A slightly underpowered champion doesnt ruin the game (they are simply not picked or only played by mains).
A massively overpowered one does (pick or ban every game, first time players facerolling into wins, etc).
iiGazeii3 votesMorde is the exception, not the rule. They've been pretty good about it with the last few releases. Most have needed emergency buffs, not nerfs.
Anime Fizz1 votesMorde is the exception, not the rule. They've been pretty good about it with the last few releases. Most have needed emergency buffs, not nerfs.
Wait what?
Literally almost every new release/rework (except for neeko) got released on steroids mode, or got hotfixed into free win mode within 24hrs, since you know, if a new rework or champ doesnt have a 55% within the first hour it means they absolutely need buffs to their whole kit by riot logic (otherwise the cash cow wont sell i suppose).
Jamaree3 votes[{quoted}](name=Anime Fizz,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=eErx0yAo,comment-id=00000000,timestamp=2019-06-16T04:20:27.219+0000)
Wait what?
Literally almost every new release/rework (except for neeko) got released on steroids mode, or got hotfixed into free win mode within 24hrs, since you know, if a new rework or champ doesnt have a 55% within the first hour it means they absolutely need buffs to their whole kit by riot logic (otherwise the cash cow wont sell i suppose).
No they didn't, ESPECIALLY Yuumi, her win rate was literally 26%?
Anime Fizz1 votesNo they didn't, ESPECIALLY Yuumi, her win rate was literally 26%?
Hotfixed into insanely broken mode within a day.
Jamaree1 votes[{quoted}](name=Anime Fizz,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=eErx0yAo,comment-id=0000000000000000,timestamp=2019-06-16T04:37:16.617+0000)
Hotfixed into insanely broken mode within a day.
Yeah, after they were called idiots for not balancing the game properly.
Chembaron Yamada1 votesUrgot wasn't released on steroids mode, now you are just making up stuff.
In fact, his release was really weak and they buffed his reliability several times after his release to make him stronger (like giving him less delay on his Q explosion, fastening the projectile speed of his ult, etc).
Here the first changes he got after his release.
Purge Purge
Purge now refreshes the duration of the "locked on" debuff, preventing cases where Urgot would switch targets partway through Purge's duration.
Disdain Disdain
If Urgot casts Disdain during Purge Purge but fails to toss a champion, Purge Purge will now resume firing for the remainder of its duration 0.375 seconds ealier than before (lockout period reduced to 1 second from 1.375).
Fear Beyond Death Fear Beyond Death
Slow duration and reactivation window increased to 4 seconds from 3.
Followed by these:
Echoing Flames Echoing Flames
Leg cooldown reduced to 30 / 20 / 10 / 5 / 2.5 (based on level) from 30 / 25 / 20 / 15 / 10 (based on level). Removed: Leg cooldown being affected by cooldown reduction. Maximum health ratio reduced to 2 / 3 / 4 / 6 / 8 (based on level)% from 4.5 / 5.25 / 6 / 7 / 8 (based on level)%.
Corrosive Charge Corrosive Charge
Mana cost changed to 50 at all ranks from 35 / 40 / 45 / 50 / 55. Time before detonation reduced to 0.5 seconds from 0.85.
Fear Beyond Death Fear Beyond Death
First case missile speed increased to 3200 from 2100.
Reliability is a big strength in this game, he was busted because they increased his reliability across the board. But his release was extremely weak, simply because you were not able to hit anything on a competent enemy at all.
Oh, and these changes happened 2 patches after his release. So not "hotfix buffing him into steroid mode" either. They let him sit in his weak state for a while before buffing him.
DuskDaUmbreon2 votesDesign and balance aren't the same thing. And an overly weak release can do worse for the champion than anything else.
A champion releases OP, everyone picks the champ, and Riot gains valuable data and people gain experience as and against the champion. If a champion releases too weak and stays too weak, people stay obsessed over the idea that the champion is weak even when they're too strong. It kills the champion's future pickrate for months.
Woodakoodashooda1 votesRIot does not control what is not a pick/ban FotM. That is entirely up to the players who recognize certain loopholes in kits that they then exploit.
New things are exciting and fresh, however. And people naturally want to experience those new things for themselves in most cases unless you're an absolute contrarion.