Why do people think Yasuo is weak?

Rico Nasty·Jun 17, 2015·33 votes·4,893 views

Not a QQing thread, just a serious question. He's always struck me as quite strong. But if he is weak, can someone explain me why? I'm looking at trying him out.

101 Comments

Slamurai JackJun 17, 201519 votes

He is really, really easy to feed with if you don't know what you're doing and you can easily be made near useless by bad circumstances. His learning curve is also very steep, new Yasuos win only 42% of the time according to champion.gg and it takes 125+ games on the champion just to break 50% win rate. But the biggest thing to me as a Yasuo main is that there's really no playing safe as Yasuo. His kit just doesn't allow it; he is short range only, easily bullied if you do not retaliate, and his kit massively rewards aggressive play thanks to the stacking mechanics on his Q and E and his short duration shield while punishing passive play for the same reason. Point is, Yasuo is a very proactive champ, and playing proactively requires a far greater mastery of a champion than playing passively and seeing how things go.

PokladnicaZlaJun 18, 20152 votes

Although I agree with you,after all the mana nerfs to mages and him having a shield+projectil sheild made his passive play a bit easier.

Slamurai JackJun 18, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Although I agree with you,after all the mana nerfs to mages and him having a shield+projectil sheild made his passive play a bit easier.

What has benefitted Yasuo more than anything is the nerfing of all his counters. Akali nerfed, Fizz nerfed, Zed nerfed, Talon nerfed, Leblanc nerfed, Riven nerfed, etc.

ElJanitorFrankJun 17, 201510 votes

Well here's the problem: Yasuo has a very abusable early game, but people don't generally abuse his early game.

People generally act too scared of Yasuo to play properly against him, making him seem pretty strong throughout the whole game.

But then there the one guy who knows what he's actually doing and Yasuo is useless the whole game.

I'd say it really depends on your opponents knowledge.

360D3GR3SSJun 17, 20156 votes

I have to disagree. Yes yasuo has an abusable early game, but for the yasuo player to abuse yasuo's early game strength. Yasuo has one of the best level 1, 2, and 3 trade potential with dashing. However yasuo does not snowball hard until he has Static shiv. If he remains ahead he can do extremely well. However if Yasuo is behind OR it is very late game he does fall off quite hard simply because he is easily bursted and CCd down despite his shield.

The TrentJun 18, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Well here's the problem: Yasuo has a very abusable early game, but people don't generally abuse his early game.

People generally act too scared of Yasuo to play properly against him, making him seem pretty strong throughout the whole game.

But then there the one guy who knows what he's actually doing and Yasuo is useless the whole game.

I'd say it really depends on your opponents knowledge.

Yasuo can usually out damage me in a trade as a Mage early unless im playing someone with a realy easy to land stun Annie . Btw im talking about I hit all my skill shots and he still out trades me by landing 1 q auto attacking about 2 times and if hes lucky maybe a tornado and a E.

ElJanitorFrankJun 18, 20151 votes

That's because you aren't playing it right. He is a melee champion, there is no reason he should be able to get too you and Q auto in the first place. Sure, he can dash through minions, but if you stay away from the minions/toward tower, he has no way to get to you and do damage.

The TrentJun 18, 20151 votes

{quoted}

That's because you aren't playing it right. He is a melee champion, there is no reason he should be able to get too you and Q auto in the first place. Sure, he can dash through minions, but if you stay away from the minions/toward tower, he has no way to get to you and do damage.

How am I going to stay away from my minions and always by my tower while im trying to cs?

ElJanitorFrankJun 19, 20151 votes

If you're in mid lane, then staying under tower shouldn't be that hard when CSing, unless you push up to him, which is stupid.

When you stay away from minions, I don't mean opposite his minions, I mean laterally. Stand NEXT to your minion wave, not inside your minion wave. If you do that, he can't dash to you.

The TrentJun 19, 20151 votes

{quoted}

If you're in mid lane, then staying under tower shouldn't be that hard when CSing, unless you push up to him, which is stupid.

When you stay away from minions, I don't mean opposite his minions, I mean laterally. Stand NEXT to your minion wave, not inside your minion wave. If you do that, he can't dash to you.

Yeah he can't dash to me but he can still get a q in and wind wall a lot of my damage.

ElJanitorFrankJun 19, 20151 votes

His Q isn't that long, and his windwall has a 30 second cooldown.

If you can't work with that, you aren't good at mid lane.

The TrentJun 19, 20151 votes

{quoted}

His Q isn't that long, and his windwall has a 30 second cooldown.

If you can't work with that, you aren't good at mid lane.

Dude you're silver 4 trying to act like you know more than me. You're not good at mid lane. Seriously. Check your stats on a website. You're in no position to talk to me about mid lane.

