Why the Constant Azir Attention?

Diamidmain·Jul 3, 2016·2 votes·1,908 views

Champion.gg - Azir Middle Stats, Builds, Runes, Masteries and Counters

This is the second patch now targeting azir, and while he's receiving a lot of attention in the LCS, I think the targeted nerfs are causing him to under perform EVERYWHERE except for LCS. Right now Azir is sitting at a 47% win rate above platinum in ranked, and while I understand that his win rate increases with rank, it still begs the question why he's being constantly targeted. Azir performs below mid laners in all categories except for minions killed and damage dealt.

There are many that will say "Yea, but an experienced azir player has an incredibly high win rate" - but that's true for any champion. Tobias fate has a 70% GP win rate on a master smurf (plankgang). Annie bot has a 55% win rate on Annie. Doublelift has a 72% win rate on Jhin, and the list goes on.

48 Comments

Urgot doggy doggJul 3, 20165 votes

his kit has pretty much no downside

Dies to WolvesJul 3, 20164 votes

he is one of the hardest champions in the game, really high skill ceiling. His 47% win rate is because new players with him simply suck. He is NOT balanced, he is still overpowered, and win rate does not necessarily mean a champion needs or doesn't need to be nerfed (see LeBlanc like last season being nerfed pretty harshly with like a 46% winrate or something, or when Elise was terrorizing jungle being nerfed patch after patch, I think for a time she had a 44% win rate and was still being nerfed).

Azir is an hyper-carry lane bully that's also good mid game. That is absurd. He basically has no weaknesses as long as you're an experienced Azir player.

DiamidmainJul 3, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Dies to Wolves,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=YIUkEhYN,comment-id=0006,timestamp=2016-07-03T16:40:47.105+0000)

he is one of the hardest champions in the game, really high skill ceiling. His 47% win rate is because new players with him simply suck. He is NOT balanced, he is still overpowered, and win rate does not necessarily mean a champion needs or doesn't need to be nerfed (see LeBlanc like last season being nerfed pretty harshly with like a 46% winrate or something, or when Elise was terrorizing jungle being nerfed patch after patch, I think for a time she had a 44% win rate and was still being nerfed).

Azir is an hyper-carry lane bully that's also good mid game. That is absurd. He basically has no weaknesses as long as you're an experienced Azir player.

But at that point, you're basically saying "Nerf the champion to punish the players that take the time to develop that particular skill set", which if you see my post, is in and of itself nonsense. There are people that attain absurd win rates with select champions, but you don't punish a pool of players for it.

Dies to WolvesJul 3, 20162 votes

{quoted}

But at that point, you're basically saying "Nerf the champion to punish the players that take the time to develop that particular skill set", which if you see my post, is in and of itself nonsense. There are people that attain absurd win rates with select champions, but you don't punish a pool of players for it.

No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying he is overpowered, and his power is somewhat held back by his difficulty (which lowers his general win-rate, but as skill level goes up, his power goes up DRAMATICALLY - more than it should). Think, say, Orianna. She's also a very challenging champion to play WELL. A mastered Orianna simply isn't as strong as a mastered Azir, though. It's ok for a hard champion to be slightly stronger since playing him makes you more prone to make some mistakes, but his power level is bonkers.

Have you ever played table-top RPGs? When you build your character, generally you have a fixed amount of points to put into your stats and powers/advantages, and you could also pick up some disadvantages that, in return, give you more points to spend on strengths and advantages. League kind of works the same way; they have a certain power budget to give to every champion, and when a champion has strong weaknesses, they can compensate by increasing its power in other areas. Difficulty, though, isn't a weakness; it's about how to fully utilize your strengths and advantages, and once you learn how they work, you're good to go - and this makes some classes simply stronger from a "power player" perspective, even if they are harder to utilize well.

Azir's power budget is over the top. It's like he has gotten bonus points WITHOUT getting disadvantages. In an environment where everyone knows their champion when playing, like in theory everyone should when going to play ranked in particular at high elos, he's simply better than other champions.

APrinnyDoodJul 3, 20166 votes

Nerf the champion to punish the players that take the time to develop that particular skill set

No, it's more along the lines of "nerf the champion so that his mains aren't blatantly stronger than the mains of other champions".

