Can You Damage Using Abilities on the Rift Herald?
In the ever-evolving world of League of Legends, understanding how to maximize damage output is crucial for any player looking to climb the ranks. One question that has sparked debate among summoners is: “Can you damage the Rift Herald using abilities?” The answer is a resounding yes, but it requires a strategic approach. In this article, we’ll delve into the mechanics of damaging the Rift Herald with abilities, explore effective strategies, and provide actionable tips to help you make the most out of this powerful neutral objective.
Understanding the Rift Herald
The Rift Herald is a neutral objective that spawns in the top river at the 8-minute mark and then every 5 minutes thereafter. Defeating the Rift Herald grants your team a buff that enhances your next Baron Nashor or Elder Dragon take, making it a key strategic target. However, the Rift Herald is a formidable opponent with a significant amount of health and armor, making it a challenging foe to solo.
One of the most common misconceptions is that the Rift Herald can only be damaged with basic attacks. While basic attacks are a reliable way to whittle down its health, abilities can also be used to deal significant damage, especially if you time them correctly. This is particularly useful for champions who rely on their abilities for burst damage or sustained harassment.
How to Damage the Rift Herald with Abilities
To effectively damage the Rift Herald with abilities, you need to understand its mechanics. The Rift Herald has a unique “rage” system, where it becomes more aggressive and gains increased movement speed as it takes damage. However, this doesn’t affect its ability to take damage from either basic attacks or abilities.
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Ability Scaling: Many abilities scale with your champion’s attack damage (AD) or ability power (AP), making them effective against the Rift Herald. For example, a champion like Darius can use his W (Crippling Strike) to apply a slow and deal significant physical damage, while a mage like Lux can use her E (Lucent Singularity) to zone and deal magical damage.
Burst vs. Sustained Damage: Depending on your champion’s kit, you can either burst the Rift Herald down with high-damage abilities or chip away at its health over time. For instance, LeBlanc can use her Q (Shatter Orb) and W (Mana Break) to deal quick bursts of damage, while Cassiopeia can use her E (Twin Fang) to harass it over time.
Combo Optimization: Combining your abilities in the right order can maximize your damage output. For example, Aurelion Sol can use his Q (Breath of Light) followed by his E (Starlight’s Touch) to deal a devastating combo to the Rift Herald.
Strategies for Damaging the Rift Herald
While it’s possible to damage the Rift Herald with abilities, it’s important to approach it with a clear strategy. Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your ability usage:
Start with Basic Attacks: Begin by using basic attacks to lower the Rift Herald’s health. This allows you to gauge its remaining health and determine when to use your abilities for maximum effect.
Save Your Ultimate for the Final Blow: If you have an ultimate ability that can deal massive damage, save it for when the Rift Herald is at low health. This ensures that your ultimate isn’t wasted and helps secure the kill.
Coordinate with Your Team: If you’re taking the Rift Herald with your team, coordinate your ability usage to burst it down quickly. For example, a tank can initiate with a crowd control ability while the damage dealers unleash their full combo.
Use Smite or Ignite: If you’re the jungler, don’t forget to use Smite to secure the kill. If you’re a laner, using Ignite can help finish off the Rift Herald if it’s trying to escape.
Case Study: Damaging the Rift Herald with Abilities
Let’s take a look at a real-world example of how abilities can be used to damage the Rift Herald effectively.
Imagine you’re playing Katarina, a