Let's talk about Kindred's ult (and some Qs for riot)

Okay, let's get 2 things out of the way. First is that this ult is clearly aimed at higher levels of play. I'll get to that in a bit. The second is I'm looking forward to this champ and I need to start grinding IP to get him.

So what is the ult?

Lamb blesses the ground under a friendly champion for 4/4/4 seconds, creating an area in which no living things, ally or enemy, can die. Upon reaching 10% Health, units become immune to further damage or healing.

When the blessing ends all living things inside heal for 200/250/300.

Why should I like the ult?

I think that this ult does a lot. First let's get to the down side and why you and your team need to make good decisions about using it: it saves and heals the enemy too. So this is one you have to be careful about using. It's a control oriented ult with a chance to backfire if misused. So you all are probably wondering what good this ult does.

1. It can protect a carry. If someone dives the carry, you can save him. So maybe several allies survive, one enemy diver is low. I think this and his passive will let him go mid as well if he's able to roam. So if someone tries to dive and ult your carry, you trade an ult for an ult and the other guy is out of position if he sticks around. Let's say j4 just got 2 of your teammates in his ult, toss yours on your teammates to help them live. If trynd or poppy ults and dives you, no problem, just stand in the zone. Likewise if you are the team's carry, you might be able to save yourself.

2. If the person you ult is in the backline and the enemy team doesn't get penetration, your team is healed and protected and theirs isn't. Smart ults will save your team more than the others. Your team will probably have to fight near the edge of the radius and hope to body block as much as possible.

3. This ult could enable plays for teams in the dragon and baron pits. I can also see it having a lot of use in a jungle fight.

4. This ult could help you take a tower or inhib under the right conditions. It could also give your team a few seconds to end the game at the enemy nexus if things are really close. 4 seconds is a long time for 2 ADCs to take down an objective if they are fed.

5. If your team can reposition the other team or block them to keep them out of the ult, you have an advantage.

6. If someone is hard initiating you can use this in hopes of catching their ults and spells. I feel like his ult would be really good against burst oriented champs and those that need to finish you with their combo. I see this ult as a combo-breaker.

7. If your teammates have an ult with a lot of AoE burst, they can plan on bursting the other team down just after the effect ends. Against certain comps and champs, I don't think the enemy team would want to enter the area and clump up there. If your team can take down 2-4 people at 25% health (including the heal) faster than the other team, picking a fight in the zone would probably be a good thing.

8. At worst, it buys you 4 seconds for a skill to come back up or an ally to get into the fight. If my team has a lot of burst and is weak while our skills or on CD, this gives us an extra 4 seconds for them to come back up. If I need 4 seconds for my top to TP in, this gives that to me.

Questions for riot:

1. Does Kindred get an assist on enemy kills for those he healed with Lamb's Respite? I'm thinking he should if only to give an interesting decision to the enemy team.

2. If I ult shen and he TPs to someone, can he take the ult with him? That's be totally awesome if it does. You guys need to make sure this is a thing.

3. Can Soraka still pump out W's if it would bring her under 10%?