Damage Contribution - A Small Critique on Its Usage

Damage Contribution (sometimes referred to as Damage %, Damage Distribution, or Damage Share) seems to be one of the key statistics used for competitive League of Legends these days. It is often displayed on live streams as a summary statistics to argue the prowess - or lack there of - of players.

Generally speaking, Damage Contribution is computed by dividing a player's damage dealt to champions to the sum of his team's damage dealt to champions. While this can be useful in evaluating the playstyle of teams and of players, a problematic issue with this measure is that it does not take into account of the champions being played. Simply put, a pokey and/or AOE heavy champion will do far more damage than a single target, bursty champion (aka assassin), skewing the numbers depending on the champion played.

To quickly illustrate this effect, I retrieved 150k Platinum+ NA solo queue games from Patch 5.12 and computed the Damage Contribution of 20 most popular mid laners and Kog'Maw for won games.

Champion	Average Damage Contribution
Ezreal	31.8%
Kog'Maw	29.6%
Viktor	28.4%
Vladimir	28.2%
Ziggs	27.9%
Talon	26.7%
Diana	26.2%
Azir	26.0%
Ahri	25.9%
Katarina	25.9%
Annie	25.9%
Lux	25.5%
Malzahar	25.4%
Twisted Fate	25.1%
Yasuo	25.1%
Zed	24.2%
Cho'Gath	24.2%
Orianna	23.6%
Fizz	23.5%
LeBlanc	23.4%
Ekko	21.4%

Below is a graphical representation of the comparison of Damage Contribution for Zed, Viktor, and Kog'Maw.

Therefore, we see that on average, mid lane Ezreal is about 8% higher Damage Contribution than Fizz on average, seemingly due to the fact that they are different champions and they deal damage differently: Ezreal is a poke champion, Fizz is an all-in assassin. While this is data from solo queue and not competitive, it's not hard to see that the similar effect can be observed for competitive (but we can never verify the effect due extremely small number of competitive games per patch). With this in mind, it is interesting to ponder if it is meaningful to compare Damage Contribution for different players who may have been playing different champions.

Jungle Item Enchantment Popularity: Patch 4.20 to 5.15

Some plots for the jungle enchantment popularity from Patch 4.20 to 5.15 for NA solo queue, junglers only (top lane smite users are not counted).

Note:

1. To keep my sanity, I renamed "Patch 5.1" as "Patch 5.01" and so on. I think it makes more sense anyway.
2. Cinderhulk was introduced in Patch 5.5. Runeglaive was introduced in Patch 5.12. Devourer was reworked in Patch 5.13 (with Sated).

The same information in a different plot.

Black Market Brawlers Statistics

280k Black Market Brawlers (BMB) games collected with win rate computed per champion (non-mirrors only). Additionally, since BMB is very similar to Blind Pick, I collected 100k Blind Pick games from the same patch with comparable players for comparison.

Note that BMB games are Blind Draft - 6 bans are given. This has definite impact on champion popularity (see: Yasuo).

