Context behind current Ziggs changes on PBE?? (question to balance team)

Boosted Pie·Nov 24, 2015·2 votes·4,848 views

So, Ziggs is my favorite champion and as a Ziggs player, I would like to ask out of curiosity to anyone on the balance team on why they choose these specific changes to Ziggs and what other changes could you guys possibly explore for him if you felt like he needed more loving?

14 Comments

RiotMeddlerNov 24, 20157 votes

We feel Ziggs is in a weak spot at the moment, and has been for a bit. We're not looking to go back to the days of endless wave stalling though, so we're adding power to places where it's more anti champion/objective than anti lane minion (sweet spot on ult, tower damage from passive).

La BelloNov 24, 20158 votes

Have you ever considred adding a animation to ziggs using passive on towers? Its wierd to see him throw a bomb and have it jsut "devoured" by the tower but see like 500-700 damage pop off of it.

RiotMeddlerNov 24, 20155 votes

Sounds like a really good idea. Will bring that up if we're doing some animation work on Ziggs at some point we could bundle that in with.

Nausicäa Nov 24, 20152 votes

A better change would be to at least semi revert the nerfs to Qs explosion trigger radius. This nerf made his Q incredibly difficult to land and makes him feel clunky.

If you really need to make his spells deal reduced damage to minions, but please fix his Q.

TeCoolMageNov 24, 20151 votes

Even better, give his Q the Zilean bomb treatment.

Stars ShaperNov 24, 20151 votes

A bit off topic but what do you feel about Xerath? New keystones are garbage for him no matter where you look at, the fact that he is an AoE user with bullseye mechanic makes both Thunderlord's Decree and Deathfire Touch useless and unnoticebale in terms of damage. Any other mage (except Ziggs whose kit is again a long range AoE) can make such a better use of them that it feels like I'm playing with a character 5 levels behind my opponent.

qetzelNov 24, 20151 votes

Deathfire touch isn't bad on AOE mages if you hit multiple champions with one ability.

Stars ShaperNov 24, 20151 votes

If the scaling was better, probably.

DrCyanideNov 24, 20151 votes

Perhaps the solution isn't more damage from those masteries, but more utility.

Xerath has trouble if someone leaps on his face. He unloads everything he has, but if they're not dead Xerath is in big trouble. Stormraider's Surge is the solution to that, allowing Xerath to get some more distance between him and his assailant. Additionally it lets him adapt an even stronger poke-and-run strategy against enemies at range. The movement speed could also help you chase down someone who's low health, not letting them get out of range.

Stars ShaperNov 24, 20151 votes

Sorry I'm good enough for taking my leave when ppl jump on me. Any sane Xerath won't stay and fight unless he is 100% sure to get the kill. Any Xerath will play from a distance and if there ever is a team just stunning the attacker or just using Zhonya is enough for him to survive.

It gets ridiculus though when a Viktor needs one point&click spell+AA to deal more damage than my full combo with half the mana and on the same range. Xerath is forced so much back that he is the one being sieged.

Edit: Not to mention that in order to make it proc you need to deal a consistent amount of damage, something you won't be able to do before they rip you apart because you stood there casting instead of running away.

DrCyanideNov 24, 20151 votes

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Sorry I'm good enough for taking my leave when ppl jump on me. Any sane Xerath won't stay and fight unless he is 100% sure to get the kill. Any Xerath will play from a distance and if there ever is a team just stunning the attacker or just using Zhonya is enough for him to survive.

That's what any sane Xerath will try to do. We both know the reality is that if the enemy is competent they'll get someone to dive you regardless, and that your stun lasts less time at close range.

It gets ridiculus though when a Viktor needs one point&click spell+AA to deal more damage than my full combo with half the mana and on the same range. Xerath is forced so much back that he is the one being sieged.

525 range = 1700 range? Because that's the range of Viktor's auto attack. Xerath's Q + Lich Bane auto exceeds Viktor's Q+Auto damage, so if he really has the same range as Xerath then you should be fine buying Lich Bane on Xerath...

Stars ShaperNov 24, 20151 votes

Lichbane on Xerath is like building Spirit Visage on Teemo.

DrCyanideNov 24, 20151 votes

Oh, I agree, but you're the one complaining that Lich Bane + Q on Viktor's the same range as Xerath's combo and deals more damage than said combo. If you think it's that OP then you should use it.

Stars ShaperNov 24, 20151 votes

I've never mentioned Lichbane. Indeed I have exagerated things about Viktor but still if he ever manages to get in range for his skills he gets a lot more of uncounterable damage out then I can do.

But this is not the matter, I've never had problems dealing with Viktor pre -pre-season. It's just that he and other mages get far better use of the keystones. Viktor ultimate pops TLD with ease and even DFT is better on him. Xerath Feels left with a really short end of the stick.