Nerfing base movement speed should be the last resort

Mira Arya Enthe··13 votes·1,090 views

Not in reference to any specific champion but Ashe does come to mind. I find nerfing base movement speed to be the worst thing you can do to a champion. It makes it often so they literally cannot walk into or out of a situation. They are incapable of rotating smoothly. Playing them feels sluggish.

This isn't HotS. We do not have mounts. Walking to lane or across the map on a 325-335 movespeed champion is the worst feeling in LoL for me. As is buying T2 boots plus a movespeed item and still being around 380 movespeed.

Aside from feeling terrible due to map traveling. It feels equally as bad being literally incapable of dodging certain skills.

I don't know if people know this. But back when Riot initially buffed all base movement speed and nerfed boots. It was literally caused by Brand's pillar. As it became manditory for half the cast to buy boots lvl1 vs Brand as for many of them dodging his pillar was literally impossible without boots. But recently several champions are hitting the bottom brackets again.

I understand too many dashes cause mobility creep. But low base movespeed conversely just feels utterly shitty. I wouldn't wish it on any champion in this game.

So please Riot. Please keep this as a last resort. I would rather see a champions entire kit gutted than making them literally a drag to play.

11 Comments

ProfDrDeath6 votes

The nerf to boots and increase in overall base MS was not just caused by Brand's pillar, though. Rather, it was because everyone (and that means EVERYONE) bought boots and pots as starting items at the end of S2.

It was simply because 50 movement speed were too crucial a thing to not buy, as having that value over your opponent in lane means you always get priority if played well.

DemoGuide3 votes

Some champions can actually use MS nerf LeeSin

Clutch Thompson3 votes

Usually they keep MS average or below average for the dash-heavy champs.

But Lee Sin gets 350 lol

LordGeovanni1 votes

super mobile champions and ranged champions should have lower base movement speed. people advocate for Mordekaiser ms buffs but he is a walking nukeing tank he doesnt need ms buffs

Lord Malpercio2 votes

Swain Crippled Old Man has trouble running from LeeSin even without his gap closers.

DorkunedAuras1 votes

To form a counter argument, MS should have tiers, some champs faster than others. Some champs kinda belong in certain tiers to be balanced at their jobs. Nerfing base MS can be a movement into a different tier to restrict something that the champ is too good at. I understand it's a massive QoL nerf, but it feels bad to also do much less damage, have longer CDs, etc.

Tormentula3 votes

You have to also consider the champion's kit and builds.

Ashe may be slow, but her passive slows the enemy + zeal items give %ms making her "speed tiering" rather irrelevant when she lowers the speed of everything around her. Really the only complaint the OP has is ashe being slow to walk back into lane, but thats not a huge deal assuming you don't get bullied out of lane constantly.

Then there's stuff like anivia who easily chunks most of the opponent's health bar off one stun and has a slow+wall to catch people.

EDIT: I might've misread your post from being a counterargument to the OP, but I primarily just wanted to counter argue why ashe should be in this slow of a speed tier.

LordGeovanni1 votes

but no one ever addresses the range advantage of marksmen and mages over most other classes.

Sire Hippington1 votes

The one thing that allways throws me off when i play Anivia. Seeing that bird moveing in slowmotion when everyone else is at normal speed is just wrong... This has nothing to do with her power as a champion, it simply feels bad, it feels like you never can leave your lane cause you need a year to get anywhere.

DunkinNoobs1 votes

I remember when they nerfed Yasuo's base MS from 350 to 340. The guy was basically unplayable against melee champs and tended to get outrun by most ranged champs as well. Thankfully riot came to their senses a bit and gave half of it back.

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