My reaction:
"Woohoo, I just got a bit of temporary conditional AS on a champion whose attack animation makes 1.5 AS feel like it's 0.6 AS..."
Overall I think he is one of the more balanced champion out there, and for the most part his QWE isn't bad. But that passive of his...makes you wish it was something a LOT less conditional rather than "make you win harder".
JustMyBassCannon39 votesCommon suggestion; swap his W and passive, make his W into an activated AS steroid instead. Makes him slightly more powerful by giving him control over his AS steroid, instead of over the passive Blight bonus.
Narasimha9 votesThis was Meddler's response to the proposal. Granted, it was back in 2013, so it could be different now.
I can absolutely see the attraction of swapping Blighted Quiver and Living Vengeance around, attack speed on demand is one of the best feeling abilities on an AD carry. Such a good feeling in fact that it's something we give to an awful lot of ranged AD as is, which unfortunately results in some homogenization of playstyle. Varus was deliberately designed to not have attack speed on demand or a movement ability and in exchange have other strengths and a different playstyle and I'd be very hesitant to shift away from that. You could certainly argue those strengths may not be sufficient to make up for his weaknesses, and that's possible, if so though I'd much rather see those strengths buffed to highlight his differences than the addition of an AS steroid like so many other ranged AD carries have.
Something we've been really working on this year is trying to make sure all of our champions offer really different play experiences. In Varus' case having a passive that potentially offers increased power partway through a teamfight and a passive ability (Blighted Quiver) that emphasizes the importance of your active abilities is part of that. As a player you're not doing exactly the same thing you'd do on some of our other carries (burst with spells, activate AS steroid, right click through targets) but instead potentially initiating with your ult, weighing the trade off between poking with Q/E and saving them to proc Blight, watching your distance carefully since you don't have an escape spell etc. Living Vengeance offers an increased reason to then consider committing hard into a fight, despite the risk of being there.
JustMyBassCannon3 votesA nice idea on paper, but in practice, you get an offense steroid that only activates after you kill something, on a class that's more focused on single-target damage. You either took risks (or had a perfect setup to freely snipe something) to get an AS steroid before fighting your main target, or you just pretend LV doesn't exist as you focus on killing them.
Never mind the fact that it's pretty weak. I mean, Jinx's passive is on-kill/-assist or structure explosion, and it's still more useful because the sheer value of the boost is very high, making the short duration less of a problem.
Champion Skin1 votesJinx passive is quit different though Jinx passive enables her to try and escape after getting one kill/assist if things are going badly Or allows her to chase if things are going well and the enemy is trying to escape
Varus passive on the other hand.... is for fighting and it only activates after a kill and assist This will likely mostly just be useful when it is even and both sides stand and fight after all if Varus's side is losing he will likely have to run or just end up dying Or Varus's side is winning and the enemy is running and Varus doesn't really have the best way of catching up to enemies that are running away and will likely not get much use out of the attack speed
JustMyBassCannon10 votesI know they're different in effect.
However, Jinx's passive pulls off what Varus' should do.
When Jinx gets a kill, her passive gives her a massive boost that either makes her untouchable or capable of running past a turret to catch the next kill. She gets this huge burst of MS that grants her control and threat in a fight.
When Varus gets a kill, his passive makes him attack slightly faster, giving him slightly faster Blight procs and DPS. If this burst of AS was noticeable, I'd be fine with that, but it's barely more effective than Ardent Censer.
With the way bonus AS works, a 20% AS steroid on Varus for 3 seconds basically means he gets in 0.4 more basic attacks over that 3 seconds. +40% over 6 seconds is about 1.58 basic attacks over that 6 seconds. Meanwhile, Jinx's passive grants +175% MS that decays over 4 seconds. Since we don't know the decay rate, if we just assume it decays evenly, it's effectively as strong as a 4-second, +87.5% MS steroid.
That's right, while Varus' passive is almost worthless compared to an item, Jinx's passive makes her Hecarim on-kill.
Again, the effects of the individual passives are different, but the effectiveness is what makes Jinx's passive fantastic, and Varus' passive garbage.
WolfBV5 votesIf that happens, I truly hope it doesn't hurt AP/AS varus as that is fun as hell.
SmokingPuffin7 votesI agree with the desire to not give Varus a vanilla AS steroid. I want Varus to be focused on long range skillshot abilities, and I don't really want an AS steroid in his kit.
I think Varus's existing passive is really lame though. It's very common for the 40% AS to result in zero extra arrows shot. It would make more sense on a mobile ADC who could get decent uptime on actually using the thing.
I really like Blight and think that would be a very natural passive for Varus, which would free up a button to give him some interesting utility. Ideas for a new W:
I don't understand why Varus has been in the dumpster for so long. He's a super healthy champion who was fun to see in competitive play when he was viable. Where is Riot on this? At minimum, dude needs buffs.
