AP Tristana's damage is higher than before...

So let me be clear: pure damage-wise, going AP on the new Tristana deals more damage than she originally dealt. However, the problem is that she can't simply get in, blow her load, and get out like she used to. Now there is effort involved. That in itself isn't a bad thing, but the sheer amount of extra steps you must take now make her combo extremely extremely telegraphed / nigh impossible to get the maximum bang for her buck.

Which makes new AP Tristana more of an indirect nerf. You can get comparable damage to old Tristana with a little extra effort, but it's much easier for your enemy to avoid.

Let's break this down. Assume level 18, for ease of calculation, and no AD items.

Old Tristana: Rocket Jump, Explosive Shot in air, Buster Shot Rocket Jump: 250 + 0.8 AP Explosive Shot: 260 + 1.0 AP + Grievous Wounds Buster Shot: 500 + 1.4 AP 100 AP = 1330 damage + Grievous Wounds 200 AP = 1650 damage + Grievous Wounds 300 AP = 1970 damage + Grievous Wounds 400 AP = 2290 damage + Grievous Wounds

New Tristana: Explosive Shot, 4 autoattacks, Rocket Jump, Buster Shot Rocket Jump: (180 + 0.5 AP) x 2 Explosive Shot: (100 + 1.1 bonus AD + 0.5 AP) x 2 Buster Shot: 500 + 1.0 AP 100 AP = 1360 + 404 autoattack = 1764 damage 200 AP = 1660 + 404 autoattack = 2064 damage 300 AP = 1960 + 404 autoattack = 2364 damage 400 AP = 2260 + 404 autoattack = 2664 damage

New Tristana: Explosive Shot, 2 autoattacks (getting 2 is reasonably reliable), Rocket Jump, Buster Shot Rocket Jump: (180 + 0.5 AP) x 1.6 Explosive Shot: (100 + 1.1 bonus AD + 0.5 AP) x 1.5 Buster Shot: 500 + 1.0 AP 100 AP = 1193 + 202 autoattack = 1395 damage 200 AP = 1448 + 202 autoattack = 1650 damage 300 AP = 1703 + 202 autoattack = 1905 damage 400 AP = 1958 + 202 autoattack = 2160 damage

New Tristana: Rocket Jump, Explosive Shot, Buster Shot (trying to use her like old Tristana) Rocket Jump: (180 + 0.5 AP) x 1.2 Explosive Shot: 100 + 1.1 bonus AD + 0.5 AP Buster Shot: 500 + 1.0 AP 100 AP = 1026 damage 200 AP = 1236 damage 300 AP = 1446 damage 400 AP = 1656 damage

Edit: forgot this was also an option New Tristana: Rocket Jump, Explosive Shot, 4 autoattacks, Buster Shot Rocket Jump: 180 + 0.5 AP Explosive Shot: (100 + 1.1 bonus AD + 0.5 AP) x 2 Buster Shot: 500 + 1.0 AP 100 AP = 1130 + 404 autoattack = 1534 damage 200 AP = 1380 + 404 autoattack = 1784 damage 300 AP = 1630 + 404 autoattack = 2034 damage 400 AP = 1880 + 404 autoattack = 2284 damage

So ignoring the benefits of Grievous Wounds and the differences in Explosive Shot being physical, the damage is roughly the same (just a little lower) with 2 autoattack stacks, which is relatively easy to get. And decently higher if you get max stacks.

Here's where things get fishy, though. The problem is that you have to actually get those stacks. New Tristana has no element of surprise. To get the damage, she must place the Explosive Shot on them first. And gain some autoattack stacks. She's basically sticking a giant, spiky post-it note on the opponent's head saying, "Hey, I'm about to combo you. WATCH OUT!"

Tristana's movement speed is pretty low. Her mobility comes from Rocket Jump, but you can't initiate with that anymore because you must get the Explosive Shot stacks first. It's also her slow so you also have to deal with a full speed opponent.

Once you stick that Explosive Shot on someone's head, they can basically just start running. You, on the other hand, must (should probably Q first) attack, orb walk, attack, orb walk, attack, orb walk, attack, Rocket Jump. Due to all your pausing to attack, I'm pretty sure most characters will be able to get away from you if they simply right clicked and never looked back, and even easier with a movement ability.

Even if you got all 4 autoattacks on them, any smart player will then be looking to dodge that Rocket Jump. It's coming. You know it's coming. They know it's coming. And Rocket Jump is one of the slowest movement abilities in the game, making the startup easily seen and Flashed (or something else to get away). On the plus side, you can use this to play mind games and zone them away from creeps/exp.

Get a Rylai's or Twin Shadows or something.

Edit: Added the option to Rocket Jump, then Explosive Shot with max stacks while they're slowed. Slightly longer combo than Old Tristana but also comparable damage.

Also keep in mind that many mages/assassins will be able to burst Tristana down far faster than she can get 4 autoattacks.

Old Tristana, on the other hand, could start everything off with a surprise Rocket Jump (add bushes, walls, or fog for even more surprise) and be gone before the (presumably) dead target knew what happened. She also had a DFG advantage.

tl;dr Going AP with New Tristana does more damage than Old Tristana but it's a hell of a lot harder to do.