Can You Only Buy One Mythic Item? Understanding League of Legends’ Mythic System
The straightforward answer is: yes, you can only buy one Mythic item in League of Legends. This is a fundamental rule of the game’s item system, designed to create meaningful choices and prevent players from stacking overpowered effects. Mythic items are a cornerstone of strategic gameplay, and understanding their limitations is crucial for success on the Summoner’s Rift.
What are Mythic Items?
Before delving deeper, let’s define what Mythic items are. They are a special class of completed items, meaning they cannot be further upgraded or used to build other items. They all possess a unique Mythic Passive, which provides bonus stats or effects based on other completed items you own. Mythic items are distinguished from Legendary items, which are also finished but lack the Mythic Passive. Most significantly, you are restricted to owning only one Mythic item at a time.
Why the Limitation?
The restriction to one Mythic item is a deliberate design choice by Riot Games. It forces players to make a significant decision early in the game, dictating the direction of their build. This limitation ensures:
- Build Diversity: By preventing players from combining multiple Mythic effects, the system encourages experimentation with different builds, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
- Strategic Depth: Choosing your Mythic item requires careful consideration of your champion’s playstyle, the enemy team composition, and the current state of the game.
- Balanced Gameplay: Stacking multiple powerful Mythic effects would create overpowered champions, disrupting the game’s balance and fairness.
How the Mythic Restriction Works
The restriction is not just about purchasing multiple completed Mythic items; it also extends to Mythic Components.
- One Mythic Item: You can only have one Mythic item in your inventory at any time. If you try to purchase a second one, it will not complete.
- Mythic Component Lock: Purchasing a component of a Mythic item limits your ability to purchase other Mythic items not built from that same component. This ensures players cannot accidentally purchase components for multiple mythics.
- Shop Organization: The in-game shop categorizes Mythic items separately, typically below Legendary items. This helps players easily identify them and understand their unique nature.
When to Buy Your Mythic Item
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, generally speaking:
- Mythic First?: Most players aim to complete their Mythic item before their third item. However, some champions, like Ezreal with his Manamune build, benefit from completing a different item first.
- Strategic Consideration: It’s crucial to consider your champion’s power curve, the enemy team’s composition, and your own lane matchup before rushing a Mythic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mythic Items
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the Mythic item system:
1. What is a Mythic Passive?
A Mythic Passive is an additional effect granted by your Mythic item. This passive usually scales based on the number of completed Legendary items you have in your inventory. It is a crucial element in building your champion’s power throughout the game.
2. Are Mythic items always better than Legendary items?
Not necessarily. Legendary items are the higher rarity of items than Mythical. However, “better” is subjective and depends on your needs. Mythic items provide a powerful base and passive, but legendary items offer unique effects that might be better for specific situations.
3. Can I sell my Mythic item and buy a different one?
Yes, you can. You can sell your Mythic item and then purchase a different Mythic. However, you will lose the gold you invested in your previous Mythic, so this decision should be carefully considered.
4. What happens if I try to buy a second Mythic item?
The game prevents you from purchasing a second completed Mythic item. If you try, the item will not complete and you will have wasted gold on a component that can’t be used.
5. Does purchasing a Mythic component prevent me from buying other Mythic components?
Yes, purchasing a Mythic component means you can only complete Mythic items that are built from that component. This avoids potential confusion and wasted resources on incompatible paths.
6. Are Mythic items being removed?
Yes, Riot Games announced the removal of Mythic items at the start of the next year (date specific to original post). The original purpose of mythic items to simplify power growth and streamline champion builds have become a problematic concept that they’re now opting to remove.
7. Where are Mythic items located in the shop?
Mythic items are in a separate category in the shop, usually located below the Legendary item section. This makes them easy to find and distinguish.
8. Can you buy Mythic skins?
Yes, in League of Legends, you can acquire Mythic skins through the Mythic Store. These include Prestige Skins, Hextech Skins, and rare un-vaulted Mythic Gems.
9. Are Mythic skins rare?
Yes, Mythic skins are considered rare and are often exclusive, requiring dedicated effort or special events to obtain.
10. How does Mythic weapon rarity compare to Exotic weapons in some games?
In games with both, Mythic weapons are typically the highest tier of standard weapons found on the ground. Exotic weapons are rarer and often offer different, sometimes less powerful but more unique playstyles.
11. What does “Mythic Rare” mean?
In games with trading cards, such as Magic the Gathering, Mythic Rare indicates a card with a lower chance of appearing in booster packs compared to rare cards, denoted with a red-orange symbol.
12. How does the Mythic Essence Shop work?
The Mythic Essence Shop in League of Legends rotates its content periodically. Mythic content rotates roughly every 6 patches, while Prestige content rotates every 2 patches.
13. When were Mythic items added to League of Legends?
Mythic items were introduced in early 2021 as part of significant pre-season changes. Their intent was to add structure to builds but have now been deemed a problematic concept.
14. Are Mythic items the highest rarity?
In general terms, “Mythical” is a rarity tier, usually more than “rare,” but usually below legendary. However, context matters, and some games use the term “Mythic” differently.
15. How do you acquire Mythic gear in some games?
In some games, Mythic gear is the highest rarity and can be obtained through AFK Rewards, purchased from the Guild Shop, or acquired through special events, usually at a slow rate.
Conclusion
The one-Mythic-item rule in League of Legends is a crucial aspect of the game’s design, promoting strategic decision-making, build diversity, and balanced gameplay. Understanding how Mythic items work, their limitations, and when to purchase them will significantly improve your performance on the Summoner’s Rift. The key is to choose your Mythic wisely, considering your champion’s needs, the enemy team composition, and the current state of the game. Even with their impending removal, the strategies and decision-making principles gained from using them will be beneficial to your game-play.