Azir's Rework

Pixadog·Jun 25, 2017·6 votes·860 views

Azir Gameplay Update: Goals and Directions

So, as an Azir player since his release im pretty hyped for his rework. But when i saw the second option for his rework I kinda panicked: "Most likely means we remove his ability to drift or dash to his soldiers" There is no way you can remove Azir's dash, it's what makes him fun and unique. Not to talk about the shurima shuffle, the best move in League of Legends. If you go ahead with option 2, you'll simply make him another league champion, and not Azir, the emperor we all love. As a shurima lover, I support option 1, it would make him a lot more balanced honestly.

But my fella bird lovers, let me know what you prefer, option 1 or 2? #LetsMakeShurimaGreatAgain

28 Comments

USG Street JimmyJun 25, 20177 votes

As an Azir main I prefer keeping his dash above all.

However, nerfing his range will certainly make him very weak, even if they buff his damage to compensate.

To me, BOTH options seem lazy. As there are solutions that don't involve nerfing/removing either option 1 or option 2. They need to consider a solution that keeps both intact. And talk with the actual Azir mains over at their subreddit about it.

Several of us have come up with solutions that fix all issues people have with Azir, while keeping his core as is. It's just a matter of getting Riot to get involved and discuss it/consider it.

For instance, I still don't understand why removing his Q damage completely, isn't even an option. This literally solves everything, and solidifies his identity as an AP marksman. And this is just one potential solution, which keeps the 2 options.

LauchmelderJun 25, 20172 votes

I agree with everything except the Azirmains subreddit (and the dash, but that's another story)

They should do a poll on the client for people maining Azir. Reddit isn't even close to representing his playerbase.

USG Street JimmyJun 25, 20174 votes

[{quoted}](name=Shuriman God,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=Z2Ed9M16,comment-id=00030000,timestamp=2017-06-25T13:22:42.529+0000)

I agree with everything except the Azirmains subreddit (and the dash, but that's another story)

They should do a poll on the client for people maining Azir. Reddit isn't even close to representing his playerbase.

wat

What does his overall "playerbase" have to do with a hub where you'll find the most Azir mains in one spot?... A place where you'll find nothing but people who solely main Azir, with a deep knowledge and love for the champ, IS precisely what a representation of his playerbase is...

It's the best representation of it that you're going to find, without actually physically going out and gathering everyone who claims to be an Azir main into one room and discussing it there.

And why would a client based poll help anything? That sort of thing would represent his mains less than anything. In fact it would do the exact damn opposite, since if we're voting on what options we want... any random idiot who's never even played Azir before but wants to see him gutted will vote for the worst possible solution, or have no idea and vote anyway.

That is, once again, a very lazy solution, possibly even the laziest. Discussing things with actual Azir mains, and as many in one spot as you're going to find anywhere, is the best way to come with what we as dedicated Azir players would want.

LauchmelderJun 25, 20171 votes

Reading is key:

They should do a poll on the client for people maining Azir. Reddit isn't even close to representing his playerbase.

Some of us don't even want to go on the shithole that Reddit is.

DivewingJun 25, 20171 votes

Certainly I agree that Q=0 dmg seems to be a wonderfix, but Riot did say they were considering it months ago, so I doubt they haven't tested it, in which case the wonderfix may not be as wonderful as it seems on paper

USG Street JimmyJun 25, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Certainly I agree that Q=0 dmg seems to be a wonderfix, but Riot did say they were considering it months ago, so I doubt they haven't tested it, in which case the wonderfix may not be as wonderful as it seems on paper

That may be true, but it's also possible that it wasn't an 'easy' fix, or easy to balance, and that's why they opted for these 2. Because as many people have pointed out, either or, or both, seem to be lazy fixes.

And Azir really isn't the type of champ you fix lazily. Riot even said so themselves, but so far the 2 options are extremely unimpressive...

I'd feel a lot better about it either way, if they had a real discussion WITH us about it, on Azir mains. And listened to and responded to ideas. Or at the very least give us their reasons why they didn't like the Q dmg removal concept, and maybe we can help them come up with a solution to make it work.

DivewingJun 25, 20172 votes

I mean, I'm almost certainly being over optimistic about this whole thing, but if we assume (dangerous, but bear with me on this) that either Options and the bullet points they gave us are more or less "guidelines", then I think option 1 has real promise.