Dies to WolvesJul 3, 20162 votes

{quoted}

No, it's more along the lines of "nerf the champion so that his mains aren't blatantly stronger than the mains of other champions".

yeah pretty much this

Sightless66Jul 3, 20163 votes

It is unfortunate that he is underpreforming outside of the LCS, but that isn't a justification for letting him be overpowered there. Champions have to be balanced around the skill level they are strongest at. Azir has his best performance in the LCS, so he has to be balanced around the LCS. If he's overepowered there (and he unquestionably is), then he has to be nerfed. Ideally, they will find a way to give him some power back at lower level play, but that goal is secondary to preventing him from being overpowered.

It's the same standard we've applied for other champions in the past. In the past, we've nerfed LeBlanc and Kassadin for being top tier competitive picks even when they had winrates around 46%. Similarly, we won't buff Garen even though he sees literally no competitive play, because that would break him at lower level play. You have to balance a champion around the skill level that champion is best at.

DiamidmainJul 3, 20163 votes

{quoted}

It is unfortunate that he is underpreforming outside of the LCS, but that isn't a justification for letting him be overpowered there. Champions have to be balanced around the skill level they are strongest at. Azir has his best performance in the LCS, so he has to be balanced around the LCS. If he's overepowered there (and he unquestionably is), then he has to be nerfed. Ideally, they will find a way to give him some power back at lower level play, but that goal is secondary to preventing him from being overpowered.

It's the same standard we've applied for other champions in the past. In the past, we've nerfed LeBlanc and Kassadin for being top tier competitive picks even when they had winrates around 46%. Similarly, we won't buff Garen even though he sees literally no competitive play, because that would break him at lower level play. You have to balance a champion around the skill level that champion is best at.

That's ludicrous lol. By that logic where's the viktor nerf? Viktor - the highest picked mid laner in the NALCS, who has higher stats in every bracket of solo queue play.

Sightless66Jul 3, 20164 votes

That's ludicrous lol.

Is it? How so? What do you find objectionable about the idea that champions have to be balanced so that they aren't overpowered in a given skill level? Give me something to respond to.

By that logic where's the viktor nerf?

Viktor should be nerfed and very likely will be in an upcoming patch. Balance can be slower than it should be. I don't think that point is debatable.

That's ultimately irrelevant though. It has no impact on whether or not Azir needs a nerf, and his LCS strength means that he does. We can judge Azir on his own merits.

DiamidmainJul 3, 20162 votes

{quoted}

Is it? How so? What do you find objectionable about the idea that champions have to be balanced so that they aren't overpowered in a given skill level? Give me something to respond to.

Viktor should be nerfed and very likely will be in an upcoming patch. Balance can be slower than it should be. I don't think that point is debatable.

That's ultimately irrelevant though. It has no impact on whether or not Azir needs a nerf, and his LCS strength means that he does. We can judge Azir on his own merits.

I think the blatant stats affiliated with the champion should be enough to question the consistent focus on it. Saying "He's good at higher elos" is heresay when the stats from all other brackets indicate he's under performing.

The problem is, you can't nerf every champion the moment they become relevant in the meta, which is what you're implying. "Viktor and azir are countered by any and all assassins, but because assassins aren't favored in the meta, nerf every non assassin champion. Then you run into the problem - what then when the meta shifts? And you've got the champion azir at 45% win rate, who isn't played, and gets buffed to the point where he's not playable?

Sightless66Jul 3, 20163 votes

Saying "He's good at higher elos" is heresay when the stats from all other brackets indicate he's under performing.

No it isn't. The stats from lower brackets indicate he is underpreforming there because he is. However, he isn't underpreforming in competitive play. He's doing exceptionally well there. That's the problem. He gets balanced around the elo he's strongest in. If he was preforming well in lower brackets, he would be unspeakably overpowered in challenger and competitive play. That's why it isn't an option for him to be balanced for lower elo play.

At best, this could be used as an argument that we should find a way to buff him for lower elo play without affecting his higher elo performance. If that was your argument, I'd agree with you. However, you're trying to use lower elo statistics to say he isn't OP at high elo, and that just doesn't work.

The problem is, you can't nerf every champion the moment they become relevant in the meta, which is what you're implying.

No, that isn't. I have said nothing about nerfing champions the moment they become relevant. Azir's power in the LCS meta is not new. He's been up there for months. This is not a kneejerk nerf.

I also disagree with your assertion that he is only strong because of the meta.

