Boards›Gameplay

Draktharr Duskblade vs. Deathfire Grasp

Dalthine··7 votes·1,280 views

I'm seeing a lot of people noting the pbe changes and flipping out about the Xin buffs, but seeing surprisingly little mention of the new AD assassin item.

Personally I'm curious as to why this item is acceptable but Deathfire Grasp was not. Both are items that greatly augment a champion's burst. DFG was removed from the game because it was oppressive in terms of balance: any champion that regularly used this item had to be balanced around having DFG factored into their burst. What makes the Duskblade any better?

If anything, the Duskblade seems to be worse, because it is both triggered by auto attacks (so its range is nebulous and varies by champion) and because it amplifies not only the user's damage but any damage that the target has taken. This seems like it will become an absolute nightmare to balance on many champions, and I have not seen any justification or reasoning behind this item's design.

It seems to me to be a rather hypocritical design decision, and I'm curious if anyone has a reason why Duskblade works while DFG did not.

8 Comments

DeathBurst4 votes

It's not a DFG, even less an overpowered one:

  • DFG was an active, you could use at precisely the right time. You are forced to use the new item passive as soon as it is off CD, so you can't control its use properly.
  • DFG had upfront damage, this item has none.
  • DFG damage amp was instantaneous, whereas new item "sort-of damage amp" is delayed.
  • DFG damage amp was a % increase in damage dealt, much stronger than the new item % Missing Health, which is reduced by Armor a second time.
LatticeGrimoire2 votes

{quoted} Personally I'm curious as to why this item is acceptable but Deathfire Grasp was not.

Because Riot hates AP champs

Lovely Pants1 votes

120 second cooldown auto attack passive. Suboptimal core build choice for your average laning adc or fighter. Remains to be seen, but I think there are better options for most champions that fall under these classes at most stages of the game.

Damage amp doesn't automatically make up front burst much better if it can be interrupted or if you don't all in = less reliable damage on a wider roster of champions.

It might have some snowball potential problems, but it's really not the same as Deathfire Grasp.

LatticeGrimoire3 votes

How is it not like an AD DFG? It may not amp your damage but it give you %10 more of there max HP.

Lovely Pants1 votes

It's similar in that its intention is to amplify burst damage. The design issues surrounding the item are much different.

-It's not as reliably good in all situations. -It has a much narrower selection of champions who can make use of it. -It has a much more selective set of targets who are threatened by it.

LatticeGrimoire1 votes

-It's not as reliably good in all situations. - But better in other, you do not need to land any of your skill to make it go off.

-It has a much narrower selection of champions who can make use of it. - I completely disagree, I think that DoD is viable on a lot of champions for Talon & Zed to XinZhao & JarvanIV

-It has a much more selective set of targets who are threatened by it. How? It is max Hp %25 of it ever one has that.

Lovely Pants2 votes

Few autoattacking bruisers are going to want a purely offensive item with a burst clause they cannot control unless it is seriously overtuned.

It's 25% missing health damage last time I checked, which is a considerably different story than 25% max health. Anyone who can soak some initial damage without getting too low gets a paltry amount of follow up from the passive. It's still not a great tank busting item.

LatticeGrimoire1 votes

Ok you are right about it being Missing not Max. I should point out that I do not have a problem with the over all idea of the item I just do not like how this give more burst to AD camps when they are doing there best to take all of the burst form the AP champs.

More from Gameplay

3 Refunds per season, upvote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay764 comments
7,167
votes
3 Refunds per season, upvote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay156 comments
3,510
votes
UPVOTE FOR URF
Gameplay606 comments
2,440
votes
Yes plz.
Gameplay456 comments
1,721
votes
3 Refunds per season, up vote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay114 comments
1,716
votes
When is ANYONE at riot going to address the awful new player experience?
Gameplay634 comments
1,383
votes

More by Dalthine

The Veigar Changes: All-Out Math
Gameplay35 comments
44
votes
The Project Bundle's Value
Concepts & Creations4 comments
4
votes
Riot Website Update Request
Boards Feedback0 comments
4
votes
[Champion Concept] Navais, the Mistborne
Concepts & Creations9 comments
3
votes
@Riot: PROJECT Skin Bundle?
Concepts & Creations9 comments
3
votes
[Gameplay] Hunter's Talisman not Interacting with Diana's Passive
Report a Bug2 comments
3
votes