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Is Gragas the most unbalanced champion on the Rift?

Fuamnalt··1 votes·1,895 views

Pretty self-explanatory but let's break it down.

  1. fits all roles except 1 (ADC). Fits Support, Top, Middle or Jungle EQUALLY well. He is completely viable, or downright exceptionally good, in ANY of the 4(out of 5) roles in the game.
  2. He can be built pure tank and be extremely effective, as well as pure AP.
  3. He can wall hop, has self-sustain and inherent tankiness from his W. He is very hard to kill even before level 6.
  4. He has both excellent engage and disengage from his R.
  5. He can do a tremendous burst damage from his Q E R Q combo.

The only argument I've encountered for why Gragas IS balanced (so far) is that his abilities are on a high cooldown at level 1. But as we all know getting CDR in game is standard and quite convenient (Transcendence). For that reason, this argument is insufficient to convince me he is balanced.

Just as a way of comparison in addition to any thoughts you may have on this topic, what other champions can fill 4 out of 5 roles sufficiently in the game right now? Gragas

9 Comments

Unstoppable Monk3 votes

Actually a lot of heavyweight people have a stronger center of gravity and balance so Gragas is the most balanced champion on the rift.

Wolfalisk3183 votes

Gragas has been busted since day one. He's been in tournaments I think since day one. He gets to build Tanky/AP items and maintains 100-0 Assassin capability.

He persists because he is an "LCS Big Plays" Champion that riles of the crowd.

Fuamnalt1 votes

Yes that is what I was thinking as well. Good post.

Saezio3 votes

Last time you saw a gragas mid in a tournament must have been pre-rework tbh.

Hotarµ2 votes
  1. fits all roles except 1 (ADC). Fits Support, Top, Middle or Jungle EQUALLY well

Definitely not. Support Gragas can outpeel someone like Janna? Thresh? Nami? No shields, barely any peel, two displacements with one of them being his ultimate makes him an awful support in comparison to conventional ones.

  1. He can be built pure tank and be extremely effective, as well as pure AP.

Well, yeah. He's a fighter/tank. So can Chogath, Galio, Kennen, Singed, Swain, so I'm not sure what you're getting at. That's his playstyle. If he does build full AP, he's very easy to kill. If he's full tank, he lacks damage and isn't as much of a threat.

  1. He can wall hop, has self-sustain and inherent tankiness from his W. He is very hard to kill even before level 6.

Any competent laner will be able to abuse Gragas early. Yasuo Ahri Leblanc Fizz are all counters to Gragas mid, and are some of the most picked champions in the game across all elos.

I'm also beginning to notice a trend with boards posts. If a champion has a mediocre representation of a stat, it's classified as being strong or overbearing. Gragas' sustain is consistent, yes, but is not strong until mid-late game. 6% max health every 8 seconds is nothing compared to Vladimir Ahri Swain DrMundo Garen or Olaf, and an early Grevious Wounds or ignite will completely shut him down.

  1. He has both excellent engage and disengage from his R.

True. I fail to see how that makes him OP, especially considering tons of other champions have even better engages and disengages.

  1. He can do a tremendous burst damage from his Q E R Q combo.

Yes, a full combo from a champion does a lot of damage. Wow, Gragas is so busted.

No, seriously, Gragas' full combo is single target in most situations and will not outright one shot anyone unless building full AP. At that point, it's your fault for eating his entire combo.

Just as a way of comparison in addition to any thoughts you may have on this topic, what other champions can fill 4 out of 5 roles sufficiently in the game right now?

Well, let's see. Kayle while not being strong, is at least possible to be played Support, Mid, Top, and Jungle. Yasuo is a very popular pick for all lanes, and is one of those champions who can go anywhere. Annie is another, able to go Top, Mid, and Support. Chogath jungle, top, mid, sometimes support. Shen support, top, jungle.

Fuamnalt1 votes

How does Gragas have "barely any peel"? He has an AOE slow with huge range, a stun, and just incase a huge AOE knockback with his R. That sounds like more than a little peel to me..

Gragas trades very well with his E W combo alone. You make it sound like he has no early game strength and that he is so easily out traded when he really is not easily out traded.

Also, out of all the champions to list as comparisons only Kayle could realistically play all 4 roles. However she is never used in competitive play because she is has no reliable escape abilities making her an awful solo laner in competitive matches. Gragas has everything you want in a solo laner. Sustain, escape, initiation, good trading, can farm from far away if needed. Gragas vs Kayle is not even close. When has Kayle been played in an important match?

Hotarµ2 votes

{quoted}

How does Gragas have "barely any peel"? He has an AOE slow with huge range, a stun, and just incase a huge AOE knockback with his R. That sounds like more than a little peel to me..

Gragas trades very well with his E W combo alone. You make it sound like he has no early game strength and that he is so easily out traded when he really is not easily out traded.

Also, out of all the champions to list as comparisons only Kayle could realistically play all 4 roles. However she is never used in competitive play because she is has no reliable escape abilities making her an awful solo laner in competitive matches. Gragas has everything you want in a solo laner. Sustain, escape, initiation, good trading, can farm from far away if needed. Gragas vs Kayle is not even close. When has Kayle been played in an important match?

His Q is very predictable and easy to dodge. His stun requires him to get in your face, which if the enemy has a competent support, would never happen. His R is a huge knockback, but if the enemy ADC is smart it wouldn't matter because they wouldn't be in a position to get caught out.

Does he have early game strength with a full combo? Yes. You know who else does, and who has stronger, more reliable, lower cooldown all-ins with more safety? Zed AurelionSol Azir Akali Lux Viktor and pretty much every other viable champion in mid or top. Which is why you don't see Gragas as much as these other champions.

Okay, if you are talking competitive play? Nobody can reliably play all 4 or 5 roles.

Horse Grenades1 votes

What is happening? A Gragas is OP post... is it April 1st?

woodvsmurph1 votes

Oh there's kayle, yasuo, yi, kled, gnar, sion... etc. - so yeah... basically nobody. Gragas must be really broken to be playable in multiple roles lol.

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