Questions about the Mordekaiser update.

Silverclaw·Jul 31, 2015·3 votes·12,882 views

Hi and thanks in advance, I'm a big Morde fan and have some questions I would like answered!

What's the scale of the update? From what I remember hearing, you want him to be more of a bruiser than a burst mage, but is this an update we can expect soon? Will he finally get some CC/Mobility?
I noticed the Mordekaiser changes are gameplay only. As Mordekaiser's visuals are very outdated, what was the reasons for not updating his model as well? Is this still in the pipeline to do eventually?

14 Comments

RiotMeddlerAug 1, 20158 votes

Morde's a moderate sized update (bigger than Garen, Skarner or Darius). His skills are still pretty similar, but all have at least some degree of adjustment, with a push in more of a bruiser direction. We're not going to be giving him CC or mobility though, we feel lack of those, in exchange for some otherwise pretty inappropriate stuff (that ult especially), is a key part of Morde's identity.

We're with you that Morde could do with a visual update. There are other characters we feel need the work more though on the art side, so he's a way down the priority list (Poppy's the primary art intensive project on the Champion Update team right now). We're going for a mainly gameplay update as a result, since we've got kit changes ready to go (with some limited visual effects changes to support them as needed).

ExecutorDillAug 1, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Morde's a moderate sized update (bigger than Garen, Skarner or Darius). His skills are still pretty similar, but all have at least some degree of adjustment, with a push in more of a bruiser direction. We're not going to be giving him CC or mobility though, we feel lack of those, in exchange for some otherwise pretty inappropriate stuff (that ult especially), is a key part of Morde's identity.

We're with you that Morde could do with a visual update. There are other characters we feel need the work more though on the art side, so he's a way down the priority list (Poppy's the primary art intensive project on the Champion Update team right now). We're going for a mainly gameplay update as a result, since we've got kit changes ready to go (with some limited visual effects changes to support them as needed).

What will happen to Shen 's passive? I find it a staple part of his kit and playstyle giving him that free extra damage for no energy cost. Though I think it will be subseptible to change because of the feint rework due to the small synergy they share.

Shen is in a pickle. He is one of those tanks who's abilities does not make him tankier, feint scales with AP but buying to much into that stat will make you sacrifice crucial defensive items (because he simply can't take damage without def items) and unlike TahmKench he can not tank a whole lot.

ExecutorDillAug 1, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Morde's a moderate sized update (bigger than Garen, Skarner or Darius). His skills are still pretty similar, but all have at least some degree of adjustment, with a push in more of a bruiser direction. We're not going to be giving him CC or mobility though, we feel lack of those, in exchange for some otherwise pretty inappropriate stuff (that ult especially), is a key part of Morde's identity.

We're with you that Morde could do with a visual update. There are other characters we feel need the work more though on the art side, so he's a way down the priority list (Poppy's the primary art intensive project on the Champion Update team right now). We're going for a mainly gameplay update as a result, since we've got kit changes ready to go (with some limited visual effects changes to support them as needed).

Though different I find Tahm and Shen's playstyle closely identical. Only thing is Tahm is allowed more burst and convenient hp scaling dps because his ult is not as strong as shen's. Shen really doesn't need more power, he just needs the power he already has to be slightly more convinient:

:Remove burst in exchange for DPS- If shen is allowed better dps he wouldn't be so reliant on his actives for output therefore loosening up the energy pool. A good candidate for this is "Shadow Dash" I'd like it if that small power shadow dash deals on hit was removed and placed onto feint for better trading, its on a pretty long base CD anyways and people use it for it's utility not it's damage it will still be a favourable choice to max 2nd to to the energy reduction per rank.

ArcticSiriusAug 1, 20152 votes

Question I have (if you don't mind answering) is back when you did some changes a few patches ago, on the PBE you had his passive start to decay after he left combat (like Aatrox's and tryn's passive) yet removed it. Any ideas on why that was and a chance we could see that make it into this update?

SilverclawAug 1, 20151 votes

Thank you for the response!

rtbf215011488Aug 1, 20152 votes

@Meddler Does more bruiser-ish mean that he will be more tanky but still deals as much damage as now?

Stars ShaperAug 1, 20153 votes

Are you going to give him ways to regain his HP back before building Spell Vamp? Right now he is the only HP-cost champion that just kills himself, the shield being a temporary defense doesn't really make up for that.

And also, you dramatically nerfed his HP regen and the regen from Spirit Visage (a must item for a tankish Morde that will become BiS with next update if you want to make him more bruiser-like). What was the reason behind those?