If they simply do what they listed, Option 1 won't solve all the problems, but if it's simply a BASE/STARTING POINT, then I think I can find faith in Riot for this one.

Got nothing about the discussion thing, that shit NEEDS to happen, and I would like a full conversation about Q dmg (and ifs whys and buts about it)

LauchmelderJun 25, 20173 votes

Is the Shurima Shuffle more important to you than keeping his DPS?

I play Azir for 2 things: His lore and his long range DPS playstyle.

The Shurima Shuffle is a bug gone feature. I simply can't understand why some of us Azir mains want option 1 to be the way to go.

This is a choice between keeping the Shuffle and turning him into an ult bot that's pretty much useless when his ult is on CD and keeping his DPS and zone control playstyle.

Option 1 is reworking him around a gimmick while option 2 is reworking him around his (intended) playstyle.

DivewingJun 25, 20172 votes

No it's not, option 2 turns him into another poke mage

LauchmelderJun 25, 20172 votes

Azir is a control mage with high DPS, not the "champion with the shurima shuffle".

DivewingJun 25, 20172 votes

except his Q is maxed first and people are playing him as a poke mage, and option 2 wont do anything to stop that.

Honestly the fact that you of all people don't know this is concerning. I'm not surprised that all the people who don't play Azir are keen for option 2, but if you've played him and mean to tell me that at no point you have EVER thought "why am I maxing Q first", you clearly haven't thought about the champion very much.

Option 2 is a quick easy fix to Azir's current issue (doing everything), but all it will achieve is make him into another Xerath/Lux/Vel'Koz, and remove his niche role completely, because sand soldier damage or not, you will NEVER, get the chance to actually deal damage outside of poke/chunk against any competent team.

This shit sounds great on paper, but until his Q has either ALL OF IT'S DAMAGED REMOVED or it's RANGE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED, Azir WILL ALWAYS abuse the poke, because it will always be more efficient and effective.

If riot simply removes his dash, buffs his dmg, and calls it a day, people will only pick him if he is the best poke champion at that current time. Otherwise the only reason to bring him along is for his ult (if it's kept).

A side note to finish on; "Azir is a control mage with high DPS"

^Correct, and none of that requires poke and/or long range

If you still don't believe me, look at what happens every time a non-ADC AD item is buffed (Cleaver, Death's Dance, Lethality). Players will find OPTIMAL BUILDS AND PLAYSTYLES. You can claim "this won't happen with Azir" - Lord Azir's Luden's build (you should know what this is) disproves that.

LauchmelderJun 25, 20172 votes

Not everyone wants Azir to be an ult bot. And by not everyone that includes a good portion of Azir mains as well. Get this into your head.

UltîmaJun 25, 20173 votes

Let him keep his range and mobility, remove his burst. Turn him into a dedicated AA-based mage so that his zoning power doesn't function in the same way as Orianna's. This would largely mean removing the damage on his Q and amping up the damage on his W. Riot better capitalize on the aspects of Azir that actually make him unique as a mage, as opposed to simply removing mechanics from his gameplay to align him further with the rest of the pact.

USG Street JimmyJun 25, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Let him keep his range and mobility, remove his burst. Turn him into a dedicated AA-based mage so that his zoning power doesn't function in the same way as Orianna's. This would largely mean removing the damage on his Q and amping up the damage on his W. Riot better capitalize on the aspects of Azir that actually make him unique as a mage, as opposed to simply removing mechanics from his gameplay to align him further with the rest of the pact.

Exactly. 100% this.

I really wish we could get some feedback from Riot on this as a potential solution. It makes the most sense in every aspect of what's wrong and right with him currently.

PixadogJun 25, 20171 votes

I couldn't agree more with you dude, hopefully riot will follow your idea, simply fantastic.

DivewingJun 25, 20172 votes

Crude and basic "TL;DR" run down of both options' outcomes/effects:

1: Preserves the core identity(ies) of Azir (DpS sandman, and F&F; Shurima Drift), but will be more nuanced to sort than option 2. 2: Solves the issue easily and quickly, likely with little follow up required, and won't be much of an issue ever again, but removes $ick LC$ Driftz

As the azir main I am, I prefer option 1, and were I so bold, I would frankly call option 2 a somewhat lazy approach (though I understand why it's there in the first place)