Shouldn't anti-shield mechanics be introduced to items rather than specific Champions?

darkdill·Jul 4, 2019·12 votes·7,077 views

Giving those anti-shield mechanics to Renekton and Blitzcrank feels like Riot's just shooting spitwads at an idea board. It'd make a lot more sense if a new item were added to give anti-shield mechanics, or an existing item were altered to include such. Even if it's easier to balance it by localizing it to specific Champions, the problem with that is that players could always use their bans on shield-killers when they pick Janna.

Should there be an anti-shield item, or is that impossible to balance?

17 Comments

SEKAIJul 4, 20197 votes

No, that's good. At least it avoids the disaster of Ezreal abusing and breaks shit yet again (if anti-shield mechanics are item-bound).

Moody PJul 4, 20197 votes

And run into the sustain problem we have now where shields are forced to be balanced around the expectation that they'll always be reduced or broken by enemies in demand? Do you want to see every support and tank shitting out 1K shields every cast because nobody on your team bought the item?

This approach is far better.

IainG10Jul 5, 20191 votes

Not say it's good, but certainly better than Item Based (just look at Spear...)

NY64Jul 4, 20193 votes

Wouldn’t that break certain champions and destroy an entire role (enchanters) because everyone can do it. We’ve already seen what happens when certain items get broken mechanics like that. Look at what Infinity Edge did when they gave it true damage in that marksmen rework. It destroyed all tanks and made them useless. The last thing we need is another item destroying another role.

bronze smurf69Jul 4, 20193 votes

Now this is something what I personally call the Hydra Effect. cut 1 head, 2 more grow back. Solve 1 problem, 2 more appear.

Same with this one. Introduce an anti-shield item, hard counter Urgot, Yasuo, Riven, Karma, Ryze, and other shield champs, can possibly be abused by too many class of champs, rendering shield champs and enchanters unfairly useless.

See the point?

Sp33d Zer0Jul 4, 20193 votes

No, anti-shield items should not be introduced. What winds up happening is just another grievous wounds where healing has to be insane in order to be somewhat useful since GW is around. Putting it on champions lets you balance it better than putting it on an item anyone can buy.

XJ99999999999999Jul 4, 20192 votes

but that would be the smart thing to do!

its a big brain idea to buff an already good pick in all elos and an occasionally pro pick. he rly needed it

LeetriJul 4, 20192 votes

It would be a stupid thing to do, actually. If it was an item it either have to give you like negative stats so only supports will buy it or RIot has to massively buff every shield in the game because you're expected to buy that item every single game there's someone with a shield. It's the same shit as when pink wards revealed stealth. Champions with stealth had to be balanced around not having their stealth, so when a team didn't buy the obligatory pink wards they were oppressive.

hrooza dota Jul 4, 20192 votes

would not this result on healing problem all again? as far as i heard when griev wound was released it made any healing champion complete garbage and so they to over buff healing to nonsense amount or something like that.

AS I LAY FEEDINGJul 4, 20192 votes

I dont see the problem with blitz having it.

ArfBarkBoofJul 5, 20192 votes

No. It should not be put on items. The entire reason why it's even being put on Blitzcrank and Renekton is to solidify their places anti-tank/juggernaut top lane and anti-Enchanter in the bottom lane of the meta. Before people cry foul about Irelia having that removed from her kit, consider this: Irelia's kit is absolutely full of more bloat than a beached whale corpse. She even has 200 auto attack range as a melee.

It adds some level of decision making for Renekton as well because now he has to choose between using his W for the shield destruction ( With its potential only maximized against Mordekaiser TahmKench Karma if they're at low health and they pop the shields ) or between receiving a heal buff with his Q. As for Blitzcrank, it's a natural evolution towards countering the Karma Lux Janna bot lane mess that we find ourselves in.

BlåsigtJul 4, 20191 votes

Maybe they are trying to refine the roles of those two particular champions?

SillaeJul 4, 20191 votes

Its gonna feel great having enchanters being at an even greater disadvantage into Blitzcrank. /s

CPU LyricaJul 4, 20191 votes

imagine this is the long-awaited ohmwrecker Rework? in.. idk, lets say the range of The Lockets' active, instantly breaks all shields on hostile champions. Maybe then it'd be worth building.

The KombinatorJul 5, 20191 votes

It shouldn't be introduced at all. Nerf the champs, that are op, because of their shields. Janna is hardly the strongest support at the moment. Yea i know she got good winrate, but only because her popularity is super low, and only those who are really good with her play with her. I haven't seen a good Janna in gold2, and below so far, and when i play with her it feels super weak compared to Lulu, or Soraka.

Lulu is strong, but it's not her shield, that makes her strong. It's the passive when put on champion that relies on attack speed. Combined with ARDENT+W it gives serious damage boost to anyone. Lvl18 Lulu gives 118 magic damage on hit with 0 AP. 118 extra AD for basic attacks is very significant even for a Master Yi, or a Varrus. Or she could give up W to nullify an important enemy. It does wonders to champs like Kata, or Zed. However Lulu has one main weakness. Her buffs are very dependent on any ally, that uses attacks speed as main damage. If there is no such ally, or that ally is noob, then her efficiency is greatly reduced.

Karma's shield is the lowest among these, and she also not the strongest, because of it. It's the movement speed that comes with it, and her strong damage on Q. If you were alter her shield to defend a single attack regardless of strength, and keep the speed buff, then she would be almost same as now. If Rene can get into melee range to her, then she is already lost. Her teammates are a different matter, but non-tank teammates will not be saved by her shield, if Rene is in melee range.

Lux shield is an interesting one. It has considerable value, but it takes some skill to use, and time to travel. She won't exactly counter Rene with her shield. More like with ther Q. If that hits, then Rene gona stand around for a long time.

NielarkenJul 6, 20191 votes

No because it would put shields in the same position as healing where they are Balanced around an optional effect. If shields are unbalanced fix them with nerds or buffs we don't need this shield breaking cancer. Healing already in a horrible place because mortal wounds so let's not repeat the same mistake.