Howse the balance team feeling about Archangel's/Seraph's?

Overlord Forte·Jun 8, 2016·6 votes·508 views

Title, mainly.

I can't find a good use for that item on anyone that isn't strictly a 'useless early, build stacking mid/late game' mage. Even in circumstances I might try to rush it (defensive itemization, like tear+seeker's into archangel's+zhonya's), the delay of the Seraph's shield is punishing. It basically can't be used as a solo defensive item because of the delay of the Seraph's shield outright, really. By the time it comes online it's impact kinda tends towards being nominal.

Numerically the AP/mana + mana refund mechanic is pretty strong, and so is the shield, but it feels awful gameplay wise and I'm wondering if I'm just looking at it wrong.

8 Comments

Sire HippingtonJun 8, 20163 votes

By the time it comes online it's impact kinda tends towards being nominal.

I disagree with that, the shield and the raw ap/mana of the item are powerfull at any stage of the game, evenmore so later imo.

The big issue is how long it needs to get online and how much it sets you behind early while early game matters more than ever these days. But the impact it has once it comes online is pretty big.

Imo it could afford to loose 20 ap and become cheaper and tear it self should stack faster. Though the entire stacking idea of tear seems not very great at the current state of the game, it's to much focused on earlygame for such a delayed mechanic.

xxxMadLionxxxJun 8, 20162 votes

I like the item, just hate the stacking system.

Darkslayer85Jun 8, 20161 votes

It's pretty bad in its current state because now everything offers flat mana.

The shield it offers is great, but if you're dueling on half mana is shield is insignificant.

QuephaJun 8, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Overlord Forte,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=ge6EE81l,comment-id=,timestamp=2016-06-08T00:06:12.551+0000)

I can't find a good use for that item on anyone that isn't strictly a 'useless early, build stacking mid/late game' mage.

That's what it's supposed to do. It was designed to be an item for mages that want to delay their powerspikes for more power late game.

If you want mana and you want power early then you can go catalyst, lost chapter, or more doran's rings (or corrupting potion and then maybe a dark seal)

Nameless VoiceJun 8, 20161 votes

Tear's not too bad a replacement for Chalice if you want to spam a lot, and while it doesn't give MR, it's also cheaper ~~and is the only mage item that still has mana regeneration~~.

It takes a bit more to finish up than Athene's did, but gives more AP and synergises well with the mana on other items like Morellonomicon.

DorkunedAurasJun 8, 20161 votes

what mana regen? It's a mana refund, big difference.

Nameless VoiceJun 8, 20161 votes

... I'm stupid. Disregard that part. I hadn't realised that the mana regeneration from Faerie Charm disappeared upon upgrade.

MunchCrunchLunchJun 8, 20161 votes

its a good item the problem is that. its gonna take a while to build. and having tear and then waiting a while to get NLR. is too much damn time for a powerspike.