1. Win Rate and Popularity (Click on the columns to sort)

Champion	BMB Popularity	Blind Popularity	Popularity Difference	BMB Win Rate	Blind Win Rate	Win Difference
Aatrox	7.60%	5.29%	2.31%	53.97%	51.58%	2.39%
Ahri	11.60%	11.34%	0.26%	53.36%	53.02%	0.34%
Akali	4.40%	5.06%	-0.66%	47.84%	50.45%	-2.61%
Alistar	5.80%	6.66%	-0.86%	49.25%	49.06%	0.19%
Amumu	4.50%	4.28%	0.22%	54.48%	54.32%	0.16%
Anivia	2.90%	2.80%	0.10%	52.71%	50.99%	1.72%
Annie	11.90%	11.95%	-0.05%	51.16%	51.66%	-0.51%
Ashe	17.50%	16.85%	0.65%	51.20%	49.52%	1.68%
Azir	5.60%	6.64%	-1.04%	45.41%	46.48%	-1.07%
Bard	11.90%	15.47%	-3.57%	42.79%	43.03%	-0.24%
Blitzcrank	15.10%	17.96%	-2.86%	53.30%	54.09%	-0.79%
Brand	5.60%	4.49%	1.11%	52.39%	52.91%	-0.52%
Braum	6.40%	5.39%	1.01%	51.85%	52.70%	-0.85%
Caitlyn	13.90%	11.33%	2.57%	50.77%	49.70%	1.07%
Cassiopeia	2.60%	2.35%	0.25%	45.34%	45.31%	0.03%
Cho'Gath	7.80%	6.58%	1.22%	50.84%	51.80%	-0.96%
Corki	3.20%	4.26%	-1.06%	49.68%	49.51%	0.17%
Darius	16.30%	18.39%	-2.09%	49.05%	49.21%	-0.16%
Diana	16.60%	17.62%	-1.02%	51.35%	52.05%	-0.70%
Dr. Mundo	2.80%	2.49%	0.31%	47.66%	48.38%	-0.72%
Draven	6.20%	7.72%	-1.52%	50.13%	51.94%	-1.82%
Ekko	11.60%	10.95%	0.65%	47.11%	48.44%	-1.32%
Elise	7.60%	9.57%	-1.97%	51.52%	52.17%	-0.64%
Evelynn	4.90%	5.57%	-0.67%	45.74%	43.22%	2.52%
Ezreal	13.30%	13.10%	0.20%	46.01%	47.25%	-1.23%
Fiddlesticks	3.50%	2.99%	0.51%	47.24%	45.47%	1.77%
Fiora	7.70%	5.80%	1.90%	53.27%	53.71%	-0.44%
Fizz	13.90%	16.72%	-2.82%	50.13%	50.34%	-0.20%
Galio	1.70%	1.36%	0.34%	52.20%	51.60%	0.60%
Garen	10.60%	9.37%	1.23%	51.32%	51.43%	-0.11%
Gnar	9.40%	9.01%	0.39%	47.38%	48.79%	-1.41%
Gragas	3.20%	3.83%	-0.63%	45.69%	47.76%	-2.07%
Graves	14.40%	14.38%	0.02%	50.20%	49.43%	0.78%
Hecarim	4.70%	4.36%	0.34%	49.17%	49.43%	-0.26%
Heimerdinger	9.70%	6.03%	3.67%	54.55%	54.76%	-0.21%
Irelia	5.90%	6.87%	-0.97%	49.78%	51.06%	-1.27%
Janna	7.30%	6.56%	0.74%	54.11%	53.95%	0.17%
Jarvan IV	5.50%	5.37%	0.13%	50.26%	49.77%	0.50%
Jax	10.50%	9.34%	1.16%	52.11%	51.19%	0.92%
Jayce	4.10%	4.46%	-0.36%	46.75%	48.75%	-2.00%
Jinx	22.40%	19.51%	2.89%	52.09%	51.39%	0.70%
Kalista	6.80%	7.93%	-1.13%	46.63%	46.24%	0.38%
Karma	5.10%	3.57%	1.53%	50.39%	48.91%	1.49%
Karthus	2.00%	1.80%	0.20%	50.43%	48.63%	1.79%
Kassadin	1.50%	1.62%	-0.12%	40.49%	42.55%	-2.06%
Katarina	9.20%	10.47%	-1.27%	50.15%	49.95%	0.20%
Kayle	7.20%	7.72%	-0.52%	52.15%	51.55%	0.59%
Kennen	2.50%	2.71%	-0.21%	48.66%	50.30%	-1.63%
Kha'Zix	6.00%	6.77%	-0.77%	46.12%	46.92%	-0.80%
Kog'Maw	7.70%	9.52%	-1.82%	48.09%	49.06%	-0.97%
LeBlanc	5.90%	5.78%	0.12%	44.61%	46.13%	-1.52%
Lee Sin	12.70%	19.03%	-6.33%	44.56%	46.01%	-1.45%
Leona	10.20%	8.45%	1.75%	54.09%	53.70%	0.39%
Lissandra	1.70%	1.68%	0.02%	50.46%	51.80%	-1.34%
Lucian	6.10%	7.27%	-1.17%	48.83%	47.56%	1.27%
Lulu	5.50%	4.71%	0.79%	49.91%	49.90%	0.01%
Lux	15.30%	12.65%	2.65%	51.43%	51.61%	-0.17%
Malphite	7.20%	8.87%	-1.67%	51.86%	53.31%	-1.45%
Malzahar	7.10%	3.10%	4.00%	55.76%	55.35%	0.41%
Maokai	3.70%	3.84%	-0.14%	48.76%	50.45%	-1.69%
Master Yi	16.60%	18.05%	-1.45%	51.79%	50.18%	1.61%
Miss Fortune	28.40%	21.37%	7.03%	51.37%	51.69%	-0.32%
Mordekaiser	2.90%	2.06%	0.84%	53.29%	50.59%	2.69%
Morgana	10.80%	9.27%	1.53%	50.38%	50.53%	-0.16%
Nami	8.60%	8.87%	-0.27%	50.58%	51.19%	-0.61%
Nasus	8.60%	8.97%	-0.37%	48.66%	50.37%	-1.71%
Nautilus	15.60%	16.76%	-1.16%	51.16%	51.21%	-0.05%
