I find myself buying protobelts just to catch champions with protobelt.

SettDownShutUp·Apr 22, 2016·100 votes·6,306 views

This item is already giving me headaches on the PBE. I really, REALLY hope this doesn't hit live.

108 Comments

Old Man TeetoApr 22, 201646 votes

Season 5 LCS Caster: "Elise flashes forward and throws a cocoon, but Azir instantly flashes, good trade of summoners."

Season 6 LCS Caster: "Elise protobelts forward and throws a cocoon, but Azir instantly protobelts, good use of protobelts."

LankPantsApr 22, 201618 votes

Season 6 LCS Caster: "Elise protobelts forward and throws a cocoon, but Azir instantly protobelts, good use of protobelts."

I hope this is what it ends up as, I could honestly see "Elise protobelts forward and Ashe dodges with protobelt". The item legit seems that strong.

Anth895Apr 22, 201612 votes

It's the distance of a Vayne tumble. I doubt it will be that big.

LankPantsApr 23, 20168 votes

Flash only has ~100 range on tumble and it's on 8x the CD as Protobelt and that's core on everyone. I could certainly see a world where Protobelt becomes a must buy on every champion, mobility is disproportionately powerful in this game even if it's not a huge distance.

My Waifu VanillaApr 23, 20163 votes

Flash can go over walls. Protobelt cannot. Flash is instant and can be used to disjoint abilities such as Blitz hook. Protobelt is not.

LankPantsApr 23, 20162 votes

Protobelt is also on about 1/8th of flash's CD, which I think makes up for most of the short comings you described.

My Waifu VanillaApr 23, 20162 votes

It also costs gold which means you aren't getting it until at least 15 minutes since only Annie would want it first item.

SkiasApr 23, 20163 votes

[{quoted}](name=Old Man Teeto,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=PGOzdLfR,comment-id=0007,timestamp=2016-04-22T11:17:21.211+0000)

Season 5 LCS Caster: "Elise flashes forward and throws a cocoon, but Azir instantly flashes, good trade of summoners."

Season 6 LCS Caster: "Elise protobelts forward and throws a cocoon, but Azir instantly protobelts, good use of protobelts."

You cant protobelt and throw a cocoon, because of the silence.

LankPantsApr 23, 20162 votes

The silence last around 0.2 seconds, it doesn't really stop anything and I've utterly failed to notice it on the PBE, although it's entirely possible that that's because I get almost exactly 0.2 seconds of delay.

SkiasApr 23, 20162 votes

{quoted}

The silence last around 0.2 seconds, it doesn't really stop anything and I've utterly failed to notice it on the PBE, although it's entirely possible that that's because I get almost exactly 0.2 seconds of delay.

I'm in Vancouver with a really low ping, .25 is noticeable here.

Masala ChaiApr 23, 20162 votes

Vancouver, WA? or Vancouver, B.C?

SkiasApr 23, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Vancouver, WA? or Vancouver, B.C?

WA! ^^

Masala ChaiApr 23, 20162 votes

Gasp...

Sorry I'm a Seattle peon, but all the people I know from either Vancouver are all in BC.

I've never really visited Vancouver, WA. Just there on a way to Portland, :/.

LankPantsApr 22, 201631 votes

I just hate the idea of the item. Mages are weak because they're an immobile class in a game that's super mobility creeped. Riot's solution to this, mobility creep mages.

KeevalroyApr 22, 20167 votes

If you cut down mobility by taking away all of the extra forms that don't have a reason to be there, it makes the spectator event less exciting with each unnecessary dash or speedup taken away. In addition, it makes the game seem "boring" for the children with low attention spans who need flashing lights, explosions, and fast moving objects to keep focused.

ShadragonApr 23, 20164 votes

You know, URF is the epitome of "flashing lights, explosions, and fast moving objects" They might as well just make that the esports game mode and stop ruining normal SR. It's already got the tryhard playerbase so it's basically halfway there anyway. Some might even argue that it also has a healthier and more balanced metagame.

