Here are some interesting numbers on the Zilean changes (nerf)

So Zilean just got some changes and on the surface it seemed like a buff, but if you do some calculations and look at the numbers it seems more like a nerf. While they did give him some utility with a stun and decreased his mana usage, most everything else seems worse off now. Here are some numbers and notes you might find interesting:

Q: Time Bomb

• Increase in utility with added aoe stun if two bombs hit the same target

• decreased mana cost depending on level making it 14-23% more manna efficient

• increased cast range by 200

• decreased base damage depending on level by 17-6% and lowered ap ratio by 10%

• lowered detonation time by 1 sec effectively lowering the window to get a double bomb stun

• no longer targeted, meaning no longer guarantied damage in exchange for potential zoning and scouting

  My thoughts: depending on your play style could be a buff or nerf (i do like the stun, but i dont like how much harder it is to double bomb now). Also, i dont like the fact that Zilean's only damaging spell has a chance to miss

W: Rewind

• No mana cost change but no longer affects R effectively decreasing its value by 33%

• To make up for this it should cost 16.5 mana less

My thoughts: Due to changes with R you dont have to spam this skill as much so overall it increases Zilean's mana efficiency

E: Time Warp Note: for the following calculations I used 390 movement speed which seems to be the average after tier two boots

• Increased mana efficiency by 13%

• With max CDR both effectively have an up time of 6.5 sec but due to mechanics with W the old E could be continuously active

• 700 cast range lowered to about ~625 ( can be less or more depending on hit boxes), meaning it can no longer kite as many characters notably; Caitlyn, Ashe, and Tristana

• 220% decrease in slow/ haste duration

• Due to diminishing return mechanics in lol an increase of 55% slow/buff to 99% slow/buff is not a substantial increse

Formula using 390 ms: (y-490)x0.5 +(490-415)x0.8 + 415 = actual movement speed

• a 55% buff would normally net 605 ms but the soft & hard cap = 536 ms a 11% reduction

• a 99% buff would normally net 776 ms but the soft & hard cap = 618 ms a 20% reduction

• taking out diminishing returns the 55% ms buff is equivalent to a 38% increase in speed, and the 99% ms buff is equivalent to a 58% increase in speed, meaning you are actually only going 20% faster for a 220% decrease in durration

The slow is even worse due to ms not being able to go under 110 ms and a soft cap at 220 ms, using the slowing formula you find:

• a 55% slow lowers ms to 198 which is equivalent to a 49% slow without the cap and a 99% slow lowers ms to 165 which is equivalent to a 58% slow, meaning they are only going 9% slower for a 220% decrease in durration

My thoughts: no matter how i look at this it seems like a giant nerf

R: Chronoshift

• Durration down to 5 sec from 7 sec

• With max CDR now has a cooldown of 36 sec

• With max CDR and after 8 uses of W, R would be back after 29 sec for the use of an additional 400 mana

• So new R is 70% more mana efficient

My thoughts: while it does cost a lot less mana now i will miss being able to use it twice durring long team fights