Riot and the Recent Changes in the Meta and Patches
Ever since the fact Riot said they want an open and diverse meta, it seems like the complete total opposite. In my opinion, the mid lane meta during late season 4/preseason/early season 5 was almost perfect. Anything and everything could be played mid. However, Riot stated they wanted a more strategic champ pool to see, with each champ being balanced and be able to be played equally. Sadly, we all know that will never be the case, at least now since that would be almost impossible, by buffing and nerfing some making more stronger than others and changing the whole game as a whole... However, they decided to almost completely nullify the assassin type mids. Assassins already have the worst win rate. Yet, they decide to nerf them more. Assassins are easily countered, their job is to eliminate a carry in a matter of seconds, however there are many ways to stop that. Many items (hello zhonyas, qss, ga, etc) stop that and with the qss buff recently, that's and indirect nerf to Zed, considered one of the best assassins. Wards and grouping together and crowd-control also stop that. Assassins are also usually harder to play than most other champs. By doing this, ap casters rise to the top of the meta. Yes I understand you changed blue buff for the casters with less cdr and time it lasts as well as how mana works in season 5, but lets be honest that's not enough. Great ap casters right now such as Xerath are great at stalling the game, which Riot said they didn't want to prolong games, however they will be with all these changes and the safe ap caster picks coming back, (including 2 new ap items out on the pbe.) Not only do these season 5 changes and patch 5.4 pbe notes change mid, they change the whole meta. Since some champs will receive much less play or even die out, this changes some strategies and team comps. Kassadin has been nerfed in 5.3, and is being nerfed again in 5.4 pbe, as well as all the recent assassin nefs in season 5. Kassadin is already a very risky champ that can be countered already, but he is a pretty good pick, but not one that needs 2 nerfs in a row. Champs like Nidalee, (got a jungle buff recently) Janna, Graves, Annie, (dfg won't stop her form still being good) Irelia, Lisandra, and more need the nerfs way more than what Riot is nerfing recently in mid. Mid lane is not the only meta right now I'm unsatisfied with. Jarvan IV is obviously a top tier pick and considered the best in some cases, as shown by LCS, and in 5.4 pbe notes Riot finally nerfed him. But, they nerfed his weakest point, the armor his e gives, making his clear and sustain in the jungle even worse, and it wasn't the best to start out with. They should of changed his strong points like his damage, not weaken his already fragile aspects. In bot lane they changed Janna in 5.4 pbe, which was already god tier and almost always picked up in LCS. The change involved a greater % move speed while moving toward her, but not granting that movement if moving away. From 8% going toward to 5% near her. And a movement speed buff to zephyr's passive. This change really won't stop her from being one of the best, and won't change the meta. Graves is an adc that just like Janna, is top tier and almost always picked up in pro play. That's no diversity in ADC's which is what Riot wants, and no changes to Graves have been showed. I am hoping for more smoother changes in the future, and Riot thinking it out more, since I don't agree with many of the changes especially the assassin one. This is just my opinion but I do believe it is the correct one.