Instead of Nerfing Evelynn, Bring In the Mandrake Ward!

48983507DEL1·Oct 2, 2015·82 votes·2,339 views

The Mandrake Ward was such a great concept in terms of solving the problems with Stealth champions. For those of you who don't know, the Mandrake Ward was a simple little fella that would sit in a selected bush and ping the map whenever an enemy was approaching. It would give no vision, but it would ping no matter if the champion was visible or stealthed.

Now that Pink Wards have been invisible for almost 2 whole seasons now, the Mandrake Ward needs to become a thing to keep stealthy, counterplay lacking champions from becoming too broken (talking to you Rengar).

And no, I'm not just salty about stealth champions. I am a Rengar main myself, and I just want my favorite champions to not have a chance of facing the gutter every patch.

#savethemandrakeward

30 Comments

AezanthyaOct 2, 201512 votes

They could have made it a trinket...

PyroOct 2, 20158 votes

I'd be happy to see Mandrake replace the yellow trinket, actually (with a 100% uptime, though). Would make for a much better minigame with the enemy jungler.

It could still upgrade at level 9 to green/pink/multi-mandrake trinket.

Burnt LightOct 3, 20155 votes

Why they removed such a good item is beyond me. Makes as much sense as nerfing Eve.

The Griefer KingOct 2, 20154 votes

while we are bringing things back, bring DFG back

ZêphOct 2, 20152 votes

so lb can oneshot me in 0.001 secs instead of 0.01? definetly agree kappa

SaiannaOct 2, 20154 votes

Or.. Rework stealth [Evelynn] to be more healthy.

I'd go with HOTS-like stealth. It's by far more healthy for the game overall. As long as you have keen eye you can see Eve from a mile. While her invisibility favours her in fastpaced teamfights. Both sides win.

48983507DEL1Oct 2, 20156 votes

As a Halo fan, I approve this message.

SaiannaOct 2, 20155 votes

Tbh when I first came to HOTS i though of Novas stealth as uber unhleathy and annoying to deal with...

50 games have passed and I'm like.. "Haha silly Nova, i see you". It so visible to me now that sometimes I notice stealthed hero faster than this totally visible one.

But in teamfights it's totally different story, where stealth becomes real advantage to kill squishy targets.

(I liked stealth concept so much, that Nova became my main hero. It's just too much fun)

FastAsHeckOct 3, 20151 votes

exactly this, plus it is more realistic that way. Except maybe when a giant Siege Tank can be stealthed right in front of you lol

PenguinOverlord8Oct 2, 20154 votes

I always wondered what happened to it. It looked like a good idea.

Kitten of EvilOct 2, 20152 votes

They need to get this item released already, since I do think it's the biggest factor in Riot's never-ending quest to balance Eve.

The Yetii RiderOct 3, 20152 votes

The reason it was removed (likely) is because it stops tunneling in its tracks. Vision granted by wards is only helpful if you're looking at the map, which players don't always do if they are extending. Pings are something we react to immediately. In that sense, a pinging ward that is as effective for visible as it is invisible champions can really remove a jungler's ability to punish bad players.

Riot wants the advantage to be with the ganking jungler so that late game champs like Nasus and Vayne aren't successful in every game.

48983507DEL1Oct 3, 20151 votes

Possibly.

One thing I think they could do is make it a sort of silent ping, say like a big exclamation point appears on the map where it senses a champion.

i ate thos foodOct 2, 20151 votes

I loved the idea of mandrake ward! +1

Slamurai JackOct 2, 20151 votes

Too bad you can't really get it until after the first back and Eve or Shaco have often already taken over the game.

Support EvelynnOct 2, 20153 votes

[{quoted}](name=Slamurai Jack,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=W5zOXH0x,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2015-10-02T07:54:12.296+0000)

Too bad you can't really get it until after the first back and Eve or Shaco have often already taken over the game.

It was so cheap you could get it at level one.

Slamurai JackOct 2, 20151 votes

It would have to be pretty damn cheap since nearly every item start leaves you with 0 gold. Unless of course you want to sit in the fountain and just let your team get invaded.

Support EvelynnOct 2, 20156 votes

[{quoted}](name=Slamurai Jack,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=W5zOXH0x,comment-id=000300000000,timestamp=2015-10-02T08:43:51.624+0000)

It would have to be pretty damn cheap since nearly every item start leaves you with 0 gold. Unless of course you want to sit in the fountain and just let your team get invaded.

Flask starts, Cloth starts and support starts would have no issues with it. Doran's start should -never- start with wards unless you do teleport cheese, that is an inherent risk of the items.

HayRossOct 2, 20151 votes

Pink wards are invisible now?

ScrimshäwOct 2, 20151 votes

pink wards have been invisible for 2 seasons?

someone hasn't played in a while

SorryBoysImLesOct 3, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Treasure Goblin,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=W5zOXH0x,comment-id=0006,timestamp=2015-10-02T16:17:11.648+0000)

pink wards have been invisible for 2 seasons?

someone hasn't played in a while

Err...what game are YOU playing? They've always been visible (least since I started playing.) I just got out of a game last night where I cleared 2 pinks as Lulu support before I got my oracles.

Unless you're confused and are talking about another ward. Pink wards are the ones where you can only place one per champ, and has 5hp

RebonackOct 2, 20151 votes

Just add the mandrake ward functionality to stealth wards.

TwoDOct 2, 20151 votes

Yes pls

48983507DEL1Oct 3, 20151 votes

<3 all the responses thanks guys!

Samflash3Oct 3, 20151 votes

Here's my take on the Mandrake ward. Has a little bit of vision (just like Teemo's Shroom ) EXCEPT the light changes. Red if a stealth champion is close, green if they're far.

Sure pings may work but having a visual indicator is pretty awesome.

48983507DEL1Oct 3, 20151 votes

could work