Why do we balance items around champions...instead of the other way around?

Cloud273·Apr 4, 2017·2 votes·411 views

Let's pretend that Talon is abusing black cleaver (actually we don't need to pretend he's definitely abusing it). Other champions abuse this item too, but not nearly as much as Talon. We can either nerf the item for everyone and ruin it for everyone, we can nerf the champion (or handful of champions) abusing the item, or we can nerf the champion and the item (cinderhulk sejuani anyone?). I feel like more often than not we choose the former instead of the latter (2). I'm just wondering why balance is done this way.

3 Comments

DunkinNoobsApr 4, 20171 votes

When was the last time Riot nerfed an item because it was too good on just 1 or 2 champions? Please enlighten me, because I can't remember that ever happening.

CochoApr 4, 20172 votes

Innervating Locket on Udyr lol

nerfed it out of the game xD

I'm not making an arguement, just pointing it out. It was a really niche item, that alone is a reason to remove it

ZankrenApr 5, 20171 votes

More often than not, I feel Riot does nerf the champions not the items. The exception being that when an item is too strong, and it in turn is making champions that can build it strong as a result, then it is the item that needs to be nerfed not the handful of champions that are optimally taking advantage of the item. For instance, I expect to see BotRK nerfs soon, as it is so strong right now we are seeing it in builds we really shouldn't.