Everything SotEL does, Essence Reaver does better, except for anti-monster (but by late-game, jungle monsters are pushovers anyways). More AD, gives lifesteal, gives CDR, and restores mana on your attacks.
This leaves no reason to keep SotEL late-game, unlike SotAG, which improves the efficiency of items like Warmog's Armor.
I take it Riot probably won't address this, though, so...
Hyrum Graff6 votesSotEL is an early-game item, essence reaver isn't.
These are things that are important to you, since SotEL is an item most often bought on early game, ganking junglers.
If you're still that convinced that essence reaver is just a better item all around, build it yourself and see if you do better. If you actually did discover something secretly OP, congrats, you deserve your freelo ;)
Phoenix Kotori 1 votesThis elder lizard is all about being an **early **game item.
MackleDoge2 votesI don't think there is anything inherently wrong with SotEL scaling off in the late game given the power it has in the early game and the situations it is generally used it (ie, early jungler pressure in the lanes and strong damage in the early and mid game). I will say I think the % bonus health that SotAG gives is slightly too high, but I think that's more a slight numbers tweak than an actual balance issue. Similar to the Doran's items being sold late game because of the lower stats or people (specifically ADCs) selling their boots in the way late game for Zephyr, play around this falling off is available, especially considering that it can be sold for a pretty decent amount if you do want to end up replacing it late game.
Out of curiosity, do you have any suggestions for making SotEL a little stronger in the late game and worth keeping without making it overpowering in the early game?
Azlagor1 votesa way to to make it stronger late without breaking the ealy would be non-linar scaling of the dot to make truedamage alot stronger lateron and a reson to keep the item. Maybe give it an total ad-scaling and not much early base damage so it scales lateron with items like SotAG, makeing it good lategame but not incredible gold-efficient on it's own
XxXDarkSideXxX2 votesYou Forgot The True Damage
Comparing Early Game Items To Late Is Stupid. That's Like Comparing Dorans Blade To BT
End Game If You Got The Cash Sell It And Buy Reaver, Just Like Dorans.
Kynami1 votesThe is one thing that Essence Reaver absolutely doesn't do though. Restore health and mana in the jungle from AoE effects. So those with strong enhanced autos may very well enjoy a ER more than a SotEL later. But anyone who has much of their clear speed locked up in some AoE? Not happening.
TheFakeMackie1 votesAll these people acting like you're rushing elder lizard... Kek. What op is saying is that essence reaver gives better flat stats than lizard elder so that come end game full build, there is no reason to keep lizard elder when you can just swap out for reaver
darkdill1 votesThis.
MackleDoge2 votesWe understand what he is saying. SotEL is an early game item to build on aggressive junglers who want damage early. It isn't supposed to be a strong late game item. If you aren't rushing SotEL as an early game and mid game jungler, what are you rushing? And if you are building it on someone that isn't a jungler, why would you even think that was a good idea? Hate to break it to you, but not being able to distinguish between when an item is strong and should be built and when it isn't as strong and shouldn't be used isn't a problem with the item, it is a problem with the player. As I already said, if you get to the late game where you have all 6 items and the game is still stalling, then you sell SotEL and replace it with an end game item. There isn't anything wrong with that and it doesn't need to be changed.