Viktor: On the Origin of Glorious Species

I think Viktor is an intriguing concept, but his kit doesn't match his fantasy. I'm not a viktor expert, but at his heart he is a scientist who is a zealot for mechanical perfection, adapting his body with machines to conquer his opponents. The last line in his lore saying that he wants to "pit his inventions against the greatest opponents Valoran could offer, and to correct any weaknesses or inefficiencies that remained." How he plays out is a poke mage with great burst, but little real adaptability. These are some ideas to give him variety:

The theme of adaptability requires variation. Viktor could function in more roles than just mid, allowing him to shield allies would leave his solo lane practically unaffected, but make him more viable as a support.

Power Transfer: Viktor sends a device at an enemy unit to blast them for magic damage. The device returns to him and then his closest ally granting a shield for up to 3 seconds.

A second change to viktor would obviously be to his hex cores. As is lamented regularly, they have poor slot efficiency, so I propose having two upgrades to them. The goal is that each hex core will change how viktor is played in a more meaningful way, as a form of adaptation.

Augment: Power

+Ability Power/Level +Health +% Magic Penetration Stage 1: Power Transfer now deals an additional % max health damage. Stage 2: Chaos Storm reduces magic resist/armor of enemies and increases Viktor's resistances.

The goal of this hex core is to highlight power transfer. It is a very short range ability, at odds with his current playstyle of poking enemies down. With this core, his itemization would likely involve magic penetration, tankiness and cooldown reduction, having him play as an AP bruiser and tank out some damage while fighting the bruisers/tanks of the enemy team.

Augment: Gravity

+Ability Power/Level +Cooldown Reduction +Movement Speed Stage 1: Increase the range of Gravity Field. Stage 2: Chaos Storm now pulls enemies to the center when it is initially cast.

The goal of this hex core is to highlight Gravity Field as a playmaking initiation ability. Without the extra range, Gravity Field is almost impossible to use offensively. Even with the current core it's still tricky, especially for team fights. Viktors who use this core are giving up damage for utility, but are capable of making game-changing peels or initiates and combo his ult with gravity field for heavy crowd control.

Augment: Death

+Ability Power/Level +Ability Power Stage 1: Death Ray sets fire to enemies Stage 2: Increase the range of Chaos Storm

This hex core is viable as it is, so few things are changed. If anything, base Death Ray damage could decrease and the poking strength of this core could be increased to further differentiate the cores. Viktor has the tools that a poke mage would want, good disengage and great range, but the stage 2 of this core allows viktor even more relative safety to nuke from a distance. Viktors with this core would likely build as a normal mage, focusing on AP and penetration.

As you can see Stage 2 of the cores all have an effect on chaos storm, keeping them consistent across the board, and each one emphasizes the strength of that core/ability. I think this concept is more in line with his fantasy as a character, as his playstyle and item choices would be different with each option, playing out more like a glorious evolution rather than an inferior construct.