Doom Tips of Doom

By Helmight

They’re finally here. After months of secretly gathering their forces and growing their strength on the PBE, the Doom Bots of Doom have finally been unleashing on the unsuspecting population. Many of you have probably already done battle with the bots – but for those of you who’re looking for a few tips, we’ve got you covered.

  1. Pick Wisely. The Doom Bots you’ll be fighting are automatically displayed when you enter champion select, so you can make an informed decision about what you’ll be fighting. However, almost regardless of what bots you face, you’ll want champions with either long range or with good survivability in close range. Caitlyn and Xerath are two good picks – they can waveclear effectively once the Doom Bots start grouping and harass their enemies down in lane. Remember, the Doom Bots can only kill you if you get into range. Olaf is another good pick if you want to mix it up in melee range. Because his ult gives him immunity to crowd control, he can blow through storms of Lux and Morgana Bindings to hack them apart. Think carefully therefore about your champion choice before entering the game. 

  2. Build Smart. Kinda goes without saying, but you will want to build you champion based on the Doom Bots you’re facing. Since most of them are mages or otherwise Ability Power-based, acquiring early Magic Resist is usually a good idea. Banshee’s Veil and Mercurial Scimitar provide both MR and give you a second lease on life if you’re hit with enemy crowd control – and getting hit once is usually a death sentence. 

  3. Splitpush. The Doom Bots are nigh unbeatable in teamfights due to the overwhelming AoE damage and crowd control they can bring to bear. For this reason, grouping your team to push objectives is usually just asking to get aced. Your best bet is to splitpush. Send one or two members of your team to side lanes while the rest of you group up and hold off the horde of Bots. The bots will rarely play as though they have an advantage, allowing you to keep them interested in prolonged sieges while your allies take towers elsewhere. In 1v1s, the Bots CAN be defeated – use this to your advantage!

  4.  Know the Bonus Dooms. Every time a Doom Bot dies on 2-Bomb and 5-Bomb difficulties, they get new Bonus Doom auras. Paying attention to these and playing around them can help you out while in lane and while roaming the map. For example, it’s probably a bad idea to chase a Lux that’s got Burnout, or to engage on a Galio with Ravenous Flock. The Bonus Dooms can also inform you when a Bot gets near – once Fiddlesticks start popping out of bushes nearby, or when your vision grows dim, you know a Bot is advancing on your position and can back out. Using their own strengths against them is crucial to defeating the Doom Bots. 

  5. Careful around objectives. The Doom Bots can and will take Dragon and Baron if given the chance, and will usually Teleport to the objectives as a five-man group if they decide to secure them. Keeping these objectives warded – and warding in general – will help your team stay alive. 

With luck, these tips will keep you from falling prey to the Doom Bots’ power. Good luck, and stay safe out there on the Rift!

Have another tip or two you want to share with us? Leave them below!