Change Shaco's Backstab to a more meaningful passive? Or a bonus passive on Shaco?

Darkomantis··2 votes·1,197 views

Shaco is feared by players and Rioters alike but we can all agree that he has situational unreliable damage at different times of the game between his Backstab, Jitb, and his clone. But I want to focus on his passive for now. Backstab can be very strong in early game ganks where the enemy will be running away from you or when they are caught off-guard. However, it becomes underwhelming when the laning phase ends or if the enemy you're fighting grows exponentially strong. You're forced into this "enemy not playing defensively/can't handle 2v1 then take advatange if not then hope you can farm jungle to be relevant and take objectives". Most of the time you'll make use of Backstab with only Deceive and Two-Shiv as that is the most memorable thing Shaco players know to use (throw E when the enemy is running away).

I think it would be in Shaco's best interest if Backstab would instead only work on his abilities and then give him a scaling passive(either bonus damage or attack speed that becomes stronger as he levels) so that he has a bit more flexibility.

I have a poll up for you're opinions:

  1. Backstab will only work with ability damage while he gets a scaling passive
  2. Backstab should be replaces with a new passive
  3. He is fine as is.
  4. Other(specify in comments)

4 Comments

Cloud Potato1 votes

Backstab is conceptually pretty neat, but gameplay wise does it do much? I think that the lack of turn rate in this game diminishes its gameplay a lot. There is something I think it does that's cool though, and it's that it encourages Shaco to be on the move. Always moving around makes your opponent want to move too, creating some kind of uncomfortable situation where both players are trying to out-maneuver each other. Also slightly disincentives Attack Speed, which is a little ironic considering the Movement Speed items tend to give AS too.

I actually think Backstab should stay. Shaco himself should have more Movement Speed though, to really encourage him moving around for that Backstab bonus. His survivability and susceptibility to CC sorta ruins it all, though. Kinda hard to look at Backstab in a vacuum due to his numerous gameplay issues.

Darkomantis1 votes

Movement speed will help ensure that the ganks that are successful are won even harder and not actually help Shaco in the long run when he falls behind and can't make use of Backstab.

Deep Terror Nami1 votes

Other: Backstab works with Shiv? I thought it only worked for auto attacks -_-

RIGed1 votes

Shaco is fine as is, yes it can be a bit hard to make use of his passive but his kit makes it as easy as possible. You have a point that his damage is situational and unreliable but when you look at his design he's supposed to be that way.

and last little sidenote if you really want to claim that a passive is hindering a champs gameplay remember kogmaws passive, he literally has to die to make use of it.

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