Is Ezreal a Safe Pick in League of Legends?

The question of whether Ezreal is a safe pick in League of Legends is nuanced. The short answer is: Yes, Ezreal can be a safe pick, but with caveats. He’s not inherently safe in the way a tank might be, absorbing damage and controlling the flow of the fight. Instead, Ezreal’s safety comes from his range, mobility, and ability to poke. He’s a champion who excels at playing at a distance, making him difficult to engage on directly. However, this safety isn’t a guaranteed win; it requires skillful play, particularly in the early game and against specific team compositions. To fully understand his safety, we need to unpack his strengths, weaknesses, and ideal scenarios.

Ezreal’s Safety Defined

Ezreal’s kit is designed to let him play a hit-and-run style. His Mystic Shot (Q) has a long range and a low cooldown (especially when it hits), allowing him to chip away at enemies from a secure position. This makes him very effective at poking down enemies before a fight, slowly eroding their health bars without exposing himself to significant risk. His Arcane Shift (E) is a blink that provides excellent mobility, allowing him to quickly escape dangerous situations or reposition in a fight. This ability is key to his safety, allowing him to dodge skillshots and avoid melee threats.

However, it’s critical to note that Ezreal’s safety isn’t passive. It relies on accurate skillshots, good positioning, and smart resource management. If his Mystic Shots don’t land, his damage output is significantly reduced. If he positions poorly, his blink won’t always be enough to get out of trouble. His mana pool can also be a challenge, requiring careful use of his abilities. These factors make his “safety” heavily dependent on the player’s skill and game knowledge.

Understanding Ezreal’s Weaknesses

While Ezreal’s poke and mobility contribute to his safety, he is not without significant weaknesses. His early game is notoriously weak, mainly due to his reliance on building a Tear of the Goddess. This item delays his raw damage compared to other ADCs who start with damage-focused items like a BF Sword. Until he gets his core items and levels, he can struggle to trade efficiently and win all-ins. This period of vulnerability requires careful gameplay and a support that can cover his weaknesses.

Furthermore, Ezreal’s damage, while consistent, is not the highest among ADCs. He is more of a sustained damage dealer with some burst potential rather than a high-crit hyper carry. His ultimate ability (Trueshot Barrage), while powerful, is easily telegraphed and can be dodged, and doesn’t provide consistent, reliable damage in close-quarter combat. He also doesn’t excel at shredding tanks in the late game compared to some other ADCs, making him less reliable when the enemy team is heavily stacked with frontliners.

When Is Ezreal a Safe Pick?

Ezreal shines in situations where his poke can be utilized effectively. He is a safe pick against teams that lack reliable gap closers or hard engages. For instance, if the enemy team consists of champions with slow, predictable skillshots, or relies primarily on melee carries, Ezreal will find it easier to maintain a safe distance and chip away. He can also be a safer pick when a team lacks a dedicated wave clear, as his ultimate can quickly clear waves to secure objectives.

Ezreal also thrives when paired with support champions that enable his poke and survivability. Champions like Lux, Karma, and Seraphine are excellent partners, as they offer additional poke damage, shields, and crowd control, allowing Ezreal to play more aggressively and safely. Additionally, supports like Nami and Alistar can also complement his playstyle by providing sustain and engage potential.

Is Ezreal Always Safe?

No, Ezreal is not always safe. He can be vulnerable when facing teams with multiple gap closers, assassins, or champions that can easily bypass his poke. For instance, champions like Tahm Kench, Nilah, and Swain are identified as strong counters because they excel at closing the distance and disrupting his playstyle. A lack of vision can also leave Ezreal susceptible to ganks, especially during his vulnerable early game. In these cases, the skill of the player to position and use his blinks becomes extremely important to avoid deaths.

Moreover, picking Ezreal against heavy tank compositions can result in less damage in the late-game, as other ADCs might excel in such scenario. Teams with lots of dive and engage can force Ezreal to use his Arcane Shift defensively instead of offensively. He also requires a certain level of skill to be played effectively, meaning a new player may struggle to capitalize on his safety in the early stages.

Conclusion: Is Ezreal Safe?

