Giving CDR to Zhonya and Abyssal might backfire on mages

I'm not even touching the subject how Essence Reaver all but invalidates mana costs for caster ADCs. Let's just focus on the CDR part of it for now.

The MYMU is supposed to introduce new ways to build CDR. The mage items with CDR are:

• Morellonomicon (staying at 20%)
• Ionian Boots of Lucidity (10%)
• Zhonya's Hourglass (10%)
• Abyssal Scepter (10%)
• Hextech Protobelt (10%, Revoler+Kindlegem item with Tumble-like small dash)
• Lich Bane (10%)

with Athene's Unholy Grail becoming a support item (available for midlane mages like Karma or Lulu).

#Who is the focus of the Mage rework?

Immobile, fragile mages who kinda get left in the shadow when flashy mobile assassins are dominant. I'll refer to them later as "oldschool mages" (Vel'Koz is quite new, but shares the same pattern). Plus Vladimir, he's a bit different.

#Who benefits the most from adding CDR to Abyssal and Zhonya's, and the new Hextech Protobelt?

Close-ranged mages who already had Zhonya's and Abyssal in their core items before the change. These are also the most likely users of the Hextech Protobelt. And some of them use Lichbane.

And don't get me started on the most bitter detail: These are all CDR items without mana on it. I should have probably added Vladimir to the second list. This leaves one conclusion:

The manaless mages will become dominant in patch 6.9 not because the new mana regeneration sucks, but because they'll have easier access to CDR. Same goes for bursty assassins who never really bought mana regen anyway. Just picture in your head Fizz getting to 45% CDR with Zhonya's, Abyssal, Lich Bane and Ionian Boots of Lucidity or runes.

Yes, oldschool mages can get to the CDR cap with Morellonomicon and 2 out of: Ionians, Zhonya, Abyssal, Protobelt. But for most of them having to itemize defensively is an inconvenience (and they'd prefer Sorcs over Ionians). Other than Lissandra or Morgana, all mages already consider having to rush a Zhonya against Zed a huge pain in the ass. Adding CDR onto it makes it a tiny bit less painful. But it still provides you no mana/sustain.

Caster ADCs get to buy ER and then whatever the hell they want. They've got 4 different Zeal upgrades to choose from, tailored exactly to their class needs. Meanwhile, oldschool mages wanting to cap CDR are forced into items they wouldn't prioritize otherwise. Abyssal, Zhonya's and Protobelt favour assassins and mage bruisers. Long-ranged mages are left out. They want to build into their long-ranged glass cannon fantasy and they can't, since 4 out of 6 mage CDR items favour other classes.

And oldschool mages need that CDR more than ever. They're all very reliant on their ults now on PBE - Vel'Koz, Brand and Syndra are now significantly stronger when their R is off cooldown, but weaker otherwise. These are some really long cooldowns, especially compared to what assassins work with.

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All this complaining and no suggestions?

• Morellonomicon needs an alternative. It's a silly item with placeholder passive that exists only as a mage stat stick.
• Variety is good. Just like we have IE and ER for ADCs, we could use some alternative CDR rushes. Black Market Brawlers items seem an easy choice here.
• If you can't beat them, join them: Consider a Lost Chapter upgrade that doesn't grant you any CDR initially, but scales up with time or objectives. ER but different.
• Rite of Ruin could grow CDR from fallen turrets.
• Pox Arcana could grant CDR for champions affected by Pox, limiting the 30% CDR abuse cases (big initiation ults).
• Alternatively, do the above to Morellonomicon - have it start with 10% and scale to 30% somehow.
• Oldschool mages need CDR on some of their items
• Ask yourselves: what type of items do Vel'Koz, Zyra, Malzahar, Brand, Xerath or Lux buy? Put CDR there.
• Prime candidates are Rylai's Crystal Scepter (Kindlegem? Forbidden Idol? Glacial Shroud insetad of Giant's Belt?) and Void Staff upgrade (Last Whisper style)
• Fiendish Codex + Aether Wisp is a component combo that just needs a third ingredient and an interesting effect
• It's worth looking into Glacial Shround. Zeke's Harbinger is one way to do it, but mages could use for a better suited AP item with just little armor.

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I'm not saying mages should have easy access to 40% CDR. I'm just pointing out that some caster champions benefit a lot from their core items getting CDR (sometimes with CDR being the only thing holding them back), while others won't feel all that good about it.

Remember how annoying Fizz became ever since when Lich Bane got free 10% CDR? The same thing is going to happen on a larger scale to asassins and mage bruisers.

#TL;DR: Mana-reliant backline mages are getting the short end of the stick with CDR added only to mana-less durability items.