JustMyBassCannon1 votesI would be totally on board for ideas like these. The easiest change to name would be just swapping his W and passive, but that's almost entirely because it's comfortable for me (I like playing Draven).
I just can't think of a good idea that isn't ludicrous.
Rhai Frostfang1 votesHow about giving him the attackspeed buff after he procs a 3-stack W? Granted, that would cause a smaller problem of it's own, but it's a start.
Rew7111 votesI like this thought, but then we'd have another Twitch player, only with a better passive. I would make his AS passive like this; for every champion kill, his AS is increased by 0.01%. This also increased for every 5 minion kills, every monster kill, dragon kills, and baron. Turrets and Inhibitors do not count. But, all AS items are reduced by 20%.
JustMyBassCannon1 votesSo the idea would be a stack passive, like Veigar or Thresh, but on AS.
Although, I think you might not have meant such low numbers. +0.01% is not going to grant any bonus at all, and requiring 100 kills or 500 minion kills to get +1% is an extremely low payout for a farm passive. It would need to be strong enough to be worth farming.
It would be more reasonable to give Varus a low base AS (like Jinx), and then have this farming passive grant +0.5% AS per minion/monster kill, +1% on large minion/monsters and champion kill/assists. If Varus farms 250 minions, it's at least +125% AS before accounting for large minions/monsters and the champion kills/assists.
If Varus were supposed to be a higher-risk type Marksman, I'd even suggest letting the passive stack faster, at the cost of losing half stacks on death.
MrBuffington10 votesVarus has a passive? :3
HandheldBrandon5 votesSomeone else had a far FAR better idea.
Instead of the way it currently works make it so when you detonate a blight stack Varus gains attack speed based ont he amount of blight stacks detonated.
For example if Varus stacks 3 blight stacks on an enemy then lands his Q then he gets 35-40 percent attack speed boost plus the magic damage his W has. That way they dont have to change too much and Varus stays the same without any other major changes.
This also allows him to get further stacks on Faster meaning the longer you fight him the better he becomes if he can land his skills.
Stonington4 votesYou have a good point. His passive isn't very good on an ADC. If he hasn't gotten a kill or isn't farming any late game ADC should easily be able to win 1v1s with him. Although I don't know what you'd change it to.
5G8Nri0B546 votesIdeally, most champion passives either lends directly to whatever playstyle is unique to them (Udyr) OR it's intended to help cover whatever potential weaknesses they may have (Swain) OR it's something their entire kit revolves around (Gnar).
Granted some are nonsensical shit (Zyra), often times a passive that fullfills one of the above 3 tends to work out.
So let's look at Varus.
He already has a functional kit, so no need for a Passive for his entire kit to revolve around. That leaves either a Passive that directly compliments whatever the heck his specific niche is or one that covers his most glaring weakness (lack of mobility)
Hyrum Graff1 votesIdeally, most champion passives either lends directly to whatever playstyle is unique to them (Udyr) OR it's intended to help cover whatever potential weaknesses they may have (Swain) OR it's something their entire kit revolves around (Gnar).
Granted some are nonsensical shit (Zyra), often times a passive that fullfills one of the above 3 tends to work out.
So let's look at Varus.
He already has a functional kit, so no need for a Passive for his entire kit to revolve around. That leaves either a Passive that directly compliments whatever the heck his specific niche is or one that covers his most glaring weakness (lack of mobility)
I like this analysis a LOT.
While DISCLAIMER: I don't play Varus, here's my take on his niches:
He's one of a handful of adcs who can force engages 
.
He has some of the longest-ranged poke, at the price of immobility.
He has a unique, "stack with AAs, then pop with abilities" playstyle.
Okay, so we've got mobility and popping stacks. We can't just give him Jinx's passive, so instead, I propose one of the following: #On stack detonation, Varus gains bonus MS.
Personally, I don't like this as much. It's too similar to jinx, and I don't feel like this is what varus is about. I think he's about blowing up stacks to do damage. #On stack detonation, Varus gains bonus AS. I think this is far more appropriate - now Varus gets access to his AS boost at more useful times in a fight.
I'd do it like so:
Passive - Blighted Quiver: Varus' AAs apply stacks of Blight (up to 3). His abilities can detonate these stacks to grant him +10% AS per stack (obviously this value subject to change) for 3 seconds.
E - [Name?]: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage. Detonating blight stacks deals additional magic damage.
5G8Nri0B542 votesHere's something no one's considered nobody considered before.
Should Varus really be getting more AS as his AA Steroid?
As I pointed out above, gaining a little bit of AS isn't a very satisfying thing, especially with attack animations like Varus where you won't even notice you are attacking faster because each attack feels like he's taking extra steps just to pull off. Thematically speaking, what's the deal with him getting more attack speed.
