Nuguri, ShowMaker bring Klepto build to 2019 World Championship

Damwon Gaming’s innovative approach during the 2019 League of Legends World Championship play-in stage demonstrated how strategic rune selection can redefine competitive meta. Solo laners Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon and Heo “ShowMaker” Su introduced unexpected builds that challenged conventional wisdom about optimal champion configurations.

Maintaining an undefeated record on day two after decisive victories against Flamengo eSports and Royal Youth, the Korean squad showcased tactical flexibility. Their match against the Turkish team featured particularly daring rune choices that prioritized economic advantages over traditional combat statistics.

Nuguri selected Vladimir for the top lane while ShowMaker controlled Leblanc in mid, both opting for Kleptomancy as their primary rune. This decision carried significant risk given the high-stakes nature of Worlds qualification matches, where conventional strategies typically prevail.

Damwon’s Kletopmancy strategy turns heads at Worlds

Kleptomancy represented Nuguri’s preferred rune selection, which he consistently utilized whenever champion matchups permitted. The top laner mastered maximizing the rune’s economic benefits through precise timing and positioning. Klepto provides consistent gold generation and consumable item drops throughout matches, creating incremental advantages that compound over time.

Nuguri specifically chose this rune to maintain gold parity with opposing laners while creating opportunities to surge ahead during favorable engagements. The strategic implementation required deep understanding of champion power spikes and trading patterns.

Professional players often overlook Kleptomancy in solo lanes due to perceived combat disadvantages. However, Damwon’s analysis revealed that the economic benefits could outweigh traditional damage-focused runes when properly executed. This approach demanded exceptional mechanical skill to capitalize on the rune’s activation requirements while avoiding unfavorable trades.

Nuguri enhanced his gold generation strategy by incorporating Nomad’s Medallion, typically reserved for support champions. This item generates additional economic value when allied minions perish, dropping collectible coins that provide gold or mana restoration. The item’s additional benefits included 10% cooldown reduction, 50% base health regeneration, and 10 movement speed bonuses.

The combination of Kleptomancy with Nomad’s Medallion created unprecedented sustain and mobility for Vladimir. This unorthodox combination proved devastatingly effective as Damwon dominated Royal Youth throughout the match.

By game conclusion, Nuguri not only accumulated the highest total gold but also achieved a flawless KDA ratio. The build enabled constant lane pressure while maintaining health and resource advantages that traditional builds couldn’t match.

Common mistakes when attempting similar strategies include improper timing of engagements and failure to maximize coin collection efficiency. Advanced players should focus on positioning to ensure optimal coin retrieval while maintaining safe distance from opponents.

ShowMaker adopted a more conventional item progression while still leveraging Kleptomancy’s economic benefits. At the 15-minute mark, his gold advantage over the opposing mid laner reached 1,921 gold, while Nuguri maintained a 699 gold lead top lane.

The mid laner’s approach demonstrated that Klepto could provide significant advantages even without complementary gold-generation items. His success highlighted the rune’s standalone value when paired with champions capable of consistent proc activation.

Unlike Nuguri’s comprehensive economic strategy, ShowMaker focused on maximizing Klepto value through precise ability-auto attack combinations unique to Leblanc’s kit.

Optimization for advanced players involves mastering animation canceling and understanding enemy cooldown windows to safely activate the rune. Time estimates for mastering these techniques typically range from 15-20 hours of focused practice.

Kleptomancy delivers maximum value on champions like Ezreal and Sona who can seamlessly integrate skill shots with immediate auto-attack follow-ups. Melee champions typically derive less benefit due to higher activation risks and limited proc opportunities.

In solo lane contexts, traditional damage or sustain runes often provide more reliable advantages. However, Damwon’s success demonstrated that in skilled hands, economic runes could create insurmountable late-game advantages.

The likelihood remained high that Nuguri would continue employing Kleptomancy throughout the tournament’s remainder, potentially influencing other teams’ strategic preparations.

Damwon Gaming prepared to return for Saturday’s second half of the League of Legends World Championship play-in stage, potentially bringing further innovative approaches. Teams facing Damwon needed to account for these unconventional strategies during draft phases and in-game adaptations.

For players looking to master similar strategic approaches, our Complete Guide offers comprehensive framework analysis. Understanding champion synergies is crucial, as detailed in our Class Guide, while proper itemization strategies align with principles found in the Weapons Unlock guide for optimal loadout configurations.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Nuguri, ShowMaker bring Klepto build to 2019 World Championship Analyzing Damwon Gaming's innovative Kleptomancy strategy and its impact on competitive League of Legends meta