Boards›Gameplay

@Meddler Let's talk about Syndra, one more time.

Captain Lito·1/29/2016, 3:33:39 AM·12 votes·1,111 views

Meddler, I know you're not entirely happy with how Syndra is right now, I know the design team isn't either. I also know that you're shifting away from Syndra because it would take too much to change her. That may be, but me and the top threads on the main mid-mage update thread think it would be worth it. They have their own respective posts and you've probably read through them already, but there's one thing they haven't mentioned: If there's anyone that can do this, it's you, Meddler.

Think about it: For awhile now Syndra has been in a so-so spot because while she does have a lot of power, she's simply outclassed in most of her roles. Assassin? LeBlanc, Ahri, and Zed do it just as well and have reliable escapes. DPS mage? Viktor, he scales a lot better and is arguably a lot safer with his Q and W. Anti-mage? Kassadin, probably the new Malz too if I had to guess. The point I'm trying to make is that right now, Syndra isn't really fulfilling a niche. Let's look at the template you guys use for a champion:

Distinct - offer a unique reason to be picked Cohesive - deliver on their core thematic and gameplay fantasy Healthy - balance-able and fun to play as and against at all skill levels

First off, I think it's unanimous that Syndra is very Cohesive right now. I mean, her entire kit is designed around intimidating people with Syndra's raw power and smashing them, that's pretty much Syndra. Next we have distinct/healthy. Now, Syndra was a big problem for a while wihle DFG was still a thing, she had 20 more damage on her Q, and MR items for tanks were generally weaker. But now look: DFG is gone, her Q damage taken away, Visage, Veil, and Locket make her life a living hell, and to top it all off? We're going back to the assassin meta, with AD assassins and a bunch of stronger mages with the mage update. Where is Syndra going to stand? She'll probably be useless, every midlane champ will do something better than her if she's left untouched. So the question comes down to: What is Syndra's true niche? I believe that comes down to raw power.

Make Syndra powerful. Give her damage to make up for her fragility. Her passive concept is good, but her Q/W/Ult bonuses feel really lackluster right now. For each time she maxes an ability, make it so that people should fear that new power. For her Q more damage on her spheres (The true damage bonus was one idea for this). For her W maybe give her a channel time so that she can throw things farther, harder, more range. Her E is good as it is, gives the idea that she can push all those away with even more force. And for her ult? "Unleashed Power". There are tons of options for this: Give her an ap multiplier like with Cass, give her another base sphere for her ult, spell vamp, breaking the cdr cap to 50 or something, negating revive abilities if killed by her ult. (Zilean ult, GA, Sion passive), the possibilities are ENDLESS. And before you call this "broken" or "crazy", thing about what you did with Kog'Maw, making him the true hypercarry of botlane. Midlane needs a true hypercarry, why not make it the champ with limitless power?

tl;dr In conclusion, Syndra is an amazing champ with tons of potential and possibilities. She can become the true hypercarry of midlane at the sacrifice of her mobility/safety, just like Kog, making her fit PERFECTLY with her Thematic while also offering a Distinct niche. The only problem with this new form of Syndra would be her healthy playstyle, and there would probably be a lot of tweaking to make her good. But times change, Syndra used to be super powerful but times have changed, and with the new mage update/rise of ad assassins Syndra will be in a position where she'll be outclassed by all. Meddler, you and I both know that Syndra would be enraged by this, and I think if anyone should give her a chance to become the all powerful being that she truly is, it should be the man that created her flesh and blood in the first place. We believe in you Meddler, and no matter what anyone says no one will hate you for trying to make Syndra what she truly deserves to be, because behind all of that blind hate is the truth: You're doing the right thing. I trust you Meddler, you created a beautiful beauty of power. All you have to do now is give her what she's always deserved. Thank you for reading my thread, and again, no matter what happens, in our hearts, we trust you and the design team to do amazing things.

To those who are finishing reading this, please upvote this. I know it's not nice of me to ask, but Syndra needs help, and the only way for the design team to notice is if more Syndra posts get attention. (Not just mine, the ones on the mid-mage update thread too). Please, do it for her, not me. -Essence Thief

18 Comments

MisterHealYoGirl1/29/2016, 3:48:25 AM3 votes

I think that just changes to her passive would make her distinct enough; right now only the E change is really noticeable. The ult range buff is NICE don't get me wrong, but it's so miniscule that it's barely ever noticeable; I really like the extra base sphere idea. The Q one is actually alright, although the true damage buff that was on the PBE at some point would be nice.

What always bugged me about Syndra was her W. She's such a fluid champion, but the W disrupts her combo pretty badly and generally feels bad to use. A Rioter did mention that Syndra's passive was under construction when this question came up in one of the Vel'Koz threads.

