User blog:YurdleTheTurtle/New AD/Armpen Setups for Season 3 - Quick Tips

Just some quick tips for players who utilize their marks (reds) and Quint slots for both attack damage and armour penetration.

In season 2, a few possible configurations included: Back then, armour penetration was very strong and it was usually a no brainer to take armour penetration runes over attack damage. it didn't take long for armour penetration to quickly beat attack damage in terms of game time elapsed - going more AD over Armpen was usually quite situational. Going full penetration netted you a whopping ~25 penetration! Note the differences in the combinations - for example, the 2nd configuration is always superior to the 1st one. The 5th one was probably one of the best, as compared to the 4th one, you sacrificed 1.9 AD for 3.32 extra Armpen.
 * 9 AD Marks + 3 AD Quints = 15.3 AD
 * 9 Armpen Marks + 3 Armpen Quints = 24.93 Armpen
 * 9 AD Marks + 3 Armpen Quints = 9.99 Armpen + 8.55 AD.
 * 7 Armpen Marks + 2 AD Marks + 3 AD Quints = 11.62 Armpen +8.65 AD.
 * 9 Armpen Marks + 3 AD Quints = 14.94 Armpen + 6.75 AD.
 * 2 Armpen Marks + 7 AD Marks + 3 Armpen Quints = 13.31 Armpen + 6.65 AD

In season 3, with the "nerfs" to armour penetration runes, here's what some configurations look like now: Similar results, although this time the gap between the 4th and 5th setups is smaller - only a difference of 2.56 Armpen and 1.9 AD. Penetration has been hit incredibly hard as you can tell from the above values.
 * 9 AD Marks + 3 AD Quints = 15.3 AD
 * 9 Armpen Marks + 3 Armpen Quints = 19.2 Armpen
 * 9 AD Marks + 3 Armpen Quints = 7.68 Armpen + 8.55 AD
 * 7 Armpen Marks + 2 AD Marks + 3 AD Quints = 8.96 Armpen + 8.65 AD
 * 9 Armpen Marks + 3 AD Quints = 11.52 Armpen + 6.75 AD
 * 2 Armpen Marks + 7 AD Marks + 3 Armpen Quints = 10.24 Armpen + 6.65 AD

The big deal is that these nerfs have made attack damage a more likable choice compared to last season. You can check out the detailed analysis at Reign of Gaming. Essentially, attack damage is superior to armour penetration in the early game up until perhaps the start of mid-game (around level 7).

So, take AD runes for early game advantage and armour penetration for late game advantage.

What setup do you prefer? Do you like taking the middle ground, 'best of both worlds'? Or do you prefer going all out in either damge or penetration with all your mark and quint slots?