Viktor and azir are countered by any and all assassins,

The meta is not sufficent for explaining Azir's weakness. I have two objections to that idea. First, there are meta champions that counter him. Viktor is one of Azir's absolute worst matchups and is commonly considered his strongest competitive counterpick, and LeBlanc still has competitive popularity. Second, Azir has historically had his strongest competitive periods during season 5 during periods dominated by Fizz and Zed. He has even been strong this season when Zed was a mainline competitive pick. Just saying that he can't preform in assassin metas does not hold water for me. I think he is much more resilient to meta shifts than you give him credit for.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20162 votes

{quoted}

It is unfortunate that he is underpreforming outside of the LCS, but that isn't a justification for letting him be overpowered there. Champions have to be balanced around the skill level they are strongest at. Azir has his best performance in the LCS, so he has to be balanced around the LCS. If he's overepowered there (and he unquestionably is), then he has to be nerfed. Ideally, they will find a way to give him some power back at lower level play, but that goal is secondary to preventing him from being overpowered.

It's the same standard we've applied for other champions in the past. In the past, we've nerfed LeBlanc and Kassadin for being top tier competitive picks even when they had winrates around 46%. Similarly, we won't buff Garen even though he sees literally no competitive play, because that would break him at lower level play. You have to balance a champion around the skill level that champion is best at.

Absurd comment.Soloq has 2 million people so balance around LCS.

The most absurd comment I have seen.

Azir will not get new nerf anymore.Learn or shut up.

Sightless66Jul 3, 20164 votes

You may not like the concept but it is absolutely what is happening, and it is what should happen. Champions get balanced around where they are the strongest. He's strongest in challenger+ level play. You were unfortunate to pick a main who is strong in a demographic you aren't a part of. I'd say the same thing to a Garen main who wanted to play in challenger.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

You may not like the concept but it is absolutely what is happening, and it is what should happen. Champions get balanced around where they are the strongest. He's strongest in challenger+ level play. You were unfortunate to pick a main who is strong in a demographic you aren't a part of. I'd say the same thing to a Garen main who wanted to play in challenger.

Even Huhi or Ryu doesn't play Azir so your comment is absurd.Azir's 46% win rate is normal.People must stop crying.

Sightless66Jul 3, 20164 votes

Even Huhi or Ryu doesn't play Azir so your comment is absurd.

Huhi and Ryu don't play Azir (even though many other better competitive midlaners do), and that means that champions don't get balanced around the level of play where they are strongest. I don't see how those two statements are logically connected. What is your argument

.Azir's 46% win rate is normal.

That's not his competitive winrate, and it's not the winrate he is being balanced around.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Huhi and Ryu don't play Azir (even though many other better competitive midlaners do), and that means that champions don't get balanced around the level of play where they are strongest. I don't see how those two statements are logically connected. What is your argument

That's not his competitive winrate, and it's not the winrate he is being balanced around.

His competitive win rate is 54% Normal! Sorry unfortunate comment.

Also Huhi and Ryu don't so Azir isn't op or you didn't see 1v5 Azir one shot and 1500 damage Azir.

Sightless66Jul 3, 20163 votes

His competitive win rate is 54% Normal!

With a very high pickrate, and a high rate of being first picked, both of which have a strong history of driving down competitive winrates fiercely. He's getting counterpicked in most of his games by Viktor, one of his absolute worst matchups and one of the other strongest midlaners, and he's still doing great. Given that the pick/ban rate is already a more important statistic for competitive play, this is plenty to be concerned about.

The winrate taken alone is the only piece of data that isn't concerning, and it's also the weakest piece of data for competitive play. When viewed in context, it becomes troubling too. With all the factors weighted against it, we would expect it to be lowered.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

With a very high pickrate, and a high rate of being first picked, both of which have a strong history of driving down competitive winrates fiercely. He's getting counterpicked in most of his games by Viktor, one of his absolute worst matchups and one of the other strongest midlaners, and he's still doing great. Given that the pick/ban rate is already a more important statistic for competitive play, this is plenty to be concerned about.

The winrate taken alone is the only piece of data that isn't concerning, and it's also the weakest piece of data for competitive play. When viewed in context, it becomes troubling too. With all the factors weighted against it, we would expect it to be lowered.

High pick rate isn't problem.You can say same something about Ashe, Cait, Liss, Elise, Lb.

Come on! we talk about Lb? Also Azir isn't high pick rate patch 6.12.

Azir's pick rate is only high NA LCS.Because good Azir players NA LCS.

