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CDR/lvl isn't a necessity on mages anymore.

Rock MD··4 votes·429 views

With the reworks and changes and everything considered, CDR/lvl glyphs are no longer a must on a good portion of mages.

Here's why.

Abyssal Scepter - still the best item vs. another AP. Now, gives you a little less AP but with more MR and CDR and a bolstered passive past level 12.

Let me repeat that: Abyssal Scepter now scales into the late-game and if you're in a rough matchup it works wonders. That's 10% CDR.

Hextech Jumpy Thingy - 10% CDR. Short ranged mages, particularly those who need initiate and don't have it, now can initiate AND get CDR off it. This item will probably be core on Vlad and Kennen.

Zhonya's - The item is no longer necessary on most mages (still get it on TF, Vlad, Morgana, Fizz, etc.) but for long ranged mages particularly this is a free pass unless you're facing Zed.

Morellonomicon - is now the best AP mana regen item by a long shot. 100 AP, 20% CDR, some mana, Athene's kill/assist mana regen passive, and Grevious Wounds are all a fantastic combination. On mages who rely on the CDR, from Ahri to Brand to LeBlanc to Lux and Xerath, this item is absolutely incredible and I recommend buying it whenever you can.

Lucidities - Still exist. Still top tier for mages trying to get that summoner CDR/do a good amount of DPS.

Overall, a Twisted Fate build looks like

Lucidities - 10% Lich Bane - 10% Abyssal - 10% Zhonya's - 10% 40% CDR.

And an assassin build looks like

Abyssal - 10% CDR Morellonomicon - 20% CDR Lucidities/Zhonya's/MAYBE 6 CDR per lvl glyphs/blue buff 40% CDR.

Ryze just builds Abyssal and his rank 3 ult cap you at 40% (45 if you take Intelligence).

The only champions a full CDR/lvl page look necessary on anymore are Brand/Viktor, who will possibly NOT be running Morellonomicon (Brand's highest winrates are with RoA -> Rylai's -> Liandry's, and VIktor only gets 20% from Lucidities/Abyssal) but are still used for their powerful late-game DPS.

tl;dr if you use CDR/lvl at all, only take 6, and odds are you won't need to run them at all anymore.

8 Comments

Very Hard Engage2 votes

except that build cant even kill an adc. still low damage, and still reliant on your team mate to get in the extra damage to finish the job, despite landing all of your abilities.

let me tell you what all aps must build in order to 1v1 the enemy adc or assassin just to kill them 1v1

item 3165 optional order here, for whatever is needed. item 3089 item 3135 item 3040item 3285 optional pending champ item 3100

oh look, only 20 ~ 30% CDR.

but i guess we can cripple our wave clear and 1v1 potential in favor of utility stats instead.

meanwhile all other classes are perfectly enabled to do any build and still have the opportunity to "outplay" and get a kill thanks to the ultra efficiency of auto attacks, something mages will never get back.

because apparently landing all of your skill shots is too grossly overpowered.

there is no non stat efficient AD item, and they are always enabled to kill something for having bought the item, whereas mages if you skimp any amount on AP, your opponent will forever be out of kill range.

Rock MD2 votes

{quoted}

except that build cant even kill an adc. still low damage, and still reliant on your team mate to get in the extra damage to finish the job, despite landing all of your abilities.

let me tell you what all aps must build in order to 1v1 the enemy adc or assassin just to kill them 1v1

item 3165 optional order here, for whatever is needed. item 3089 item 3135 item 3040item 3285 optional pending champ item 3100

oh look, only 20 ~ 30% CDR.

but i guess we can cripple our wave clear and 1v1 potential in favor of utility stats instead.

meanwhile all other classes are perfectly enabled to do any build and still have the opportunity to "outplay" and get a kill thanks to the ultra efficiency of auto attacks, something mages will never get back.

because apparently landing all of your skill shots is too grossly overpowered.

there is no non stat efficient AD item, and they are always enabled to kill something for having bought the item, whereas mages if you skimp any amount on AP, your opponent will forever be out of kill range.

