@Meddler: No one ever talks about the flat armor reduction part of Rammus' E

darkdill·Mar 31, 2016·2 votes·542 views

Along with the taunt, you reduce the target's armor by 5/10/15/20/25 for up to 2.25 seconds. Said duration is reduced by Tenacity and removed by CC-clearing effects.

Doesn't that seem... wonky/tacked-on/weak/etc.? Reducing armor by 25 later in the game is pretty negligible compared to all the % armor shreds we have elsewhere. And you simply don't use Rammus' taunt on jungle monsters because it's wasteful and lasts too little time.

And even if you say "it's nasty vs squishies", its duration is both wonky (due to CC resist/clearing) and negligible. Back when the taunt lasted up to 3 seconds, that AR reduction had some real noticeable impact, but nowadays it comes off too fast.

Why is this small part of Rammus' kit always ignored?

11 Comments

ßurstMar 31, 20163 votes

You obviously don't understand the power of 25 less armor as yommus only gives you 20 flat armor pen thats more than a yommus plus hes a tank while someone like jayce irelia riven and have any means to be able to reduce the targets armor without items.

darkdillMar 31, 20161 votes

The issue I find is the duration is all screwy. It doesn't last even 3 seconds. Compare that with Wukong, Vi, etc.

NahuiMar 31, 20161 votes

It's Rammus' solo lane functionality. Rammus is meant for the jungle, however Riot added that little factor in to allow and tell people "Hey, he can solo too."

You pick Rammus top vs AD comps/top.

Rammus gets AD from building Armor.

Taunt reduces armor so your empowered AD from building armor that you're supposed to be building is doing more in trades.

He has a lot in his kit. This is just a small QoL that helps him and his ganks out a bit. 25 armor is still 25 armor.

darkdillMar 31, 20161 votes

25 armor that doesn't last long, and lasts even less time if your opponent has Mercury's Treads.

My issue is why that armor reduction duration is tied to the taunt CC. Why isn't it separate?

NahuiApr 1, 20161 votes

He can only reliably AA during taunt. Otherwise he's slow as hell. It's to emphasize his taunt as his main kit's component. Taunt forces you to AA him which keeps you in his ult which also forces you to take reflect damage synergizing with thornmail which forces you to take his very powerful autos.

Like I said, his kit has a lot already. It's just there for solo capabilities.

ViashinoWizardMar 31, 20161 votes

25 armor is lot from a squishy target that doesn't build armor items.

Mecha MaIphiteMar 31, 20161 votes

Most champions have 70-90 armor at level 18. With runes, that's 80-100. If you taunt a carry who hasn't built armor items, you are effectively reducing their armor by 25%.

GaleWinUnleashedMar 31, 20161 votes

... Which reduces their physical damage reduction from 50% to roughly 42% (assuming 100 armor prior to the taunt). Hooray?

Mecha MaIphiteApr 1, 20161 votes

That's already more than most armor pen items. In fact, I think it is more than all of them except Black Cleaver with 5 stacks (which is technically armor reduction).