Ashe rework initially very impressive, but is really simple in actuality

Felixphaeton·4/29/2015, 10:16:55 PM·53 votes·8,549 views

While flurried arrows look cool, and the new crit system is an interesting way to scale with crit, I feel like the essential gameplay of her new mechanics are still very simple.

Her new crits are basically a different way to apply very similar overall damage. She still has her passive slow, and 3 of her skills are essentially unchanged.

The only they they really added was her Empowered Focus shots. While it looks fancy, it really is just a glorified steroid (albeit a strong one).

Once you have enough stacks, press button for more AD, AS, and slowing power.

This isn't a bad thing. In fact, I applaud Riot for keeping her simple. Newbie friendly champions are becoming a smaller and smaller part of the champion list, and reworks bring a danger of overcomplicating champions.

Once I realized how simple her new mechanics are though, my initial hype sort of died a bit.

96 Comments

junglerboy164/30/2015, 12:45:37 AM24 votes

I just saw a video that showed how Runaan's works with her new Q and it is legitimately one of the coolest (heh) item synergies in the game. Each bolt of her focus empowered attacks triggers runaan's passive now, so she fires 10 bolts every single AA each bolt applies The Black Cleaver's armor shred, so in one single shot she can shred 3-5 enemy champions' armor by 30%.

They also buffed back her W damage again today.

The changes are simple for anyone who uses her the same way as before (she keeps a relatively low skill floor, meaning she is easy to play) but open up ways for more skilled players to pull of really crazy stuff now (they've buffed her skillcap essentially).

RiotGhostcrawler4/30/2015, 6:42:00 PM20 votes

I'm not a fan of newbie champs as a concept in general. I don't think that means that every champ needs a bunch of skill shots and hard-to-counter combos, but I'm also not a fan of champs that have no chance of ever seeing serious competitive play (say Plat and Diamond at least, if not esports level). That feels like a broken contract with players who pick up, purchase or fall in love with a particular main.

However, what I do like about the Ashe changes is that they were relatively straight forward, easy to understand, don't change her into something unrecognizable, but should still make her a little cooler (lol), while giving her more depth. Let use know how it works.

Leti the Yeti4/29/2015, 10:31:06 PM19 votes

tl;dr ashe rework 99% right clicking

TheI3igDaddy4/30/2015, 5:54:34 AM16 votes

So nobody's going to mention the global Hawkshots? I always thought that was going to be a big improvement. Losing the passive extra gold was worth it, in my opinion. Not to mention the fact that it still shows vision for the entire pathway, so you can throw it in the enemy jungle and have a good shot at finding the jungler, which will relieve pressure on the map.

Hellioning4/30/2015, 2:19:21 AM7 votes

So? If anything, that makes me like it more; no need to entirely relearn the champion.

aaronconlin4/30/2015, 12:42:48 AM7 votes

I don't really see a problem. Ashe needed changes, and these will definitely be good for her. Her old passive was useless on and ADC aside from initial burst, and was replaced by her Q permaslow and new crit mechanic Her old Q was moved to her passive and her new Q is simple, yeah, but it applies on-hit effects and will make her build path interesting W was unchanged for the most part but you can hit a minion wave and instantly get 5 stacks of focus E dropped the passive gold for 2 shots of global vision, which is well worth it Ult unchanged

plus, the new item 3071 will have great synergy with her Q and will help her kite even more

Crett4/29/2015, 10:29:52 PM4 votes

It's not just a glorified steroid. It really does hit 5 times. This allows you to shoot 10 runaan bolts per auto, and apply 5 black cleaver stacks per auto. This has some srs implications

Kingsgrave4/30/2015, 12:08:30 AM4 votes

Whats wrong with that? She has always been a simple character.

FantasySniper4/29/2015, 11:58:54 PM4 votes

The only thing that really changed was:

  • Another damage output ability.
  • Another Hawkshot charge. (And global range)
  • More arrows coming out of Volley.

All of which are 110% buffs to her.

Meep Man4/30/2015, 6:05:13 PM3 votes

So her kit was improved and she kept her simplicity? That seems good to me.