In the 6.4 update, the most significant changes were made to Caitlyn and Wheel Master, with Wheel Master experiencing the most notable effects, as his win rate skyrocketed 11 ranks in just one day.
Top ADC Trends in the Patch
Korean servers were the first to enter the 6.4 patch, and in the recent 7-day win rate rankings, Sivir became the only ADC to make it into the top ten.
On the national server, the new patch was just released for one day, and Wheel Master’s win rate jumped from 15th to 4th place, posing a significant threat to the position of Kog’Maw. What caused Wheel Master to rise so strongly? Is he really that powerful after the changes?
The author has summarized the following two points:
① Wheel Master’s skills give him a powerful ultimate for team fights, exceptional wave-clearing ability, explosive AOE damage, and survivability from shields;
② The changes in version 6.4 have significantly enhanced his team fight capabilities, which is the key reason for his rapid rise in rankings.
Attached is an analysis of skill changes:
W Skill – Ricochet
The current Ricochet can now deal critical hits.
As shown: Ricochet deals critical hits, and the spinning boomerang also deals critical hits.
As a team fight-oriented ADC, Wheel Master relies heavily on W’s Ricochet to deal damage throughout the match. When Ricochet can critically hit, his capabilities are undoubtedly greatly enhanced. In the current meta where assassins (like Zed) are rampant, he can use E to block lethal skills, which is something other ADCs cannot match. This may be the reason he can once again become a T1-level ADC on the competitive stage.
Runes, Talents & Build Recommendations
Runes:
Wheel Master has the lowest attack speed growth among all ADCs, but compensates for this with the passive of his R skill, which grants attack speed when W is activated. Therefore, Wheel Master needs to stack cooldown reduction to lower W’s cooldown, but early on, he also needs some attack speed to enhance his last-hitting. (Marks: 9 Attack Damage, Seals: 9 Armor, Glyphs: 3 Magic Resist + 6 Scaling Cooldown Reduction, Quintessences: 3 Attack Speed).
Talent:
The standard ADC talents are the most suitable, with War Enthusiasm allowing for higher damage output. If you find yourself getting harassed easily in lane, you can opt for the new Bloodlust talent, which provides good healing.
Build:
+
It is worth mentioning that Essence Reaver has been continuously buffed, but I still do not recommend building it as a starting item, as it can be quite weak in skirmishes. If you have very little gold on your first return home, building Essence Reaver is a good choice. In the mid-game, most players in Korea have already chosen a combination of Blue Buff and Green Fork as their core build. The Blue Buff allows Sivir to cast more skills, increasing her damage output, while the Phantom Dancer enhances the survivability of the short-ranged Sivir. Other items should be selected based on the situation in-game, depending on whether you lack damage or survivability.
Gameplay Guide
Early Game Principles:
① Focus on solid last-hitting and farming, with poke as a secondary priority;
② When poking, seize opportunities when the enemy is last-hitting or out of position, and execute A+WAQ combo;
③ Timing is crucial for using E skill; the best use is to block enemy gank control skills;
④ Be mindful of positioning since you lack mobility;
⑤ After using W to push the wave, if safe, use A+WAQ to push your minions to the enemy tower, increasing their last-hitting difficulty while giving your side a wave advantage and reducing gank risks.
Mid to Late Game Principles:
① When your team is ahead: Consider using the high mobility of your ultimate to engage in tower dives with teammates. Be cautious of the number or positioning of minions, and most importantly, watch out for large AOE control skills from champions like Amumu or Malphite.
At this stage, team fights become very straightforward; capitalize on enemy positioning mistakes to initiate team fights with your ultimate while focusing on your own positioning.
② When your team is behind: For Wheel Master, the only option is to use the high mobility of your ultimate to pick off isolated enemy heroes, gradually tipping the scales of victory in your favor. It’s best to have your jungler/support provide vision, as lacking item advantages means you should focus on gaining vision advantages.
Key Points and Tips:
① For every ADC, kiting (walking while attacking) is crucial. Even while positioned for last-hitting, practice kiting to become proficient with every ADC.
② If you haven’t killed a cannon minion with your first auto-attack, immediately activate W to secure the last hit.
③ Timing for E skill release is a matter of speed and experience; observe and think critically.
④ Be decisive when using your ultimate.
Hero Relationships
Best Combinations:
– Annie: When Wheel Master activates R, Annie can engage faster, sometimes even without needing to flash, allowing her to initiate before the enemy reacts.
– Thresh: Wheel Master’s lack of mobility is a drawback, but Thresh’s W can easily solve this issue, and Thresh is also quite effective at controlling the battlefield.
Annoying Heroes:
– Vayne: While Wheel Master excels in team fights, Vayne is much stronger in one-on-one combat, so when laning against Vayne, avoid trying to fight her alone.
– Jarvan IV: Jarvan’s ultimate is one of the strongest counters to Wheel Master due to her lack of mobility; engaging with EQ and then R makes it very hard to escape without flashing, leading to her being burst down quickly.
Although she is defined as a utility ADC, after the patch changes, she can also deal significant damage in team fights.