AP champions doing AD auto-attack damage?

Rhongomiant·May 19, 2015·1 votes·3,743 views

Why is it that AP champions deal physical attack damage when they auto-attack rather than doing magic attack damage? It seems unfair that AD champions have an upper hand when it comes to their auto-attack damage scaling throughout the game. As they build AD items their auto-attack grows stronger while AP champs who build AP items do not get the same effect. This limits the AP champion's auto-attack versatility during late game duels. Why is it that every champion deals physical attack damage when they auto-attack rather than dealing their main form of damage?

If there is a clear answer to this, please post it; otherwise, this should be fixed.

Thank you very much.

10 Comments

ModWulf HelhammerMay 19, 20153 votes

Arcane Blade: Autoattacks also deal bonus magic damage equal to 5% of your ability power.

This is a mastery, so it's available to everyone.

The reason why their AA don't deal all their AP damage is to make it so they don't become oppressive. If you haven't noticed, AP items give more AP than AD items give AD (not to mention Deathcap's passive)

CreationFlawMay 19, 20152 votes

Probably because AD has a serious cap, whereas it's pretty easy to get 800 AP, even 1000 if you go glass. I don't want to be hit for 1k from abilities, and 1k from auto attacks, thanks.

Matthias9119May 19, 20152 votes

It's like that because balance.

To go into it a little more, most AP champs deal bursty damage with their skills in exchange for having weak sustained damage from their autos. If AP scaled their autos and their abilities they would deal both sustained and burst damage, mitigating one of their major weaknesses. You don't want to go up against, say, a Veigar who also deals ADC-level damage with his AAs.

QazgirMay 19, 20151 votes

If AP champs had auto attacks that scaled off of AP because a reality then I see 3 problems. First, What defines an "AP champion"? Is it they have AP scaling? If so what about people like Jax and Irelia? Second, What is the point of picking AD champs any more, AP items give more AP then AD items give AD for this reason. And Third, what happens if I want to build something like AD Fizz?

IcyPepperMay 19, 20151 votes

item 3115 item 3100

Dr PoroMay 19, 20151 votes

I think it would be interesting if there were champs that converted their physical damage from AAs into magic damage. Like Poppy Q but then on all AAs. (Note: this does not mean making AAs scale with AP, just that the source of damage is magical and thus blocked by magic resist rather than armor).

I don't think this should apply to all (or even any current) AP champs as there are champs that can go AD aswell (everyone has 100% ad scaling on AA anyways!) but it would be nice if there was a new champ that did pure magic damage on AAs. He'd also probably have some AP scaling on his AA to make it worth AAing.

lagomorph129May 19, 20151 votes

Isn't there a mechanic that allots %40 of your AP to your auto's if it exceeds your bonus AD? This is something you will see having an effect on late game, but nonetheless, it is indeed an AP scaling on your AA's. I do believe it is added as magic damage.

EndlessSorcererMay 19, 20151 votes

That only occurs against structures, such as towers and inhibitors, IIRC. That's not exactly how it works, but it's the general idea.

MarthianMay 20, 20151 votes

Damage with autoattacks to structures is based on your base attack damage plus either bonus AD or 40% of AP, whichever is higher.

In case people missed it.

MarthianMay 20, 20151 votes

As Endless mentioned, it only applies to structures, not enemy champions (there is a mastery that gives 5% of your AP as bonus magic damage on autos though.)

Here's exactly how it works: Damage with autoattacks to structures is based on your base attack damage plus either bonus AD or 40% of AP, whichever is higher. - Which, strangely enough, can make Veigar possibly be better at taking turrets than Nasus.