If Flash becomes a built-in summoner spell, like Recall

TheThundersRoar·2/18/2016, 2:58:04 AM·86 votes·12,673 views

What happens to the balance of the game?

Since we've pretty much ruled out removing it, how about just handing it out? Since almost every champion takes it (except for maybe half a dozen, all of which can do fine with it anyway).

Will another single summoner spell take over? Will it actually create diversity and choice? Would it ruin the game or improve it?

Thoughts? _ (Keep in mind this can go on the PBE as an experiment to see how it actually plays out.)_

153 Comments

KhaZix Bot2/18/2016, 3:54:58 AM25 votes

Honestly, I'd be more interested to see what would happen if flash was just removed completely. Think about it. With no escape, champions designed and balanced around not having an escape would actually have to play like it. Safe mages wouldn't be able to shove under tower and get one free escape from the jungler, for one.

SleepyLionCub2/18/2016, 2:58:50 AM25 votes

would be super weird. and yes, I think we all know what summoner spell would take over. summoner 14

RiotMeddler2/19/2016, 2:46:16 AM21 votes

Some thoughts on Flash:

We think overall the game's more interesting with a really long CD fast reposition available to all champions than it is without such a tool. Removing Flash doesn't make sense as a result.
For most champions not taking Flash isn't a reasonable option, so there's some missed opportunity in terms of offering meaningful choices there.
We don't believe that 3 summoner spells is an appropriate way to go, in terms of complexity increase and either power creep or power diffusion (having to remove power elsewhere to pay for the availability of the new spell if not just power creeping).
We could make Flash mandatory. Main thing that accomplishes is that it limits the small number of champions for whom Flash is optional. It also limits our ability to potentially expand that pool of champions a bit in the future (e.g. finding ways to make Ghost appealing on a few more champions via an item based upgrade or something similar). Cost of doing so seems higher than the benefits (helping new players primarily) as a result.

Slamurai Jack2/18/2016, 4:01:43 AM18 votes

Every carry now takes summoner 1 as their second summoner spell. Hooray for worthless CC!

Spoofghoul2/18/2016, 10:46:22 AM17 votes

summoner 4 summoner 12 summoner 6

item 1333

i see no problems with this

Definitely Bait2/18/2016, 4:45:04 AM12 votes

summoner 3 summoner 14 summoner 21 summoner 7 Would probably be the most common spells still.

summoner 13 Would be utterly nasty for mages that are gated by early game mana problems.

Hecarim Shaco Evelynn

Would receive a big indirect buff since they already don't run flash most of the time.

Udyr + summoner 4 summoner 6 summoner 11 Would be hilariously funny.

{{summoner:2}} Will still universally be considered near worthless.

Overall I think it'd be a good change. Flash is used enough that it really should be just a baked in ability. It'd also be a good excuse to show summoner spell cooldowns like they did with dragon / baron spawn timers. I mean not showing them is already pretty pointless for good players (They keep timers when summoners are popped anyway)

Bonipherus2/18/2016, 3:42:51 AM9 votes

I've said this multiple times. Riot wants it, the community wants it, and other summoner spells arent allowed to be as strong as it. Just give it a permanent binding and let us choose 2 real summoners. If they make the spell a standard then they can even balance the cd on each champion. Immobile Ashe? well you get a reduced cooldown on it. Super mobile Kassadin? You can have it but hold on to this long ass cd.

ltmetal2/18/2016, 4:39:47 AM5 votes

Bump. I would love to see this or many other solutions to the flash is mandatory for 5 seasons problem.

Paladin 0f Life2/18/2016, 3:18:54 AM4 votes

What about summoner 6 or summoner 4 for it since some champs do the other

Caffeint2/18/2016, 8:47:12 AM4 votes

Which button will it go on?

win will2/18/2016, 12:05:45 PM3 votes

in dota 2 the flash is a item. Would this work in league?

Unlimilore2/18/2016, 7:18:12 PM2 votes

I mean this actually has some weight to it. Recall used to be exactly in this stage before it became a summoner spell. Back in the way old days of league recall was indeed a ss, And everyone took it leading riot to just allow all champions to use it. We may have another freebie spell guys.

CitadelOfIce2/18/2016, 10:31:03 PM2 votes

I would start running smite as a support. That way I could help contest objective, get another 2 wards, get a stat boost, and have full crab control. I would have vision for days and would love it. Also could counter JG much easier since I could take camps in an instant. Also would give sups an XP boost when they need it so they could snowball with there ADCs.

WolfBV2/18/2016, 3:59:18 AM2 votes

I'd say summoner 3 summoner 14 summoner 12 and maybe summoner 11 would become more popular picks. All these combined: summoner 13 {{summoner:2}} make up less than 0.5% of all summoners chosen.