Boards›Gameplay

Draktharr Duskblade vs. Deathfire Grasp

Dalthine·1/28/2016, 1:48:47 PM·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

DeathBurst2/2/2016, 5:54:18 PM4 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.
LatticeGrimoire2/2/2016, 5:51:43 PM2 votes

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

Because Riot hates AP champs

Lovely Pants1/28/2016, 2:21:29 PM1 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.