Key Takeaways
- Boots are League’s core flat-movement-speed item, and almost every champion buys a pair during a match.
- There is no single best boot. Your choice should respond to the enemy team, your champion’s needs, and the matchup.
- Berserker’s Greaves received a meaningful Patch 26.16 buff, increasing attack speed from 25% to 30%.
- Mercury’s Treads are the better answer to hard crowd control, while Boots of Swiftness are better when slows are the main problem.
Boots of Speed: The Base Item
Boots of Speed costs 300 gold and grants 25 movement speed. It is the basic component used to build the standard Tier 2 boots, making it the natural starting point when you want early movement speed.
The low price makes Boots of Speed useful on an early back when you have around 300 gold but not enough for a larger combat component. It can help you dodge skillshots, match an opponent's movement speed, or get back to lane faster.
That does not mean you should buy it automatically. If another component gives you a bigger combat spike for the matchup, that purchase can be better.
Boots also do not stack. You can have only one pair of boots at a time, so buying another pair does not give you additional movement speed.
The 7 Boots Compared In League of Legends
There are seven standard Tier 2 boots on Summoner’s Rift: Berserker’s Greaves for attack speed, Sorcerer’s Shoes for magic penetration, Plated Steelcaps and Mercury’s Treads for defense, Ionian Boots of Lucidity for ability and summoner spell haste, Boots of Swiftness for movement speed and slow resistance & the newest Gluttonous Greaves for omnivamp heal.
For a better look at the patch’s item and system changes, see PBE Patch 26.16: Upcoming Balance Changes (Full Preview).
Patch 26.16 Boots Changes
Patch 26.16 directly buffed Berserker’s Greaves from 25% to 30% attack speed, making them more attractive for champions that rely heavily on repeated basic attacks. Riot also increased the attack speed on its Tier 3 upgrade from 40% to 45%.
Sorcerer’s Shoes remain the offensive choice for magic-damage champions that want flat magic penetration. Plated Steelcaps are strongest when enemy damage relies heavily on basic attacks. Mercury’s Treads combine magic resistance with tenacity, making them valuable against teams with meaningful crowd control.
Ionian Boots of Lucidity suit champions that get substantial value from frequent ability and summoner-spell casts. Boots of Swiftness provide 60 movement speed and slow resistance, making them particularly useful when sticking to or escaping from enemies is the main challenge.
Which Boots Should You Buy? (By Role and Matchup)
Boot choice is best treated as a matchup decision: start with what your champion wants, then adjust for what the enemy composition is trying to do.
The clearest defensive choice is Mercury’s Treads vs. Boots of Swiftness. Mercury’s Treads are designed for situations where stuns, roots, and other hard crowd-control effects stop you from playing the fight. Their tenacity reduces the duration of applicable CC.
Boots of Swiftness are better when slows are the bigger problem. If the enemy keeps reducing your movement speed and making it difficult to chase, kite, or reposition, their movement speed and slow resistance can be more valuable.
When to Buy Boots (Early vs Later)
Buy boots in League of Legends early when the opponent already has a mobility advantage or when movement speed helps you dodge skillshots and survive the lane. Delay them when a combat component gives you a more important immediate power spike.
If you cannot afford your intended Tier 2 boots yet, buying their useful component can keep your build moving. Cloth Armor contributes toward Plated Steelcaps, Null-Magic Mantle toward Mercury’s Treads, and a Dagger toward Berserker’s Greaves.
The important part is not completing boots as quickly as possible; it is getting the stat that matters most for the next fight or lane phase.
Common Boots Mistakes
The biggest mistake is autopiloting the same boots every game. Your champion may normally prefer one pair, but the enemy composition can make another option more valuable.
Other common mistakes include:
- Delaying Tier 2 boots so long that you struggle to dodge skillshots or match enemy mobility.
- Buying offensive boots while significantly behind when defensive boots could help you survive fights.
- Choosing Mercury’s Treads against a team whose main threat is slows rather than hard CC.
- Choosing Boots of Swiftness when the enemy’s hard crowd control is the real reason you cannot survive fights.
FAQs
- What are the best boots in League of Legends right now?
There is no universal best pair. Berserker’s Greaves are stronger for auto-attack-focused champions after the Patch 26.16 buff, while Sorcerer’s Shoes, Mercury’s Treads, Steelcaps, Lucidity, and Swiftness each fill different matchup needs.
- Do all champions needs to buy boots?
Yes, it's not mandatory, but it's recommended. Previously Cassiopeia couldn't buy boots, which is why she had her passive movement speed mechanic. Now she can buy them.
- When should you buy boots League of Legends?
Buy them early when movement speed provides immediate matchup value, particularly against skillshots or a faster opponent. Delay them when another component gives you a stronger combat spike.
- What are Tier 3 boots and how do you get them?
Tier 3 boots come from the Mid Lane Role Quest, which requires 1,350 points and upgrades your Tier 2 boots. Patch 26.16 also increased Spellslinger’s Shoes to 20 magic penetration, Gunmetal Greaves to 45% attack speed, and reduced Chainlaced Crushers to 25 MR. Earlier boot-related changes, including the Gluttonous Greaves quest system, are covered in PBE Patch 26.09 Balance Changes.
- Mercury’s Treads or Boots of Swiftness: which is better?
Mercury’s Treads are better against significant hard CC and magic damage. Boots of Swiftness are better when slows and movement control are the primary problem. Neither is universally better.