u/AH_Ahri

Everyone says to build collector first item and the apex rank otp I watch says IE is best item first. But I was curious. I went into training tool and did some testing. Essence Reaver has a higher damage output then collector and out damages IE unless IE gets really lucky with multiple crits which is unlikely and turning your max damage into rng.

I tried playing with ER in the previous season, chapter, split? Whatever they want to call it now and I found the biggest issue with ER is building ER, Collector, IE leaves you no choice but to build LDR/MR cause you cannot put off armor pen till 5th item cause armor growth is destroying your damage at that point. That means you get lifesteal like BT/EH until 5th item which makes teamfighting feel awful.

But with the new boots I feel like ER first is more viable now. In fact, the penta I got was my first game played and I built ER first into omnivamp boots. I didn't even have collector finished yet. I had D-blade, ER, omni boots and serrated dirk as my build up to that point. The reason for ER is better early game damage to snowball more and now the only downside I feel is that you won't get SB until you finish your build and sell ER for it. So maybe ER first item is more viable now with new boots, so far it has felt really good in my own games.