@Meddler @CertainlyT Mordekaiser PBE Slight Oversight

Hey @Meddler, @CertainlyT @Riot,

I know there is a lot of controversy and frustration over the proposed Morde changes, but I will admit they do work once you do the math and figure out the items / runes /masteries that make these changes viable not just in Bot Lane, but also gives him a Top lane and potential jungle presence (Mid Lane might be dead for him given certain match ups). For people interested in the masteries etc. I use as a Morde Main I will list them below.

But for RIot I believe the main issue is see is an oversight that is partially due to Morde changes, but also partially due to indirect itemization and armor changes. This issue is with his W not be accessible unless there is an ally champ around. The problem is two-fold, 1) You need an ally champion to activate the skill, 2) The skill completely removed Morde's defensive stats, which at rank 5 is fairly significant. This is a violation of a more Tanky Juggernaut/ Bruiser archetype that Morde is being pushed into regardless of Lane.

Now that his primary skills have shifted and there is more of an emphasis on hybrid AD/AP going full Armor item say Randuin is kind of a forced choice that handicaps certain playstyles and build styles. Given his Iron Man Passive change building HP is a necessity, but not necessarily armor especially given the small Armor nerfs and the AP item changes, in this case Rylai, in which I have estimated that there might be a shift from building Randuin replacing it with Rylai as you gain health and AP instead or Armor while maintaining the slow.

But, this is where the issue comes into play doing heavily punishes Morde for lacking any armor unless you go Armor runes, specifically scaling armor, even so his defense takes a significant hit. I think it might be a worthy idea to throw around as to give his W two actives 1) the current PBE, 2) An active that is present when he is alone in lane (solo lane or support dies). WHen alone or when he purposefully casts it on himself the shield reverts back to its original form granting armor and magic resist but will not do damage. In essence this gives him a Garen like passive that still does not require health to cast and potentially buffs his defense more than it did originally say 45-50 at rank 5. This gives him his tanky feel and compensates for overall defensive changes and specific changes to his mobility. SO even when he is alone or self-casts the enemy has to think carefully about engaging asking themselves can I win in this trade or should I chase him.

As for anyone wondering what masteries/ runes/ items I have been toying with is actually something I use now which is 11/0/19. Where I keep Red Magic Pen Marks, alternate between scaling armor, HP or flat HP regen seals, CDR glyphs, & Spell Vamp Quints. Its more of a sustain build.

With the new PBE changes I am thinking 0/17/13 with these new changes attack of course benefits Morde's Kit but sustain, tank survivability with his raw kits power specifically Q might compensate fairly well. Runes would still be Magic Pen reds because his Q is still magic damage, scaling armor or some form of HP regen I don't believe scaling help is worth due to the small addition to his passive, CDR runes and Spell Vamp.

For items I am forgoing MS and the usual boots for: {Sterak's] or & I don't know if out prioritizes because of its shield passive, but if Sterak stays as it is and is implemented the 30% HP shield you gain more than compensate. You are slower but with the rage passive with Tri-force and dragon and more team play you can keep up. With Gunblade, Rage Blade and defensive Masteries your lifesteal and spellvamp can both be near 50% given the right conditions not to mention increased attack speed from Rage Blade and Triforce Morde can literally slug it out as a tank with his Q resting at a decent 25% CDR and Spell Blade Procs.

This idea gives him High Health as 4 of his items provide large amounts of HP, 2 shields that scale based on his HP with high level sustain the activites after he takes damage which also activates his tank shield passives and sustain kit. He could ideally heal himself while this passive abilities kick in coupled with a ghost or dragon (looks like Dragon gives around 25% increased health giving Morde well over 4500 HP with this build) Morde is fairly solid as a tank with damage and utility to boot. An other than Mid Lane which will probably be iffy if not gone he can still solo top and potentially jungle with the appropriate adjustments.

But in the end I believe his W needs two actives, one that gives him more tank but no damage.