Balance out the boot enchants

Khristophoros·Apr 27, 2015·32 votes·2,505 views

Homeguards are just too useful. There aren't many times when you shouldn't get them. The other boot enchants are interesting but rarely worth getting. This is a shame.

Make Homeguard just a default part of the fountain. You shouldn't need to buy it. This would make the game more fun and make room for the other enchants. It would probably need to be disabled after using teleport, but Distortion would take its place for teleport users.

As for the other enchants, here are some ideas to spice them up.

Distortion: Triggers after any dash or blink.

Furor: Triggers on all spell hits rather than just single target.

Alacrity: Add 5% tenacity and 5% slow resist (stacks with other sources of both effects)

Captain's: You get the bonus speed while moving towards enemies. Allies still only get it while moving towards you.

45 Comments

LankPantsApr 27, 201520 votes

Distortion: Triggers after any dash or blink.

There are so many good reasons why this should never be a thing, to name a few Ezreal , Kassadin , LeeSin , Nidalee , Riven , Zed

IcyPepperApr 27, 20158 votes

Kalista

EvilRabbittApr 27, 20151 votes

Could you imagine catching kalista? I'd just uninstall.

LankPantsApr 28, 20151 votes

I don't think it would have any effect on her, since her jump triggers every AA.

TotalJerkApr 27, 201513 votes

item 3250 when you need to stop a backdoor attempt. item 3253 when both of your summoner spells benefit from it. item 3252 When you want to kite item 3254 When you need to chase/roam/position item 3251 When you're the initiator.

They all have clearly defined roles. Buffing any of them could make them broken at the niche they fill.

TengrichanApr 27, 20157 votes

Except captain's price didn't decrease yet it lost power.

Sire HippingtonApr 28, 20151 votes

well, if you're the nitiator you also want more ms to actually get an initiation, and evt some stats to survive it. Haveing captains as the most expansive enchant without bringing anything for the owner makes it very niche as either luxority item or for initiateing supports.

and for furor, it simply doesn't grant enough ms compared to alacrity to justify it's niche. Alacrity nearly brings the same chaseing/kiteing(probably even more for melees without spamable ranged singletarget), and in adition to that better mapmobillity and positioning.

TotalJerkApr 28, 20151 votes

Imagine Ashe with a buffed Furor.

Sire HippingtonApr 28, 20151 votes

we already have that: Kalista

DurzakaApr 28, 20151 votes

Bullshit.

Homeguard is NOT just for stopping a backdoor attempt.

It is also for getting back into a fight upon rezzing (anywhere on the map, not just in the base). Which alone is more valuable than anything else the others provide.

ADCs are the only ones who would consider getting Furor, and given a decent amount skill, any ADC can kite just fine without it.

Captains is just garbage. Buying that on anyone just makes you look stupid.

You are correct about distortion though.

for Alacrity, the problem is if you are roaming, you are probably buying mobi boots anyways, so you have strong roam potential. So getting homeguards would just be better for you.

GhiefelsteinApr 27, 201510 votes

Why do you think homeguards is so much more useful than the other enchants? Homeguards has a more noticable visual effect, but the other boot enchantments have their uses as well. Boot enchants should be situational, not something you rush every game without thinking.

JxiApr 27, 20155 votes

That's the problem. Homeguards are pretty much a guaranteed pick every game because of how useful they are and how (almost always) useless the other are in comparison. Riot, where's your strategic diversity there?

GhiefelsteinApr 27, 20159 votes

Weird. In my match history I see all enchants being bought. Maybe the dominance of homeguards is something elo specific? I personally think homeguards only feels better because it is one big boost instead of a long lasting smaller effect. That does not mean it is always the strongest choice.

ApolloclipticApr 27, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Weird. In my match history I see all enchants being bought. Maybe the dominance of homeguards is something elo specific? I personally think homeguards only feels better because it is one big boost instead of a long lasting smaller effect. That does not mean it is always the strongest choice.