Instead of having him attack faster, how about giving his blighted quiver an AD-scaling on-hit magic damage. In this case it'll be similar to 
. However if you want to say this is stepping on MF's toes, how the hell is him having an unsatisfying AS buff not stepping on the toes of other champions (including MF) with their own AS buff? Plus, this would fit Varus more thematically too.
Alternatively, something CDR related.
His entire play style revolves around landing narrow or small skillshots in order to detonate stacks. But just LOOK at his cooldowns!
Rebonack4 votesVarus' passive feels like a gimped version of Ezreal's, honestly. The idea with Varus' passive is that he's supposed to start snowballing in a fight after a kill, right?
Well, how about this. In his 'just killed a champion' mode, Varus' Blighted Quiver can be detonated by basic attacks after stacking three times.
Knight SoIaire 3 votesits as crappy as dravens passive
Junkο5 votesYou aren't supposed to go 0/10 as Draven in lane
I Main Swain1 votesif they have a support who knows how to aim for your q indicator you will also, you aren't supposed to go 0/10 as anyone in lane
Hyrum Graff1 votes
"Oh, you thought you were going to be catching axes this game? LOL"
5G8Nri0B541 votesAs someone who played Draven a lot, this is more accurate.
: "STOP GOD DAMN STEALING MY KILLS UNLIKE OTHER ADC'S KILL STEALING GENUINELY FUCKS ME OVER!!!"
: "Teehee, sorry Draven-kun, guess I'm stronger than I thought :3 "
: "Alright, now that Sona is dead, maybe this is my opportunity to get a kill...huh?"
: "Sorry bud, I didn't know you wanted a kill"
: "Well I lasted this long and built up all these stacks without dying, as long as I can stay alive and get a kill, this will eventually pay off"
: "Hey that's a pretty nice life you have there Draven, mind if I...get a taste?"
: "MUTHA FUCKA!"
JustMyBassCannon18 votesDraven's passive is a lot better than the credit most players give. Sure, it makes him a very high-risk, all-or-nothing Marksman, but the actual effect is worthwhile. You're guaranteed a bonus 50 gold upon killing enemy champions, plus you get a bonus 2 gold per minion/monster kill and per axe catch.
Let's just say you're playing a very passive lane, just last-hitting with one Spinning Axe. That's 4 gold per minion from your passive, so long as you can secure the kill. The risk and the reward are both high.
No, a much more accurate comparison would be Teemo's passive. Garbage attack speed boost gained from fulfilling some stupid, time-consuming prerequisite, and it doesn't even last long enough to be worth it in most normal situations. I honestly prefer Ashe's passive over either of them; at least I can trust it to do something at the start of a fight, instead of after things are dead.
Knight SoIaire 1 votesits not high risk at all it has 0 risk to it
what it is is a feast or famine passive
if drawen cashes up on stacks nobody can match himm if he cant he becoes a minion since without total domination on battlefield he cant get awa with mispositioning caused by spinning axe
unlike varus or jinx where they just "win harder" draven also loses harder thats wh the passive is a crap
PL557 votesIt is high risk. It encourages Draven to go very aggro early so he can snowball very hard to make use of the passive and get a B.F. Sword in like 7 minutes. With this play style he can also throw his lane very hard by dying to take advantage of the passive.
JustMyBassCannon2 votesIt has no risk to it? A slowly-building pile of extra cash that you can only get if you kill a champion, or lose half of it if you die, is no risk?
A no-risk gold gain passive would be like Ashe's E; 3 gold per minion kill every time.
And, actually, Draven's passive can allow him to catch up pretty fast if you fall behind early. Oh, would you look at that, a bonus 500 gold on top of normal kill gold, guess I'm gonna go buy an entire Pickaxe from one kill (assuming I had next to no gold prior to it).
Also, Draven's late-game is not the strongest of marksmen. So if you extend to late-game, you kind of "catch up" to Draven.
ArkenStorm1 votesHow do you catch up to 901 damage on AAs with 30+% lifesteal?
Sachabot4 votesYou play long enough. The biggest issue with Draven's passive is that if he can't win hard enough, it becomes pointless. This isn't really an issue most games, but if you have enough stall on your team.....
It's actually a really well thought-out passive, it's the rest of the game that makes his snowbally-ness obvious.
I Main Swain1 votesdon't you mean the other way around? I mean, as draven, once you get full build, even if you were behind you start creaming them. now, if you are really behind it will take a million years to get there, but if you get him behind early hes gonna be useless almost all game.
I Main Swain4 votesjust utilize his vulnerability when he goes to catch his axe. that thing is basically a giant neon sign saying "THIS IS WHERE IM GONNA BE IN EXACTLY 1 SECOND"
ArkenStorm1 votesfair point.
Hyrum Graff4 votesThat's kind of the definition of "high risk, high reward."
