League was more fun when mages were dominant

AquariusGine·Feb 4, 2018·58 votes·3,183 views

Around seasons 3 and 4. This is not nostalgia, this is just coming from a mage main who feels that all we ever do is CC + tickle damage. Back then the standard 6 item lategame build gave you 800+ AP. In addition to that, you also had slightly higher AP ratios.

I could solo carry as Ahri / Leblanc and didn't have to rely too heavily on teammates. I don't know if it was the best way for League to be, but back then we definitely had fewer balance issues. Even on the boards, the typical complaint was the standard cycle of Nerf Ahri > Nerf Syndra > Nerf Leblanc > Nerf Zed > Nerf Yasuo threads. Very standard meta shifts around a few champions who became strong when their competitors were nerfed, nothing too surprising.

I loved carrying with mid and top champions.

103 Comments

wildfox99Feb 4, 201854 votes

since then all was changed around ADCs

an assassin must outplay for killing the target he's supposed to counter

a mage must hit every skillshoot for getting the possibility of killing an ADC (because it feels bad when someone kills you missing a skillshoot,but it doesn't when is for a undodgeable point click BPS)

a tank must be melted in 1.5 sec because kiting for killing them would be too hard,better show your skills standing AFK turret

supports should give utility,buffs,helping their teammates supporting their team running around the map....nha,better making them an ADC babysitter that have only to spam shields/heals so he can destroy enemy team

~~jungle~~ bot lane babysitter and drake smiter feels bad to play as well,try to gank top once and you lost the game because you hear "double kill" and the sound of the infernal drake slain/bot tower falling

i hate this meta,i'm not used to be that salty but i swear, it's almost impossible for me not to being tilted for this meta,especially when you play above gold/low plat is so frustrating

ZT XperimentorFeb 4, 20182 votes

Sadly spot on, and it's been eroding twisted treeline and aram as well.

stone the blacksFeb 4, 201823 votes

mages have distinct counter play and down time for damage marksmen have more damage, unavoidable, and no down time

Iffy JarlFeb 4, 20181 votes

{quoted}

mages have distinct counter play and down time for damage marksmen have more damage, unavoidable, and no down time

cause they do more damage

stone the blacksFeb 4, 20186 votes

not any more

SHANK LUX MAINSFeb 4, 20181 votes

One combo that takes about .5 seconds will 1 shot any adc if youre not behind on most mages, .5 s of aa will not kill a mage unless the adc is super ahead. Idk why mage players think they should be allowed to miss skillshots and not die.

Automated RivenFeb 4, 20185 votes

{quoted}

One combo that takes about .5 seconds will 1 shot any adc if youre not behind on most mages, .5 s of aa will not kill a mage unless the adc is super ahead. Idk why mage players think they should be allowed to miss skillshots and not die.

Unless your talking about quintessential burst mages, mages actually struggle to kill adc's late game. Specifically if they have a support with a brain. Mid game sure, late game, not really.

SHANK LUX MAINSFeb 4, 20182 votes

Late game is when adc are supposed to be the strongest, but 1v1 if the mage is a better player they can kill the adc easy or even chunk them on accident with a stray ability.

HaIlMonitorFeb 5, 20183 votes

How is a mage supposed to outplay someone that attacks 1 time with shiv and does 1500+ damage...

SHANK LUX MAINSFeb 5, 20182 votes

No one actually does this unless massively ahead but please exaggerate more. No diff than syndra missing everything and pressing r on an adc to 100-0 them

HaIlMonitorFeb 5, 20184 votes

Have you never played vs a draven? Generally they will Auto you, Knock you to the side, and auto one last time and you are dead.

IręlíaFeb 4, 201819 votes

I do prefer Mage metas the most. Mages are strong, but assassins can still shut them down and, they are still countered by tanks who rush MR, and they still can blow up the careless ADC instantly.

IMO Mage metas have always been the most balanced. Aside from a few offenders who spoiled the bunch.

Better than the boring wet noodle tank meta, the instantly die from 2 hits assassin meta, and a lot less despairing and more forgiving than the "oops my bot lane lost so we lost" adc meta.

Dead flag bluesFeb 4, 201811 votes

Let me correct you : League was more fun when the game wasn't orbiting around a single class who has always been a problem

Steel BlossomFeb 4, 20189 votes

...funny you should say that. I remember back in S3 that I could play Zed, ult the mage, pop the mage, then turn around to kill the tank trying to peel too because I had the DPS and sustain from Bork+cleaver+LW+BT. Funny you should be nostalgic for those days, when my boy Talon still had silence and an insane AoE. Honestly, I miss those days too.