It sounds elo specific to me. I am only SIlver right now, and highest I have reached is Gold, so I can't say Homeguard is omni-present at higher elo's. I tend to go for Alacrity or Captain depending on role or situation, and typically only Homeguard when my team is losing or we have lost/will lose an inhib turret or two if we can't reach them fast. That said, i always feel a bit noobish with Alacrity, since the buff from base means that even with my burst in movement speed, I reach the fight much later, and the buff is so small compared to flat ms buffs, that it's usually just to keep up, and doesn't provide an edge in most scenarios. I see homeguard as a "defence" enchantment, but it's often used aggressively too, at least at my elo. Auto Homeguard shouldn't be level based, but time (after 30 minutes perhaps) and that's IF it is introduced, but for a while people have been saying that the other enchantments are underwhelming. I think the most useful is Captain, but only for 1 maybe two champs.

If you think about Distortion, doesn't the time saved from TP use, seem less than the time saved from Homeguard??? Homeguard is immediately and always useful for getting back to lane, to objectives or teamfights, distortion is a little helpful every 5 or so minutes or whatever the CDR for it is. The other items are not bad, just so niche that 9/10 homeguard is better, that's just how it feels for me anyway

KhristophorosApr 27, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Weird. In my match history I see all enchants being bought. Maybe the dominance of homeguards is something elo specific? I personally think homeguards only feels better because it is one big boost instead of a long lasting smaller effect. That does not mean it is always the strongest choice.

To be blunt, high elo.

straight4freeApr 27, 20153 votes

{quoted}

To be blunt, high elo.

I'm in the same elo as you and see almost all of the boot enchants frequently.

A Tall JokeApr 28, 20151 votes

Mid Gold-ish ELO

Nope. Most games, people end without boot enchants. I see Homeguards a lot from teams that are doing poorly and are pushed up to base; they're the "recovery" option for a bad mid-game and some decisive pushes.

LucentileApr 27, 20151 votes

I think in lower ELOs, I tend to get Homeguard because my team tends to more likely just be all over the map, and so I'm much more likely to suddenly need to be THERE not HERE without any good way to see that they all decided to farm that wave.

Old Man TeetoApr 27, 20151 votes

The difference is the impact of the enchant on those who get strong benefits from building the item.

While Alacrity, Furor and Distortion definitely aren't without use, they're significantly less impactful.

Distortion tends to be used to give champions who need their flash more often for fighting. It's rarely bought for any other reason.

Furor often times has zero impact, as it's a kite/chase enchant, and the times it does do something you don't notice it.

Alacrity is the general pair, and again it's hard to notice the difference in most fights until you're chasing or fleeing on if the upgrade was beneficial.

TLDR: Homeguard Feels rewarding because it's immediately noticeable with abuse case scenarios.

LarasoApr 27, 20157 votes

I like to pick up item 3284 more often than item 3280 . Once you leave the fountain and get to a lane, homeguards do literally absolutely nothing. Alacrity is always useful no matter where you are or what you're doing, and it's saved my life (and secured kills) more times than I can count.

PikmintsApr 27, 20153 votes

I love you.

I honestly have no idea why Homeguard has such a higher pick rate than Alacrity when all Homeguard does is get you out of base about 5-8 seconds earlier. Alacrity helps you chase better in fights, run away better in fights, and actually provides you SOME amount of bonus stats in combat where Homeguard wouldn't. The point of Homeguard is to guard your home, namely run quickly at someone inside or near your base without having to wait the precious seconds you'd otherwise need as you are already in a vulnerable/losing situation.

The real question here is why Furor and even worse Distortion have such low pick rates. The only times someone would be better off thinking about distortion is if they were a top laner running Flash/Teleport(or if you're one of the few champs that prefer ghost), but even then it's a low priority late-game purchase. Furor, well, I'm short on time so I'll just say that it's also pretty situational when compared to Alacrity and Homeguard.

killd0zerApr 27, 20151 votes

honestly have no idea why Homeguard has such a higher pick rate than Alacrity when all Homeguard does is get you out of base about 5-8 seconds earlier.

If you can't see what the advantage of reduced down times is that's on you.

TTUPhoenixApr 27, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I love you.

