Alistar W + Q Combo Is Different From What I Remember - I Can Explain
Hi everyone,
I'm back to playing League Classic after more than a decade away. I was an Alistar main from 2012 to 2014 (when I originally stopped playing), and back then, I never had problems landing his W + Q combo—even before season 1 playing with over 150ms ping from South America to NA. However, after 60+ games with him in League Classic, a few things feel different.
Specifically, the target's movement speed seems to matter a lot more for the W + Q combo now, and I don't remember it being like this in 2014. If you are slower than a target that is running away from you, using your W at the very limit of its range pushes them completely out of your Q range, and the combo fails. If you are faster, it compensates for the speed difference and the combo lands.
At first, I thought I was just rusty, but then I saw top players missing it in show matches and streams. I looked for answers online, but unfortunately, this subreddit hasn't been much help since most replies are just "skill issue." I did find posts from 2013–2015 saying the best way to execute it is pressing W and then holding Q (which I agree with), but I've also tested mashing Q and timing Q after W. Nothing works if the target is simply too fast.
I also noticed that if the target is slowed by any source, the combo is basically guaranteed—which makes me wonder if Rylai's Crystal Scepter could act as a workaround. Anyway, I wanted to post here to see if you could refresh my memory. Did the target's movement speed always influence how fast they fly away from your Q, or did this not matter in the past? It feels weird because I never used to have trouble with it.
TL;DR: The target's movement speed heavily influences the W + Q combo. If the target has Boots of Swiftness, you don't, and they are at the absolute limit of your W range, you just cannot combo them. Is this how it is supposed to work? Let me know.