Pointless Ratio on Braum's Ult?

KidSpectre·4/18/2015, 12:13:41 AM·1 votes·557 views

It seems to me that some ratios exist on champions just to say you have them, and I can't figure out why.

One case in particular: Braum's Ultimate. It has a 60% AP ratio... and that's it. He has no other AP scaling abilities. What's the purpose of having a 60% AP Ratio on a 140/120/100 second cooldown?

Sivir 's Boomerang Blade (Q) has a maximum 92.5% AP Ratio (on a single target.) This is pretty substantial, and has a 9 second cooldown. It's not going to justify going full AP, but if you gotta have a situational AP item, you're going to get a decent return on investment.

Now you could say there's a major difference between Sivir, a Marksman, and Braum, a Tank. You're right. But if you look at other champions played in a similar role, you'll see they have greater AP scalings that are pretty useful. Leona has a total of 190% AP ratios on her entire kit (80% on just her ult!), and she is also a Tank/Support (AND her defensive steroid scales on resists, like Braum's).

Nautilus: Between roughly 185% and 255% (depending on variable factors). He's a tank. The list goes on and on, from Sejuani to Shen, Amumu to Maokai, Nasus, Rammus, and Renekton too (even Renekton!).

TL;DR: What purpose does having such a low AP ratio on such a high cooldown serve? Is it just to say "his ult scales! See it has ratios!"

5 Comments

Lord Dusteon4/18/2015, 12:20:58 AM5 votes

In general, AP scalings or such on champions that normally don't build much (if any) AP is so AP on items (Trinity Force, Iceborn Gauntlet) isn't considered a useless stat. While yes, some champions will not build AP (Sivir, Braum), if they do get some AP they still gain a bit.

For the others you listed (Tanks mostly) the AP ratios are so they can use some of the AP items (Abyssal Scepter, Rylai's, Liandry's) that they like without that stats being wasted. Otherwise, for the champions with one or two tiny ratios (Braum, Renekton) those are normally to gate their power; you COULD give Renekton's R an AD ratio, but it'd have to be abysmally tiny or require nerfing his ult greatly to make up for it. The weak AP ratio there is used to keep Renekton's R at a general "This does X at Y effectiveness".

Photos of Ghosts4/18/2015, 12:22:44 AM1 votes

There used to be a time where such "useless" ratios would be situationally viable... when Garen actually had an AP scaling on ult and all.

Voluug134/18/2015, 12:26:09 AM1 votes

Because Braum was MADE to be a support and a support only, same with Bard , both are made to not work well without teammates. Which also contradicts the reasons for the erasure&replacement of a certain champion.

Also, a lot of older champions have AP ratios thanks to the fact it was supposed to be Ability Power.

50000000000000004/18/2015, 1:26:02 AM1 votes

Alternative is scaling with... Armor? MR? Health? That would mean that those tanks can do damage and still be tanky af. AP ratio means that you'll need to make a trade off--would you go for some extra damage, or just build full tank?

Renaille4/18/2015, 1:30:00 AM1 votes

i for one love playing bitch bane rush AP leona.