Things that could be used to counter play zilean bombs pre-rework:
Spell shields Shields Heals Troll poll Troll pool Rappell Summoner heal Cleanse QSS
So why did it need to be a skillshot? If you're going to make it a skillshot, take it off of the timer delay. Making the damage a 4 second delay AND a skillshot prett,y much makes a zilean bomb the least reliable source of damage in the entire game.
Jungle Lux God2 votesWhat you are basically saying is that in order to play against Zilean, you had to counterpick him? That's not counterplay, that's counterpicking him.
If you don't counterpick him, then you were going to eat targetted harass all laning phase. Where's the counterplay in that?
Also, wasn't the delay reduced with his rework? I thought it was reduced to 3 seconds or something like that.
metaworldpeace101 votesWhile those are small counter play options, not every champ in the game has all of those tools at their disposal. Only a few of those tools are given each and every game. Some of the mentioned "counter play" are champion specific and those cases are very minimal. Zilean needed a rework. I don't think that what Riot has done to him during his "rework" is fair, but they have taken small baby steps in the right direction.
420 LOL 691 votesYeah, but he has no waveclear that's reliable. If he double bombs waves, he goes oom super fast. If he is just bombing you, you use your spells to shove in waves and make him miss exp.
All I'm saying is that there are enough ways to drastically reduce the effectiveness of Zilean's bombs that making them both a skillshot AND a long delay is just too much.
Marthian1 votesSupport Zilean:
Sivir is the only one with a spell shield. Other champions have to burn mana to shield (and you still do more damage than the shield) and wasting QSS/Cleanse for a bomb is such a bad idea.
420 LOL 691 votesActually Jannas shield easily outshields zilean bombs bot. Mores shield won't stop all of the damage, but enough if it that if you're trading to get the bomb, you'll lose the trade. Same with lulu and lux shields.
DanofDemacia1 voteslol 180% ap instantly was unreliable
Durzaka1 votes3 champions 2 summoners spells A item A skill only 2 champions have
Boy, that is so very unreliable. It is almost like there are another 100 champions in the game besides those he can damage reliably.
420 LOL 691 votesHeal, barrier, and zonyas must not exist.
Durzaka1 votesare you dense?
I was going through the list you gave. That includes heal.
oh boy, another summoner spell you can use to counter a skill that is on a 10 second cool. Damn what great counter play.
oh wait...
Yeah you're right bro. Old zilean was completely unbeatable with a 100% win rate. Glad they nerfed him into s much more viable spot that he's in now...because his q is perfect now.