Bjergsen, Pobelter, Jensen etc.

Also Azir's 125+ games win rate is 50%.So Azir is fine.Boards has too much salt.

Look patch 6.12 LCK bans.Azir isn't banned.Azir is only banned against Faker or Crown.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

With a very high pickrate, and a high rate of being first picked, both of which have a strong history of driving down competitive winrates fiercely. He's getting counterpicked in most of his games by Viktor, one of his absolute worst matchups and one of the other strongest midlaners, and he's still doing great. Given that the pick/ban rate is already a more important statistic for competitive play, this is plenty to be concerned about.

The winrate taken alone is the only piece of data that isn't concerning, and it's also the weakest piece of data for competitive play. When viewed in context, it becomes troubling too. With all the factors weighted against it, we would expect it to be lowered.

E.g You can not see Azir ban against GBM or Froggen.But you can see Vlad ban against all champions.If so Azir isn't op but Vlad is op.

Sightless66Jul 3, 20163 votes

Vlad has been OP and got nerfed. That says literally nothing about Azir. This argument is terrible.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Vlad has been OP and got nerfed. That says literally nothing about Azir. This argument is terrible.

Dİfference is that.Vlad is op champion and you can not give enemy team but you can give Azir to enemy team.Also this argument is true.Your Azir haters doesn't allow looking logically.

Sightless66Jul 3, 20162 votes

Vlad is op champion and you can not give enemy team but you can give Azir to enemy team.

From what I'm seeing, people are never giving Azir to any team with a midlaner proficient in him. I'm seeing plenty to justify the idea that Azir is OP.

Your Azir haters doesn't allow looking logically

You didn't make a logical argument. You asserted that Vlad was OP, and that this meant that Azir wasn't. You didn't say why Vlad being OP meant that Azir wasn't. You just took that as an assumption. That's not how logic works. A logical process requires that you be able to explain how you got to your conclusion. You didn't even try to do that. It's only in this post that you even attempted to say what you thought the difference between Azir and Vlad was instead of just saying that Vlad was OP and Azir wasn't.

Dude, you should do some self-examination here. You've been arguing that Azir is balanced through god only knows how many nerfs. If we followed your advice on Azir, we'd still be sitting back on the 100% P/B Azir and calling it balanced. At some point, I have to question your judgment regarding this champion.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

From what I'm seeing, people are never giving Azir to any team with a midlaner proficient in him. I'm seeing plenty to justify the idea that Azir is OP.

You didn't make a logical argument. You asserted that Vlad was OP, and that this meant that Azir wasn't. You didn't say why Vlad being OP meant that Azir wasn't. You just took that as an assumption. That's not how logic works. A logical process requires that you be able to explain how you got to your conclusion. You didn't even try to do that. It's only in this post that you even attempted to say what you thought the difference between Azir and Vlad was instead of just saying that Vlad was OP and Azir wasn't.

Dude, you should do some self-examination here. You've been arguing that Azir is balanced through god only knows how many nerfs. If we followed your advice on Azir, we'd still be sitting back on the 100% P/B Azir and calling it balanced. At some point, I have to question your judgment regarding this champion.

Look CLG-NRG match.Pro players can give Azir to enemy team but Vlad is perma ban.Vlad is op and Azir isn't op.I said enough argument.One sentence means a lot things.Azir isn't 100% P/B.Don't talk without knowing.

Watch LCK.Azir isn't banned at patch 6.12.You are still talking without knowing.Interesting.20% ban rate isn't problem at competitive but 70% ban rate is problem.

Lissandra's ban rate is around 20% if so Lissandra is op?

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

From what I'm seeing, people are never giving Azir to any team with a midlaner proficient in him. I'm seeing plenty to justify the idea that Azir is OP.

You didn't make a logical argument. You asserted that Vlad was OP, and that this meant that Azir wasn't. You didn't say why Vlad being OP meant that Azir wasn't. You just took that as an assumption. That's not how logic works. A logical process requires that you be able to explain how you got to your conclusion. You didn't even try to do that. It's only in this post that you even attempted to say what you thought the difference between Azir and Vlad was instead of just saying that Vlad was OP and Azir wasn't.

Dude, you should do some self-examination here. You've been arguing that Azir is balanced through god only knows how many nerfs. If we followed your advice on Azir, we'd still be sitting back on the 100% P/B Azir and calling it balanced. At some point, I have to question your judgment regarding this champion.