I honestly have no idea why Homeguard has such a higher pick rate than Alacrity when all Homeguard does is get you out of base about 5-8 seconds earlier. Alacrity helps you chase better in fights, run away better in fights, and actually provides you SOME amount of bonus stats in combat where Homeguard wouldn't. The point of Homeguard is to guard your home, namely run quickly at someone inside or near your base without having to wait the precious seconds you'd otherwise need as you are already in a vulnerable/losing situation.

The real question here is why Furor and even worse Distortion have such low pick rates. The only times someone would be better off thinking about distortion is if they were a top laner running Flash/Teleport(or if you're one of the few champs that prefer ghost), but even then it's a low priority late-game purchase. Furor, well, I'm short on time so I'll just say that it's also pretty situational when compared to Alacrity and Homeguard.

Alacrity is my default enchant. Unless there's a specific reason for the champ I'm playing to use something else, I go with Alacrity. I always build it on Hecarim for extra damage. I build Furor on high AS characters (namely ADCs, Warwick, Vi and Kayle). I've tried distortion a few times, but for top laners, I usually prefer Alacrity. I'm considering using it on Skarner though, for flash + ults. I only get homeguard if I'm well, defending the base and we're being pushed back hard. In most of those types of games, however, I'm so starved for cash anyways that I don't get chance to enchant my boots.

killd0zerApr 27, 20151 votes

Once you leave the fountain and get to a lane, homeguards do literally absolutely nothing.

Good thing they provide massive utility long before you ever get back to lane.

EvilRabbittApr 27, 20152 votes

I pick alacrity or furor all the time. I either want to kite or dodge. All the time. Homeguards, helpful, yes. But if you prevent the need to sprint because you are dominating.... then again I'm bronze 4.

AyRe CoNteMpTApr 27, 20154 votes

i definitely enjoy your idea. lets say, grant 50% of the homeguard effect at level 7 and the full effect at level 13, but it ends upon using an an ability, spell or auto attack. (so you cant homeguard TP anymore, which is bullshit anyways)

also, my critique to your other suggestions:

distortion: no, please dont buff mobility-creep champions even more. my suggestion: remove the summonerspell-specific buff and give it a flat summonerspell-CDR and a bonus effect for ALL summoner spells, not just mobility. that would take some time but its a cool idea. you want your barrier to shield nearby allies for 20%? you want your ignite to heal you for 20% of the damage dealt by it? you want your heal to affect 1 additional ally? you want your flash to dodge all auto attacks for 1 second after flashing so that pesky nasus-Q doesnt kill you mid air? those are just random ideas, but i would enjoy distortion to buff all summoners instead of just mobility.

furor: probably too good for kiting with skillshots. but well, whatever. lets try it.

alacrity: nah. its about movementspeed. how about the movespeed with alacrity increases from what it is now to 50 over 3 seconds if you keep running. its a nice buff for out-of-combat mobility but not as strong as mobility boots. probably too good anyways.

captains: very nice idea. also give it some visual thing like elixir of iron so the noobs actually KNOW they should follow you cuz CAPTAIN!

Baron of BreadApr 27, 20151 votes

Funny thing is that Nasus's Q ignores dodge.

I feel that if distortion is left as is, it would be just fine. Maybe buff its effects slightly, but it still does its job well. The other change ideas are pretty cool though.

Aych PiiApr 27, 20154 votes

{quoted} Make Homeguard just a default part of the fountain. You shouldn't need to buy it. This would make the game more fun and make room for the other enchants. It would probably need to be disabled after using teleport, but Distortion would take its place for teleport users.

item 3070 Hecarim

TotalJerkApr 27, 20151 votes

Rammus

Lich My AsheApr 27, 20154 votes

{quoted}

Furor: Triggers on all spell hits rather than just single target.

Swain Ult + Teamfight = Homeguard

Sire HippingtonApr 27, 20153 votes

I agree that enchantments need some balanceing, but not nearly as much as you propose.

Homeguard is ok, wouldn't mind the integration into fountain though

Alacrity is already a good enchant

Furor needs a stronger speedbuff, so either no decay or a high initial speed, otherwise it's not different enough from aclarity which currently gives a nearly as high speedbuff permanent.

Distortion is a really powerfull enchant, no need for buffs, especially not one that promotes already mobile champs even more.

