Let's talk about Zhonya's Hourglass

+120 AP +50 Armor. Unique Active: Stasis- Champion becomes invulnerable and untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time (90 second cooldown). Cost: 3260 g, combination 500g

Build path: +

+30 armor (+45 when fully stacked) +20 ability power Unique Passive: Killing a unit grants 0.5 bonus armor and ability power. This bonus stacks up to 30 times. Cost: 1160g, 125 combination

+80 AP Cost: 1600g

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Taken straight from the wiki:

Statistical Value 120 ability power = 2610g 50 armor = 1000g

Total Gold Value = 3610g

Statistical Efficiency

The base stats are 110.7% gold efficient without the active.

WITHOUT the active. Keep that in mind.

Zhonya's hourglass is a key item for many squishy mages, and core on champions like Heimerdinger, Morgana, and Fiddlesticks. All of these champions benefit mainly because their Ultimate (and Donger's turrets) remain active while they are in Stasis.

Therein lies the first problem with this item. Take a look at the wording of that active. "Champion becomes invulnerable and untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time (90 second cooldown)."

Ingame it simply states "unable to take action," which is misleading, but that's another story.

The obvious point of Zhonya's is to give a squishy mage the chance to wait on their cooldowns before reengaging.

I'd bet money that's what it's original design was.

But what it's turned into is the following:

I'm going to YOLO dive the enemy team, blow up, then activate Zhonya's and laugh.

OR:

I'm going to turn completely invincible while I deal tons of damage/stun you and there's nothing you can do about it because of my OP cc coming from one of my other spells.

OR:

I'm going to dodge Requiem.

Of those three, personally I only feel like #3 is acceptable, but there's no real way to stop #1 without ruining the item entirely.

But I don't really have that much of a problem with champions like Fiddlesticks and Heimerdinger doing this. It is, like Ahri and DFG, something that the champion is designed around.

What I have a problem with is this:

+120 AP +50 Armor

So we've got Lux, going back to base, she's got her boots, she has her Morellonomicon, she's got her Rabadon's, she's got her Void Staff. All she wants is some more AP.

Zhonya's provides an INSANE amount of Ability Power, along with 50 Armor that nobody buys it for, AND it has the active. The problem is that mages who would never buy the item for the active buy it because they need more AP and what better choice do they have after VS and Rabadon's?

This really needs to change. If you want to make the item incredibly cost efficient, go for it. But don't make it give +120 AP and +50 Armor.

Possible changes:

1. Prevent Seeker's Armguard from being upgraded until it's fully stacked, and halve the base armor it gives while doubling the required stacks. Then people who really want it will buy it early, have to farm for a while, then be able to get their Hourglass. This will also indirectly nerf Support Morgana, helping to bring her back to the mid lane.

2. Remove the armor. It's really not necessary, and it just adds to the frustration of the item.

3. Lower the AP to +70. Change recipe to Blasting Wand + Seeker's Armguard, and adjust price accordingly. Then you're giving up power for defense, which is how it should be.

4. Remove the AP entirely, make it give +50 MR too, and turn it into a tank item. Personally, I hate this idea, but I've seen it suggested and I like it more than current Zhonya's.

5. Increase the cost. A lot. This would deter mages from buying it just because, and while it would be a blow to Donger/Fidd/Morg, I think it might be worth it. Again, I don't like this solution all that much.

tl;dr- Go read it, buddy.