I've just noticed this having Vlad in a few games and it seems like he doesn't provide a team with anything. He can't engage, he can't really deal damage either burst or sustained, he cant tank/peel/cc, he has a bad laning phase and a meh lategame now. Can someone clarify what Vlad is supposed to do in a game besides farm.
Support Bοt1 votesBefore remake vlad was pretty decent bruiser. Now he is more like squishy selfhealing dmg dealer. In good hands he is still good.
Imperial Pandaa1 votesHis ultimate increases damage done to enemies from all sources I believe.
Scruberz1 votesVlad can deal damage and absorb damage if he builds correctly. The problem with Vlad is he has no CC other than the minimal amount of slow a Rylai's provides (if he even builds it).
Vlad needs the support of his team to be successful, usually. He can also be a reasonable split pusher that is hard to deal with if he gets ahead, although he's no where near what he used to be at this role.
He's almost like a "Juggernaut Mage" and could use a bit of help, as he's definitely on the weaker side since his rework and subsequent nerfs.
Erockandroll1 votesVlad can deal damage and absorb damage if he builds correctly. The problem with Vlad is he has no CC other than the minimal amount of slow a Rylai's provides (if he even builds it).
Vlad needs the support of his team to be successful, usually. He can also be a reasonable split pusher that is hard to deal with if he gets ahead, although he's no where near what he used to be at this role.
He's almost like a "Juggernaut Mage" and could use a bit of help, as he's definitely on the weaker side since his rework and subsequent nerfs.
I freaking loved my Juggermage, and I wished that Riot had did more to support it.
But well, having Vlad rush SV and invalidating any AP matchup wasn't particularly healthy. Especially when he's designed to scale late game. Not that he can't build tons of HP, but you really can't afford to sacrifice too much AP to do it.
Personally, I play Vlad, (or any battle mage really) as a mid liner. An immediate followup to the Tanks engage. Cause if the tank can lock the enemy down, I can shred their defenses with the damage amp from my ult. After which the team fight is usually won.
MatthewRT21 voteshis intended play style was supposed to be a drain tank dealing low sustained damage but not really ever dying, this sort of gameplay wasn't deemed healthy for the game so they turned him into a a delayed burst mage that went from 1-100 with a good ult, that gameplay was deemed too op so he is in this awkward position and needs something done before is "back" the small gradual buffs he is going to be receiving may prove to be what he needs until he is in a good state. also a little FYI vlad was the only champion riot apologized for ever creating. I love vlad and his fantasy of a blood mage who rips his resources out of his enemies
Xela Syab1 votesI think they really goofed up on his rework looking through his lore and kit with his spell combos they are really lacking any creative augments. He just spams spells and deals more damage which what he was already doing in the first place. I think his spells need an actual choice when they are augmented for crimson rush like his Q does percent hp damage, or his W steals movement speed, or his e steals small resistances from his enemies. That would give Vlad a strategic niche as a tanky mage debuffer.
Machiavellin1 votesVladmir, is not really a tank, but he ends up acting as one. He has strong aoe control, and sustain. He can literally heal himself over and because of this, hes an excellent team fight oriented champion. Perhaps he doesn't have a stun, but with the combination of a rylze, spirit vasage, protobelt, and even zhonyas. He becomes an incredibly difficult champion to kill or mitigate away from your damage dealers. In this sense, he acts as a DPS mage, but at the same time provides aggressive peel for your primary damage dealers. Or your back line of the team.
In a simple form. He can face tank most of the enemies burst, heal it back up create marginal seconds of disaray in a team fight, removes the opponent back line or atleast weakness them enough to force summoners, or put in kill range. Vlad doesn't need a strong team comp to fit, and he can do all of this by himself. Someone new to vlad or who doesn't understand his mechanical advantage will fail at this( they don't itemize utility, and go for straight AP), but vlads who are decent or even excellent, will create this situation( and have itemized with utility, and will have a greater win chance).
Xela Syab1 votesMaybe its just that after his rework and nerfs/removal of some items he's just in subpar state right now. I just feel like Cho'gath, Singed, and Swain do better as tanky dps mage sustainers and they can provide cc. I think Vlad is supposed to be bruiser mage diver like Elise but he doesn't do the same damage she does and can't really engage a fight or make a pick unless he's already in the middle of the fight 
and it does seem like he needs a lockdown tank on his team to help peel or keep enemies cc'd while he aoe damages them. I just feel like Vlad doesn't bring anything unique to his team and only wins if he just farms or gets a kill or gank and outscales his opponents, but he does seem to have a really safe laning phase I really don't see vlad die alot.
DunkinNoobs1 votesVlad is an AP juggernaut, albeit a severely undertuned one at the moment.
Aptest1 voteshe's a linchpin. used in bulldozer statball comps that want to group up and run over opponents. provides waveclear and a centerpoint for the statball.