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Sion: Now 51.19 Win rate. Nerfs Successful?

Zazusha·5/6/2015, 5:23:45 PM·3 votes·886 views

-Disclaimer: This isn't a thread for complaining about Nerfs. Its a discussion on his current balance- Sion has been nerfed almost every patch, for the last several patches. However, not until this latest patch, has he been nerfed without compensation.

Previous nerfs have been along the lines of:

  • Mana cost of E now scales up, mana cost of Q no longer scales up.
  • E damage reduced, Q AD ratio increased. Cinderhulk released.

This latest patch has only Double Nerfed his W, and no Buff given anywhere. Not only reducing the %hp shield strength of early levels, but also Adding 1 full second to the Delay before you can Recast W to explode the shield. He was Close to getting a buff to his R, allowing him to continue charging if he killed a champion while doing so, but that didn't make it through.

Before this patch, Sion has been sitting around the Top 5 of win rates in solo queue even will all the prior nerfs/buffs. Averaging ~54-55% win rate. From this, there's telling if this was Top or Jungle. But he was around that High back before Cinderhulk, so it's safe to assume Top was still the preferred roll.

After This patch, He has finally fallen down the ladder. Currently sitting at 51% winrate over the last 7 days. Now this wasn't as dramatic a fall as we've seen other champs take after a nerf, but it was a significant one. A 3-4% shift is a lot when you're balance percentages are within a range of less than 20 (40%-55%).

I'm not a fan of the nerf to his Shield. I would have prefered they only did one of the two things they did. But, It seems SIon has just been shifting over the coarse of all the nerfs/buffs. His Q was made much better to Max first (top or jungle) over his E. And Now, His W is even more important to max before his E.

I think Riot might actually have successfully Nerfed him into balance, unlike Veigar, Azir, Kass, Bard, who were all nerfed to hell, and had/have to be buffed back up. (bard just being made to weak to begin with). Granted, we're only a week into the changes, and Win Rate is only 1 of many things to reference when considering a champion's balance.

What does everyone else think?

8 Comments

masterdragon4815/6/2015, 6:21:38 PM2 votes

I'd like to start by saying that I don't think that the 7 days of the patch are enough to determine how the nerfs will ultimately affect Sion; people have to learn how to play with the nerfs before opponents can learn how to counter again.

I do think everything that was done was justified and overall I think he is in a good place now.

ValyrianBlade5/6/2015, 6:17:02 PM1 votes

I think like the comment on jinx being expected to maintain over a50% win rate (because of her loyal player base and how her playstyle fits best with solo queue strategies)) should also apply to Sion.

No idea on the games played part, but Sion DEFINITELY has a play style that fits solo queue. Global ultimate that relocates him for Lane ganks or counter ganks, lots of cc and tankiness for teamfights, hard engage, etc...

I think 51% is right around where you'd want his win rate. 52% at most. Riot did a great job here, they recognized he was strong and needed a nerf and got it right. Hopefully the rate stays there.

Meep Man5/6/2015, 6:18:06 PM1 votes

Sion is very powerful, but he is definitely balanced currently.

VeryGreen5/7/2015, 6:40:45 AM1 votes

Build 6 borks. Use them all on him. BORK him hard

Laughing Fish5/7/2015, 3:04:39 PM1 votes

As someone who mains SIon, I can say the nerfs were certainly necessary. He was strong before cinderhulk. After he was certainly OP. I think he is in a good spot now.