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Context to why there are no Karma buffs on PBE?

Masala Chai·6/21/2018, 9:15:16 AM·13 votes·6,286 views

Karma is performing quite dismally since you nerfed all of her items across the board, removed a tier 2 rune that she frequently and regularly used in favour of something that she does not prefer (Ultimate Hat to Nimbus Cloak), removed her core item that kept her afloat in the Banner meta (hint it was Banner), and simultaneously buffed all of her counters. She is nowhere near as hard or difficult to balance for competitive proplay and Solo Q at the same time (we've seen this before the 6.6 buffs), as the likes of Azir or Ryze. And given her early game curve, she should be able to perform at a rather decent level in this current snowball meta. Unfortunately, she sits at the bottom of the champion pool where champs such as Azir and Ryze rot in oblivion. However, unlike those champions, she does not have a considerable skill ceiling and mains at all MMRs are now having great difficulty playing her.

On June the 6th, you stated this:

> {quoted} > > Potentially. Karma we think's especially likely to need followup. Do want to see where the 8.12 changes put affected champs before committing to anything though.

In Meddler's Gameplay Thoughts dating June 8th, Karma was mentioned for having getting a penciled in for work this patch. Unfortunately, we have not heard of anything related to Karma, since that thread two weeks ago this Friday other than "Karma and Ori were less hit than Lulu and Janna", and "We're still deciding on a direction". There is legitimately 0 indication that there has been any meaningful discussion about Karma in West Los Angeles.

So to Meddler (or Spideraxe, since you have a greater access of information) I ask you this.

  1. Has there even been any discussion about Karma's state in 8.12 from June 8th to now?
  2. Has a direction been discussed, shelved, or decided since that thread two weeks ago?
  3. If work has been shelved for a later date, why are there no compensatory buffs on PBE?

We've been waiting since October for any meaningful work to her kit. It's been pushed back from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, and perhaps not even then. Please prioritize work for her.

13 Comments

Fisher No Chains6/21/2018, 9:59:23 AM7 votes

She doesn’t sell edgy teens skins, hence she’s not on their priority list.

Fawksea6/21/2018, 10:14:40 AM5 votes

she's not a favorite so why would riot even look at her?

D2T Undeeds6/21/2018, 9:38:18 AM5 votes

Hopefully it's because they are planning something bigger than just number changes

Nea1046/21/2018, 2:59:26 PM5 votes

Two possibilities: they have no idea what they're doing with their own game anymore; or, they are intentionally trying to destroy it.

Look at Karma or Gragas. Look at the damage out of control. Look at new champions being released for no reason, and just adding more unbalanced stuff to the game.

It's JUNE. They were warned in NOVEMBER that something was wrong with the new rune system and the game overall. Things got worse, I think.

AirKingNeo6/21/2018, 11:50:51 AM3 votes

a lot of reasons

mostly because riot kinda sucks at the simpliest balance

kalista's problem: her ult saves her support from everything and can also engage. riot solution: nerf her attack range

ChaddyFantome6/21/2018, 4:18:37 PM3 votes

My only guess is they are working on enchanter update/changes and karma is the poster girl.

IxtaliKing6/21/2018, 10:26:02 AM3 votes

They're probably still assessing whether or not she needs compensating, but if buffs mean they'd delay her rework they can keep them.

Deathfall6/22/2018, 2:18:05 AM1 votes

It's funny how Meddler doesn't think the changes hit Karma and Ori as badly as it did Lulu and Janna, but it did. Karma and Ori were hit the hardest by the shield changes and now Karma is sitting at the lowest play and winrate in both her roles. I've been fighting with The Developers for 5 years to do any positive change on Karma and Meddler and many other Developers feel like she is perfect and a great example of their work ethic. News flash players didn't like you taking away her fans, dress, parts of her kit and identity five years ago and they still don't like it. The past 5 years was all about Riot Games trying to shove a kit down our thorats that wasn't working to begin with. It is very stat check and it is extremely annoying to play against and extremely boring to play as.

Meddler and Reav3s think otherwise though. Karma is amazing and doesn't need art updates, a rework, and anything else other than another numbers buff to her shield strength that gets reverted two months later. Congrats, you guys know what you are doing. Meddler and the other Developers aren't doing anything on Karma at this point. They are avoiding a problem like they have bee for the past 5 years and with Akali coming out soon they are hoping that hides the fact that they are ignoring Karma.

Attticus Finch6/21/2018, 10:18:09 PM1 votes

Karma isn't getting buffs because she doesn't deserve them. Her kit is cancer and so much like Vayne and Caitlyn she has to deliberately be kept shit or else she sky-rockets into being overpowered and oppressive.

What she needs is a full ability rework, but you can't do that with just a patch.

koshkyra6/22/2018, 12:34:03 AM1 votes

She needs a rework, not buffs.

Im not saying i dont think shes weak right now, but shes rly unfun to play against and when she's viable, she's cancer.