Revamping some AP itemization

So way back in patch 8.4, we saw mage item updates with the goal to diversify starting choices:

We want to give mages more options, so we're creating new mage items (and reshaping old ones) to provide more unique and focused outputs and let mages adapt their itemization to game states, matchups, and personal style.

Now this problem arose after initial mage changes, in morrelenomicaon became the be all and end all mana item as athenes had become more of a support item with the other options being archangel staff (which was bought on spammy late game champs like ryze, anivia, veig, cass and karthus) and ROA, built on a select few that didn't NEED! 45% cdr. Now however, we have a similar problem. The mana items are built to the champion, as before and not to the situation. The rest of the builds are relatively cookie cutter, almost always being . While the niche morello fills now is nice, the innate stats are so good it's almost always a 2nd/3rd item on every AP champ.

This shows a bigger issue in that sheer magic pen is valued over flat AP. That there is more damage to be gained through reducing any champs MR, than there is to scaling with the stat they're built around. This is the polar opposite of AD at the moment. In theory, void staff is reserved for champs who build multiple MR items

Meanwhile we have a few items that are almost never seen, or are abused in an unhealthy manner and those are what I'd like to address. Pre change, this item was a branch off which fulfilled an alternative niche on champs who would otherwise build roa to keep enemies in range eg morg, asol, cho. After losing its HP and gaining similar stats to the current . It's become a common pick up almost exclusively in combination with the Glacial Augment rune. Which we've seen produce some rather "anti-fun" play patterns on ahri, vel'koz and sion. This I feel is more of a rune issue than an item issue. However this did come at the cost of its previous users who valued the health, wave clear (see change history), wide AOE and stronger slow. Upon a swift glimpse of this item, it shocks me that no one buys it, until we see the requirement for using it to its full potential. Few champions can spam that many spells to have it ready for each team fight, generally reserving it for DPS mages. And even with team help, charging it up is relatively slow. A niche item generally reserved for supports, but at the same time is almost never purchased. It's stats are varied and it has allot of them, however they're pretty meh as its cost reflects. And finally, the other component of the current Glacial Augment build. It offers solid stats for its price as well as a helpful passive.

As for fixing them Reverting the current version is illogical imo, as it'd just substitute one problem for another. Instead adding a similar item into the ROA line could work wonders. So we would have 2 items, same AP, same MANA. However one grants 20% CDR and the other grants 300 HP. To further differentiate them, we could change one to have a wide coned, weaker slow (imo best suited for the CDR one) and the other to have a narrow, shorter ranged but stronger slow ( more optimal for the HP version) Simple to name, Hextech PLG (plug) A simple fix, change the charge system to a flat cooldown. Either way it's a powerup on activation. In addition, it then gets synergy with 2 different runes to reduce cooldown. Due to the amount of power this item grants I'd give it 1-2 ults worth of CD or up the price. turning this into a proper support or tank item is the best way to go, instead of a mish mash of everything walloped into the same item. Potentially remove the AP and instead grant more HP. A cost increase could warrant a higher defence value (perhaps switch ruby for belt, then add glacial shroud for the CDR). In addition, change the flat move speed, to a stronger value but towards allied or CC'd enemy champs. To change it more towards enchanters or perhaps add a similar item optimized for them, the item could have mana+HP regen, or be a lategame item than when activated, halves the cooldown of all other active items in your inventory and fully refills your warding items. Upping the cost a tad with a little more AP would allow this item to compete with void staff, liandries, morello and lich bane.

Unfortunately I couldn't come up with anything for the main mana items, as they do fulfill a niche for their respective builders, however I feel ludens is too well rounded. Perhaps a new athenes? To provide something similar to the old one