I Don't Mind the Fact that CertainlytT Isn't Taking As Much Feedback on the Morde Rework

I'd like to preface this by saying that, in general, I am not a fan CertainlyT's champion designs. I'd also like to say that this thread is based off of a post I made in another Mordekaiser/CertainlyT thread. I will be talking about Mordekasier in his new intended role of bot lane carry, not as a solo laner.

To begin, I dislike that they are changing how Morde plays on a fundamental level. However, I do not dislike the direction the rework is going. It's a shame that Mordekaiser has been chosen as the "guinea pig" for this new champion concept of bot lane bruiser. However, the rework is happening, and after accepting that fact, I can say that I very much am looking forward to it. This is a brand new thing that can potentially change the game in very interesting ways, and I want to see it work.

However that's part of the problem, because almost no one really knows how the hell Bot Mordekaiser will work. This is a very new idea, that has never been really considered in the environemtn of modern league. And I don't mean bruiser bot kill lanes, I mean bruiser bot as an actual alternative to an ADC. Frankly, CertainlyT probably knows way more about the effects of all the changes than the players telling him to change stuff, with regard to** balance.** People saying, "this is stupid!" or "There's no way a bruiser can replace a carry" or "this is too gimmicky to work" are justified in their concern, but the validity of the claims has yet to be seen.

Players who do have a right to concern, are the Mordekaiser players who love how he currently plays. After playing some PBE games, I feel like Morde is kinda destroyed in terms of his old playstyle. However, that is not to say new Mordekaiser is underpowered or overpowered,fun or boring(I feel like he is fun and pretty balanced, but I can't be sure about balance because the PBE generally has bad game quality, nor have I played enough games to make such a judgement). Garen and Darius reworks changed a lot less about the champion's mechanics themselves, while Mordekaiser is basically a totally new kind of champion. You can't judge him the same way you judge other champions, in my opinion, because you don't have a frame of reference. Darius and Garen have other champions that are relatively similar in role to compare in terms of total power/utility/etc. There are no other immoble DPS bot lane bruisers for Mordekaiser to be compared to. I think, in general, most designers would have had to not implement a lot of the changes suggested by the community, because it simply wouldn't fit the new style of champion or it would break them in terms of power.

TL;DR - Mordekaiser is being made into a different kind of champion, and this isn't likely to change, and I hate it as much as the next guy. The balance suggestions being made by the community would likely(key word being likely) break this new kind of champion, because we can't comment on it's strength as well as we could a champion of an already established archetype.

To address how I feel on the actual changes, In the case of movespeed, Mordekaiser, with movespeed quints, can get his old movespeed back, sitting neatly at 340. If new Morde had 340MS, and got movespeed quints would have put morde at 355 movespeed. That would be insane on the new Morde. Considering Trinity is basically core (at least bot lane) from my and others' experiences, it would push Mordekaiser way past the realm of "kitable" into something closer to a freight train. What people seem to forget is that Mordekaiser won't be alone in lane. He'll also have a support, and said support can address some of Morde's weaknesses. Yeah, it sucks that you have to rely on someone else (early), and thats the reason I don't play bot lane, but he's still capable of getting in range during laning. Mordekaiser has many viable item builds to correct his new, lower, but necessary movespeed. If it turns out I'm wrong, they have an easy avenue to fix Morde. I'd like to point out that CertainlyT said he started without changing Morde's movespeed, but had to tone it down, and did so gradually, because he thought new Mordekasier was too strong. CertainlyT did that.

E's base damage nerf and shield generation buff was also necessary to a healthy bot lane Mordekasier, simply due to the fact that Morde's Total AD now impacts the damage of the spell, meaning it gives power to Mordekaiser according to AD built, Rank, and Level. Mordekasier will already generally have a sizable experience lead because of his W passive. Changing E from base damage to base damage + Total AD ratio, allows for a cleaner power curve that doesn't become horrifically oppressive in lane when Mordekaiser is ahead. Also, I don't even think maxing E first is the best idea anymore. The shield generation is massive without putting points into it, and the Total AD ratio means its always decent at helping to clear waves.

Speaking of which, Mordekaiser's waveclear is not all that hurt at all. While his is E may clear less quickly mid-game, due to lack of levels and itemization, it still provides an ample amount. Plus, Mordekaiser's W is now much better suited for clearing waves, effectively putting his waveclear in a spot similar to what it is now.

The only problem I have with Mordekaiser's rework, aside from it being awkward that they chose to do this to Mordekaiser, is that his W isn't able to be cast while alone. This needs to happen in some form or another, because regardless of the strength of solo lane Morde, not being able to cast W feels awful. If the support goes to ward? You are out a spell. If the support dies in a gank before you can cast it? You are out a spell that can potentially save you. Having W's power tied to an ally may be a great way to leash its insane power, but there should definitely be something of a reduced effect when self-cast.

TL;DR2 - Mordekaiser's kit has been redone in such a way that handling bot lane is perfectly possible. There is nothing stopping him from being successful there, despite what may seem like generally heavyhanded nerfs, because each change was actually an adjustment to Mordekaiser's power curve in such a way as to put him on even ground with ranged carries. But please that W needs some changes, because even despite balance concerns, it feels actually awful when you can't use it.

The point is, CertainlyT is justified in his silence with regard to balance on new Mordekaiser, because it is unlikely that people can judge his power level accurately.