Jax nerf, or nerfing what makes Jax strong?

DrShroob·5/21/2014, 10:54:38 AM·4 votes·931 views

I'm pretty sure everyone is aware of Jax's current ban rate and pick rate which is fairly high, with his ban rate being near old Kassadin's level.

Now, the question is, do you nerf Jax, who hasn't had any changes since 2010, or nerf the things that made him strong, namely, summoner 12 being buffed like it was, or his itemization, item 3078 , item 3153 ?

Obvious, balance-wise, Jax is NOT fine, or else he wouldn't be banned soo much at high elo, much like Kassadin was. At the moment, Jax's early game is nearly not bad enough to warrant the identity of a 'bad early game champion with amazing late game', especially with how Teleport was changed, meaning that even if he takes some hits, he can go back to base and heal up fine, and get back into lane without much of an issue. Unlike Vayne, who is the definition of a champ with bad early game and powerful late, Jax has a large power spike at level 6, and if he gets ahead, it's usually downhill for his opponent from there.

Currently, he's sitting at a near EIGHTY PERCENT ban rate. Let me repeat that. 80%. Only Kassadin and Thresh have even come close to that in recent memory, with Kassadin being reworked and Thresh receiving nerfs over the course of several patches.

The question is... how will Riot balance this? Jax's rise to power wasn't due to direct buffs, it was due to all the small things that happened to change that all helped him. Teleport's change, new Phage, BotRK, and some of his worse matchups getting nerfed, all helped indirectly 'buff' Jax.

At the moment, can we say that Jax is the new Kassadin?

8 Comments

Hyrum Graff5/21/2014, 4:50:50 PM3 votes

I think he's strong because he does everything a little too well.

  • He's tanky enough to towerdive
  • Great at 1v1ing
  • Good teamfighting
  • Good splitpushing
  • Takes towers super fast
  • Early game isn't that weak
  • Strong mid and late game

If Jax had more defined strengths and weaknesses I think it would help him both in terms of power level, and knowing when to pick him (because right now the answer is, always).

Kassadin level? I wouldn't say so - 80% is quite a bit different from the high 90's that kass was sitting at.

CaptainWednesday5/21/2014, 12:47:23 PM1 votes

Its all that on-hit damage that hurts. Garen's not a bad counterpick, but it seems every time Jax will come back to dominate. You need a blinder on your team to deal with his significant basics. His Spellblade, W->Q, proc ult passive hurts A LOT. I'm not sure whether its Jax's damage or mechanics that need to be looked at, but I think starting with his Ultimate (both passive damage and A/MR) is a good option.