So, we have been seeing gangplank top the charts on champion.gg for awhile now. He's starting to get picked a lot in lck and a bit in EU also. He hasn't been touched for a few good months now. So - Is he too strong? Have the new dragons effected his success? Are the recent item changes helping him out too much? Also, how would we go about balancing the pirate in his current state? I'd love to know some peoples thoughts.
If they touch him, I hope they get rid of his RNG reliance... I'd gladly deal less overall damage if it was reliable...
He is simply to strong. He had a short down adter the trinity changes till people adjusted their builts, but he always was (to)strong. The main issue is his ult, it's just the single most powerfull abillity in the game. It has plenty of usecases, can sinpe low health targets on global range without offereing a chance to dodge and deals absurd amounts of damage in teamfights. at level 6 with thunderlords, the first wave deals instatnly 210 aoe damage, followed up by up to 450 aditional damage while slowing. For comparison, Annies tibers has 150 damage at that point, so the first wave that comes instantly on global range and can't be flashed out if it's centered directly on top of you deals more damage than annies tibbers(or about the same if we asume she has some solid ap at that point) Aditionally, the ult can deal up to 600damage(+60 from thunderlord), which equals a full channled nunu ult. As a result, he can secure kills after close trades elsewhere on the map, he can clear any wave to save a tower, or he can win a dragonfight for his team without ever leaving his lane.
And later on, it just gets more absurd. at level 11 with deaths daughter upgrade, the first wave deals 210(+110+ from TL) magic damage and 210 truedamage(granted, the truedamage is atleast dodgeable), followed by up to 630 aditional magic damage.
At lvl 16 with fire at will+deaths daughter, the first wave hit's for 270(+160+ from TL) magic, 270 truedamage and up to 1350 aditional damage, adding up to a potential of 1620(+ 160+ from TL)magic damage+270 truedamage. On a huge aoe, with slow(and speed buff for allies once he has raise moral) on global range
His ult seriously needs a nerf, either to it'S overall damage, or to it's reliabillity, and certainly to it's waveclear.
Most of his damage comes from straight crit and Triforce. I think that gangplank should get the nerf kallista got where ad scales only 90% on the items she buys. I think that would fix gangplanks crazy barrel damage but idk.
He's weak af early game and his laner can just roam to win the game since GP has to be stuck farming. Now people are running armor pen items to give him a boost in the mid game so he spikes earlier. In experienced hands, if GP gets to late game, he pretty much solo carries with raw damage and teamfighting ability. But he's also not a tank so that puts a burden on the team. I think he's fairly balanced, kinda strong-ish.
gangplank will always be the gangplank he is until they nerf his damage. His barrels are an AOE slow total armor penetration damage amp against champions and the only ability that can use spellblade on multiple champions in this case. aoe. he also has a QSS with a big heal every few seconds. and one of the best engage/disengage ultimates that is global. just what the fuck. all his 4 abilities. are among the best abilities in the freaking game.
Oraaangeees.