Ezreal is indeed a champion that prioritizes safety through range and mobility. He excels at playing a long-range poke game, harassing his opponents while remaining difficult to target. However, his safety relies heavily on a number of factors including player skill, team composition, and the enemy’s champion picks. He is not an inherently safe “easy” pick, and mastering him takes time and practice. As such, Ezreal can be a great safe pick when used strategically with good positioning and smart play. He is a strong consistent and mobile pick that is always welcome in any meta, but not an inherently “safe” champion that carries without effort.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ezreal:

1. Is Ezreal hard to play?

Despite being listed as a first-tier difficulty champion in the game, Ezreal has a high skill ceiling. He relies heavily on landing his skillshots, managing his mana, and making the most of his mobility. This puts him on the more challenging side for new players, but they can improve quickly with practice.

2. What build paths are best for Ezreal?

Ezreal typically builds items that augment his damage and ability to spam spells. The core of his AD build includes Tear of the Goddess (Manamune), Sheen (Divine Sunderer/Trinity Force), and ability power items like Lich Bane are usually added for hybrid damage. There is also an AP build that focuses on items such as Ludens Echo and Seraph’s Embrace, but this one is less usual.

3. What is Ezreal’s primary damage type?

Ezreal deals primarily physical damage, but a portion of his damage can be converted to magic damage through itemization and abilities like his W (Essence Flux) that scales with AP. His kit has both AD and AP ratios, allowing him to adapt his damage output depending on build.

4. How should I play Ezreal in the early game?

Ezreal is weak in the early game, he should focus on farming safely and poking when opportunities arise. Prioritize completing his Tear of the Goddess and building up stacks to enhance his damage and mana. Avoid unnecessary risks and prioritize scaling to the mid and late game.

5. How does Ezreal perform in the late game?

Ezreal performs well in the mid-game thanks to his poke and sustained damage, but he starts to fall off in the late game. He struggles against tanky compositions, making him less effective against the frontlines. He is still good at picking off squishies in the back line and is still a threat when equipped with his core items.

6. What are Ezreal’s strengths in team fights?

Ezreal’s strengths in team fights include his poke, mobility, and sustained damage. He can chip away at enemies before engaging and reposition quickly when needed. His ultimate can deal high damage, but it should be used carefully and at the right moment.

7. Which support champions synergize well with Ezreal?

Champions like Lux, Karma, Seraphine, Nami, and Alistar work exceptionally well with Ezreal. They provide poke, crowd control, sustain, and engage, all of which complement Ezreal’s playstyle and enhance his safety in the lane and in team fights.

8. Which ADC champions counter Ezreal?

Tahm Kench, Seraphine, Swain, Nilah, and Ziggs are considered to be strong counters to Ezreal. They can either engage him easily, outrange him, or burst him down quickly, mitigating his ability to play safely.

9. Which ADC champions does Ezreal counter?

Ezreal is strong against champions like Zeri, Aphelios, Xayah, Caitlyn, and Varus. These champions either have poor mobility or struggle to match his range and poke, allowing him to play more freely.

10. Is it okay to play aggressive with Ezreal?

Yes, but only when appropriate. Aggressive play on Ezreal can work very well with a capable support and good positioning. However, it’s important to be careful about overextending and getting caught, especially in the early game.

11. How important is mana management on Ezreal?

Mana management is crucial on Ezreal. His spells are spam-able, so running out of mana is an easy mistake. Managing his abilities, conserving mana, and acquiring the Tear of the Goddess are paramount to his success.

12. Why is Ezreal a popular pick in professional play?

Ezreal is picked in pro play because he provides a stable and flexible pick. He is reliable for poke and can work with most team compositions. He also offers safety in the lane, allowing teams to focus their game elsewhere.

13. Is Ezreal an S tier pick?

Yes, in the current meta, Ezreal has a high pick rate and a win rate over 50% in Emerald+, making him an S tier pick. This is due to his versatility and the game mechanics, which allow him to stay consistently on top.

14. What is Ezreal’s role in a team composition?

Ezreal’s role is to provide sustained damage, poke, and some burst damage. He excels at harassing opponents and softening them up for fights. He also offers wave clear to secure objectives.

15. What is a common mistake made by new Ezreal players?

New Ezreal players often fail to manage mana effectively, land their Mystic Shots consistently, or overextend during the early game. Positioning is also a big mistake, being too forward and getting caught before having core items. They must focus on farming safely until strong enough to engage.