Alternative Item Recipes for Aegis of the Legion and Essence Reaver

Summary: Instead of = + + ; and = + , I propose = + ; and = + + .

First, I feel that the [Aegis of the Legion] has a clunky three-item build path, consisting of a [Rejuvenation Bead], a [Ruby Crystal], and a [Null-Magic Mantle]. The [Crystalline Bracer] has a build path of a Rejuvenation Bead and a Ruby Crystal. As both the Crystalline Bracer's stats and ingredients are entirely present on the Aegis of the Legion, I propose that the Aegis employs a Crystalline Bracer instead to "cut out the middleman", as it were. Aegis' combine cost can simply be reduced by the 20 Gold that went into building the Crystalline Bracer. The net difference between building a Ruby Crystal and Rejuvenation Bead vs. a Crystalline Bracer is 50 HP and 20 Gold, which may be a concern in the early laning phases when this item is bought.

Second, [Essence Reaver] has a build path consisting of a [B. F. Sword] and a [Vampiric Scepter]. Notably, both the Mana "Regeneration" and Cooldown Reduction present in the final product do not come from the recipe itself. I propose that the Essence Reaver's build path incorporate a [Forbidden Idol], as the Idol provides the missing Mana Regeneration and Cooldown Reduction. The B. F. Sword (1550 Gold) can be replaced by a Pickaxe and Forbidden Idol (1475 Total Gold), a net difference of 75 Gold, 25 Attack Damage, and the Forbidden Idol's full stats. This change would mean that the Essence Reaver's combine cost would increase to 925 Gold. While the proposed recipe's Attack Damage spikes from 35 to 80, I liken this curve to the [Maw of Malmortius]'s own. The Maw has a similar combine cost of 875 Gold and grants 25-60 Attack Damage over its ingredients (of which a Pickaxe is one), all while enhancing the ingredients' existing utility.

The Aegis' change is mainly a quality of life change, but the Essence Reaver's change is more radical. In the past, the Essence Reaver did build out of a Pickaxe and Vampiric Scepter, but with 30 fewer AD. Now that the Essence Reaver's cost and stats have been increased, there is room for "justification". I find that the Forbidden Idol's inclusion will open the Essence Reaver to other champions who desire Mana Regeneration early- and late-game, but cannot afford to wait on a B. F. Sword mid-game. However, the lackluster Attack Damage from an incomplete Essence Reaver may outweigh the slight increase in utility.

I profess that I do not play the game enough to accurately predict the impact of these proposed changes, but ultimately I believe that they are worth considering. To preemptively quell the argument that the Forbidden Idol's Mana Regeneration is not the same as the Essence Reaver's Mana "Regeneration", I would like to point out that [Seeker's Armguard] passive dissolves into [Zhonya's Hourglass]' superior base stats, as does [Spirit Cowl]'s passive when it becomes a [Spirit Visage].

Regards.