Ashenvall1/29/2016, 10:59:43 PM2 votes

Hello, I have some ideas for Syndra but I think that will be overpowered. Comment on what you enjoyed/dissapointed/feared the most about this. (numbers are examples)

Q: Dark Sphere Cost: 50/55/65/75/85 Mana Range: 700 Syndra conjures a Dark Sphere dealing magic damage. The sphere remains and can be manipulated by her other powers. Conjures a Dark Sphere dealing 60/110/155/190/210 (+65% Ability Power) magic damage.

The sphere remains for 5/5.5/6/6.5/8 seconds and can be manipulated by Syndra's other abilities. This spell can be cast while moving.

_Transcendance: _

When a sphere disappears, it detonates and deals damage for 25% of the initial spell. or/and Spheres deal more damages on each abilities (deal magic damage in % of current's health or %HPmax) At this point, we need nerf her base damage on her Q. (Maybe create an infinite scalling on spells ratio: when she kills or assists, she gains 0,05 ratio on every spells, and 0.01 for every minions kill. In this way, her gameplay sticks closely to her lore. )

W: Force of Will Cost: 60/75/85/95/110 Mana Range: 800 Syndra picks up and throws a Dark Sphere or enemy minion dealing magic damage and slowing the Movement Speed of enemies. First Cast: Grabs target Dark Sphere or enemy minion. If no target is selected, grabs nearest Dark Sphere. Second Cast: Throws the Dark Sphere or enemy minion. Enemies hit take 80/120/160/200/240 (+70% Ability Power) magic damage and are slowed by 15/20/25/30/35% +(0%) for 1.5 seconds. This spell can be cast while moving.

Transcendance: Syndra grabs an ennemy/ally during 1 sec. (too OP in this case) or When syndra select herself, she takes flight and slams down at a targeted location (close range) (Aatrox like but I destroy literally her main weakness: her lack of mobility) or Sphere attract when hit the ground (Diana like "E")

E: Scatter the Weak Cost: 45/50/55/60/65 Mana Range: 600 Syndra knocks enemies and Dark Spheres back dealing magic damage. Enemies hit by Dark Spheres become stunned. Knocks enemies and Dark Spheres back dealing 70/115/160/205/250 (+40% Ability Power) magic damage to them and any enemies they collide with. Dark Spheres that are knocked back stun all enemies in their path for 1.5 seconds.

Transcendance: Syndra now can charge scatter the weak, but she decrease her movement speed gradually to increase the spell's repulsion range. or Syndra can reactivate the spell to recall spheres to her (Spheres whish collide champions are draged away on a small range.)

R: Unleashed Power Cost: 100 Mana Range: 650 Syndra bombards an enemy Champion with all of her Dark Spheres. Draws upon Syndra's full cataclysmic power, harnessing all Dark Spheres to deal magic damage to target enemy Champion. Unleashed Power manipulates the three Dark Spheres orbiting Syndra, in addition to Dark Spheres previously created. Damage per sphere: 90/120/150(+35% Ability Power). Minimum total damage: 270/390/500 (+75% Ability Power).

Transcendance: Spheres falling on the ground deal damages and slow down ennemy champions.

Ashenvall1/29/2016, 8:52:39 PM1 votes

Realistic point of view Essence Thief !

PapaGreg211/29/2016, 9:12:10 PM1 votes

Mana buffs on w.

Aezanthya1/29/2016, 9:15:20 PM1 votes

Increase the damage she does on people she stunned with her Q E combo or... make her do more damage the more she hits a target with her spells.

(obv you can't just spam q) but like if you q you gain a damage buff for your next spell, and then you gain another buff for your next etc.

or just reduce her mana cost.

Penguin Eclipse1/29/2016, 11:10:42 PM1 votes

Syndra was originally balanced on the fact that she wasn't very reliable. Riot made several buffs to change that and then she ended up being too reliable and doing too much damage. So they nerfed the early game damage and didn't buff her when DFG was removed and now she doesn't really do anything.

In my opinion we need to see her damage up at all points in the game. Early game she doesn't hit very hard and she often times falls behind. Late game she deletes 1 person if she is lucky while her mage counter parts delete teams. I don't think she needs more utility.

Catastrop1/30/2016, 1:14:43 PM1 votes

An extra Base Sphere sounds quite nice to be honest, numbers might need to be tweaked I like the idea.

ModWulf Helhammer1/29/2016, 3:35:19 AM1 votes

She's probably getting some of the generic pass through like they did for the marksmen they didn't update heavily. At the very least, item changes will affect her

But they absolutely need to fix the ult timer bug. That thing's been there I don't know how long

L0ve Is Blue1/30/2016, 1:22:07 PM1 votes

I played Syndra a lot in season 5, and The only thing I would change on her is her passive because it doesn't feel really rewarding to max a spell when it's supposed to be a power spike. I love your ideas!

Troiann1/29/2016, 4:06:13 AM1 votes

I still have PTSD when syndra would literally miss her Q E, still just land a Q, DFG ult ignite and completely fuck me over.

Actually syndra is one of the champions who sparked my special hatred towards mages.