Why Zyra should be buffed, and how it could be done,
So I've been spamming some Zyra mid recently (EUW G1, so not high elo), and I've been enjoying it a lot, she's a super fun champ with a very different play pattern and lots of plant microing to be factored in. I've also been having decent results with it, but honestly i' think that's mostly due to people being unfamiliar with her strengths and play pattern (coughs people trying to take drake 4v3 into zyra coughs", and i honestly think she should be buffed somewhat. And in particular i think the buffs should center around her q, which is subpar to the similar spells of many mages that play out the same way:
Xerath: Xerath has higher poke damage and safety than zyra, in return for a (if zyras kit is utilized correctly) weaker teamfight dmg output, and less CC. His Q deals 10%AP and has a 30 higher base dmg than zyra Q, and is way easier to hit in tf's, as well as being capable of hitting many more people. I don't believe that's warranted, as the spell is already better because of it's range and safety. It's also a much better poke tool in lane than zyra q, as zyra has no innate mana sustain, meaning she needs to pull off combos with plants to trade well enough to offset the mana costs.
Syndra: Syndra has similar poke damage, and less CC than zyra, but receives compensation in form of high guaranteed burst, that zyra doesn't have. Her Q has 55 more dmg at level 9 than zyra Q, as well as a 5% ratio increase. It also has a smaller CD, shorter delay on it's damage, and no cast animation. Making it much more reliable, spammable as well as kited with, compared with syndra Q. Syndra stun is also easier to land, than zyra w, as the animation is much faster. The abilities are also basically the same.
Ziggs: Trades Zyras CC for higher poke damage, much better wave clear, cross map plays, and SAFETY. Ziggs Q has 40 higher base value than zyra Q as well as lower CD and mana cost, making it much better at wave clear and poke than zyra Q. His ult is also basically a CC free version of zyra ult with higher damage, and he has the one thing zyra and none of the above have: An escape. For this single reason as well as instant wave clear, i think ziggs is better than zyra.
I think I've made a fair case for zyra's Q simply being too weak compared to similar mages main DPS abilities, but that being said i don't think buffing base dmg's is a good idea, as any increase to zyra "2x seed => Q" poke in lane" can get really obnoxious if any base dmg's (both Plants and Q) are raised. Instead i think it should reward Zyra's "wauw i finally hit all my spells" moment, as well as become a bit more reliable in teamfights, while also upping her "plant" identity (Q feels the least alive of zyras abilities), and thus i propose:
Q, Deadly Bloom: After an initial delay a carnivorous flower appears at the cast location dealing x dmg. If the ability hit's an enemy, the flower feeds on the flesh, and grows in radius 100 units, over 0.5second, dealing 60 percent of original dmg (to champions only). If any Champion is still inside the flower after 0.5s more, he is dealt 15percent of the dmg dealt, for a possible total of 115 percent dmg (cannot be damaged by the delayed proc if hit by the original dmg instance).
This would solidify zyra's primary role as a combo caster, as well as provide a bit of leniency for Q's that just slightly whiff (note plant increases slower than enemy movement speed, so an enemy aware, and not hit will likely evade, while it will have a higher ratio of 2nd proc instances in busy tf's, helping zyra to dmg 2 people rather than 1 with q.
That was it, thoughts?
