Why do some executes have indicators, and some not?
Why do champs like 
have indicators on when their R will instantly kill, but champs like 
dont?
12 Comments
Pyke has an indicator because no matter what happens to his target, if they meet the requirements and the ability lands, they will always die 100% of the time. Garen, Darius, Evelynn, Riven, and the other champions with "executes" (should be called "execute damage" or "scaling damage" IMO) can all have their damage blocked, shielded, or prevented in some way.
Don't get me wrong, I think all champions should have this indicator just for clarity. It is a little weird that Cho'gath has it and not Garen/Darius.
One answer Riot gave about this was, that for some champions, knowing when their ult is going to kill is supposed to be a "skill check" for them.
Champions like 
and already have quite some skill checks in their kits, so they don't need another one on their ultimate.
Additionally, their ultimates are skillshots, so you also have the ability to dodge them (or in Urgot's case, it can even get bodyblocked).
Darius on the other hand has a point&click ultimate execute and the only thing in his kit which could count as a "skill check" is hitting the edge of his Q. It seems that this was not enough for Riot, so they wanted the additional layer of a skill check that you need to know when to use your ult to get the reset.
Btw: Garen actually does have an indicator when his ultimate is going to kill an enemy, but just on the villain.
Basically, execute ultimates are supposed to be a skill check whether you can accurately evaluate how much damage your ability deals to an enemy. Most executes which deal true damage have the indicator, since the damage is fixed, so it just becomes a matter of reading the enemies hp value, which isn't really interesting gameplay.
because some champs require "skill" and some dont if there's no indicator, then no skill required. although people do probably need math degrees to work out garen's ult dmg in real time.
For Garen, the reason the indicator is only on the Villain and not on others is because for others, the ultimate is magic damage. The game does not calculate the target's magic resistance beforehand and tell you if you can kill them or not because MR is something that can fluctuate throughout the course of battle.
When Garen IS capable of ulting to kill someone for sure (the villain, who takes true damage from his ultimate) then the indicator exists and is there.
Pyke, Cho'Gath, and Urgot all have an indicator.
Darius is the exception. The reason for this is that they tested Darius with an indicator and found it was just flat out less exciting. There is more suspense and charm if you don't know whether you're going to get a reset or not. If you can see when you get the reset brightly on your screen you're just going to auto and Q until exactly that moment, then boom. Same for the next enemy, boom. Boom, boom, boom, pentakill. It doesn't feel like you earned it that way, from playtesting. The player's satisfaction goes down when you have an indicator.
Let's call it for what it is;
Garen and and Darius' ults are not pure "Executes." The description as such suggests that they are, but in reality, they are not infinitely scaling 100% death skills.
Garen's ult can be mitigated. Darius's ult can be mitigated. Evelynn's ult can be mitigated. Technically Cho's ult can be mitigated.
Only Pyke and Urgot have actual executes.
Also, "executes" are not limited to just ults....
Elise, Lee Sin, Nidalee..... all have various executes.
Because 's ult isn't actually an execute. It just resets on kills. Executes do bonus damage the more low health the target is (with the exception of but he seems to have a lot of exceptions so fuck him). Darius's ult does the most damage when he has 5 stacks on a target, but it isn't a guaranteed kill.
Frankly Garen should have an execute indicator but Garen should have a lot of things (like a better kit).