User blog comment:C4bal/Corki in the Tank Meta. How to./@comment-24036535-20150614163022/@comment-24036535-20150616232217

I'ma say this real quick, because I haven't yet: Go ahead and build how you want, but don't call it optimal unless pros start taking notice (They are pros for a reason).

Now carries take seals and glyphs as defensive items for a couple reasons, primarily, the damage you gain is such a small amount if you run AD, it isn't worth it, and two, because in laning phase, those can make all the difference in trades.

I'll say it again, vamp scepter, and lifesteal in general are NOT tools carries use to utilize tank stats, they are tools to sustain in a harsh lane, or late game poke, but they do NOT provide enough health regain to make a huge difference in a teamfight. If you're auto attacks average out to 450 damage, the 90 health you'd get back from BT, won't make a difference.

More CDR = More Valkyries? I mean, you're not wrong. But usually fights don't last long enough for a cd that long to be used too much, it might get you one extra use, and it'll help against sweepers, but again, anyone who can sweep a team isn't going to care about your gapclosers.

Yes, tank power is useful, I'm not denying that, but is isn't optimal, IBG's slow won't help you against anyone with a gapcloser, and lemme just tell you this: Any AD assassin, except MAYBE Kha'zix, is going to kill you whether or not you have an IBG or not, I think Talon's burst comes in somewhere to 3.5K+ damage? Plus his damage amp and armorpen. Zed can outright kill almost anyone with under 4000 health. Rengar has a root and plenty of burst as is. Yi doesn't care about slows, Yasuo doesn't either.

All I'm saying is that Corki's Valkyrie is all he needs to protect himself from the enemy, because anyone who can fight him AFTER he's used his Valkyrie, is non-kiteable- Bursty enough to kill him before he uses Valkyrie (IBG won't help that), and/or has the sticking power to just duel Corki no matter his items.

TL;DR, if Corki is ever in a situation where he can make use of the replacement items, they won't make a difference.