The time has come for me to once again update my He Bo Guide for the new season. This, of course, means experimenting with a lot of new items and purchase orders. With the (re)introduction of starter items, a lot of things need reconsidering. Usually, I would not post a blog discussing my planned changes. But around this time of year, matchmaking completely implodes on itself and it becomes increasingly difficult to gather meaningful research in game (as games usually end before I can buy my fourth-fifth item). I could wait until things are fixed, but ideally I would like to have these changes implemented for the season 8 guide contest.
So, to whoever ends up reading this, I would like to know your thoughts (keep in mind all questions pertain to joust only).
First off: Do you see value in postponing boots to your third item in order to buy both a starter item and rush a sustain item (conduit > bancrofts > boots)?
Second: Could it ever be useful to completely skip the starter item, then sell boots to directly purchase it's upgraded version at level 20?
Third: Would you ever consider not purchasing a starter item at all?
Fourth: When the build has bancrofts; vampiric shroud (sacrificial shroud), or conduit gem (archmage's gem)?
Hopefully any answers to these questions will help me piece together research that I have otherwise been unable to get in game.
2nd: depends on the starter IMO only if you plan to go animosity e.g. on
3rd. No with their upgrades I see too much value lost to not want one at a certain point in the game. Same thing with the OG starters not grabbing it is losing a lot of value, so much I consider it a beginner mistake. And now even more as they have strong upgrades.
4th, preference. I would say that if you plan on typhons vampiric is gonna do better, only bancrofts conduit will still be fine
I'm thinking if you go
I tested it out a few times and it worked decently but proved to have it's issues in some areas. I considered
The lazy side of me fears that I may have to do a full reconsideration of my current build instead of trying to jam items into it and seeing what fits, like 2 puzzle pieces that don't go together.
2. A lot of people are doing this but without needing to sell boots, mostly with animosity.
3. Only cases would be an early game where you have rushed
4. Personally I've played around with not going for Bancroft's and it has felt fine, although I understand the need to do so. I think