What Does Ability Power Do?
In the world of League of Legends, ability power, often abbreviated as AP, is a crucial statistic that can significantly impact a champion’s performance. In this article, we will dive deep into what ability power does and how it affects a champion’s abilities and gameplay.
What is Ability Power?
Ability power is a statistic that increases the damage output of a champion’s abilities. It is one of the two main damage types in League of Legends, alongside attack damage (AD). Ability power is particularly relevant for champions who deal primarily magic damage with their abilities.
AP Scales Abilities
One of the most significant aspects of ability power is its impact on a champion’s abilities. AP scales the damage output of abilities that have an AP ratio, which is a value that indicates how much damage each point of ability power adds to the ability’s total damage. For example, an ability with an AP ratio of 0.5 means that for every 1 point of ability power, the ability will deal 0.5 more damage.
Examples of AP Scaling
- Imagine a champion has an ability that deals 100 damage at base. With 100 ability power, the ability would deal 200 damage (100 base damage + 100 AP).
- Another ability may have an AP ratio of 0.7, meaning that for every 1 point of ability power, the ability deals 0.7 more damage. With 100 ability power, this ability would deal 70 more damage (7 x 10).
Champions with High Ability Power
Some champions build around ability power, while others rely on attack damage. Champions who benefit greatly from ability power tend to be mages, assassins, or other ability-based champions.
- Mages like Anivia, Syndra, and Azir excel at dealing magic damage, and their abilities scale off of ability power.
- Assassins like Leblanc, Fizz, and Galio rely on burst damage and ability power to secure kills.
Itemization and Ability Power
Itemization plays a significant role in a champion’s ability power. AP items, such as Zhonya’s Hourglass and Rabadon’s Deathcap, provide a large amount of ability power to champions. AP is often paired with ability haste, as it allows champions to use their abilities more frequently and take advantage of the increased damage output.
AP Ratio and Mastery
Another important aspect of ability power is the ability ratio. AP ratios determine how much damage a champion’s abilities deal, while mastery, a key gameplay mechanic, grants bonus ability power to champions.
| AP Ratio | Damage Output Example |
|---|---|
| 0.2 | 20 additional damage |
| 0.5 | 50 additional damage |
| 1.0 | 100 additional damage |
AP and Mastery Interactions
- A champion with a 0.5 AP ratio and 100 ability power would deal 150 damage (100 base damage + 50 additional damage).
- If the same champion has a 0.5 AP ratio, 100 ability power, and 20 mastery, they would deal 200 damage (150 + 20 additional damage).
In conclusion, ability power is a crucial statistic that amplifies a champion’s damage output. It is particularly relevant for mages, assassins, and other ability-based champions, and its impact can be seen in the way items are built and how champions interact with their abilities. By understanding ability power, champions can optimize their gameplay and climb the ranks of the League of Legends ranks.