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Balancing through Buffs?

ravenswolfy·1/8/2015, 3:43:19 PM·1 votes·852 views

It seems a lot of what we see as "balance" is really more about nerfing strong champions so they're more inline with weaker champions. However this doesn't change much since its generally the same handful of champions that are picked/banned because their kits are good in general. So why not buff weaker champions to bring them a little more inline? Not saying their abilities need to be overhauled or increases to damage ratios but adding minor improvements could drastically be beneficial.

Some ideas possibly: Q adds a short slow effect higher base defense E gives passive bonus AD and move speed E (cocoon) does Damage Q does bonus damage to minions/monsters, higher base move speed Have E return health on enemies/minions hit W shorter cooldown consume can damage champions can attack during ultimate R active gives bonus movement speed, keeps passive of R

What are your ideas for tweaking champs to make them a little stronger than what they currently are?

11 Comments

SmokingPuffin1/8/2015, 5:58:25 PM2 votes

Riot buffs champions all the time. Last patch buffed Chogath Cassiopeia Diana Galio Jax Kalista Kennen Nocturne Sejuani Shen Shyvana Varus Yasuo Zac

People just remember the nerfs more.

TehNACHO1/8/2015, 4:03:46 PM1 votes

Urgot and Olaf are intentionally weak because their kits are basically big red lights in terms of mechanical balance.

Most other champions are perfectly fine to receive buffs, but others just plainly have badly implemented tools within their kits.

SmokinSickStyle1/8/2015, 4:19:22 PM1 votes

Nautilus W should keep the damage part even when the shield goes down, it's not funny to activate W to just see the damage part of it as soon as you shield pops, which is pretty fast.

He has pretty low base stats for what's supposed to be a tank.

Trylobyte1/8/2015, 5:08:46 PM1 votes

To argue the main point a little, champions tend to get nerfed because it's easier and more efficient to nerf one overwhelming champion than buff five weak ones. Nerfs are also a key part of preventing or mitigating power creep. If one champion or a small group of them are weak, you buff them. If one champion or a small group are overpowering, you nerf them. This minimizes the amount of work (coding, testing, balancing, tuning) that needs to be done and ensures the changes get out there faster.

As to your specific proposals...

Shyvana - Adding a short slow to her Q wouldn't really do all that much for her because she has no mobility outside of Burnout anyway - Either they're going to just dash away from her like they already do (ignoring the slow) or she can chase them down with Burnout like she already does.

Ashe - This would turn Hawkshot into a mish-mash of unrelated passive abilities with the same crappy active attached to it. Might as well just redo the whole skill.

Elise - She does a ton of damage if she lands Cocoon anyway since that's when the gank happens. Now she'd just do a little bit more. It would just encourage less-skilled people to try and use it for poke, which is a terrible use for it.

Mordekaiser - Morde's problem is not his damage or his sustain, which are both incredible. Morde's problem is his complete lack of mobility - He has no CC, not even a slow, and no way to increase his own movement.

Nunu - That'd make Consume an Olaf E that can be cast for free on a shorter cooldown.

Darastrix1/8/2015, 5:11:04 PM1 votes

For Nautilus I feel like he should be able to sacrifice his shield like Sion and do damage based on how much shield he had left when it was popped.