Mages Need an Update

Mages need a class update that emphasizes their strengths so there’s a clearer incentive to pick them over other mid laners (e.g. fighters and assassins). The focal point of a mage’s usefulness stems from 1. their ability to deal damage from afar in large areas and 2. Their ability to immobilize or disable enemy champions. If mages cannot accomplish either of these tasks easily, then there is no incentive to pick mages over fighters and assassins with better stats.

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The following buffs are suggestions for buffing mages so that they feel balanced to play and stronger than fighters or assassins at either dealing area of effect damage or controlling the battlefield.

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Xerath -Increased R radius Because: R is already gated by its long cooldown. It doesn’t also have to be easy to dodge.

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Lux -Increased E radius Because: Lux’s abilities are all easy to dodge. This gives her slightly more reliability and pressure in lane.

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Ziggs -Reduced E cooldown Because: Ziggs’s E makes him a zone-control mage. Due to its delay, E doesn’t even affect enemies unless they decide to walk over the mines. Reducing this ability’s cooldown bolsters Zigg’s zone-control aspects.

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Anivia -Massively increased R leash range Because: Anivia has to both get close and consume mana consistently to activate her ultimate and control an area with her ultimate. She shouldn't also be forced to stay threatening close to enemies to do so.

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Vel'Koz -Increased R range Because: Vel'Koz has sufficiently high damage and moderate cooldowns, but his ultimate could use a little more range given its nature as a channeled ability.

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Karthus -Increased R damage Because: It's simply too weak, especially for its long cooldown.

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Malzahar -Increased R damage Because: Unlike other channeled ultimates, Malzahar's R also suppresses a single target for its duration. The drawback? It's a single-target spell and it also suppresses Malzahar. It should at least deal damage like an ultimate, even if it's not area-of-effect.

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Morgana -Increased W radius Because: Morgana does not have easy access to lane pressure because binding is blocked by minions and it's slow moving. W needs a radius increase so Morgana can more effectively pressure her opponent in other ways.

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Veigar -Reduced E delay Because: The delay on Event Horizon effectively prevents it from being used reliably by even skilled Veigar players as a dash-stopper.

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Zyra -Increased plant damage on hits after the 1st Because: It's too low. Compare with champions like Aphelios.