Jayce's super long-range like-a-truck hitting "poke" makes me think he might need a kit rework

John Berserk·Oct 11, 2014·4 votes·1,024 views

The idea of giving "niche" champions like kit reworks will always be a controversial topic to discuss, but seeing Jayce more and more in my own games as well as more at Worlds, I can't help but be reminded of the toxicity of Nidalee pre-rework. His "poke" does so much damage if he's even a little ahead, and from such a long/safe distance, and it goes so fast and explodes in a small aoe, so that makes it even harder to avoid.

As he is now, I just don't see him being able to keep his current kit and being able to be balanced properly.

Am I alone in feeling he may need a bit of a kit rework, to take some of the power in his E - Q combo and distribute it a bit more within the rest of his kit?

13 Comments

undEAdbUsOct 11, 20141 votes

Absolutely agree. Or we need changes in meta, so there will be tanks, able to stay under his damage, and long range champions able to answer to this poke. Or we need nerfs for Jayce.

John BerserkOct 11, 20141 votes

Jayce has already been nerfed, but he doesn't need just straight nerfs imo, I think he needs some power-shifting and some kit-reworking, similar to what they did with Nidalee.

Earl EulrichOct 11, 20141 votes

I think his w is the real Issue....his dps/burst is just completely ridiculous later on in the game (also his ability to take turrets). But yea, his poke is a little snowbally (against him aswell, as it´s easy to body-block if you´re ahead and can take it).

John BerserkOct 11, 20141 votes

His W can get a bit dumb too, but I think most of his contribution when it comes to "teamfights" is actually the poke he can land before the teamfight even begins, which already sets the enemy team up for an unfair disadvantage that isn't so much dependent on their ability to dodge his shock blasts (good luck with that) so much as it is on the Jayce's ability to hit with them. If he misses, no real biggie, it's more or less free damage before the fight even starts. If he hits though, congrats Jayce's team starts the fight automatically with more hp.

Earl EulrichOct 11, 20143 votes

Though this is sort of a general problem with Poke in the Game as it is currently...most Champs that have excessive Poke also have excessive disengage instead being vulnerable to get engaged on. And even if they are designed properly like e.g. Xerath it´s still too easy to just pick your comp around it and disengage fights still, as Initiation really is way harder to pull of than defensive play atm.

FIame OnOct 11, 20141 votes

If Jayce hasn't been a problem up until now, what exactly changed (in your opinion) that suddenly made him so strong?

Nidalee? Le Blanc? Kassadin nerfs?

Iunno, he seems fine to me. I've only seen him become a huge problem (in my games and watching streams) when he snowballs and gets an early Manamune.

undEAdbUsOct 11, 20143 votes

It's changes on mid lane. Long ranges like Syndra/Ziggs were dominating there. How to beat long range? Take longer range! Thats why Jayce viable now. + AP champs came back to toplane. + Squishy meta makes Jayce poke so destructive. Tanks are simply unplayable now, because Lee will come for them and kick em in a face.

John BerserkOct 11, 20141 votes

The shift in the meta makes sense, but I still think he has some inherent problems that both hold him back and make him tough to balance properly, while also making him a pain in the ass to deal with. This is why I think some kind of rework/power-shifting needs to happen.

John BerserkOct 11, 20141 votes

I'm not sure exactly, it may be the steadily rising popularity in low-mobility champions such as Syndra, Ryze, Twitch, etc, or maybe the need to play what's more safe, which is why Syndra has seen more play (because her long range stun is pretty safe if you can land it consistently). Jayce's damage is just so hard to avoid. He is very snowbally, as in, he needs to get ahead to be as much of a problem as I'm making him out to be, but as is the case with pretty much all snowbally champions (Akali and Tryndamere are other examples, though a bit more extreme), you just cannot really even play the game anymore once that happens. He just owns you, and from such a long distance.

I think something should be done about these kinds of champions in general, some huge changes that stop them from becoming literally unstoppable/unplayable against. They're just the most frustrating to have to deal with.

ProfDrDeathOct 11, 20141 votes

A long while ago, Xypherous was let out of the closet to work on Jayce:

http://www.newsoflegends.com/index.php/upcoming-relaunches-massive-changes-to-jayce-plans-for-future-sales-and-the-latest-championskin-sale-10696/

Unfortunately, this was never really pursued further...maybe now is the time?

cshakesOct 11, 20141 votes

His energy sphere does physical damage. Srsly. It's almost as bad as Katarina's knives dealing magic damage.

NoMonkuOct 11, 20141 votes

He seems fine to me. He has actual trade offs compared to old Nid as his main mobility, his E, is tied into his poke. Also he is fairly immobile and can be jumped on if ganked properly. Nid on the other hand was incredible mobile and could still easily do tons of damage with her Q. He could possibly be toned down I guess, but I don't really feel he needs it. His laning, while strong, requires him to play really well as one mistake usually means he has to either B back to heal or he'll get further behind.

DauthdaertOct 11, 20141 votes

Jayce isn't the problem. If people see Jayce get picked, they should pick someone who can tank the damage. Besides, his Q is easily avoidable, because you see the direction it's going before Acceleration Gate. And without that, the ability is slow. Point blank, it does 40% less damage than if sniped. So just avoid fighting him without help.