More Map Mobility for League's Lowest Performing Jungler -The Least Dangerous but Most Poetic Fix?
I've been doing my best to think and see as a Riot Champion Developer in hopes I can really understand from their perspective on how to give just enough balance WITHOUT causing a champion to become too oppressive.
Stun durations, Damage, Heals, - these are pretty solid areas to avoid if at all possible, and Kindred is certainly an example
The Eternal Hunters is a scar that's still healing in the history of the Jungle. When first released, they were given a heal that turned out to be very oppressive for several patches. It was quite a shock. Reducing damage and allowing the other team to counter jungle Kindred's hunts all proved ineffective at sufficiently slowing them down.
That heal in addition to the increasing damage from their passive created a true Grim Reaper that terrorized games for several patches - and once removed, left the now Eternal Hunters, Eternally Squishy. Kindred was left forced to rely on their hunts a great deal more, which became a gleeful point for enemy junglers who would bait the squishy, supportless ADC at their hunts.
And that makes sense - Kindred is an Archer, an ADC, and the first truly ranged Jungler, not a bruiser or tank, etc. as many are, and unable to go toe to toe with their cousins.
The latest rework finally did gave Kindred a chance to fulfill that ADC Jungle role on paper in exchange for their last originally oppressive feature: their extra damage - but its left them even more defenseless. All an enemy has to do is close the gap like any ADC without their support or teammate and they're dead.
But there may be a more elegant and much less dangerous way to help League's most under performing champion (#champion.gg) .
Kindred's closest jungle cousin is Talon - similarly squishy with the exception of his ability to literally vanish, deal large AOE damage, and reappear.
Talon works best when acting as an assassin, which The Eternal Hunters should play a lot more like, but unlike Talon, don't have a built in escape ability like The Blade's Shadow. Kindred's ability to dance around the map is actually quite limited - there are a number of champions whose dash has given them the ability to cross much more terrain.
I DO NOT suggest giving Kindred Talon's mobility - That's Talon's and rightly unique to him. I do however suggest giving Kindred's Q more escape and movement utility.
Without the oppressive heal they once had, Kindred needs a different option to help not only keep them alive, but also let them perform all the basic functions of a jungler, including ganking a team fight from the back, applying pressure/damage, then escaping to reposition or join their team.
Using Kindred's Q to move around the map is already inherently dangerous to the Eternally Squishy pair - the attack built into it will start any monster on the other side which could kill a squishy Kindred whereas another Jungler would be fine. Kindred's cousin Talon? Probably had a route planned that didn't involve Dragon.
But that factor actually keeps this potential aid in check - Grant Kindred's Q greater mobility across the map and they would be able to perform their role as more mobile jungler *without* any extra damage, heals, etc. AND they would be able to chase down their targets as intended in their design.
Please Riot, Please consider this one!!