Why Master Yi Deserves A Rework

TL;DR: Rework master yi cuz he's just awful, and bring all these old ass champs (that need it) into the modern age with mini reworks and some badly needed visual updates

(I'm serious about that TL;DR, I'm writing this after having just finished writing the entire post to warn y'all lol)

Let's start this with a list about the champs that were originally released in League, their history of reworks and changes (or lack thereof), and whether or not they arguably need a rework today: 1: Alistar - can't speak for Ali mains, but seems like he is in a reasonable spot for support, he did receive a mini-rework 2: Amumu - no need for a rework, decent kit and viable with the aftershock rune being so strong, plus received some changes a while back 3: Anivia - not sure about this one, i dont think she desperately needs a rework, shes sleeper OP imo just underplayed 4: Annie - champion with a great kit, always in the meta, received mini changes to her ult, no need for rework 5: Ashe - received a mini rework some time ago, in a 'meh' spot, could argue for a larger rework to bring her into the meta 6: Blitzcrank - not sure again, but blitz has a great kit and is always in meta, no rework needed imo 7: Cho'Gath - reworked 8: Corki - not sure bout him, sry Corki mains, arguably might need a rework he does seem a little outdated (visual update at the very least) 9: Dr. Mundo - received some buffs, had some visual updates, rework questionable but arguable ill leave this one to mundo mains 10: Evelynn - reworked 11: Fiddlesticks - not sure if he was changed at any point, dont think he needs a rework tho 12: Gangplank - reworked 13: Heimerdinger - decent kit champion, heimer mains could argue for the need of a rework idk, some old skins need visual updates 14: Janna - trying to be as unbiased as possible, but i still think janna is a fine champion that doesnt need a rework whatsoever, might need some visual updates for some skins maybe, janna mains can argue for themselves here idk 15: Jax - jax is so niche, could be good, could be bad, definitely a good candidate for a rework 16: Karthus - maybe needs a visual update? again, ill leave this one to the karth mains 17: Kassadin - kass actually seems like a pretty good champ for modern day league even tho his early game is pretty bad, but good lord this man needs a visual update 18: Katarina - reworked 19: Kayle - getting reworked here soon 20: Malphite - good champ imo, no gameplay changes needed, skins are just god fucking awful tho, def needs some visual updates for skins 21: Master Yi - minor changes throughout the years, but have left the champ desperately lacking still, especially as more and more champs can easily defeat yi by choosing not to fight him and simply outrun him even with his ult (looking at ekko here, who's passive is faster than yi ultimate, doesn't really make sense) 22: Morgana - getting reworked 23: Nasus - niche champ, could argue for a rework 24: Nunu - reworked 25: Nidalee - had visual updates, a decent champ overall, i dont believe she needs a rework but nid mains might argue otherwise idk for sure 26: Rammus - some recent changes, def in a good spot cuz aftershock is so strong 27: Ryze - reworked a gajillion times, poor guy, they cant seem to get him right, i feel bad for ryze mains that have had to deal with constantly getting changed throughout the years 28: Shaco - arguably needs a rework, just ask shaclone, even with the changes they made 29: Singed - severely outdated, u could give the guy a visual update at the very least for skins and base skin too 30: Sion - reworked 31: Sivir - sivir is in a decent spot rn, so im just gonna say no to a rework for her since the last time they reworked a champ when he was already in a good spot, we got the new aatrox (some of her older skins could use visual updates tho) 32: Soraka - tough one. im not sure if raka has had any major or minor changes, but i still think she could be argued for visual updates if not an actual rework 33: Taric - reworked 34: Teemo - another very niche champion, but in terms of competitive higher elo play, id say he needs a rework, if only a mini one 35: Tristana - visually fine, and with new conq and pta, she definitely is viable, but for some reason underplayed? i dont think she needs a rework, but trist mains can argue otherwise idk for sure as usual 36: Tryndamere - somebody help this man, definitely in need of a rework 37: Twisted Fate - visual updates needed on some of his older skins, not sure if he needs a rework or not, ill say he could benefit from some positive changes in order to make him fit in the meta a bit more 38: Twitch - nice kit, very viable, definitely doesnt need a rework imo 39: Udyr - another tryndamere right here, god help this man he is SEVERELY outdated, needs a full vgu 40: Veigar - nice kit, viable, i see no reason for a rework here, older skins need a visual update tho 41: Warwick - reworked 42: Zilean - outdated visuals on base and older skins, could benefit from a mini rework not sure