ElJanitorFrankJun 20, 20151 votes

I have what, maybe 5 games in Silver 4?

You're the one who can't fight Yasuo properly.

The TrentJun 20, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I have what, maybe 5 games in Silver 4?

You're the one who can't fight Yasuo properly.

I have a extremely high win rate vs yasuo which is why im telling you what he can do. You are only Silver 4 and your normal win rate isn't too good either. Don't talk right now dude it was over after you just randomly called me bad.

ElJanitorFrankJun 20, 20151 votes

Instead of using a counter-argument, you went straight for insulting my rank, when I barely play ranked in the first place, and no shit my win rate isn't amazing, if it wan't around 50% this games balancing would be off.

Instead of explaining to me why I'm wrong, you said 'durr ur bad bronze kid git on my levl'

The TrentJun 20, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Instead of using a counter-argument, you went straight for insulting my rank, when I barely play ranked in the first place, and no shit my win rate isn't amazing, if it wan't around 50% this games balancing would be off.

Instead of explaining to me why I'm wrong, you said 'durr ur bad bronze kid git on my levl'

Your rank is a pretty big way for a lot of people to find out some ones skill level. I never insulted your rank I said you were in no position to give me advice with your rank. You insulted me by calling me bad I said "isn't too good" and used a fact that your not good in mid lane judging by your mid lane win rate. I said I was done with you because you just want to prove who is better not give tips on how to play against Yasuo.

ElJanitorFrankJun 20, 20151 votes

I've checked multiple sites, they all only have 14 ranked games on them, 10 of those being provisionals, which means it isn't really representative of skill level at all.

And on those sites I can't find any win-rates according to lane, only champions, and only recorded up to a few games.

And you did insult me, "You're not good at mid lane" "You are only Silver 4 and your normal win rate isn't too good either." "You're in no position to talk to me about mid lane."

You keep trying to act like you're better than me, basing it only on stats that have an extremely small pool of data to begin with. You changed this argument from me saying Yasuo wasn't hard to deal with (And for some reason you eventually agreed with me...?) to why I'm bad at League of Legends based on 4 ranked games.

The TrentJun 20, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I've checked multiple sites, they all only have 14 ranked games on them, 10 of those being provisionals, which means it isn't really representative of skill level at all.

And on those sites I can't find any win-rates according to lane, only champions, and only recorded up to a few games.

And you did insult me, "You're not good at mid lane" "You are only Silver 4 and your normal win rate isn't too good either." "You're in no position to talk to me about mid lane."

You keep trying to act like you're better than me, basing it only on stats that have an extremely small pool of data to begin with. You changed this argument from me saying Yasuo wasn't hard to deal with (And for some reason you eventually agreed with me...?) to why I'm bad at League of Legends based on 4 ranked games.

Yes nice try trying to make me look bad by taking things out of context. I am better than you statistically so it makes it a fact. I can look at your normals too and you're not very good at mid lane there. Those weren't insults, they were truths, you must've got those two confused. You see I have a high win rate against Yasuo, so what you said was a insult since you didn't do your research and it was false. My data pool isn't small since they made it so I can see all your played games, not just recently. Yasuo is easy to deal with I was trying to say that he easily can out damage anyone early game from my experience. I didn't judge anything off your 4 ranked games. Btw if u can't find a site that shows you win rates according to lane I have no idea where you're searching. This is the last time I say this, good bye! Im getting back to OITNB, Ross Lynch is currently turning me straight, oh my lord her beauty.

EDIT: LOL HER NAME IS RUBY ROSE OOPS

ElJanitorFrankJun 20, 20151 votes

You know, all you've really done thus far was say 'I'm better than you'

You even agreed with what I originally said, making it pointless either way.

I'm genuinely curious, where are you seeing my normal stats? I've been to about 6 different stat recording websites and no where does it record normal games losses.

I'd like to just point out, that, statistically it doesn't matter what my win rate is because my opponents skill level largely determines whether or not I win, not me, because that's how it finds matches in the first place.

NarasimhaJun 17, 20156 votes

He's been nerfed to the point where his 'reward' isn't worth his 'risk'. He's way too vulnerable in lane, so unless you specifically counterpick with him, the odds are likely that he'll lose lane badly. And like most melee carries, he's just a hindrance if he's not fed.

terkmcJun 17, 20156 votes

Feast or Famine melee adc that doesn't have an OH SHIT button (Yi meditate and ult, Fiora ult, Trynd ult, fuck even Gangplank has orange). He has a "im going to get fucked in the near future" wind wall but not a "I'm fucked" button, and you are going to be fucked pretty often considering you are in the middle of the enemy (melee)

The WhamboozlerJun 17, 20155 votes

Because he's no longer hideously overpowered, but he retains his somewhat high difficulty curve. To the handful of people who are very good with him he's as scary as ever. To the rest they're just as likely to stupid themselves to death and never recover from it than to be useful.

