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Riot's moving League downhill.

WoonStruck··2 votes·392 views

Not because they changed ADCs or anything, no its a single nerf they went through with.

Riot nerfed the tenacity on merc treads while lowering the cost. There are several problems with this.

A) CC in conjunction with mobility has already been getting to a breaking point vs many melee. Its essentially the cause of the bruiser reworks. CC was still potent even against merc tread users, barring Mundo and Irelia so why the nerf?

B) The reason for the nerf is likely riot trying to inject more 'choices' as far as boots go. However, with how insanely abundant low CD CC is in this game, merc treads weren't popular because it was powerful, it was popular because it was required. There are plenty of games where other options are taken, and it was because of their niche use. Look at mages, Ionian or Sorc. Why is it a problem that bruisers/tanks go Tabi/Merc almost exclusively? You actually limited choice, making Merc function effectively only for tanks now. Its Tabi all the way for bruisers with the new MR item buffs.

C)Buying Merc feels terrible now. The 20% isn't noticable. The only thing I find myself wanting merc treads for is the MR, since I know the tenacity won't be enough to stop me from getting bursted during pretty much any CC unless I'm full tank.

D) The very worst part is the complete and utter lack of context on the change. It doesn't feel like there was any logic following the change, and if its a problem, its very likely Riot will not follow through with correcting it now.

P.S. Also, I hope you guys have a good rework planned for Ryze, since he barely functions in games he isn't insanely snowballed now.

8 Comments

Drunk Tsundere2 votes

Boots of Swiftness are a thing, you know.

also "I feel as though the Tenacity isn't insanely good anymore" is exactly what they wanted, because the tenacity that they gave combined with how prolific CC was meant that all of the other boot choices were being forced out by Mercs. Mercs are supposed to be bought for their MR, not for their tenacity.

WoonStruck1 votes

[{quoted}](name=BILL NYE THO,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=G5ydJpct,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2015-11-22T15:30:27.853+0000)

Boots of Swiftness are a thing, you know.

Not really, no. Please try to explain why nobody buys them then. The numbers are far too undertuned. Just like new Mercs.

also "I feel as though the Tenacity isn't insanely good anymore" is exactly what they wanted, because the tenacity that they gave combined with how prolific CC was meant that all of the other boot choices were being forced out by Mercs. Mercs are supposed to be bought for their MR, not for their tenacity.

Other boot choices weren't being forced out by Mercs. Mercs was being forced by the uncontrolled addition of CC to the game. CC needs to be dialed back if Mercs is to receive such a heavy nerf. I'm fine with the focus being MR, but if the tenacity is going to be a useless amount for anyone that isn't the class that cares the least about CC, remove it altogether and make it pure MR.

Currently Merc treads are terrible compared to other choices.

Rysophage1 votes

you do know there's a tenacity mastery now right? you do know that means when you buy the cheaper treads you get your tenacity faster right?

WoonStruck1 votes

{quoted}

you do know there's a tenacity mastery now right? you do know that means when you buy the cheaper treads you get your tenacity faster right?

First, tenacity was a mastery before. 10% for one point. Now its 15 for 5 and you give up legendary guardian. So in exchange for getting less (both due to losing a .9 multiplier and having .85*.8 rather than .65), I get to give up legendary guardian. Sounds like you have a point there.

Anyway, Tenacity is a 'critical mass' stat. If you don't have X amount, its essentially useless. That's what it is now. Useless with the exception of champs with natural tenacity, or champs that didn't really need it in the first place (tanks).

The only way it will be a worthy pick over tabi with its current stats is if you get damage reduction while CC'd, which won't ever happen.

Drunk Tsundere2 votes

Numbers show that Mercs and Swifties are just as good as the rest. People don't buy Swifties because they don't feel good because they don't give direct combat stats. Also people are stuck in the rut of "it must be bad if not everyone does it"

WoonStruck1 votes

[{quoted}](name=BILL NYE THO,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=G5ydJpct,comment-id=000000000001,timestamp=2015-11-22T15:54:01.007+0000)

Numbers show that Mercs and Swifties are just as good as the rest. People don't buy Swifties because they don't feel good because they don't give direct combat stats. Also people are stuck in the rut of "it must be bad if not everyone does it"

Except cc reduction in all forms has a variable value unlike all of the other stats.

Slow reduction is useless because anything more than a 10% slow still cripples you anyway. Most of the slows in the game are over 30%, making it a laughable reduction value.

Tenacity is hard to see as useful if you aren't tanky and have more than 33% total reduction.

Its kinda like how CDR gains more value the more you get. 100 sec CD becomes 90 with 10%, giving it 100% value. 90 becomes 80 with another 10% CDR, giving it 111% value. However, with merc treads, its inversed. Cutting off 40% of its tenacity cuts upwards of 60% of its value, especially considering new masteries.

Drunk Tsundere2 votes

I'm sorry I just can't take you seriously because Merc Treads and Boots of Swiftness have the highest win rates out of any boots. Higher than Berserkers and Mobos.

WoonStruck1 votes

Lol. Source?

Hope its not Elophant, because that's wildly inaccurate.

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