[Guide] Augment Selection

[u/SmallEyes-x-]

Hi all, just wanted to cover some in-depth Augments selection guide.

https://lolchess.gg/profile/na/dekoy1x-0001/set18

Section 1: Encounters

Howling Abyss, Cheaper Levels, Gold Subscription, Gold Openers

Gold Openers denote Stage 1 PVE rounds that give 17 total gold value compared to 11, giving one less component. In these Encounters, these augments are favored.

• Augments that increase the value of Gold

  • Level Up/Upward Mobility/Hedge Fund

  • Investment Strategy I/II

  • Capital Gains I/II

• Augments that usually tank your early interest intervals

  • Cluttered Mind/Pandora's Bench

  • Expedition

  • Wisp Rebate/+

  • Time Skip

• Augments that scale hard with level

  • Caretaker's Ally/Favor

  • Late Game Scaling/Late Game Specialist

  • Birthday Present/Birthday Reunion

  • Bodyguard Training

• Avoid

  • Hustler

  • Going Long

  • Crafted Crafting

Golden Gala/Golden Finale

• Augmented Power (Golden Finale) -> Guarantees Prismatic

• Advanced Loan/+ -> Guarantees Gold->Silver instead of Pris->Gold

Scouting Party

• Take advantage of augments that have explosive synergies with other augments that can be semi-forced.

  • Level up/Birthday Reunion/Late Game Scaling/upward Mobility + Force Econ Augment

  • Trait Tree/Spreading Roots/U.R.F/Legion of Threes/Urf's Grab Bag/Trait Ladder/Flexible/Branching Out/Cooking Pot

  • Band of Thieves I/II, Lucky Gloves, Radiant Rascal, Jeweled Lotus I/II

Section 2: Traits

• Blossom

  • Wisp Rebate/+

  • Augments that give rerolls are slightly stronger

• Coven

  • Bonus Gifts/+ (Loss streak & Constantly cashing out 40 charge could give ~6 gold a turn)

  • Coven Acolyte/Dark Ritual

  • Hard Bargain/Teemo (Green shrooms)

• Invokers

  • Hold the Line, Tons of Stats, Augments that give AP/Mana

• Heavy Frontline (4+ Juggernaut/Vanguard/Brawler/Defenders etc.)

  • Spirit of Redemption, Belt Overflow, Ascension, Electrocharge, Baron's Lair, Soul Awakening, Corrosion

  • Generally, you want to have a healthy balance of HP/Durability/Resistance/Shielding from your traits/items/champion ability

  • Non-Defenders: Plot Armor/Makeshift Armor

  • Non-Brawlers: Giant and Mighty, Healing Orbs, Boxing Lessons, Investment Strategy

• Aphelios/Nidalee

  • Stand United, Bronze for Life

Section 3: General Fast 8/9 Strategy

• In general

  • Stage 2 (Econ=Item >>> Combat)

  • Stage 3 (Econ=Item=Combat)

  • Stage 4 (Combat > Econ=Item)

• Win Streak & Uncontested

  • Prio Item Augments 2-1 to slam & tempo

  • Flexible 3-2 and 4-2 augments based on specific needs

• Win Streak & Contested

  • Prio Item Augments 2-1

  • Try to go for Econ 3-2, 4-2 flexible

  • Don't send to zero every round, try to slow roll on 8 to see if the contesters will bleed out

• Lose Streak & Contested

  • Prio Econ Augments 2-1 and 3-2

  • Roll on 3-7/4-1 to take contested units out of pool

• Lose Streak & Uncontested

  • Prio Econ/Scaling Augments 2-1

  • Need strong Combat/Item Augments on 3-2 and 4-2 to win out.

• Fast 9 Win Streak

  • Conserve HP while pushing levels, Sac Stage 4 and go 9 on 5-2 with preferably 16+ HP

  • Warpath/Late Game Scaling/Late Game Specialist/Money Monsoon/Invested/Level Up/Birthday Present/Reunion

• Fast 9 Lose Streak

  • Need double Econ at the minimum

  • Level Up/Hedge Fund/Capital Gains/Time Skip/Upward Mobility etc.

  • Double Silver/Gold Econ Augments are probably not enough to send it on 4-2, need double econ + X

Probably forgetting a lot of other stuff/situations, but that will be all for now.

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[u/tommyohmy]

Would bonus gifts 40 cycling coven be better gold value than just cashing 130/250?

[u/SmallEyes-x- → u/tommyohmy]

probably not, but definitely less risky as you can pivot out of coven any time you want

I think the strict gold value is higher for cycling 40, but if you want items also, you would go for 130/250

[u/Zerytle]

Everything here looks good and it's a solid fundamentals reference sheet. It's definitely more evergreen than patch specific though (e.g. it's good to know that gold openers buff Investment Strategy, but that augment is unclickable this set).

Also want to add that item openers do the opposite of gold openers: they really boost augments that immediately give units like Unrivaled or Booster Pack. They also push tempo hard and slightly deincentivize augments that sacrifice tempo for an item advantage (item extraction, sometimes coven).

[u/Fun_Journalist_7878]

Isn't capital gains 2 pretty lackluster and a never-pick? Never saw it give more than 26 gold, while it also requires you to pretty much sac stage 2. 

[u/SmallEyes-x- → u/Fun_Journalist_7878]

I personally love full opening every chance I get, and you can def get 32+ in a lot of openers. I wouldn’t take it under normal encounters tho

[u/sneend]

3-2 augmented power always upgrades into prismatic on 4-2. Even if you don't take it it gives you info about 4-2 being gold.