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Enforcing Playstyle/Build Paths on Champions

Giannox·11/25/2016, 7:55:35 AM·1 votes·392 views

Hey, I know I'm late on this subject, but theres something that riot tends to do that I don't understand . I am talking about nerfing a specific playstyle or build path on a champion, while buffing another playstyle/build path on that same champion. Just nerfing, I dont have a problem with, but indirectly pushing players to play a champion how riot want it to be played is stupid to me. The best example here is Ekko. Ekko was created to be a high burst champion and is labeled as Assassin. People later realized playing him as a Tank was really strong, and riot didnt like that so instead of nerfing ekko for being too strong, they nerfed his base damage and now removed his passive slow (both essential assets to tank ekko) while continuously buffing his ap scallings. That is really something I dont like, but considering Ekko is labeled as an Assassin, maybe riot wasnt wrong doing that. But then they nerfed tank yasuo, which was on the rise, and indirectly buffing crit yasuo (Ex.: Ultimate only gives bonus armor pen on crits). I know tanky yasuo was broken, but Yasuo is labeled as a FIGHTER, Assassin is his secondary role. Fighters are meant to build tanky and still do consistent dmg (Ex.: Darius, Renekton, Nasus, etc.). So I really dont see a reason to enforce yasuo to build more damage and less tankiness. If you look at my profile, Ekko and Yasuo are my highest mastery and most played in ranked champions, and i played them because tanky divers or bruisers were what i enjoyed playing. I dont play them anymore cause that playstyle got completely dumpstered by riot for both of them.

Your thoughts on the subjects are appreciated and sorry for making the post this long xd.

3 Comments

thecowley11/25/2016, 8:10:52 AM1 votes

In general, I don't like the idea. The game is so large at this point that I don't think they will ever be able to see all these little possibilities in champs. It's another reason why I don't think labeling champs in these game works either. I understand its suppose to be a general guideline. Mages fling spells, marksmen want to always be ranged etc. But I see tank Ekko quite often, and he is still consistently either highest or one of highest damages on either team.

But anyways, with this, I really dont like when build options dont work, just because. Like Leona. Love playing her support, really wish she was a bit more viable top or mid. Same with Sokra. There is no way either can reliable run solo lanes. I have had a few match ups with Leona top where her kit just counters the top laner; but why is it so limited? Eh, maybe thats more just me there, but idk.

Erockandroll11/25/2016, 8:11:00 AM1 votes

First, you want a few more paragraphs, that was hard to read.

Secondly, Riot doesn't in fact enforce build paths. But generally they don't want off builds that fall way to out of line. Ideally, Riot would support both build options, But actually balancing those options becomes a teeter totter that will swing one way or the other.

Thirdly, Riot was more or less compelled to act on these builds, Because Boards wouldn't shut up about them. If Riot says champion X is not being played how they should, they are speaking for about 400,000 whooping lambs. And part of that may be (especially for Ekko) that the tank build was holding their skirmisher build back. Which means they are complaining about the exact same thing.