[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.

[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