Brand needs a Buff?
Hi Guys I play a lot of Brand before and after the rework. And in the current situation I am not happy with the design of him because his skill set don't feel as satisfied as in the past. I really like the idea behind him of a tank and teamfight destroyer. And I think the numbers are "okay" but he really lose many of his old strong gameplay. The old Passiv was quite unfair because of get a hit an you burn for tons of dmg what make taking a hit really annoying even if you doge 9 of 10 skills it will hurt.
One of my problem with the new Brand is even if you hit it don't feel like a hard impact. Hitting a other mid mage with just the base+Rune MR with a full combo ult with 60+ AP and well he get just around 60% of his hp dmg. The most other mages in mid will kill you with a full rotation of skillshots or bring you at least to go back. So the 1 vs 1 power is now quite down. The lesser base dmg also hit his ability of waveclar in the early lvls. In the past you cold at least kill the range Minions in a E-W Combo now you need to finish the first Item do do this.
Well ok he got in exchange a really strong AoE % Max hp chainreaction passive. With a double scaling (who ever have think about this shit a lvl 1 to 9 scaling? And then it stop? But still have a intern AP scaling counter intuitive as hell) it's quite week the first lvl. Well sounds on Paper good. And maybe a fair trade. If you would any time hit with it or get a really reward out of it. The 2 second reaction time for a team to spread and the point that it's magic dmg reduce it quite hard. With your ult and if you hit someone before you maybe get 2 Explosions in a tf even if you hit with a explosion more people.
So do a example its mid game you would do with 2 Items and lvl 11 around 18% max HP with all stacks. Because you have a Tank or Juggernaut in front of the ADCs you hit him first and then Ult him to get some stacks in the Backline.The Tank have around 120 MR you reduce with masters and all down to 90 so you would do around 10% max HP dmg. The backline maybe have a Locket so 70MR would be a good guess so maybe 12-14% with one explosion and don´t count the other dmg sources you have. But well you maybe get in thsi TF just 2 explosions one for the front line and one after the first on the guy thet get the two stacks from your Ult. But well you maybe get in this TF just 2 explosions one for the front line and one after the first one on the guy that get the two stacks from your Ult. So around 20% max HP in the backline. Sounds much but it is not.The ADC have to this game point around 1.6k hp so 20% would be 320 dmg and this under the fact that you hit him with 2 passiv Explosions and no other skill (what is quite frequently because he stay in the backline and brand don't have the biggest range). And then everything from you is on CD for the next seconds so it's nothing you can repeat anytime soon.
I look up the win rates of Brand and it doesn't look bad. But I think the week early and the in spatial against competitive teams hard to hit passiv make him atm not in the spot were I would think he have to be. He dont need a huge buff .The numbers are fine in special in late game. But a few quality of life changes would help mutch.
I Would suggest follow things. Over all make the passive just need 2 seconds before re stacking. with around 25% cdr you have your first spell ready again before the Passive CD on a target is over. You have to decide if you sit on your CD for a second passive proc or use it for the instant dmg. Feeling unsatisfied in my opinion to not in a position to use the stack from the explosion for your next round of stacks.
So and now a few option to give him a buff without give him better numbers. (Just o make clear I think about 1 of this as the buff not all 3 together)
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You can stack the passiv over 3 times even every over the 3 increase the explosion dmg by round 25% This would give him a stronger 1 vs 1 potential in lane. A full rotation ult would end in 6 Stacks what would just increase the passive dmg. If you look at
him at the current phase it would be more or less a laning buff (Well you could also ult epic monster for a 4 stack but come one who would waste this
CD for this) -
The passive can be stacked on cannon minions and super minions to. Give him a better waveclear tool, a bonus explosion if fighting in the wave and make him defending a bit easier if a inhib is down.
3.The Passive explosion give a enemy two stacks of Blaze instead of just one. (Since the exploding target can´t stack it would still just have one) Make your dreams of a chain reaction a bit more realistic in spatial if a team doesn't spread out. So insat of ignoring two explosions they now will suffer if they really get caught.
Teht are my opinion what do you think? I am wrong with this? Is it only my feel the Brand is in a slightly weak spot were he is OK but dont feel like he do his job in a same or worse way other would do?
slow but this is nothing Brand provide on in its own)
The trade off HP for dmg/kill/cc a valuabel target (or me) is mostly like not a realy decition for them in my opinion. The Exlosion feels quite often isapointing you await somthing great from it with this animation and the fact thet you need to hit your full rotation and then get like just the dmg back they nerved from the other abbiletys.
Like I allredy say Brnad is not in a week spott. But the Passiv don´t do its job good in my opinion. People would fear way more a Orianna or Victor even agaisnt Anivia to stay together then agaisnt Brand.