DFG, which makes it less attractive on most mages, and Shurelya's, which was nerfed so hard that it's no longer an auto-buy, especially for jungler's and tops (it is still a great item). One caveat is Triforce, explained above.
• With the exceptions above, you are going to build the same crap as before. Again, in caps for emphasis: WITH0 FEW EXCEPTIONS LISTED, YOU CAN AND SOMETIMES WILL STILL BUY THE SAME ITEMS AS LAST SEASON. OLD ITEMS ARE GOOD ON THE SAME PEOPLE AND BAD ON THE SAME PEOPLE AS BEFORE. The rework hasn't changed how you build someone so much as it has changed the effectiveness of certain champ types (i.e., tanky junglers : (, pokey supports ^_^ ). If you were going to get RoA, Rylai's, Athene's, IE, PD or Bloodthirster, well, it's still a good idea to get those core items.
• The champions with the most flexibility and that benefit from all stats (such as Jax or Kayle) will benefit most from the new item diversity.

Best,

Old Man Eyebrows

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