Why does Janna's W still make her lose the passive effect?

darkdill·Aug 10, 2014·2 votes·619 views

One thing that's always annoyed me when playing Janna is how Zephyr still disables its passive effect when you use it, compromising your ability to retreat or maneuver for a modest, short-range slow. That might've been needed in the past to prevent Janna's from being inescapable, but with stuff like Boots of Swiftness and tons of gap-closers on newer Champions, it feels as though such a cost is unnecessary at this point.

Since Janna doesn't measure up to the other supports at the moment, can we get some insight as to why Riot feels that "lose passive while on CD" effect is still necessary? Or am I just beating a dead horse?

7 Comments

FelvyneAug 11, 20143 votes

If Janna retained the passive when Zephyr is con CD, she would be hardly uncatchable. I think is a good skill as is now (even though I don't remember how much it slows), having to choose between your speed or helping peel.

darkdillAug 11, 20142 votes

Having to make that choice isn't a very meaningful choice. Plus Sona doesn't have to do that; she gets speed from her E AND gets to slow her target all in one go.

YouLostMeAug 11, 20142 votes

Sona has different gating and choices. Instead of choosing whether or not to slow someone or move fast, she chooses whether to deal bonus damage, slow someone, or reduce someone's damage.

That said, Janna is a strong disengage support right now. Giving her the boost would be annoying and require nerfing something else. And I'm not a fan of that.

The5lackerAug 11, 20142 votes

Sona's MS buff isn't a permanent 12% (+2% per 100 AP) on top of a 5% MS buff passively. Can't really compare Sona's temp MS buffs to Janna's giant perpetual middle finger to boots.

Phoenix Kotori Aug 11, 20141 votes

Having to make that choice isn't a very meaningful choice. Plus Sona doesn't have to do that; she gets speed from her E AND gets to slow her target all in one go.

Sona gives up damage (q), or reducing their damage output (w), when she chooses to slow the enemies, and MS boost is very limited in duration while Janna's is just on til you slow someone.

iEtherealAug 11, 20142 votes

Because she actually launches the spirit that gives her the move speed at the opponent... it wouldn't make any bloody sense if she kept the move speed. From a flavor point of view anyway.

TL;DR Just play Braum he's the only support anyway.

67chromeAug 11, 20142 votes

but with stuff like Boots of Swiftness and tons of gap-closers on newer Champions

Kassadin isn't new. Your argument is invalid.

Really though - if anything champions have become less mobile. Kassasin, Jax, Katarina, Corki, Master Yi, and Tristana are part of the original 40 LoL started with. Nidalee and Ezreal were something like 41 and 43. So, ...new champions are faster? Also - Twisted Fate and Pantheon used to be able to warp anywhere they felt like, and Nidalee was more spam-happy mobility prior to her current state.

Also, there's never been a time where mobility hasn't been important. It's not like everything was awesome on no-mobility champions and then suddenly BAM! season 4, mobility super mucho important.