So, of this list of champions released originally in League (around 2009), the champions that possibly need a rework are or at least some visual updates are: Ashe (ehh), Corki, Dr.Mundo, Heimerdinger, Jax, Karthus (visuals only really imo), Kassadin (visuals), Malphite (visuals), Nasus (questionable which is why he's in this list), Rammus (visuals on older skins), Singed, Sivir (older skins need update), Soraka (visuals), Teemo, Twisted Fate, Veigar (older skins are yikes), and Zilean.

And these are the champions that definitely, no doubt, 100%! need a rework: Udyr, Master Yi, Shaco, and Tryndamere.

Shaco needs a rework because, similar to Master Yi, he is either totally broken or utter garbage. The ability to be adaptable is vital in today's meta, and Shaco just can't do that anymore.

Tryndamere needs a rework because, similar to Master Yi (again), almost every single champ in the game has a dash or movement buff that makes kiting Tryndamere painfully easy. His kit is also just really outdated.

Udyr needs a rework, but this one is a bit of a tough one. Ever since the DoT was added to his tiger stance, Udyr has actually been in a pretty good spot. But he still just feels so outdated, and his skins are just a tragedy except for spirit guard. I would consult a high elo Udyr main for more clarification, because I wouldn't want a bad rework to ruin Udyr. However, I am keeping him in the 'Urgent Need of A Rework' list because before the DoT was added to tiger stance he was really bad. Now, he's visually outdated for most skins, but is niche in the meta.

And finally, the figurative cream of the dead crop that's been chewed through by crows, Master Yi (yes, that is a banana -ahem- an exaggeration). This man is in desperate need of a rework, arguable even more urgent than any other champion. The new conqueror rune is so much worse for Yi than the old one because it can't be stacked on minions and regular monsters, so you have to trade in order to stack it. Now that works for champs that can engage and disengage easily, such as Ekko, Riven, and Fiora, or champs that can poke consistently enough that they can stack it from a distance before they all in, such as most mages and Olaf. All other runes on Master Yi aren't viable in higher elo - PTA leaves a lot to be desired (not enough damage to replace Conqueror), Lethal Tempo takes too long to proc in fights (and you really want to kill your opponent very fast as Yi because if you don't get a reset on you're ultimate, you're virtually screwed), Fleet Footwork doesn't synergize well with his kit unless you go crit, and if you go crit yi in high elo you pretty much forfeit the game unless you have an excellent Lulu duo to keep you alive (aka, it isn't very viable.) Other runes in other trees can be argued, but none of them give current Yi what he needs like old Conqueror did. I'm testing Predator Yi currently since Conqueror got nerfed, but I'm not convinced it can replace old Conqueror still. His kit is outdated too. He only has one ability for engage, and that's Alpha Strike, and you can't disengage afterwards without flash or help from a teammate. So if you mess up an Alpha, say hello to Gray Screen, because unfortunately for Yi - there's literally no room for error. Other champs get free 'oopsie' buttons - looking at Ekko again - and Master Yi just gets death. That makes him extremely unreliable in higher elo. Also, almost every champion in the game has a major movement buff and/or dash, so outrunning Yi can be really easy. Plus, some item combinations alone can outrun Yi because of his low base movement speed and not enough speed given in his ultimate: youmuu's with black cleaver can outrun any yi until level 16. That is absolutely ridiculous. And of course, Alpha Strike. The buggiest ability in League (I've probably screamed "I was in alpha!" more times than I've actually used alpha strike). For example, you'll Alpha Strike as - let's say - a Blitzcrank ults, and you'll still die while in the Alpha animation. Now Blitzcrank has no DoTs, unless he has ignite, so there's no way that his ult should kill Yi while in Alpha. People have argued in the past that Master Yi takes AoE damage while in Alpha because it's "not directly targeting him." This was easily debunked by Cowsep, who made a video some time ago where he dies to an AoE while in Alpha - I think a Blitzcrank ult actually - and then shows a clip of him dodging another AoE ultimate, this time a Ziggs ults. Those clips are legitimate evidence that Alpha strike is just inconsistent and buggy. However, I do concede that Yi does die to DoTs even if Alpha, as there has been plenty a time where I have died due to ignites, Death's Dance, and Udyr tiger DoT. This does not change the fact that Alpha Strike is flawed and broken at its core. Master Yi's ultimate is outshone by so many other abilities and items in the game, and his Meditate is just an outdated ability. It has its uses, but falls off too hard.

