[Re-Rework] Cassiopeia, the Serpents Embrace
Hello everyone! I'm LTCherz, a mid Cass player. Back when I was level 5, I fell in love with Cass. I enjoyed her gameplay of poisoning enemies. I had always wanted a poison mage to play as, and old Cass was a lot closer than Teemo. However, the more I played her, the more I felt like she was...lacking. She was, and still is predictable. I felt as if the rework...it just crammed a bunch of stats into her. I didn't really like it, thematically. I have played it, and still do, but I feel as if so much more can be done. I have had ideas for a rework for her for a while. I doubt it will ever be implemented, but I still want to jot it down anyways.
Passive: Venomous Fangs Cassiopeia's auto attacks apply a poison, dealing A/B/C/D (+10% AP) Every second for 4 seconds. Basic attacks against a poisoned target increase the duration by 1 second and deal an additional 10% of AP as magic damage.
Q: Venomous Bite Cassiopeia dashes a short distance (Vayne Tumble range) and delivers a bite to the first enemy hit. It inflicts A/B/C/D/E (+ 20% AP) Every second for 4 seconds.
W: Acid Spray Cassiopeia hurls a jet of powerful acid from her mouth in a line, dealing A/B/C/D/E (+60% of AP) magic damage to the first enemy hit. It then sprays a cloud of poison in a cone shape behind the target, slowing and poisoning enemies. The cloud lingers for 3 seconds before fading away.
E: Anti-Anti Venom Cassiopeia throws a knife coated in an immune system killing agent in a line, dealing A/B/C/D/E (+ 50% of AP). If the target has been poisoned, the duration of the poison is refreshed, and it deals 20% more damage.
R: Petrifying Gaze The ult remains the exact same.
Reasoning: Passive: Cassiopeia's current passive makes no sense to me. Why is she like Nasus? Her new passive reflects the identity of a poison mage. She constantly applies poison to enemies, growing stronger as the game progresses. However, her poison comes from her slow moving auto attacks, so to deal damage from those she has to go in close. She is also rewarded for attacking the same target, as the damage amp and increased duration is a reward for the risk of being in so close.
Q: Venomous Bite functions in a few different ways. First, its her highest damage poison. Its also a minor escape. Its a tiny dash, on a decent cooldown, with high damage. It can also go over thin walls. It combos well with her other moves, mainly petrifying gaze and Anti Anti Venom.
W: Cassiopeia's current w is a cool concept. I like the cloud of growing poison. I wanted to keep that. However, it currently functions as just utility, and a means to proc her Twin Fang. This change gives it a meaningful purpose. In lane, she blasts a minion and spreads poisons to the back lines, or she gives a shot to a champion who stepped out of position. It is also amazing in jungle fights.
E: Cassiopeia's Twin Fang had always been one of my least favorite moves about her. She is so oriented around it, I don't feel like a DoT poison mage, I'm just an adc who attacks with mana and builds AP. This change gives her a real identity, and while its up it provides a serious threat. Its high utility makes up for its lack of impact damage. Enemies who have taken poisoning from her passive, Q, and W will have to play very careful, because not only does it refresh the duration of the poison, it amps its damage. Aiming this skill, and timing it with the poison timers will separate the good Cassiopeia players from the great ones.
R: I like this ability, and it synergizes well with the new kit. Cass will have an easy time landing a Venomous Bite, Acid Spray, and Anti-Anti Venom on a champion who was unfortunate enough to look her way. The utility of this ult sets up her other moves easy. Even if its missed, the slow can be very helpful.
New gameplay style: Cassiopeia now reflects on a poison mage. She eats away at her opponents health by constantly applying poison with well aimed Acid Sprays and periodic basic attacks, or she goes all in, before reapplying with a well timed Anti-Anti Venom. In laning phase, she plays similarly to current, but less oppressive. Instead of bombarding enemies with her Q, she has to strategically aim her W to spread poison to the back line. She will also have to judge the risk and reward when auto attacking enemies to apply poison. Her slow attack speed and animation will give the enemies an idea of what she is doing, while providing healthy counter play to her.
During mid game skirmishes she really shines. Her AoE from Petrifying Gaze and Acid Spray will keep enemies from grouping up, or punish them if they do. She also gains higher single target damage. Her small mobility helps her out too. She has an easy time fighting in the jungles and river because her zone control and single target threat still shine through.
Late game, with AP, Cassiopeia retains a lot of power, but becomes risky to play. Cassiopeia players will have to decide when to get in close to auto, or when to poke with Acid Spray. She will also be able to burst squishies and allow poison to finish them. Her slight mobility will allow her to either self peel off a tank, or deal raw damage to it.