TotalJerkApr 22, 20162 votes

What the hell does everybody think Deadman's plate and making Black Cleaver build out of Phage was? It was their way of helping out immobile juggernauts... by giving them more mobility.

Dank13Apr 22, 20166 votes

yea but when mages build ludens the movespeed they get coupled with the damage is enough, they dont need a dash too.

InHaruhiWeTrustApr 22, 201620 votes

PBE is for bugs... not for reason/stopping broken shit from making it into the game unfortunately.

LilxPaprikaApr 22, 20164 votes

what the whole point of pbe should be for stopping shit from entering the game. bugs testing also being a given.

NarasimhaApr 22, 20167 votes

Theres not nearly enough players on PBE to make a decent balanced decision.

DREADN0UGHTApr 22, 20163 votes

They have reverted things in the past. They test buffs and nerfs out. Pretty sure they can go back on an item.

InHaruhiWeTrustApr 22, 20162 votes

yeah but alot of the stuff they revert is because of bugs not because of feedback. almost all of the feedback changes they make are on skins, which is great but they don't listen the same way to other things.

IncognonymousApr 22, 201615 votes

Flash 2.0. What a fucking idiotic idea.

ZoeeeeApr 22, 201613 votes

League of protobelt...

In before tanks start buying it just to engage fights. Seems tailored maid for Malphite, and Maokai.

Pierce The VealApr 22, 20163 votes

[{quoted}](name=best Mundoverse,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=PGOzdLfR,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2016-04-22T05:16:24.561+0000)

League of protobelt...

In before tanks start buying it just to engage fights. Seems tailored maid for Malphite, and Maokai.

They said they might make it so it has a mini silence thing at the end of the dash, so it might not be used by them anymore.

ZoeeeeApr 22, 201617 votes

{quoted}

They said they might make it so it has a mini silence thing at the end of the dash, so it might not be used by them anymore.

It still seems like mobility to counter mobility. Which is cancer.

Weasel KenseiApr 23, 20163 votes

Sounds like a nursery-rhyme having to do with swallowing flies...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lG4VUppmwg

ModKnightsKemplarApr 22, 201610 votes

It's going live, probably, if its still on PBE at this point.

But I think it has always been a terrible idea, for what it's worth. It's great to say that you want mages to have a re-positioning tool, but the abuses of that tool are always going to be the real reason to use the item. It's a dash. It'll be used like any other dash. People will use it to increase their range on critical abilities and increase the distance they can move when running away from people. 90% of the time, "repositioning" won't be the reason someone uses it, just like flash.

I think one of the best things Riot could do for the game at this point would be to get rid of flash in the next preseason, and adjust everyone's dashes to compensate appropriately. It's had such a strong influence on game balance that it would be a huge job, but I honestly think it would be worth it. If that was the main goal of the next preseason, I think it would be awesome.

Weasel KenseiApr 23, 20163 votes

Ive mentioned this before as well. Flash is just practically welded to the keyboards, if its that busted, take it out of the game. All its mostly good for is a surprise Im in your face, or get out of jail free card. The game would, with out a doubt be better without it. "Oh but then.." NO STFU, they would have to fix the game yes because so much is balanced around it being in the game. Get flash out in the same patch that re-balances it not being there anymore. 2/3 times people just flash away from someone who just flashed at them, thats what we would be removing form the game.

63536895_DELApr 22, 20169 votes

I find myself buying protobelts just to catch champions with protobelt.

Meanwhile summoner 4 . I take just because everyone else takes it. Like fucking seriously, most of the time it's only used to counter act someone else flashing. I'm chasing a low health enemy and they flash so I flash and that's the end of it. If Riot really want's interesting gameplay they should remove this shit.

M0b1usApr 22, 20168 votes

I would be 100% fine without protobelt. Also undo all the nerfs to the current items and then the MYMU would actually be decent.

Best Lee Sin OHApr 22, 20162 votes

the point is to balance mages, not make them overpowered.

xBushxApr 22, 20168 votes

I really don't think it will make it in. The ENTIRE game will have to be balanced around that item.

If you're really going through with this. then it might be time to just give everyone flash... AND two sums.

