What if Hexdrinker's/Maw's shields were actives instead of triggering automatically at X% HP?

The other thing is, Maw's shield triggers right when it gives the maximum AD it can, which gives it some nice synergy with its passive.

I'd die a lot more. I really like it as an automatic emergency shield.

Would be harder to use with more room for error, would also probably go hand in hand with a buff to the shield amount.

I don't see a reason why it can't be both (activates at low health if you haven't used it already) pros: -can mitigate the damage of bursty mages if you see it coming (which normally happens early in the fight) -if it still activates at low health, you don't have to worry about people forgetting to press it or doing it too late (failed trynd ults q.q) -possibly more counterplay (ie. baiting it out?) -could get more uses out of it by using it multiple times before dropping below 30% life

cons: help me out, I can't really think of anything, but I'm sure there would be a downside to letting people activate it

It could even be like a bigger but shorter-lasting shield if you activate it so that it rewards you for reacting quickly to an ability that would likely kill you, like Veigar's ult or something, but would punish you by disappearing sooner if you're baited into activating it

Automatic

If it was BOTH. leave the shield amount.

If it becomes your job to activate it, then increase the shield amount a little. and then i will buy it all the time.