Mage item update will ruin ARAMS

Zorae42·4/13/2016, 9:14:37 PM·4 votes·536 views

Without the ability to back, mp5 is essential for mages in ARAMS. Moving all mages to using flat mana will make them awful in ARAMS.

Even if you increased the global buff to mp5 to offset this nerf to mages, then Supports, AD Casters, and "champs that are gated by mana early game but since they aren't mages it's okay for them to effectively have infinite mana late game" (e.g. Darius) will be overpowered as a result.

I know you don't balance around ARAMS, but there's a difference between some champions being particularly strong on it, and an entire class of champions feeling horrible on it (and all required to take clarity to even function).

Please take ARAMS into account when you are investigating the AP itemization update.

6 Comments

MisterHealYoGirl4/13/2016, 9:24:57 PM2 votes

Clarity helps this sting less, and FQC is actually pretty good for the gold gen, since you won't be CSing or shopping much. You can start with Frostfang to really make those shops count.

Sneakyy XD4/13/2016, 10:02:44 PM2 votes

Considering mages are OP in ARAM, I don't see how this is bad.

Quepha4/13/2016, 10:05:53 PM2 votes

Because poke mages were struggling in ARAM?

LaserDeathBlade4/13/2016, 10:09:58 PM2 votes

Yeah mages are just soooo weak in ARAM

Maybe now people will actually have a chance to play the game rather than get destroyed in the most miserable fashion possible by Lux / Ziggs / VK / etc

Sohleks4/13/2016, 9:36:36 PM1 votes

I usually go

item 3098 item 1056 > item 3092

into usually RoA on arams anyways.

True, Athenes can be really good sometimes and we're losing that. I find the regen + cdr build is best on single spell focused champs, while mages that rely on combos need more flat mana.

We might find out item 3092 is overpowered in the new mana ecosystem.

But I guess that's why supports are supposed to have higher base mana regen stats.

But I don't really think flat mana is all that bad tbh.

Hard4Hamsters4/13/2016, 10:01:03 PM1 votes

As someone who plays a lot of ARAM... like a LOT.

Mages like Velkoz Sona Ziggs Lux etc. who are near constant spellcasters are pretty annoying with copious amounts of mana regen/cdr in one item. I think the mage update will throw ARAM balance around a little bit, but all the champions I mentioned can also build Tear into Seraph's to allow for endless spell spam, or they can opt for the support item build (which is probably better anyway due to gold income). I think that the champions I mentioned will still be strong because they are really good at the ARAM format due to their kits. Lacking mana regen in ARAM isn't really a big deal anyway as you have increased mana regen on the map and the "health packs" give a good amount of mana as well.

What I see happening from the item pass is that champions like Kennen, Swain, Vlad, Galio, and other tanky teamfight mages will see an increase to their winrate in the gamemode due to the hextech dash belt item being introduced as it gives them yet another way to get into a fight. Otherwise, I think that ARAM will still favor these poke, waveclear, and healing (ie Siege) champions that it always has.