Final Raid BossAug 1, 20153 votes

morde's ult is really just a glorified trundle ult, I use it for the nice burst of damage and the stat bonuses, the ghost itself is useless.. like honestly you guys talk about the ult, specifically the pet like it's one of the best things in the game, when it's not at all. it's clunky and frustrating to use, in a full fledged teamfight or really at any time, it's not too smart to focus on maneuvering the pet around, nor does it really pay off to do so.

morde's mainly ap based, yet the ghost itself is only useful if ulting an ad champion (which by doing so gives morde no AP.. so what's the point? it's like the ability totally contradicts itself) people will ult ap champs if possible for the added damage, like i basically said.. the ghost is useless. people want the damage, they want the execute, not the ghost.

honestly unless the ghost is totally revamped and improved somehow it will never be effective, i don't know why you guys are so intent on keeping it, you're going overboard on "champion indentity". it something doesn't work, it doesn't work, how about scrap it and give him something really impressive instead?

and on a totally different note like someone else mentioned, his sustain is terrible, a majority of health based champs (if not all of them) have some kind of built in sustain, yet morde has none. it's extremely frustrating to be forced into buying a crappy item (wota) just to solve this issue, always feel like i'm wasting an item slot. at the very least there should be other build options for hextech revolver, or just better ap items to solve sustain issues.

SelegunAug 2, 20152 votes

Inappropriate? I like the sound of that XP

Whatever ends up happening to him now I'm sure will be awesome as some of the earlier works have all been pretty good from what I've seen and gotten to play. I eagerly look forward to the new engine your about to dump into my favorite champ.

B6a6esAug 1, 20153 votes

hello meddler

as a mordekaiser main since 2012 i really liked his main kit and mechanics, but i would also like some changes that hopefully makes him more popular

the real issue in my opinion is his sustain, ... its bad -.- i mean really bad im forced to buy either boots 4 potion or cloth armor 5 potion at start of the game

i realize morde had health cost to balance with his sustained shield and burst in general and his cost were mostly covered with spellvamp late game,

now with his favorite item will of the ancient being nerfed vs minions thanks to vladimir sustain issues morde sustain is even worst now let alone his health regen nerf in 5.4

now with his kit being tweaked to deal less burst, he also need some form of sustain similar to maokai or chogath to cover his costs, or any other satisfying healing mechanic other than his ult i use it sometimes to sustain with long cd

so i really like to know what you guys think about this issue :)

thanks

ViqTmAug 2, 20151 votes

I really hope you don't mess up my favourite champ... T_T

MelondramaAug 2, 20151 votes

When you say "bruiser" it makes me think you're going to nerf morde's damage in exchange for making him tankier. Why would you nerf his damage and make him a bruiser without giving him any cc or mobility? I thought a huge reason he has no cc or mobility in the first place is because of his insane burst. Every other bruiser in the game has some form of cc and/or mobility and I don't really understand why Morde should be an exception. Even Yorick who has sort of a similar ult (considering it can give your team favourable numbers in a team fight) has a movespeed buff from his q and a slow on his w. I don't think the pet is good enough to warrant turning him into a bruiser without giving him any cc or mobility especially considering he needs the burst he has now in order to get a pet in the first place.

BreathOfTheWildAug 2, 20151 votes

Ok so i like some of the ideas for Mordekaiser 's rework, but the no CC/Mobility because he "would lose his identity" is kinda BS. So what if, just as a small adjustment, we allow his W (Creeping Death, AKA a song by my favorite artists) to be cast on enemies instead of just allies/minions? That would solve the Mobility problem, as he could chase enemies with increased speed, while also still keeping the escape possibilities from using W on an ally? Wouldn't drastically change his kit any, give him some mobility, a slightly higher threat by way of DoT, and just reduce the damage a bit. His CC is another issue, but i think it would be significant enough to change how he plays enough for pro leagues in addition to what you guys have already been doing.

You Got One ShotAug 5, 20151 votes

Right now, mord seems to be kinda stuck in th middle of everything, he's not a mage(well, not as much as people like syndra, veigar, malz), hes not and assassin, he not a tank. BUT, his weirdness works fairly well. I could see something like his q kind being like a renekton w, where he gets stunned and just deals a little more damage, and the his e maybe heals him x amount per enemy hit. His ult, as stated above, is a bit useless with the pet. It is SO awesome to ult the enemy carry on 15% health and watch them run, even thought they know they're dead, but the clone then is just kinda clunky. Sometimes its nice to get off the extra 300 damage with the dead kassadin's autos, but it could be improved SO much.