Athenes LuluFeb 6, 20181 votes

Or when assassins like Talon, LB, and Kass could silence people [slayer-jinx-wink]

Steel BlossomFeb 6, 20182 votes

[{quoted}](name=Cancerous Lulu,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BEc0XoaR,comment-id=000c0000,timestamp=2018-02-06T00:34:13.617+0000)

Or when assassins like Talon, LB, and Kass could silence people [slayer-jinx-wink]

You mean when my boi Talon was still real fun to play? item 3070

Evil YasuoFeb 6, 20181 votes

[{quoted}](name=Steel Blossom,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BEc0XoaR,comment-id=000c00000000,timestamp=2018-02-06T00:38:35.598+0000)

You mean when my boi Talon was still real fun to play?

My man, let my upvote your comment forever.<3

SalronFeb 4, 20184 votes

{quoted}

Around seasons 3 and 4. This is not nostalgia, this is just coming from a mage main who feels that all we ever do is CC + tickle damage. Back then the standard 6 item lategame build gave you 800+ AP

yeah and the standard mage build nowadays gives 40% CDR with 600-700 AP when you usually only got 20% back then

THE RlVER KlNGFeb 4, 201817 votes

if they buy rabadons, maybe. which lots of mages dont

SalronFeb 5, 20181 votes

Op mentioned 6 item builds Every mage wants a Rabadons at 6 items, it's just a pain to build

NineTailedMysticFeb 5, 20183 votes

well rabadons is shit to build before 5th-6th item, and by that time you have no slots to put components in, so you only buy rabadon when you can sell an item and outright buy it.

Velzard of KozFeb 4, 20182 votes

How even? If you go for: item 3157 item 3102 item 3165 item 3151 item 3116 that's 40%CDR and 395 AP If you exchange crystal for ludens that's 420 AP, If for Rabadon that's 594 AP, If you exchange liandri and crystal for luden and rabadon that's 621.

You're barely above 600 AP and even that with build barely "standard". Morello, Banshe and Zhonya is pretty much standard for 40% CDR, more Mages favour Liandri, there are Mages who abuse Lich Bane over this "standard build", there are situations when you have to go for Void Staff possibly more often than Rabadon and even then Rabadon doesn't seem to be favorite.

Mobile PhoneFeb 4, 20181 votes

[{quoted}](name=Velzard of Koz,realm=EUNE,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BEc0XoaR,comment-id=00020001,timestamp=2018-02-04T22:01:40.392+0000)

How even? If you go for: that's 40%CDR and 395 AP If you exchange crystal for ludens that's 420 AP, If for Rabadon that's 594 AP, If you exchange liandri and crystal for luden and rabadon that's 621.

You're barely above 600 AP and even that with build barely "standard". Morello, Banshe and Zhonya is pretty much standard for 40% CDR, more Mages favour Liandri, there are Mages who abuse Lich Bane over this "standard build", there are situations when you have to go for Void Staff possibly more often than Rabadon and even then Rabadon doesn't seem to be favorite.

So, you do know you arent taking in account for you know, Drakes and runes? runes give me an extra 100 ap at 30 mins along with elixr that is an extra 50 would be...800 ap with 40% cooldown...hmm. play ziggs with that with ultimate hat i have a 50 second cooldown ult that does 1700 and a 2.8 second q that does 850. Any extra infernals past the first pretty much give an extra hundred then.

Now lets take off deathcap and pick some safer item and wow still 650+ ap with 40% cd and almost 3k health

Velzard of KozFeb 4, 20182 votes

How is anything you said "build" or "standard". Are you sure you know what I respond to?

FilDaFunkFeb 4, 20184 votes

When Syndra came out, she was rarely played. (I loved her). I think it's all he CDR she gets that makes her too powerful.

ModAcademy KaynFeb 6, 20182 votes

When she first came out, she was weak as heck I'm pretty sure.

FilDaFunkFeb 6, 20181 votes

I think everyone thought she was, I wasn't entirely convinced. I once took her out for a pin vs AP sion mid. She did quite well.

chipndip1Feb 4, 20184 votes

Can you mage players stop? Please?

Hong Kong AnnieFeb 4, 201810 votes

Yeah I know how dare they have opinions.

chipndip1Feb 4, 20182 votes

[{quoted}](name=Wayward Son,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BEc0XoaR,comment-id=00070001,timestamp=2018-02-04T19:53:38.552+0000)

Yeah I know how dare they have opinions.

"League is just a blatantly better game when everything revolves around us mages."

Down vote me all you want. Anyone participating in this circle-jerk is a tool.