SIaytonJun 17, 20154 votes

To abuse yasuo's early game you have to overextend and using minions for mobility naturally pushes the lane. He's VERY weak to ganks and dies easily, and he's only strong when he's equal or ahead. One death and generally he's set too far behind to fight back, forcing him to play passively. He also loses to most poke champions and gets raped by burst, as well as easily focused down in team fights.

Long story short he's only good when he's ahead and he's very easy to put behind. Way too squishy and his shield doesn't last long enough.

ManaPotJun 17, 20153 votes

Hey there! I recently picked up Yasuo myself and have been playing a lot of him lately and here are a few things I've noticed.

He's not really all that weak but takes a fair amount of skill and effort put into him to make the big plays. For example your mobility is mostly tied to enemy units, so managing creep waves is important, in order to have a reliable escape in lane. Also since his ult is conditional practice with your Steel Tempest, and more importantly having other displacements on your team help.

One thing to note is you are super squish early, and unlike many melee carries your burst isn't exactly as high or fast (Zed, Talon etc.). That said once you get some items and begin to feel more comfortable using him, you can pull off ridiculous plays.

I think the reason for him being less picked of late besides recent nerfs is it feels harder to carry with him, whereas if i was another midlaner like Ahri or Zed i could accomplish similar goals with less effort or room to make mechanical errors.

Still he's probably the most fun I've had playing league in awhile! Go play him and have fun and put some practice in. A few days ago Voy climbed from unranked to Diamond Yasuo only! Nothing is Impossible!!! Just do it!!!!

Vistha KaiJun 17, 20151 votes

I bet he could also play AD Soraka and reach Diamond too.

That's not hard and it proves nothing. For example I'm hovering in between Plat and Gold MMR for some time now. I went from Unranked to Gold 4 or so by only trolling. (Didn't bother playing further on that acc.) AP Nami mid, AP Elise mid, champions I've never played before, you name it.

Stiv1234Jun 17, 20151 votes

AP Elise Mid is pretty good in low Elo. Shes like a little child; leave her alone for a minute and everything is fucked up.

Vistha KaiJun 18, 20152 votes

Everything is god tier in low ELO, if you have any kind of game knowledge.

NineTailedMysticJun 17, 20153 votes

He certainly isn't fun to play against though.

Penta PenguinJun 17, 20153 votes

He's not weak or strong, he's just a walking item

If you get ahead in gold, you're strong. If you're behind, you're weak. The only thing that matters is building AD and Critical even moreso than other champions. Yasuo has a "threshold" for Crit chance that he wants to hit with Infinity and Statikk

CelosarJun 17, 20153 votes

The walking item comment is the best description of Yasuo I have ever heard.

AHeroNamedHawkeJun 17, 20153 votes

He loses lane to a lot of champs unless he can play stupidly aggro, but the jungler will just run into his lane for free kills if he does so

Only Play DariusJun 18, 20153 votes

Because he is extremely mechanically intensive. He is one of the hardest champions in the game to even get good with, let alone master, so if he isn't clearly overpowered, then people don't feel that it's worth the effort to learn or play him.

That's why all the good Yasuo's are **extremely ** good, they have been playing Yasuo since back when he was legitimately overpowered, so they had an easier time learning the champion and have been capable of doing well with him even after all the nerfs. No one tries to learn Yasuo these days because it's a massive uphill climb now, and people quit learning him after 5 or so games of straight feeding.

Riot's design philosophy states that champions with high skill requirements should not be blatantly stronger/overpowered compared to champions with low skill requirements, and no champion conflicts with this more than Yasuo

MLDzXnRRRJun 18, 20153 votes

There are many champions who can 100 to 0 Yasuo with a combo - Riven, VI, Diana, Zed, Akali, Fiora, Ekko (and Yasuo can't do anything vs them except to use a Q and try to run with dashes).

The TrentJun 20, 20151 votes

{quoted}

There are many champions who can 100 to 0 Yasuo with a combo - Riven, VI, Diana, Zed, Akali, Fiora, Ekko (and Yasuo can't do anything vs them except to use a Q and try to run with dashes).

Yeah but those champs except Ekko and Vi aren't doing too well (well Riven too I just didn't want to type her name). Its not about who wins the lane but who wins the game.

MLDzXnRRRJun 20, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Yeah but those champs except Ekko and Vi aren't doing too well (well Riven too I just didn't want to type her name). Its not about who wins the lane but who wins the game.

