Gangplank + Back to Basics: The Barrel Bug

Warning: Possibly Bugged

Let’s be clear upfront: Back to Basics on Gangplank might be bugged. The damage numbers are so absurd that many players believe it’s not working as intended. But until Riot fixes it, here’s how to abuse it.

What Back to Basics Does

Back to Basics converts your stats into basic ability power, significantly boosting your Q, W, and E abilities while removing access to your ultimate. For most champions, this is a trade-off.

For Gangplank? It turns his barrels into nuclear weapons.

The Damage Numbers

With just Sheen + Long Sword at level 3:

• Normal barrel damage: ~300
• With Back to Basics: 2000+

Back to Basics GP can one-shot anyone who isn’t building full tank. Just one item plus Sheen is all you need. One barrel. One item. 2000 damage.

Why It’s (Probably) Bugged

Gangplank’s barrels have complex interactions:

• They apply bonus damage based on AD
• They crit
• They ignore armor based on level
• They apply Sheen/item effects

Back to Basics seems to be multiplying some of these effects incorrectly, resulting in damage that’s way beyond what the augment description suggests.

How to Abuse It

Augment Priority

Priority	Augment	Why
1	Back to Basics	Core - the bug/broken interaction
2	Slow and Steady	Even more AD for barrels
3	Jeweled Gauntlet	Barrels can crit for even more damage
4	Cerberus	Triple barrels? Yes please

Build Path

1. Sheen (first back, mandatory)
2. Collector (execute + crit + lethality)
3. Essence Reaver (upgrades Sheen, more damage)
4. Infinity Edge (if they’re not surrendering yet)

You honestly don’t need more than 2 items. Games don’t last that long.

Gameplay Strategy

Early Game (Level 1-5)

1. Get barrels on the wave
2. Wait for enemy to walk up
3. Q the barrel
4. Watch them lose 80% HP
5. They can’t play the game anymore

Mid Game

1. Place barrels in chokepoints
2. One-part combo anyone who walks near
3. Your team pushes with permanent number advantage
4. Enemy surrenders

Barrel Placement Tips

• Triple barrel combo is almost always overkill—one barrel is enough
• Place barrels in fog of war for guaranteed hits
• Use barrels on minion waves to zone

How Strong Is It Really?

With just Sheen and a Long Sword, your barrels can deal 95% of a squishy’s HP. Players who try this for the first time can’t believe what they’re seeing.

Add Collector to the build and you’re hitting 2000+ damage per barrel. Many consider this the most unfair combo in Mayhem right now. Some even think the augment should be turned off for GP because it’s clearly bugged.

Paired With Other Champions

Back to Basics is also very strong on:

• Ryze (Q spam becomes absurd)
• Twisted Fate (Pick-a-Card damage)
• Ezreal (Q poke)

But none of them reach GP’s level of broken.

Counterplay

• Full tank builds: You’ll survive… barely
• Kill him first: He’s squishy if you can reach him
• Ban Gangplank: Honestly the best option

Will It Get Fixed?

Probably. This level of damage is clearly unintended. Enjoy it while it lasts, or suffer through it if you’re on the receiving end.

Broken Rating: 10/10 (bugged) 💀

Note: If this gets patched, the rating would drop to around 7/10—still good, just not game-breaking.