Hong Kong AnnieFeb 4, 20188 votes

Not sure where you're pulling that quote from cuz it definitely wasn't the OP. He was just expressing his opinion and you come in, talk down to anyone that plays a mage and say anyone that doesn't agree with you is a tool. You are entitled to your own opinion too but these post clearly show your biased hatred toward mages.

chipndip1Feb 4, 20182 votes

[{quoted}](name=Wayward Son,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BEc0XoaR,comment-id=0007000100000000,timestamp=2018-02-04T20:35:27.123+0000)

Not sure where you're pulling that quote from cuz it definitely wasn't the OP. He was just expressing his opinion and you come in, talk down to anyone that plays a mage and say anyone that doesn't agree with you is a tool. You are entitled to your own opinion too but these post clearly show your biased hatred toward mages.

Here's the thing: This opinion piece of yours is bullshit. You have the right to your opinion. I have the right to call out a bunch of victim-complex mage mains when I see them. ALL you guys do is whine about how mages are weak and useless ALL THE TIME when it's the furthest thing from the truth.

"We do no damage": Bullshit.

"It was more balanced": HOW IS THIS NOT OVERLY BIASED BULLSHIT?

As someone that actually takes the time to not be a biased tool, the fact that people can get away with shit like this on these forums is actually a pet peeve of mine.

NineTailedMysticFeb 5, 20184 votes

"We do no damage": Bullshit.

Mages do about the same damage. Less from AP, more from Runes. However it's comparatively less when put to any other class.

Now, stop being a pretentious prick.

chipndip1Feb 5, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Mages do about the same damage. Less from AP, more from Runes. However it's comparatively less when put to any other class.

Now, stop being a pretentious prick.

Absolutely bullshit

NineTailedMysticFeb 5, 20183 votes

Again, you're wrong.

chipndip1Feb 5, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Again, you're wrong.

If you think that, you have to be low elo or unranked, and this is me guessing.

Then I looked it up and it was unranked after all...Gold 5 0 lp when it actually makes it on the ladder.

NineTailedMysticFeb 5, 20182 votes

Because I don't play ranked. I choke. I play enough to get to gold and stop. Not that it's relevant anyhow.

chipndip1Feb 5, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Because I don't play ranked. I choke. I play enough to get to gold and stop. Not that it's relevant anyhow.

It's totally relevant, because your understanding of the game holistically has stagnated and you don't realize it has. People that play the game more competitively wouldn't say shit like "Mages do the least damage out of all sub-classes in the game."

NineTailedMysticFeb 5, 20181 votes

Ok, that's not what I meant, at all.

To use some examples numbers, I meant that Mages do about the same damage now, so lets say 2500 in an unmitigated burst rotation. But Tank damage went up from 1200 to say 1700 , ADC damage went up from say 1800 to 2700, etc. Some classes surpass Mage damage in the same damage time frame after all the damage increases, some don't. So while everyone else got damage crept, Mages just kinda stagnated.

chipndip1Feb 5, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Ok, that's not what I meant, at all.

To use some examples numbers, I meant that Mages do about the same damage now, so lets say 2500 in an unmitigated burst rotation. But Tank damage went up from 1200 to say 1700 , ADC damage went up from say 1800 to 2700, etc. Some classes surpass Mage damage in the same damage time frame after all the damage increases, some don't. So while everyone else got damage crept, Mages just kinda stagnated.

You're throwing around numbers and making broad assumptions.
This STILL doesn't mean that mages do the least damage in the game like you previously acclaimed. Everyone likes to mass downvote until you get to the root of the problem...which is your massive overstatement on the state of mages...much like this entire thread.
Different champs of all kinds do different amounts of damage depending on a ton of variables. Someone like Vlad, Azir, or Vel'Koz could be expected to do crap tons of damage in a game, even if they're mages. Someone like Tristana may be expected to do a ton of damage in a long game, but her damage in shorter games may wind up being unimpressive, which is entirely reasonable. Even some mages played in the support role like Brand or Zyra can come out with some of the highest damage in some games because of their aoe influence.

This is why I dislike threads like these. It perpetuates this victim mentality for a class that doesn't need it. Mages could use itemization variety? Fine. Deathcap needs to be tooled to be a cheaper buy so it doesn't require me selling a child to afford it? Fine. "Mages do tickle damage and the game's way better balanced when it's focused around mages?" I call bullshit. Every time. I don't give two flying shits how many times these boards downvote me.

LordGeovanniFeb 4, 20183 votes

Mages had windows of downtime when you could punish them They removed that just like they increased adc burst and reduced armor magic resist and max hp from items. And idk what you dreaming about but season 3-4 was assassins going into adcs late season 4 and mages early season 5.

Mokuto BunshiFeb 4, 20183 votes

.....Do you even Zoe/Viegar/Syndra bro? /s

Seriously tho, fun for who? I wasn't there but you are only speaking subjectively from the POV of a mage. I can tall you firmly from the POV of a bruiser top player that we feel the same way. On the bright side, mages are gonna be viable as AP carriers bot soon, so there's that...