Riot Games’ League of Legends preseason 2021 completely shook up the item system. As experiments, tweaks, and testing continues, one peculiar build has surfaced in the mid lane with has given Aurelion Sol a peak 70% win rate on patch 10.24.
When the Preseason 2021 was introduced in patch 10.23, support mains could choose between four Mythic items: Shurelya’s Battlesong, Locket of the Iron Solari, Moonstone Renewer, and Imperial Mandate.
Out of these four Mythic items, the most popular and arguably the strongest is Imperial Mandate. It is also the only offensive Mythic choice for supports bought by engage tanks with crowd control like Maokai (yes, he’s played as a support now), and long-ranged peel supports like Nami. At its base, Mandate adds 200 HP, 40 AP, and 20 Ability Haste.
Abilities that slow or immobilize a champion deals bonus magic damage, and marks the target for four seconds. Ally champions that detonate the mark will deal additional magic damage. By doing so, both you and your ally will be granted 20% bonus movement speed for two seconds, which lets you chase down opponents.
Now comes the interesting part. Because of the unique effect of Mandate — where abilities that slow or immobilize will deal bonus magic damage — AP mages in the mid lane have been picking up this supposed support item as well.
Why? Because the first application of bonus magic damage due to slow or immobilization effects does not have a cooldown. It can be applied over and over. the second proc however, does have a six-second cooldown.
For some mid laners like Aurelion Sol and Ahri, Imperial Mandate as a first item is weak, but paired with Rylai’s Crystal Scepter, that’s when the first application of bonus magic damage can be consistently activated. The two item power spike will be felt. Mages like Viktor who have in-built slows provided by Hextech Core have the option to go straight for Mandate.
Even in the bot lane, players have been experimenting with non-traditional supports who can possibly maximize Mandate’s damage. Miss Fortune’s Make It Rain is an AoE slow that chips opponents down. Paired with Jhin, their long-range poke will keep opposing HP bars low.
READ MORE: League of Legends patch 10.24 nerfs AP Mythic items and Amumu, buffs Varus
