Master Yi
Matchup Summary
Master Yi is a pretty easy match up to deal with, as Master Yi's strengths come more into the later stages of the game. Master Yi's only threat comes under his level 1, where he can cheese Renekton if Renekton tries to fight against him. All Renekton needs to do is play for level 2, allowing him to completely control and dominate the lane. Renekton can basically do whatever he wants within the laning phase and side lane, as he can easily stat check and one shot Yi. When playing against Yi later on, try to use your stun to lock him down so he's unable to auto attack and get resets within fights, as that's Master Yi's main win condition towards winning fights.
Detailed Tips
- 01
Respect Master Yi Level 1 - Master YI’s level 1 is surprisingly strong, as he’s able to use runes such as Lethal Tempo or Hail of blades to easily allow him to out DPS and take the extended trades he needs to over power you. Combining the fact with his potential E or Q start, Master Yi can effectively have the upper hand on you. While Master Yi could kill you, Renekton’s high base stats and Q start can help Renekton leverage a good level 1 fight, although it’s safer just to avoid playing Master Yi’s game as giving him a kill to snowball is never really good. Simply avoid fighting Yi level 1, then look towards getting level 2 and forcing your laning advantage over him.
- 02
Play For Level 2/3 Kill Angle - Once you chunk out Master Yi you're most likely able to kill him with your W, Dash or Flash up. Look to shove the wave around your kill timer, so you're able to make Master Yi lose a lot more.
- 03
Abuse Renekton's Early Game - In this match up Renekton is essentially able to do whatever he simply wants. With that said, really hone into your strong early to mid game strengths to help you dominate and win the game. Play to deny your enemy of gold and xp, play to proxy and generally lead any top side skirmishes with your insane lane advantage.
- 04
Avoid Extended Fights - Master Yi’s power comes from his high attack speed through his Lethal Tempo, items and his R, eventually allowing him to become an absolute demon in 1v1’s. Before you’re able to sustain a lead over Master Yi, try to play around your abilities to help you out damage and stat check Master Yi. Eventually when you get a few kills on Master Yi, you will be able to easily tank his damage until he has BoTRK or Rageblade.
- 05
Quick Trades - E > Q > AA > W > AA > E Out / E > Q > W > E / E Q E - These combos allow for Renekton to get quick damage off in being able to keep health up and whittling his opponent down, use these to get your laner low and look for a low HP kill with flash.
- 06
Play Waves Accordingly - Simply assess whether or not you want to play for freeze, to help you deny XP and CS, while presenting yourself more opportunities to create fights. Or, play to shove waves to create proxy angles, tempo resets or create a dive opportunity. Renekton has all the cards to do whatever he wants with wave management. Also respect that if your laner tries to proxy, simply proxy back or coordinate a kill on them with your jungler.
- 07
3 Points Q > W Max - This playstyle allows you to constantly have W’s to help you stay onto Master Yi while abusing your high damage ratios, allowing you to easily snowball and permanently shutdown Master Yi within all stages of the game. Make sure to put 3 points into your early wave clear and poke, then look to max W throughout the rest of your points. Once completed, max your E for additional mobility to help enable your up close stun abusing playstyle.
- 08
Build Eclipse, Black Cleaver or BoTRK - Go Eclipse for consistent power through mid game and damage mitigation with the shield. / Go Black Cleaver for additional CDR and other versatile stats for utility based gameplay. / Go BoTRK to one shot and snowball with a damage focused build.
- 09
Mid Game + Teamfighting Tips - Master Yi’s overall laning ability is super weak against most champions top lane, making him a pretty easy match up to dominate within the early to mid stages of the game. In the late game however, if Master Yi is able to come back from receiving any gold bounties or shutdowns, Master Yi’s presence in the game can be really threatening, due to his heavy on hit, high attack speed play style, combined with his ability to extend his R duration and lower his Q CD through auto attacking. When playing against Master Yi, try to get your teammates to directly focus him before he’s able to reuse his Q from killing enemies. Try to utilise your stun to lock Master Yi in place, allowing you to easily shut him down and prevent him from shredding the rest of you and your team. Beating Yi is a team effort in the later stages of the game, so make sure to communicate it as a priority in being able to win the game.