Because boards salty people thinks Azir's op that.Absurdity.Azir is fine but salty Azir hater will stay salty all time.

Sightless66Jul 3, 20162 votes

Because boards salty people thinks Azir's op that.Absurdity.Azir is fine but salty Azir hater will stay salty all time.

You've been saying he's fine through multiple patches of nerfs, while he remains within the top 5 P/B. You seem to say that no matter what his state is. You say that even when other Azir mains are acknowledging that the champion is OP. Why should I believe you? Why should I trust anything you have to say about this champion when you always say the same thing regardless of what his actual state is?

I said enough argument.One sentence means a lot things.

One sentence said that Vlad was OP and that meant Azir isn't. That's not an argument, and never will be. You've had to write 3 posts since then explaining it. That's a pretty clear sign it wasn't good enough.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

You've been saying he's fine through multiple patches of nerfs, while he remains within the top 5 P/B. You seem to say that no matter what his state is. You say that even when other Azir mains are acknowledging that the champion is OP. Why should I believe you?

One sentence said that Vlad was OP and that meant Azir isn't. That's not an argument, and never will be. You've had to write 3 posts since then explaining it. That's a pretty clear sign it wasn't good enough.

Yes.Vlad is op and Azir isn't op because Vlad's ban rate is 70% Azir's 25-30

Lissandra's ban rate is 25% so is Liss op? She isn't op by you.

Elise's ban rate is 25-30% so is Elise op? Same too.

This is an argument but your salty isn't argument.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

You've been saying he's fine through multiple patches of nerfs, while he remains within the top 5 P/B. You seem to say that no matter what his state is. You say that even when other Azir mains are acknowledging that the champion is OP. Why should I believe you? Why should I trust anything you have to say about this champion when you always say the same thing regardless of what his actual state is?

One sentence said that Vlad was OP and that meant Azir isn't. That's not an argument, and never will be. You've had to write 3 posts since then explaining it. That's a pretty clear sign it wasn't good enough.

Also Azir mains say he is fine.Are you drunk? Read Azir mains comments.

I wrote 15-20 posts and a lot argument.But your hate doesn't allow to some things.

APrinnyDoodJul 3, 20162 votes

So, Vlad is OP? So fucking what? Who gives a shit? What the fuck does that have to do with Azir?

Cait's OP too, and she's banned less than Azir is. That must mean Azir is super OP! We've got to get even more nerfs in immediately!

That's how silly your argument looks. It's just as bad as that.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

So, Vlad is OP? So fucking what? Who gives a shit? What the fuck does that have to do with Azir?

Cait's OP too, and she's banned less than Azir is. That must mean Azir is super OP! We've got to get even more nerfs in immediately!

That's how silly your argument looks. It's just as bad as that.

Cait is more banned than Azir.Did you look EU LCS.

Classic without knowing.

APrinnyDoodJul 3, 20162 votes

Did you look EU LCS.

Yes, and she's currently banned less than Azir there. This is even more true if you look at LCK and NA LCS, where she isn't even picked as much as him. What site are you getting numbers from?

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Yes, and she's currently banned less than Azir there. This is even more true if you look at LCK and NA LCS, where she isn't even picked as much as him. What site are you getting numbers from?

She is more banned than Azir so your argument is wrong and you continue same absurd argument.Don't be salty.

APrinnyDoodJul 3, 20161 votes

To repeat the question: What site are you getting your numbers from?

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

To repeat the question: What site are you getting your numbers from?

Leaguepedia.Cait is more banned than Azir at EU LCS so you don't talk without knowing.

APrinnyDoodJul 3, 20163 votes

Azir: 30 bans. Caitlyn: 25 bans.

Hm. Interesting.

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Azir: 30 bans. Caitlyn: 25 bans.

Hm. Interesting.

Nice.Cait is op too OK? Don't talk without knowig.If Azir needs nerfs Cait needs too.Bard op too? OK? Braum op too? OK?

Your argument is absurd again but no one is complainant about Braum or Cait or Bard.

Sona PingJul 3, 20163 votes

Because that's not a problem and is actually what Riot should be doing more of.

If you are balancing a champion/character/class/whatever in a competitive game, you should only balance around the capabilities of the characters, because that is what you are balancing. That means you have to balance only according to high level, especially with hard to play characters, because the results of players who aren't using the character correctly or fully do not matter.

