You know RIOT, implied tanks and naturally tanky champions should/could scale defensive stats.

JavelinJoe·Sep 8, 2016·1 votes·390 views

Look at and . Both scale with Armor somewhere in their kit. While both can go full AP with their generous scaling, they rarely do at least fully. Sure they may grab 1 or 2 items which are more on the defensive side, but ultimately they go more defensive builds. This is because they can go defensive and still have a viable source for offensive power. Even scales MR. It is a good way to highly, highly suggest, but not necessarily restrict or force a champion to a more defensive build path over a more offensive one.

4 Comments

AnonagonSep 8, 20161 votes

I understand your point but... I'm not sure why its relevant? There isn't really much of a problem currently with would-be tanks building damage right now. In fact, quite the opposite is a problem - champions who are made to do damage being built tanky.

Riot has actually been quite good recently at making sure their tank champions are benefitting from building tank. Almost every tank champion in the game now has some sort of direct defensive stat scalings in their kit, and even if we were to not count things like %health heals as direct defensive scaling, you'd have to go back all the way to Zac's release in 2013 to find a tank champion without them. The only champion classified as a tank by Riot that consistently doesn't build tank is Jarvan... who isn't considered a tank by the playerbase.

JavelinJoeSep 8, 20161 votes

It would allow for more overall damage lowering on offensive items and/or defensive items with strong offensive stats/passives/actives, since more tankier champions could use defensive items to support their offensive needs. It would be a way to lower the offensive damage dealers while not hindering the defensive champs. Also, while % health is nice and all, scaling armor or mr would provide more build options than just flat out health.

ErockandrollSep 8, 20161 votes

{quoted}

It would allow for more overall damage lowering on offensive items and/or defensive items with strong offensive stats/passives/actives, since more tankier champions could use defensive items to support their offensive needs. It would be a way to lower the offensive damage dealers while not hindering the defensive champs. Also, while % health is nice and all, scaling armor or mr would provide more build options than just flat out health.

Tanks don't need a ton of offensive power, which scales off of defenses. (That's more of a Juggernaut trait) Though Tanks do usually want some base line damage. A good tank should offer utility. And to offer more utility, you need to bolster their CDR. (Buff Frozen Heart maybe)
Champs like Rammus, Malphite, and Galieo, are more specialized and less good in general, due to their balance around those scaling factors. While %HP is a lot more versatile, as it's effective against physical, Magic, and even True damage.