High reward: "if drawen cashes up on stacks nobody can match himm"
High risk: "if he cant he becoes a minion since without total domination on battlefield he cant get awa with mispositioning caused by spinning axe"
Long Dong Wukong3 votesNo, it's shitty. Worthless in lane, and then is basically a shitty Jinx passive out of lane. Jinx can mop up a fight and outplay with the speed, Varus can..... shoot you one extra time and be immobile as fuck. mmhmm.
5G8Nri0B543 votesOne thing I've thought up is a Passive that somehow tinkers with his abilities' cooldowns.
His cooldowns are all ridiculously high, AND they are all skillshots, despite the fact that he is supposed to be detonating his blight stacks by landing said skillshots.
Perhaps if doing certain actions will somehow affect the cooldown and mana costs of his abilities so that he has more chances to detonate his blights?
Ariel the Cruel2 votesI like his passive. . . . I'd like it even more if it was useful. :/
Ambrose Crown2 votesSee i dont think varus passive is the worst adc passive, i think they need to switch ashes passive its so counter intuitive to what ashe is, its honestly dont cs if you want a passive ...
Joushi1 votesAre you kidding? Varus has one of the most interesting passives in the game! It functions similar to Caitlyn's headshot, in that it gives you moments of strength in lane. To trade most effectively as Varus, you want to have just killed a minion and use the brief moment of extra attack speed to outtrade your opponent. While later on, it becomes less interesting, which is disappointing, but in terms of passives it is definitely well designed.
Ariel the Cruel6 votesMeanwhile his competition (many of which have higher base attack speed by default) just press a button to get bonus damage or attack speed (free in some cases) to trade when every they want.
Joushi2 votesThis is a problem with other champions, not with Varus.
The Artiste1 votesI'm fine with it. What I really don't like is the absolutely no escape ability with the average autoattack range. Either make his range equal to Caitlyn's or give a drastic buff to E's slow (that reduced healing is like nothing, I think nobody really likes E anyway, way too short range with this delay, way too little damage on it's own. It's used only to trigger the Blight stacks).
5G8Nri0B542 votesActually his AA range is above average.
Taking in all ADC's, the average range appears to be 550 as that is the most common. Of course average doesn't mean good.
Because if you want to talk about being screwed by their range, look no further than Miss Fortune who is even worse off.
Magma Lux Mid1 votesExcept she would be really strong with a greater attack range thanks to her increasing damage with w. No, if you want screwed in attack range, look at Quinn.
5G8Nri0B542 votesActually your situation only really works in the situation where she is able to build up her W and be able to take advantage of it's damage without getting mutilated by the first bruiser or assassin that looks at her.
As for Quinn...Quinn's downfall is her designers not knowing exactly what they want to do with her and decided to give her an R that puts off ADC players in general.
Oh and that glitchy as hell vault kick that will leave you in who knows where if you use it in a strange enough position.
SorasMemories1 votesHis whole kit is dumb. How about we remove that blight nonsense and give him some real mobility? He's a stiff board that can easily be caught and killed effortlessly.
5G8Nri0B543 votesRemove his blight mechanics then what will he have? His blight playstyle is his main selling point, is niche, his identity.
What is Varus supposed to be if not for his Blight mechanics?
Terchio1 votesI need to make me one of these threads about Fizz's passive. I'd get downvoted straight into the ground, yet half of you don't even know what that is, and the other half realize that it really makes zero sense in a caster vs. caster lane. The reason he floats with a useless passive is because the rest of his kit flows just fine without it. If anything, at least Varus gets an early game farming tool in case it gets sticky.
Or, he may have been designed as such for a purpose... Such as enticing a player to shoot an arrow through a low minion plus your target, which will grant you an attack speed boost during a successful harass. It's not that bad a passive... at least one of his skills synergizes with the attack speed (W). Ezreal wishes he had that.
f00G3MxfPP2 votesI need to make me one of these threads about Fizz's passive. I'd get downvoted straight into the ground, yet half of you don't even know what that is, and the other half realize that it really makes zero sense in a caster vs. caster lane. The reason he floats with a useless passive is because the rest of his kit flows just fine without it. If anything, at least Varus gets an early game farming tool in case it gets sticky.
Or, he may have been designed as such for a purpose... Such as enticing a player to shoot an arrow through a low minion plus your target, which will grant you an attack speed boost during a successful harass. It's not that bad a passive... at least one of his skills synergizes with the attack speed (W). Ezreal wishes he had that.
You don't take auto harass from ranged champions in midlane?
5G8Nri0B543 votesIn lane, AA harass from ranged champions, even AP's, comprise a decent chunk of their damage. Not to mention minion aggro is often the difference between death and getting away with a sliver of health.
Fizz's Passive allows him to withstand all the aggro he takes before he gets his 3 abilities.