Hi everyone! I'm just a player in SEA who mainly plays captain ranked or casual (thank you insta-lockers). Currently I'm rank 9 bronze (SEA is surely hell with connectivity, rage-quitters and **** so it's a great effort not to decay). Should you have any questions, recommendations or see any typos feel free to comment. I copy most of the details from my other guides, so if your have read it, feel free to skip.
Before we begin you should consider checking out this link first if you don't really know much about Baptiste.
http://www.vaingloryfire.com/vainglory/wiki/heroes/baptiste/abilities
My other guides:
http://www.vaingloryfire.com/vainglory/guide/how-to-ardan-effectively-detailed-guide-including-wp-cp-18812
http://www.vaingloryfire.com/vainglory/guide/the-living-armor-guide-roam-build-patch-2-3-19678
Why roam?? Top
I just love playing unconventional support heroes (in other words "trolling")(once won as Ringo support). When Baptiste came out, I played against roam Baptiste a few times, and tried playing support myself. The ultility he has is incredible. Slow, stun, a small heal, damage boost, and a new "Fear" mechanic. In my opinion, he is almost untouchable with enough mana and cooldown, albeit not really tanky. So, to compensate his squishiness, support is the way to go.
Ability and perk breakdown Top
Reap
Baptiste heals a small bit when hitting creatures and heroes with basic attack and skill (heroes only) and gains a stack (don't work on turrets so remember). After 4 stacks he has 25% more base damage and 100% ability damage. Sustain yourself in lane or jungle by constantly hitting minions (but don't f*cking take the farm). Another thing is keeping your stack at lv2-3 at most times. That way you can contribute more to the teamfight by dealing more damage at the start. Also if you want more damage and heal, grab Shatterglass.
Bad Mojo
High damage output (560 at lv5 in theory when empowered). Use constantly as a slow, harassment, or heal. When you go near a bush, throw a vial in. If you get a stack or 2, there may be enemy/ies (flare use).
Ordained
Use as a barrier like Ardan's Gauntlet. Acts as a root skill (you don't wanna move), with stun capability. Overdrive first to get extra stun time. Use early game for ez gank, and spam late game with enough mana.
Fearsome Shade
Ok, playing against and with many Baptiste I have seen may ****ty use of this skill. It's easily misused as it does introduce "Fear" into the game. Some examples are:
- Fear all 3 enemies into running away at the start (waste).
- Fear low-health enemies into running away when there is a chance that you/teammate can catch up (waste).
- Unintentionally Fear enemies running into low-health allies hiding (Game breaker).
So how to use it effectively?
I and my friends thought long and hard and found some ways that can usually work:
- Fear enemies into places like your turret, base or even Kraken (provoke Kraken in the process so it fight for us)
- Separate enemies for ez kill (from 3v3 to 1v3 and so on) (stand in the middle and ult).
- Protect allies by Fearing enemies into the opposite direction.
- Fear enemies into your Ordained.
- Disrupt enemy skill.
Remember it's most likely that this skill is used for its utility only, because of relatively low damage.
Core items Top
Fountain of Renewal
Heals you and teammates base on missing health. Rush immediately at 4min shop. Try to wait until your ally's health is at 1/3 or lower then activate.
War Treads
Activate to boost team-wide speed. Chase or retreat.
Atlas Pauldron
Use against Wp carries or basic attack reliance enemies (Vox, Adagio). The most used item to counter Wp heroes. Use Bad mojo to slow enemies and get into position, or Boots in and activate.
If you're new, you may ask:"Why don't get Metal jacket for double armor => Tanky?" As captain, it's likely that no one is gonna hit you on purpose with your squishy allies around. Also, by reducing attack speed, you passively protect your teammates. So Metal is a waste.
Crucible
Trigger to reflex block allies. You know the drill.
Replacable items breakdown Top
Stormcrown
The most OP item in recent updates. It's not as good as before, but still recommended for most games. I usually go farm with my jungler for faster cleartime or secretly steal enemy farm when they just died. With it, you can usually solo, gank squishy heroes and get kills. Cooldown reduction is second only to
Clockwork,
Contraption and still gives 200 health.
In recent times, however, I grab Contraption first for free mines. Stormcrown is usually last item.
Contraption
Vision has always been important. Especially with unlimited
Scout Trap, you can make some big plays, like nuking a low health enemy buying in jungle shop, dealing damage in teamfights, and even STEAL Kraken or Gold mine. Rush first if you have to fight invisible enemies (Taka, Kestrel,...)
Nullwave Gauntlet
If you see the enemy captain relies heavily on trigger items like
Fountain of Renewal,
Crucible,...,use it to negate anything they can do. Work best against captain that you think can't do much for teammates(Flicker, Lance, Ardan in my opinion)
Aftershock
Just for sheer late game damage (I replace
Stormcrown at over 27 min). Work best against high armor/health target because of health based damage. Works well with Baptiste (low A cooldown).
