Viktor Build Path Needs a Change

Viktor is a mage which I love to play, and I think that the new skin that was released for him is amazing (value purchase). While I love the skin and the champion, I feel as if Viktor isn't really that good in the current state of the game. The other mid laners for example: Ekko, Kat, Lux, Zed, Talon, etc. have a better build path than Viktor in the sense that their core build is either built from their starting, or that they can back with enough gold for it because the second tier is cheap enough (Lost chapter- 900 gold ).

This puts Viktor at a major disadvantage due to the need to buy Hex core mk-1 on the first back, in order to upgrade your e ability (other wise it has pretty abysmal damage and clear), and the stats that it gives for 1250 gold puts him at an enormous disadvantage gold wise. There are ways to fix this, though I don't think changing the champion or any of his stats are any of the ways (he'd be too strong), the best way being to reduce the price of Hex Core Mk-1 from 1250 to possibly something lower like 1100 and giving it maybe some extra flat ap to go along with it (possibly 10 flat ap). I think League of Legends that the meta is well balanced, but with that being said I feel that the champion Viktor shouldn't have to deal with a clear disadvantage built into the champion's build path which prevents him from shining in the meta as a mid-late game mage powerhouse. Furthermore it would be nice to see him running around yelling, "METAL IS POWER!" again.