Nidalee	11.80%	14.26%	-2.46%	45.44%	45.72%	-0.28%
Nocturne	4.50%	4.41%	0.09%	52.48%	50.16%	2.32%
Nunu	5.50%	3.42%	2.08%	50.55%	47.47%	3.07%
Olaf	4.40%	3.98%	0.42%	48.41%	46.61%	1.80%
Orianna	4.40%	5.59%	-1.19%	48.20%	47.17%	1.03%
Pantheon	5.40%	5.04%	0.36%	48.05%	50.00%	-1.95%
Poppy	1.50%	1.72%	-0.22%	45.67%	46.63%	-0.97%
Quinn	11.30%	12.28%	-0.98%	47.50%	48.85%	-1.36%
Rammus	2.40%	1.92%	0.48%	51.85%	54.11%	-2.26%
Rek'Sai	4.50%	4.89%	-0.39%	46.97%	47.99%	-1.02%
Renekton	4.10%	3.84%	0.26%	52.52%	51.28%	1.25%
Rengar	10.50%	12.34%	-1.84%	46.25%	47.10%	-0.85%
Riven	10.40%	15.50%	-5.10%	48.57%	49.79%	-1.22%
Rumble	2.50%	3.44%	-0.94%	46.83%	50.73%	-3.90%
Ryze	2.00%	2.39%	-0.39%	40.22%	41.48%	-1.26%
Sejuani	2.70%	2.45%	0.25%	51.28%	50.54%	0.73%
Shaco	9.20%	8.40%	0.80%	47.04%	48.14%	-1.10%
Shen	7.10%	7.84%	-0.74%	50.43%	51.01%	-0.59%
Shyvana	12.00%	10.19%	1.81%	55.19%	52.86%	2.33%
Singed	3.20%	2.78%	0.42%	51.23%	48.58%	2.65%
Sion	4.70%	3.18%	1.52%	52.68%	52.52%	0.16%
Sivir	8.70%	9.57%	-0.87%	52.34%	52.03%	0.31%
Skarner	1.90%	1.32%	0.58%	50.76%	52.59%	-1.84%
Sona	13.90%	8.99%	4.91%	53.26%	54.21%	-0.95%
Soraka	6.80%	6.49%	0.31%	51.70%	50.27%	1.44%
Swain	2.80%	1.95%	0.85%	50.88%	52.68%	-1.80%
Syndra	2.00%	2.11%	-0.11%	48.18%	46.65%	1.53%
Tahm Kench	24.60%	24.13%	0.47%	42.25%	42.54%	-0.30%
Talon	4.80%	4.79%	0.01%	51.59%	51.42%	0.16%
Taric	2.40%	1.92%	0.48%	53.16%	50.56%	2.61%
Teemo	15.60%	15.74%	-0.14%	48.42%	51.79%	-3.37%
Thresh	17.60%	22.16%	-4.56%	49.04%	50.17%	-1.13%
Tristana	10.90%	11.63%	-0.73%	48.34%	49.06%	-0.72%
Trundle	4.00%	2.85%	1.15%	52.33%	52.18%	0.16%
Tryndamere	10.70%	8.50%	2.20%	54.72%	52.71%	2.01%
Twisted Fate	13.40%	13.79%	-0.39%	47.54%	48.25%	-0.71%
Twitch	4.30%	4.30%	0.00%	46.23%	47.23%	-0.99%
Udyr	10.80%	9.15%	1.65%	52.86%	53.35%	-0.49%
Urgot	0.80%	0.99%	-0.19%	47.20%	46.35%	0.84%
Varus	7.50%	6.87%	0.63%	51.22%	50.17%	1.05%
Vayne	24.40%	30.17%	-5.77%	48.43%	50.75%	-2.32%
Veigar	5.20%	4.15%	1.05%	50.54%	48.98%	1.56%
Vel'Koz	4.70%	3.16%	1.54%	52.67%	50.05%	2.62%
Vi	7.60%	6.65%	0.95%	51.37%	51.86%	-0.49%
Viktor	13.10%	14.66%	-1.56%	49.29%	48.50%	0.79%
Vladimir	6.00%	5.38%	0.62%	49.22%	48.54%	0.68%
Volibear	5.70%	4.87%	0.83%	52.20%	52.20%	0.00%
Warwick	11.00%	9.54%	1.46%	54.18%	53.34%	0.84%
Wukong	7.90%	7.81%	0.09%	52.00%	53.63%	-1.63%
Xerath	2.60%	2.44%	0.16%	51.34%	48.80%	2.54%
Xin Zhao	13.60%	11.09%	2.51%	53.82%	54.30%	-0.48%
Yasuo	19.90%	26.75%	-6.85%	50.06%	51.22%	-1.16%
Yorick	1.70%	1.55%	0.15%	47.68%	47.97%	-0.29%
Zac	2.20%	1.95%	0.25%	48.64%	46.95%	1.69%
Zed	11.00%	13.79%	-2.79%	46.95%	48.33%	-1.38%
Ziggs	4.20%	2.54%	1.66%	49.87%	48.97%	0.90%
Zilean	1.70%	1.47%	0.23%	48.77%	46.42%	2.35%
Zyra	3.20%	1.99%	1.21%	52.69%	53.89%	-1.20%

2. Blue side advantage

Blue side win rate for BMB: 52.9%
Blue side win rate for Blind Pick: 48.9%
Note that the discrepancy here may be caused by different matchmaking algorithms.

3. Game length

It seems that BMB games on average have comparable length to Blind Pick games. However, past the 20 minutes mark, it is possible that BMB games end slightly faster. Below is a density plot of game length of the two game modes.

Note: Player composition for the games above:

League Tier	BMB	Blind
Unranked	32.8%	37.7%
Bronze	18.4%	16.6%
Silver	27.9%	26.8%
Gold	13.1%	11.8%
Platinum	6.0%	5.5%
Diamond+	1.8%	1.6%