And those are just the in-game reasons that Master Yi desperately needs a rework. There is a serious social stigma in the League Community that works heavily against Master Yi in the actual game. Not so much in lower elo, but definitely in higher elo. This stigma comes from the belief of Yi being an easy and garbage-tier champion. When you lock in Master Yi in champion select in higher elo, immediately the tides are turned against you. The enemy team sees Yi and thinks he's easy to counter, this is a free win, so they play more confidently. My team sees the Yi pick and thinks, oh look, another feeding Yi in my promos. This stigma actually has such a negative impact on Yi's in-game potential. The enemy team is more confident of winning, so they make more aggressive plays that they maybe wouldn't have made if they were facing someone viable like Rammus or Lee Sin. But more importantly, my game is impeded by the fact that my team has a heavy distrust in me just because of the champion I'm playing. They won't follow-up on my calls - and even if they do, it's usually reluctantly - they let me die in situations where an outplay was possible because "let the Yi die, he's worthless anyway." This stigma means that games with a Yi in it are lopsided in morale alone (enemy team thinks its a free win, my team is already ready to FF/15) - add the fact that Yi's kit is trash compared to almost every other champion, and you literally have a recipe for disaster that's been brewing since champion select, all because of the champion I locked in.

The reason I made that list, and the reason I identified a set of champions I thought really needed a rework or some visual updates is because I wanted to be as unbiased as possible, and I wanted to be as fair to other players and to Riot as I possibly could be. I understand that they need to make money, and so they will focus on putting out new champs and new skins to get that bread, but that doesn't mean that they should leave their older players and older champs in the dust. I understand that there are many champions in the game that need some help, whether it be strictly for gameplay, visuals, or both. I understand that Yi's problems, and the problems that the Yi mains face aren't the end of world, and I know that Yi is the worst champion right now (though I do think he is the worst jungler). My intention with this post is to shed light on the much bigger problem that is **Riot Games leaving champions behind, and thus letting players of those champions to become resentful towards Riot and League as a whole. **

The solution to this problem, in my opinion, is to bring all these older champions to the modern age. I understand that there may be a sense of nostalgia for these champs from long-time developers at Riot, for the good ole' days, but that doesn't mean that they should be neglected the way they're being neglected now. And besides, you don't have to lose the identities of these champions as you rework them - I would hate to see Master Yi become some generic fighter. He is unique, and a joy to play (when he works), and I would never want to lose that bit of him. He is my favorite champion after all lol.

League of Legend's future could be great, but I think everyone needs a place in it - new and old alike - to get to that point.

        Destiny Awaits,
                             chefRambo

P.S. I made a MLA style paper document and merged all this text into to see how much I had written, and Word is telling me I wrote 9 pages worth of text when formatted in MLA style, and I just wanna say holy shit.