Did I say ANYTHING about the relative power of mages right now, in comparison to other champions? Did I say that mages were OP or weak or anything about where Riot needs to take the rework from here?

No. I simply said that you don't need to take CDR/lvl glyphs because they're redundant. Now please get your head out of your ass.

Very Hard Engage1 votes

you build whatever you want, now tell me that 40% is just what you needed to do your job as a mage

meanwhile ill win more games by picking off an enemy squishy whos out of position and alone. what i just cant do with a 40% cdr build.

Lord Dusteon3 votes

{quoted}

you build whatever you want, now tell me that 40% is just what you needed to do your job as a mage

meanwhile ill win more games by picking off an enemy squishy whos out of position and alone. what i just cant do with a 40% cdr build.

But you can do that and more often with a 40% Cdr build. Veigar enjoys having massively higher AP, catch potential, and kill potential, LeBlanc likes being even trickier and able to take more risks, Zyra enjoys even more plants, Malzahar more everything, etc. etc. Basically every single mage wants 40% cooldown reduction because of how powerful and useful it is. Sure, there is a SMALL chance they won't kill someone they would have otherwise, but being able to CC an entire team almost twice as often or nuke people twice as often is worth a lot more.

For reference, Morellonomicon is one of the best AP items in the game. It provides 100 AP (top tier), mana and mana restore, 20% cdr, and Grievious Wounds. Zhonya's is still an absolutely amazing item and provides 10% Cdr, and Abyssal Scepter, already an amazing item now has 10% Cdr. Mages can, with a normal build, reach 40% Cdr.

But hey, I'm sure giving up massive utility and power is worth an extra what, an extra 30-100 AP?

Very Hard Engage1 votes

just realize what you are doing, isn't damage.

Lord Dusteon1 votes

{quoted}

just realize what you are doing, isn't damage.

Really? Morello is the best mage item in the entire game right now and has 20% Cdr. It's good enough that almost every single mage (except MAYBE Vladimir) will buy it 1st/2nd because of how good it is. It also provides the highest AP in the game except Deathcap and Seraph's, so it isn't gimping damage. Abyssal is the best mage item for magic defense, scales into the late game better, and provides the highest flat penetration in the game (which is best against squishies, such as the people you say mages have to be picking off). Zhonyas is, again, the best mage item for physical defense and has an amazing active. It's an item strong enough to be rushed 1st/2nd on most champions and one that invalidates several enemy champions kits, gives time for cooldowns to be back up, and protects a mage from being bursted before they do anything. And look, it provides decent AP also!

Huh. It turns out every single mage can itemize Cooldown Reduction WITHOUT GIVING UP DAMAGE. Here's the thing: the only thing mages are paying for Cdr is 30-100 AP. And they are gaining massively higher pick potential, utility, and uptime of burst. So sure, they lose 75-250 damage on their rotation (average). But they gain almost infinitely more without a large drawback.

Very Hard Engage1 votes

heres the thing though, you've compromised on your build path. the enemy has 1 MR item, oh look, you cant finish them off. you need help.

I can, thats the difference between the builds and it significantly outweighs the CDR.

you only kill some full squishies where someone like fiora, riven, khazix, or general tank is going to be a nightmare for you. meanwhile i have rab cap, void staff, rylias, maybe liandries, im going to be just fine.

but i guess you're good, you have zhonyas (which actually guarantees the loss in a 1v1) - explanation being they just sit and load all of their abilities for when you unstasis... meanwhile i can actually take the initial hits thanks to some hp, and counter with huge burst damage with a very good shot at killing them. but i guess its fine, you can just wait for a second rotation thanks to your 40% cdr while they whale on you with auto attacks and better MS.

ForgiveColour1 votes

Should have made the title about mana regen then the circlejerk will upvote you without reading the thread

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