Shiversteel
If you have a hard time chasing fleeing opponents, grab it. However, I think that Bad mojo and Ordained works good enough so i hardly buy it. Recommended against Vox, Skye,...
Poisoned Shiv
Remember, mortal wound doesn't affect heal alone, but also shield (like
Vanguard) and fortified health (
Polite Company). If you go against typical healing potential heroes like Krul, Ozo and your teammates don't get
Poisoned Shiv, take it from 15-20min.
Bonesaw
If your allies go double Wp and are stupid enough to not get
Bonesaw grab it. Also recommended if 2 out of 3 enemies buy metal jacket.
Shatterglass
Just for extra heal and damage.
Echo
I don't recommend getting
Echo because it's for heroes that can put their ults into good use. And as I stated, Baptiste's ult is utility only.
Early game tips and FAQ Top
*Why contracts?
SEMC doesn't add contracts for fun. In my opinion, contracts give you massive advantages early on, especially
Ironguard Contract. It gives you sustain until jungle shop spawn, aid your laner if they don't have
Book of Eulogies, and you can clear jungle faster without waiting for your jungler to tank the minions.
Protector Contract helps out a lot in teamfights, and even better if you have
Alpha in your team. I never grab
Dragonblood Contract because the extra damage won't do much and I never see others take it, so yeah, it sucks.
If you don't like contracts, take what other things you need. Just be sure to have light armor/shield as first item. Check if the enemy team relies on Wp (basic attack, Lance) or Cp (Petal, Skye).
*1min jungle stealing
Laners can use some opportunities to steal jungle if all 3 of your team are visible to captain/jungler and you're in a bad situation. My advice: stay in the tri-bush the first few seconds jungle minion just spawn if you don't see their laner show up.
It is also possible that the enemy goes 3 person jungle to dominate early game if they have a powerful early composition. Flare the enemy bush up and be careful.
*Big Treant
Don't start agro if you can't tell if you can really secure it. Steal it at all cost. A 50:50 advantage or drawback is to great. The meta is to start the 2 smaller minions, check the big Treant, fight or take the smaller Treant and comeback later.
Note: USE THE TREANT'S ROOT CIRCLE TO PREDICT WHERE THE ENEMY IS BY CHECKING THEIR JUNGLE.
*Early lane gank
Simple. Wait till enemy get close, slow, trap, kill.
Mid and late game Top
Just protect your teammates, trap people, and take their soul. Secure vision with mines. Check if your teammates need help in lane or jungle and go help. Remember that the Crystal Sentry has only 3 lives but
HEAVY damage. If you fall behind, fight around your own Miner and farm passively. Minion candy finally have good use.
Ez trapping combo: A + B + C + A
Threats Top
You must be wondering why I don't include threats above.
MARK MY WORDS. You are never "safe" against any heroes, even the ones that you consider "easy" kill. In some cases,
Blackfeather, who can easily escape your crowd control can still be killed without a sweat. It is the skill, not the strength of a hero that determines the outcome. That is always something to remember. In other words:
"PUT EVERYONE AT THE HIGHEST THREAT BAR.
Sadly sadly sadly, I haven't found any "natural" threats to SP Baptiste. Most ranged heroes like Vox or Ringo are likely to be nullified when you dash in with your team. Samuel can be slowed and trapped out of Drifting dark,... Junglers can't handle much threat from being stunned and movement limitations.
In my opinion, the worst threat there is, is actually roam designed heroes, like Phinn, Lyra or Ardan. They are much better at protecting teammates.
Until you get extra health and armor items, you remain relatively squishy early game, so try not to get dunked on.
If you comment any viable threats, I can consider putting it here. For now I will just leave it and think more later.
Update:
*
WORST OF THE WORST:
Blackfeather,
Gwen
They all can escape all the ******** you hurl at them with relative ease.
*
Highest threat:All kinds of silence (looking at you Cath) (even Nullwave gauntlet)
You are utility provider, what happens when you can't do your job correctly?
*
Higher threat: Reflex block/pro users
Like above but less likelihood of avoiding your skills
*
No threat: No shield, armor ones (exclude Slumbering Husk)
Reap their souls!!!
How to note if someone is an experienced player (70% of the time) Top
Vainglory has 4 tier skins. Usually a really good player will have Legendary skin. Others have Special Edition skins, which should usually be bought with Ice. See if they have the Ice badge and determine if they acquired skins by Ice or through hard work.
However, some people still have good skills with only default skins. Don't be deceived. They might be a new account created by old players to steamroll through low ranks.
Screenshots (from VG miner cuz I'm forgetful and didn't take it in game) Top
The second pic has lots of my death cuz my friend SpadeAnh kept lagging (I sat next to him) and basically it's 2v3 for 15 min.
What do you expect? It's SEA. I blame connectivity. (Every MOBA excuse ever)
Outtro Top
Thanks for reading my guide.
Shout out to my man Dianova for ideas and proof-reading.
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