Summary of Darius Changes which Make Previous Combos Invalid, Nerfs to Lane Bully Status, and Penta?
The new Darius looked OP on paper, but I think it might have become a huge nerf. I will review the changes in playstyle necessary and explain why I think there is a disconnect between the intended end game fantasy, and the tools needed to reach it.
Laning Old Darius: Q to harass. If enemy comes close, auto w-auto and hit them with edge of q as they leave. Counterplay laning old darius: Stay right out of the edge of the q and trade equally at range. If you have to take harass, let him get the edge q: This forces darius to push the waves, opening him up to ganks due to his lack of escapes.
Engaging old darius: If the enemy jumps you, stay calm, auto, w-auto, and handle-q. Apprehend if they try to run, keep autoing if they don't. If you want to jump an enemy, e them and do the above. Start with edge q if you can.
Problems: new q is telegraphed AND delayed. That means it can no longer be incorporated to any of the combos above. The handle damage does not even apply hemorrhage stacks anymore. Additionally, his passive is physical damage now, a nerf that was brushed over. New darius can't respond to in-and-out harass anymore, except with an ALL in engage. This engage is nerfed, as because of the q changes he can only auto unless the enemy tries to run, which would only happen if darius was winning this engage!
Darius was a lane bully; he relied on being able to win trade. The skill matchup was all about the enemy skirting around the edge of his q range. Now, the enemy does not have to worry, because they can just dash/shield out OR go in on him and take no stacks and reduced damage.
Additionally, the movespeed boost darius relied on to chase and get an auto or two more in before ulting is also gone.
Now, with all the nerfs, what did he get out of it all?
Darius can apply max stacks to anything after getting stacks on 1 person. But with the q changes, it is much harder to do that. He basically is auto dependent now, but his attack speed was nerfed!
Literally all the things darius needs to take advantage of his new pent-potential have been nerfed. He would actually have the same odds of penta kill if he just remained the same, because he could get off 3 qs in a fight with good cdr, plus autos before. Now he needs to get off 4-5 autos and the q and then proceed to auto everone or risk another q. AND, his q only applies stacks on the edge. Its too much. IT requires the enemies to make too many mistakes, and to not have any cc. OR your team has to hold them in place while you punch.
He also gets this % missing health healing on q. The problem is, the .75 delay is a bit much to risk at low health. Lifesteal and autos is usually a better option, only you know you can hit 3 champs for the 30%. Again, this seems to rely on enemy misplay or a ton of supporting cc.
Personal (more so) Opinion: I think Darius is less fun to play now. I feel like building him like master yi is the only way to make use of him now. I could be wrong, this is a first impression, so tell me what you think.