Captain really could use some help and i finally agree with you on the ms-boost if running towards enemies.

Sweetheart AnnieApr 27, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Homeguards are just too useful. There aren't many times when you shouldn't get them. The other boot enchants are interesting but rarely worth getting. This is a shame.

Make Homeguard just a default part of the fountain. You shouldn't need to buy it. This would make the game more fun and make room for the other enchants. It would probably need to be disabled after using teleport, but Distortion would take its place for teleport users.

As for the other enchants, here are some ideas to spice them up.

Distortion: Triggers after any dash or blink.

Furor: Triggers on all spell hits rather than just single target.

nice now you have a malza permaslowing you while permanently having 12% boosted speed as long as he has e on you

Alacrity: Add 5% tenacity and 5% slow resist (stacks with other sources of both effects)

this actually is pretty cool

Captain's: You get the bonus speed while moving towards enemies. Allies still only get it while moving towards you.

no opinion

Fried NoobApr 27, 20151 votes

Don't underestimate the power of captain's. It doesn't need a buff since at the moment it's pretty dam strong if you are an initiator or front liner. Also, your suggestions for distortion and furor are bad. Distortion would make champs like Leblanc and Nidalee completely uncatchable if they got MS after every dash. The furor is bad because it'll make champions with dots impossible to escape, since they will have continuous spell hits on you. Add in the fact that most dot chaps get the item 3116 item 3151 combo, and you will just die if they are ahead with no way to escape.

It Hertz When IPApr 28, 20151 votes

Getting Captain as a backlines support has benefits too, helps for when a fight goes south and everyone needs to retreat.

SukishooApr 27, 20151 votes

Homeguards...useful? ... lolol..no.

Those are like a bronze magnet. I only see them use those cause they want to get back to lane faster.

j jApr 27, 20151 votes

What are homeguards?

EvilRabbittApr 27, 20151 votes

I think they are all good personally (minus distortion, idk why that exists). Homeguards to heal fast and exit base, outside base useless. Alacrity to outpace players outside bases in open areas. Furor for adcs to stutter step effectively. Captain.....yea idk that one either. So Homeguard/alacrity/Furor are good, Distortion/Captain are pathetic.

TengrichanApr 27, 20151 votes

I think they are all good however homeguard is just better overall.Therefore a price increase on it or price decrease on the others would probably solve the issue if it's an issue at all.

MasterVidallisApr 27, 20151 votes

I use every both enchant other than captains, depending on what i'm playing, my summoner's and what I'm doing. Homeguard is often best if you're playing really defensive or getting backdoored a lot. But this does not always happen and there are plenty of cases where other enchants are better.

PartholonianApr 27, 20151 votes

I think homeguard is more noticeable, but that doesn't necessarily make it stronger. All the others are hidden power. When homeguards makes a difference eveyrone knows it. When furor makes a difference even the person who has it probably doesn't know that furor was the reason he was able to chase/kite successfully.

I kind of agree on homeguard TP being BS/OP, though. With a good TP placement it isn't that necessary anyway (and if you don't have a good place to TP to, you don't deserve to make a big TP play). Hec for example has a strong MS steroid of his own plus his ult; it's really just giving him a ton of free unbalanced damage through his passive.

VenowolfApr 28, 20151 votes

Captain's idea are very good that help a lot to make a better engage,

Tin TarantinoApr 28, 20151 votes

I pretty rarely actually buy homeguard

For Ashe, I get Furor every chance I get

Vlad, I but alacrity or sometimes distortion

support I either get alacrity or captains

I only get homeguards if I need it to maintain map pressure, like against a poke comp, or if I'm trying to brute force a lane

Takeuchi 17Apr 28, 20151 votes

yea i kinda agree with ya. I feel like it would make sense for homeguards to be a condition such that if an inhib tower is taken out its granted to that team permanently or something like that

iiZo0oroii56Apr 28, 20151 votes

Hecarim

Toothless LionApr 28, 20151 votes

Homeguards have one of the lowest winrates of the enchants. If you have to buy homeguards you're probably losing, and if you buy homeguards too early you probably should've spent 475 gold on combat stats or vision.