Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
Pre-game choices
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DEFENSIVE BOOTS
Plated Steelcaps usually fit better
Armour and attack reduction address repeated physical basic attacks. The passive does not reduce every physical ability.
Choose Mercury's Treads instead when magic damage or reducible crowd control across the full team matters more.
重複的攻擊Reducible control移居Healing or sustainHealth-scaling or true damage
PHYSICAL DEFENCE
物理防禦
Armour · health · role-appropriate defence
Armour can reduce physical damage, but Plated Steelcaps' passive is specific to attacks.
Match the item to attacks, critical strikes or ability burst rather than buying armour from the label alone.REPEATED ATTACKS
重複的攻擊
Plated Steelcaps · Frozen Heart
These can reduce attack-focused pressure when their stats fit your champion.
Do not use this as an answer to physical spells that are not attacks.CONTROL AND ONE KEY SPELL
Control and one key spell
Mercury's Treads · Quicksilver Sash · Banshee's Veil · Edge of Night
Tenacity and a removable-control active can help against the relevant disabling effects. Airborne and displacement effects are not solved simply by stacking Tenacity.
Check the current tooltip and whether the exact effect can be shortened, removed or blocked.MEANINGFUL HEALING
Meaningful healing
Bramble Vest or Thornmail · Morellonomicon · Mortal Reminder
A role-appropriate Grievous Wounds item can reduce healing.
Buy it only when healing is materially changing fights and your champion can apply it reliably.HEALTH-SCALING OR TRUE DAMAGE
This effect references a maximum-health value. Check whether the current tooltip uses the caster's or the target's health before comparing damage or protection.
實用讀物Condemn is a ranged cast involving damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.