It also must be kept in that there is a large difference between the strong, personal performance of a high-level player who is one-tricking ponying a champion and the strong performance of one champion when played by any capable, high-level player.

This also does not preclude that there are not still differences solely because of the champion, compare Annie Bot and Tobias Fate's winrates.

DiamidmainJul 3, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Sona Ping,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=YIUkEhYN,comment-id=0008,timestamp=2016-07-03T17:02:42.733+0000)

Because that's not a problem and is actually what Riot should be doing more of.

If you are balancing a champion/character/class/whatever in a competitive game, you should only balance around the capabilities of the characters, because that is what you are balancing. That means you have to balance only according to high level, especially with hard to play characters, because the results of players who aren't using the character correctly or fully do not matter.

It also must be kept in that there is a large difference between the strong, personal performance of a high-level player who is one-tricking ponying a champion and the strong performance of one champion when played by any capable, high-level player.

This also does not preclude that there are not still differences solely because of the champion, compare Annie Bot and Tobias Fate's winrates.

Then you've turned your entire argument on itself. Because these pro players using azir garnering his attention practice so frequently and in such high capacities with the meta champions (azir, viktor) you can't say that they're just arbitrarily picking up a champion the day of a game

Sona PingJul 3, 20163 votes

No, I didn't.

you can't say that they're just arbitrarily picking up a champion the day of a game

I didn't say that at all. I said there is going to be a difference between a high-level player who practices frequently, X hours on multiple champions and a high-level player who practices X hours on only one champion, which makes them not comparable.

And again, look at Annie Bot's win-rate. That implies that there is a difference, that it is not "true for any champion"; that it is not equal for all champions and that there is a justification for paying more attention to Azir.

Friendly RamJul 3, 20162 votes

Well azir generally has been a pile of bugs and is quite strong even when behind. Idk riots reasons though.

DiamidmainJul 3, 20163 votes

[{quoted}](name=Happy Honker,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=YIUkEhYN,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2016-07-03T15:54:28.284+0000)

Well azir generally has been a pile of bugs and is quite strong even when behind. Idk riots reasons though.

Azir from behind is quite possibly one of the worst feeling non assasin mid laners. Playing from behind before a 2 item power spike on azir basically feels like you're doing support damage.

AlamanderJul 3, 20162 votes

A lot of his issues are created because he can skate by without having to buy a core mana item, which makes him spike a lot harder than other mids at the 20 minute mark. I dont see that these changes address any of that however.

DiamidmainJul 3, 20162 votes

Azir is strong because of the meta - a meta that dissuades assassin mids. If you've ever tried to play azir at a diamond + level into a diamond + zed/fizz/leblanc, you're fully aware that there are very real counters to the champion.

DiamidmainJul 3, 20162 votes

And I think that regardless of the fact that he's got above average damage and cs, (which, to be fair above average does not imply that it's good or crippling), his win rate speaks for itself. 47% is abysmal as a mid laner....

DehitayJul 3, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Azir performs below mid laners in all categories except for minions killed and damage dealt.

Those are the two most important things a laner can have. But even in addition to this, he's very safe to play. His massive attack damage can be done from a range that keeps him out of range of the vast majority of opponents. Then he has a dash escape and a knockaway on top of that if things get messy

blfUvZ8YbuJul 3, 20161 votes

You're right because salty Azir haters.Azir is fine.

MilkydragonJul 3, 20161 votes

I hate these nerfs, but there has to be some good reason for nerfing.

YurÌ on IceJul 4, 20161 votes

his winrate goes up with rank?? are you fucking kidding me? his winrate is reverse of what most people think, it goes down the higher he goes in rank.

As for "azir mains domination" his winrate with people with 125+ games is 53%, that's the base WR for champs like Irelia (60% winrate with mains). Maining a champ should be rewarding but people are spacifically begrudging Azir because they're too lazy to stack their negatron cloaks and hexdrinkers in their precious inventory slots. And they know they can't get the skill required to actually not feed with this champ every other game

EvilMerodachJul 4, 20161 votes

Well, you know how much emperors demand attention...

http://67.media.tumblr.com/7c5f9cc44bf851ceb97814bcdd0da44f/tumblr_npa0xpqVtT1rxxjeco6_250.gif

Real answer- High pick/ban rate in pro play, flashy plays, can decide games single-handedly in the right hands. So if he's even 'balanced' he's still probably going to be high priority for Riot to keep in check.