Lady HammerlockApr 22, 20167 votes

I hate how people complain about protobelt its a 300 unit dash the size of vayne's tumble doesn't do very impressive damage basically silences you for 0.25 seconds after you reach your destination(which matters a lot) and pathetic speed

NeoBrawlerApr 22, 20169 votes

{quoted}

I hate how people complain about protobelt its a 300 unit dash the size of vayne's tumble doesn't do very impressive damage basically silences you for 0.25 seconds after you reach your destination(which matters a lot) and pathetic speed

Are you new?

Lady HammerlockApr 22, 20169 votes

{quoted}

Are you new?

well I've used it,not as OP OP QQ as people say it is...even on an immobile mage i can still catch them without a counter protobelt

TonyTonyMordecaiApr 22, 20162 votes

Protobelt could cause some issues, I think it won't be as bad as people are saying it is.

Sure you can get it for the active, but an item that gives mana would be better if the mage has a big mana cost in their combo, or they are fairly spammy and any frequent amount of trades/rotations could make them oom and then make them useless. Doesn't matter that they just dashed closer to you, if they're oom, they can't do anything, and they just burned their only other escape next to flash (which is probably still on cooldown from the previous gank).

The Ice blast might be the better option on some if you have a kill team, because it helps them get closer to their target(s), and now you still have flash and your lockdown spells (Malzahar, Annie) for someone else on the enemy team.

I built protobelt on Vlad, but I also felt like I should've gotten a Spirit Visage first because while I got some CDR health AP, I didn't have the defenses to stay in the fight or heal up with my Q, and I feel like it's a very situational item that would be more useful against certain teams, and in certain team comps.

Besides, you can't protobelt over walls. Tried 3 times in action and then tested in a custom game.

Only Play DariusApr 22, 20167 votes

Same issue we have with flash.

KakitaMikeApr 22, 20166 votes

Sounds like the belt is going to be the new flash

JerulEonApr 22, 20165 votes

Can you elaborate? I heard it has a 30s cooldown. Must be interesting to see people dashing around so often.

Do you think its good for disengaging AND reengaging?

SettDownShutUpApr 22, 201614 votes

Disengaging yes, Re-engaging I guess? I'm not using it because I want to, I'm using it cause it's the only way to catch people actually using it without burning my flash. (Swain btw)

Meowstic FApr 22, 20165 votes

Please... stop spreading misinformations. The protobelt is like a one teemo dash away... it's not an escape tool.

Zenthon PrimeApr 22, 20165 votes

Pretty much. It's literally worse than Vayne Tumble. Very underwhelming after trying it on a few different champs on the PBE. Stats are pretty much as well, damage is meh.....honestly, I don't see a whole lot of champs buying this item.

ForeverLaxxApr 22, 20164 votes

It's too late for Riot to be experimenting with mobility item actives. Their entire design from the beginning was an emphasis on giving champions in-kit skills to enhance their ability to get around. Once you start adding actives on top of that, this is what happens.

The only possible way to balance something like this is go Dota's route, which is to make an item purchased for it's mobility the only thing it does. Spending that much gold on JUST the ability to dash a short distance sounds like a good trade-off to me. It tends to discourage those who need items to scale from bothering since they're basically throwing that item slot away. One problem with this path though is that it could end up removing the item altogether (which might not even be a bad thing) because Riot very obviously balances around the 6-item build, and if you never reach that point because of a statless mobility item, your champion might not be able to function anymore.

So I guess I reiterate: Riot is experimenting with these too late in the game's life. It will require an entire rebalancing of the roster before it's healthy.

Cenobite AzazielApr 22, 20163 votes

"Well, immobile mages were getting hard with mobility! So we made them a mobility belt. Now everyone can have mobility, even the mobile champions can have double the mobility."

MetalGearTeemuApr 22, 20164 votes

there's a reason blink dagger in Dota JUST provides mobility and no stats.

Riot gonna have the learn those lessons tho.

Zenthon PrimeApr 22, 20166 votes

Blink Dagger has three times the range of Flash and has a 12 second CD. No duh it doesn't have combat stats.