User blog comment:Leyrann/Hard counters./@comment-5173829-20120728140751/@comment-4834593-20120729212455

^Of course, his Q and E (and ult) also deal damage, but he'll deal most damage from autoattacks. At least, if it's more than just poking. A Thornmail is only 2k, I've found that, on other champions, be a reasonable amount of money to counter lane. It's like buying Ninja Tabi and Glacial Shroud on an AP Malphite against Riven, while you'd have better liked buying Rod of Ages from that money. It doesn't really give you anything (yeah, mana and some cdr), but you DO win your lane, and you can proceed to win the game, because, by outlaning this enemy, you have put yourself 2k ahead on gold of your enemy.

Never think in "does this make me deal damage" or "does this counter the full team", always think in "does this create a larger gap in gold between me and my enemy laner than it's cost". Because that means that, even though you have items that aren't really good, you still spend more gold on good items than your outlaned enemy. This is also why you will find Chalice of Harmony in 9/10 of my games, but Athene's Unholy Grail in 0/10. Chalice is worth the price on every top or mid laner with mana, maybe even on junglers with mana, Athene's is only worth it on some mid laners, but I only really play Ryze from mid laners. And not even that often.