What??? Have you seen the winrate of Yasuo in the datamining sites - Yasuo has bigger winrate than "trash" tier champions like Kassa, Elise, LB, Olaf, Twitch, Urgot, Lee etc. Akali and Ekko have similar, but slightly bigger numbers. Fiora, Amumu and Heimer have 50% and above winrate for years.

The TrentJun 20, 20151 votes

{quoted}

What??? Have you seen the winrate of Yasuo in the datamining sites - Yasuo has bigger winrate than "trash" tier champions like Kassa, Elise, LB, Olaf, Twitch, Urgot, Lee etc. Akali and Ekko have similar, but slightly bigger numbers. Fiora, Amumu and Heimer have 50% and above winrate for years.

wot I never said anything about those champs. My point is even if they can rek yasuo they'll still have problems in grouping phases. Like if ur gonna play Yasuo ur prob playing it with a knock up comp or else its not too smart to play him so u don't have to do much to win a team fight while Diana on the other hand has to land a q and has to know when to go in or else she dies.

Demonic KhanJun 17, 20152 votes

Yasuo is terribly weak if his team contains no synergy for his ultimate to activate. A lot of people instalock him, causing this weakness to be shown in a lot of games. That's why a lot of people assume he's bad.

WrekSomeHAvOcJun 17, 20152 votes

He's a high elo champion, you can't get the best out of him if you don't have around plat level mechanics. He requires snowballing, teamwork or team composition to be effective.

Too many requirements, Akali for example can do better with less skill required.

SIaytonJun 17, 20151 votes

That's not entirely true. I carried out of Silver and some Gold with him but I just couldn't win with him anymore once people learned how to play around him. I'm in Diamond now and consider my mechanics pretty good but its very hard to win with him consistently when the enemy jungler puts pressure on you. Also, whenever I see a Yasuo at this elo, he's almost ALWAYS chronically feeding. 9+ deaths every time I see him.

If anything he's a strong low elo champion where people are disorganized, don't focus in team fights, and don't use their CC properly. Its easy to win small skirmishes and his trading is good in lane, most people in bronze and silver don't trade well. In organized, aware play though where people are of equal skill, I don't think Yasuo is safe enough to be considered a viable pick at the moment, despite being pretty scary if he's ahead.

SIaytonJun 17, 20152 votes

Think of him like Mordekaiser in lane but even LESS safe and free to ganks. Atleast morde has that beefy shield to MAYBE walk out of lane in one piece. If the jungler catches you past river you're as good as dead on yasuo since he lacks an escape and has nerfed movement speed now.

MrBuffingtonJun 17, 20151 votes

I think because he used to be much, much stronger before all his nerfs; I think he's less forgiving of mistakes now, especially early game. He's still pretty fun, if you have the mechanics for him and a decent team comp he's still very powerful.

SIaytonJun 17, 20152 votes

Before his nerfs he had a lot more survivability. Spam E to build shield, shield was bigger and lasted longer, built quicker by moving. He had more starting health and more move speed. I honestly felt like he was in a good spot before they absolutely destroyed him. People didn't know how to play against him (focus and CC like Yi), and so he looked very strong early on. Now that people have learned how to fight him a little better, he's actually not at all hard to deal with, but they went ahead and nerfed him anyway.

I'd love to see them bring back release Yasuo and see what his win rate stabilizes at.

MrBuffingtonJun 18, 20152 votes

Not sure about release Yasuo; there were some cheese moves he could do that were pretty annoying, though I don't think he needed all those nerfs.

I GANK LANESJun 17, 20151 votes

People think he's weak because he is. Get 200 farm on yas and 200 farm on any other mid laner and see the difference, he does no damage and can't take any either. They nerfed him into the ground

Stiv1234Jun 17, 20155 votes

he does no damage

No. Just no.

SnugglePuggle94Jun 17, 20151 votes

He does a shit ton of damage dude. Double crit, free armor pen. You are totally wrong.

HAIL WHYDRAJun 18, 20151 votes

Its not armor pen. Its Bonus armorpen. There is a huge difference between the two. 50% armor is cutting your armor in half. 50% of bonus armor is effectively shaving off 25%. Say we had an Aatrox, hypothetically speaking having 50 base armor and 40 bonus (So 90 armor total). Yauso ulti cuts that 50 bonus in half giving Aatrox 70 effective armor.

SnugglePuggle94Jun 19, 20151 votes

I don't play him so I didn't know. I only said what I heard.

Cl3Jun 26, 20151 votes

I think the trend of building statikk shiv first with yasuo is why he has a lower winrate, if been maining yasuo for about 150-200 games and recently began building bloodthirster due to his Q applying the lifesteal. I have seen vast improvements and my second item is then statikk shiv.