Black Cleaver - Update?

Blumpkin Nation·Nov 27, 2016·1 votes·502 views

I wanted to know if Riot had any plans for reworking or making changes to Black Cleaver. The item provides a lot of really good stats and is generally bought 1st or 2nd by a lot of phys champs. I.E. Darius, Garen, Riven, and even some ADCs who output a lot of physical ability damage.

The reason I'm asking is because why is an armor shred item being bought early on and even being bought when there's little armor being built by the enemy team? 20% cool down? A lot of health and AD? An awesome movement passive?

I really just wanted to ask because while I know zilch about balance, I feel this item performs too well in the early game.

4 Comments

MerbstromNov 27, 20162 votes

My guess is one of the best stats it provides in the early game is the movement speed rage bonus. I tend to think of it as a alternative to Rylai's slow utility... While you may not be able to lock down the enemy from a slow, it functionally works the similar in a 1 on 1 scenario. The pen is still helpful in amplifying damage on these champs even if they don't have a ton of armour since most of those champs have some way of applying the majority of the stacks kinda rapidly. Even if you take off 7 armour, that's still a lot in the early game.

ErockandrollNov 27, 20161 votes

The collection of stats makes it really useful as an early pick up. The rage passive, offers a good chasing mechanic for many melee fighters. The base AD is useful as a starting (and perhaps only) damage item on most Juggernauts. And the 20% CDR is a lot, for just about any AD caster.

Critmaster GarenNov 27, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Blumpkin Nation,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=VTrrixfM,comment-id=,timestamp=2016-11-27T04:29:42.899+0000)

The item provides a lot of really good stats and is generally bought 1st or 2nd by a lot of phys champs. I.E. Darius, Garen

its almost like the item was specifically designed as a core item for these champions.

like item 3078 for attack speed based fighters like irelia and jax, item 3031 for adc, item 3089 for mages item 3124 for on-hit carries, and item 3142 item 3147 forassassins.

as for your question why its built early. because its 30% shred to total armor, and a lot of fighters and tanks these champions are facing, are building armor sooner than later, and have high base armor scaling. it also provides a great combination of stats for these champions.

it should grant 500 health and 30 ad imo.

bruisers have high base damage and care less about the ad than they would about some extra health. especially with how riot has been removing health off multiple items in season 6, they could use it. it would also become less cost effective on ranged carries.

DeathBurstNov 27, 20161 votes

I'm not sure APCs commonly buy Rabadon 2nd, but other than that, I agree.

Re: AD vs HP on Cleaver though, if it's the only offense item you're buying, 30 AD is a bit low. That could hurt a couple champs that just buy Cleaver into Tank items.