The unexpected return of Lu Bu’s “Divine Drum Encounter” skin caught many Crickex App users by surprise. Now available for direct purchase in the Goose Market, this skin has stirred nostalgic excitement. However, as always with returning cosmetics, talking about value for money misses the point—these are rarely cost-effective. Players who missed out the first time or have a personal connection to the skin might grab it now to complete their collection. For practical players focused solely on performance, it’s best to look the other way.
Despite Lu Bu’s underwhelming state in recent patches, most users still opt for this skin during his occasional appearances. It offers powerful animations, a bold ultimate, and a satisfying basic attack feel, all developed with care in collaboration with the Dunhuang Academy. The main complaint lies in the steep price tag—limited skins like this one are rarely budget-friendly.
According to Crickex App data, Lu Bu’s win rate across all ranks barely crosses 47%, and it dips as low as 45% in high-level ranked games. Once upon a time, Lu Bu had a low win rate but a decent pick rate. Now, both stats have taken a hit. In a meta where marksmen dominate the game, Lu Bu, who theoretically counters backline units, is seeing less action than ever. After all, no one wants to feel trapped in lane while others roam freely.
In theory, Lu Bu should be stronger this season. In reality, his weak laning phase puts him consistently behind in rotations. Clearing waves late means slower map presence, often arriving after the fight is over. Worse still, the next wave is already approaching, trapping him in lane. His ultimate offers crowd control, but his slow clear speed forces him to stay put and miss opportunities to impact team fights. And when his powers finally spike, the unreliable nature of his ultimate leaves him vulnerable in team engagements.
Lu Bu’s dilemma lies in his risky engagements. Once he uses his ultimate to enter a fight, there’s no easy way out. In lane, he might save the ult for escape, but in team fights, it’s always a leap in. Even if he’s chunked before making an impact, players still bet on his ultimate to turn the tide with a massive stun. Unfortunately, Lu Bu’s entire performance hinges on item progression. Slow farming and heavy reliance on gear mean that even in the late game, one misstep can lead to an instant defeat.
Recent changes in the test server added a new mechanic to ease this burden—granting his first skill a base-level penetration effect when it isn’t enchanted. This helps slightly with wave clear and jungle farming, giving his first strike a bit more punch. But Crickex App users agree this is far from a true fix.
The buff only applies when the first skill hasn’t been enhanced, and even then, the 20% penetration increase adds minimal extra damage—barely enough to surpass basic defensive items like Molten Heart. In late-game fights, it might boost damage against squishy targets by just over 100 points, which is hardly game-changing. Ultimately, relying on this tweak alone won’t be enough to rescue Lu Bu from his current slump.