Azir rework Idea - AP Marksman (mid) Azir
I am an Azir main, and like every Azir main over at Azirmains subreddit, we really REALLY don't want to see Riot screw up our favorite champ.
A lot of talk about the rework has been going on both at reddit and these forums, including a poll on azirmains about what we'd like to see done the most. Well the current top vote at 70% out of 5 or 6 choices, is to have his Q damage either removed or reduced, while buffing his W and hopefully shield scaling and ult duration again too.
I personally don't want to see Q damage removed completely, but if it were to be so, I believe the following rework (I suggested on Azirmains) could then be a viable option for his balance, if not too crazy.
The rework...
New passive (not in place of turret passive): Azir's basic attacks do the same auto attack damage as his soldiers, and he can now fight along with his soldiers.
Q: No longer does any damage
W: Recharge cooldown increased
W: Damage reduction on AA from multiple soldiers (including Azir himself) is lowered to only 60%-50%, from 75%
W: Lowered overall damage on individual autos, including Azir himself (if necessary, due to above)*
The passive would essentially add him as an 'additional soldier', or a permanent soldier on the field. His AA damage would now be exactly the same as theirs in every way, scaling only with levels and AP, but minus their AoE.
However, he now has the option to fight entirely with his own AAs, so he doesn't have to rely 100% on soldiers in skirmishes. The downside being that he doesn't get max damage output if he doesn't fight WITH his soldiers (using them at range), and he puts himself at risk if he does.
And after removing Q dmg, then having either the same W damage or nerfed W damage, while increasing the damage that multiple soldiers do to a single target, would require him to use more soldiers per target for max damage. But would include himself as one of them.
The recharge cooldown increase is because Azir is a permanent soldier. And it'd be just enough of an increase so that he could still have 2 or 3 (with cdr) on the field, not including himself as 1, at the downside of then having a higher CD once out. Or having to be much more careful with raising and placement.
Q is now used solely for soldier repositioning, it's slow, and drifting/shuffles. The slow would also see a minor nerf, as a result of less W soldiers, so may need compensation.
The balance logic...
His general range and max range poke wouldn't be as oppressive when he's strong, since he has no more Q damage and his soldier cooldown is increased. Being that he himself is now counted as a soldier he either needs to get in range to do full damage (even though it's all reduced damage) or do less damage at range, with only 1-2 soldiers at increased CD on charges.
His W CD increase would also potentially bring lot more balance to his mobility and shuffle as well, considering that he'd have to be a lot more careful when to use them for his E and ult, etc. On one hand he can auto himself without his soldiers, but his overall damage wouldn't be as high in doing so, considering no Q damage at all, and needing to save soldier's more often.
And needing to put himself at risk of range in order to deal max damage, as mentioned above, brings him more into a sustained dps with less burst and less potential for damage at range. Which alleviates a lot of complaints about his kit, giving him more counterplay. As does the above on needing to be more careful with his soldiers and when to use his mobility and shuffles.
His E damage, Ult damage, and shuffle however would still remain entirely intact as both a means of engaging, disengaging, and burst. Hopefully still with bringing back his old shield scaling and ult duration. Since his E especially, will likely need compensation.
He would remain primarily as a mid laner, but I believe have the 'option' to play as an AP ADC now, since all of this would finally fit him right into the role of AP marksman more than anything else ever could.
Let me know what you think.
