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AP Caster Situation

GeneralDaedalus·2/5/2016, 6:37:43 PM·12 votes·1,224 views

Let me start this out by saying this post isn't trying to encourage AP Assassin buffs, they definitely don't need any help. I'm focused more on the champs that are being intentionally left out of the meta this season.

List of AP Casters needing help

-Orianna -Xerath
-Ziggs -Cassiopeia -Karthus

I know, I know you hate me for putting karthus on this list because that ult lolz:P

Honestly I know orianna has been in the competitive scene way too much but i thought the goal for this season was to make any strategy viable, but it seems like the last couple of patches have almost all been indirect nerfs to all AP casters barring viktor whose ability to stay safe and wave clear with relatively low mana costs.

Xerath is a different beast entirely the buffs to AD assassins and the release of the reworked Maw which allows an AD assassin to give up almost nothing besides some flat AD to be able to gain 50 MR and a huge Magic shield when they take too much damage seems a little off balance, i can understand that the item was intended to assist assassins and ADs in general but i feel because the MR was raised soo much from the last maw it doesnt need to have such a big shield.

Ziggs along with orianna are probably the 2 closest champs to being meta on this list ( i know some of you will argue that orianna is still meta please dont hate me) but i understand giving ziggs some early game ult strength was an attempt to help him but ziggs was never meant as an early game explosive(excuse the accidental pun) champ he was always a mid to late game poke champ. Which will continue to push him outta the snowball early to mid game meta but i think even the item suggested later might be strong enough to bring him back as his mid game poke is very good.

Cassiopeia is one of the saddest cases on this list because she was on the forefront of strong champs for a couple patchs in season 5 before she was randomly and abruptly ripped from viability. The release of Updated Ryze(AKA Super Cassiopeia) coupled with the release of the new Maw and other early game AD items have made her way less viable plus a meta that forces games to end early.

Karthus I know you all hate his ult when you get low health after a fight in lane and he ults you and then you say "a few choice words" but once again hes a champ that hasnt been in the meta for a very long time as far as AP casters go hes completely lost for so many seasons, making a rare appearance every once in a while in a cheese competitive comp but for the most part hes a champion that hasn't been viable for a long time, to be honest if he was given some more early game help in exchange for some of his late game I'm sure all the karthus mains will be thanking riot for the gift.

Possible help options -New AP Armor item to help in this new AD heavy meta -Nerfs to item 3156 -Individual Early game in exchange for late game buffs, but this would only fix short term

Thanks for reading this article, would love to hear some feedback about my ideas in the comments!

13 Comments

WoonStruck2/5/2016, 6:55:10 PM7 votes

-Orianna is fine -Xerath is fine, poke just isn't meta, although his ult is too unreliable. -Ziggs is fine, poke just isn't meta -Cassiopeia is getting used in LCS some even. She's getting reworked again. -Karthus could maybe use some minor tweaks to allow him better usability in shorter games.

So pretty much just Karthus.

Abyssphere2/5/2016, 7:24:11 PM4 votes

Ziggs is getting a late game nerf? How?

Current big damage: 250/375/500 (+ 90% AP) Current small damage (80% of total): 200/300/400 (+ 72% AP)

PBE big damage: 300/450/600 (+ 110% AP) PBE small damage (66% of total): 200/300/400 (+ 74% AP)

His ult change next patch is a HUGE buff when you hit the sweet spot and a basically neutral but just about positive change when you don't hit the sweet spot. Even if the edge damage was basically neutral but negative, it'd still be an overall buff. His ult on the PBE is a significant improvement on his ult on the live client.

TurquoiseYoshi2/5/2016, 9:51:29 PM2 votes

Orianna is fine, she is always a viable pick due to her ult and general utility.

I might say Xerath needs small buffs or changes to his ult.

Ziggs is getting buffed for the 2nd/3rd time recently.

Cassio is getting reworked.

Karthus is okay in my opinion. Not really that weak.

Anu3isII2/6/2016, 12:49:42 PM1 votes

Orianna is fine, she will never really be out of the meta, unless Riot decides to destroy her. Imo she is one of the most reliable mages.

Leu072/5/2016, 9:40:28 PM1 votes

Cassiopeia really sucks right now, I hope they make her fun and viable... even though she is still seldom picked by pros, I think she does not do that well neither, they probably could have done better with other champ.

DrNova2/5/2016, 7:21:51 PM1 votes

As a xerath player he functions perfectly fine

Kuroi862/6/2016, 12:52:20 AM1 votes

Mage update is coming mid year, expect most mages to see some sort of change when it hits.