@Meddler/Riot Jag: Zeke's Herald Rework means lifesteal auras are unbalanceable?

darkdill·Jun 29, 2015·4 votes·1,129 views

Zeke's Herald is getting a complete rework in the next patch, and while I really like where it's going, it brings up an issue to discuss.

I have rarely found Zeke's Herald (Live) to be that useful. Under-par health bonus, 20% CDR actually causing too many cases of CDR overload, and an aura that qualifies as "invisible power" that's only useful in niche compositions that are easily countered by a Thornmail.

Does all that mean that Riot won't make a new lifesteal-on-ally Support item ever again? Because I still think that an item that could give a single ally a large lifesteal boost for a limited time could be very useful.

5 Comments

Murphys LawyerJun 29, 20154 votes

This rework is an awful idea. Not only does it remove an important niche sustain item that nicely balances low cost with usefulness for the entire team (that boost of AD and lifesteal goes a lot further in the middle of a 5v5 than most people realize), it leaves nothing even remotely comparable to replace it. On top of that, IT IS NOT AN AP ITEM. It's not MEANT to be an AP item. So why the hell turn it into one?

Don't, Riot. Just don't.

Sightless66Jun 29, 20154 votes

Not only does it remove an important niche sustain item that nicely balances low cost with usefulness for the entire team (that boost of AD and lifesteal goes a lot further in the middle of a 5v5 than most people realize),

It's not an important item though. It's about as non-influential on the game as an item can be. It's rarely ever purchased, it doesn't have any kind of unique and irreplaceable function (champions can buy their own lifesteal and AD), and the stats aren't anything great for supports either. This is exactly the kind of item that can be removed from the game without any negative effects. Sure, it's underrated a bit, but it's still not fulfulling an important or interesting niche.

As for it getting AP, it's becoming a different type of item. It's being redesigned for supports who generally stick nearby carries. A ton of those supports use AP, and it also allows them to benefit from the AP boost the item gives. For what the item is becoming, it makes perfect sense.

ErockandrollJun 29, 20152 votes

I'm beginning to think that Riot does not want one champions resources to significantly impact the sustain of another. Between Mana Manipulator getting removed, and the soraka rework means that no support can actually impact the ADC's mana pool. Unless they take Clarity which is obviously not much of an option right now. Aside from that, Riot is probably under the impression that More Damage, more Action, is a more interesting mechanic than playing the sustain game. (And I actually think that's true.)

As for the rework. It sounds like Static shiv and luden's echo are having a love child for supports. I like the fact that it links between two champions. A feature inspired by Kalista that I feel is one of her better aspects. I fear that the Re linking part could be abused. (if you say, Relink it to a Jungle Yi who just got his Stated Devourer.

darkdillJun 29, 20151 votes

Yi could run way too far ahead of the Support and thus break the link before it finishes. Or he might die before it finishes.

Plus I don't see it building up its stacks from movement like Statikk Shiv or Luden's Echo; just attacks and spells, and perhaps building charges per second on a fixed cadence.