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To All My Fellow Ezreal Mains...

Dokueki Kenshin·8/30/2017, 8:41:39 PM·2 votes·1,679 views

Okay, so.

As I'm sure that you're all aware, Riot Meddler recently made comments on some mini-level reworks for Ezreal, particularly to his W, which leaves much to be desired. I've been an Ezreal main literally since season 1, playing him at first as ADC and then more commonly in the mid lane. He was the first 6300 champion I ever bought, and I love him to bits mainly because he's one of the few champions where everything in his kit offers an means to express your level of skills. If you play him well, it means that you have the fundamentals to back it up. If you don't, then you've got some work to do.

As most of you are also aware, Ezreal has probably rarely, if ever, been in as bad of a spot as he is now. The one saving grace his AD oriented builds had going for him, the 1100g advantage for his two item powerspike, is now gone. He doesn't benefit from building attack speed or critical strike nearly as much as other champions, and on-hit abilities are too easily mitigated due to the tank meta. His DPS outside of his abilities has always been less than ideal, and that's fine. In my opinion, he was meant to be a more burst/kite ADC or mid laner than other ADCs. And I'm not saying that I'm not glad that he's now on Riot's radar for rework. On the contrary, that can only (hopefully) mean good things for a champ that has even been left behind by his large Korean fanbase (if the dataset Phylol used is to be believed, at least).

My concern/issue is that the little bits that Riot Meddler proposed doesn't go nearly far enough to fix what's really hindering Ezreal. That's why I'm making this thread.

As opposed to trying to nitpick Meddler's post for every single thing that I don't like, because that is both mean and will get us nowhere, I instead thought it prudent to have Ezreal mains comment on what they would like to see in a rework. I'll put mine here, but feel free to post what changes you think would help bring Ezreal back into balance. I'll start.

The changes that I would propose are honestly not that huge. I don't even mind the current ratios that we have. Rather, I think that some of the properties of his basic abilities should be changed (his ult is honestly still fine the way it is):

Passive: Frankly, I don't know what this should be, but his current passive is pretty bleh. It would be pretty cool, since he already prefers mana items, if he got a flat amount of bonus AD or base AD dependent on the size of his mana pool. I've not given this entirely much thought, so this may change.

Q - Mystic Shot: This should remain the same save for two changes: increase the missile speed by a small amount, and allow it to critically strike at a severely reduced percentage (probably around 20%-25%).

W - Essence Flux: Instead of the silly attack speed buff (man, I miss the old attack speed debuff, don't you?), maybe make Essence Flux put a mark on all enemy champions that it hits that you can proc with any other one of Ezreal's abilities or basic attacks for extra damage. As to whether this damage can critically strike or not isn't something I've considered. I'd say no and instead make it do magic or even a small amount of true damage.

E - Arcane Shift: Leave it the same, but make it so that the bolt prioritizes champions when they are marked by Essence Flux.

Ultimate: Unchanged.

That, along with perhaps an upgrade to his model, is honestly what I think would help Ezreal out of his rutt. What do you guys think about what his rework should include?

15 Comments

Lugg8/30/2017, 8:53:57 PM1 votes

IMHO, Ezreal is perfectly fine. The problem is that the majority of ADCs need nerfs of some kind.

AbiwonKenabi8/30/2017, 10:25:12 PM1 votes

Coming from someone who casually plays Ezreal and really enjoys the character, I like these changes. The W as it is right now is barely an ability on AD Ez, something you shoot often as an afterthought.

Providing some kind of interaction with crit--whether through his Q or a reworked W, not sure of the best choice--would also help put Ez more in line with the role of other Marksman. Sure he'll still struggle against tanks, still providing a proper weaknesses profile, but he won't just tickle them. The role of tank buster tends to fall to Marksmen, and this will nudge Ezreal into being not total crap at that like I feel he is now. And as a bonus, this would barely affect AP Ez, although if I were a fan of the build I would be concerned with compensation nerfs to base damages and things like that, to make up for increased crit damage.

I also like the mark aspect of the W. Adds a bit of mastery to him that I think he could use. Proper use of W and Arcane Shift would separate the good Ezreals from the great Ezreals

CatgirI Ezreal8/31/2017, 8:38:13 PM1 votes

I like this Idea!

I've played as an ezreal main ever since I picked him up!

I actually wrote a post (6 hours after you did =p) about my thoughts on an Ezreal rework. I felt like he would be a perfect candidate to work off the Adaptive idea they're planning for S8.

This is basically what I had.

Passive: Ezreal Does Either 100% AD, 100% AP, or a mix of both through all his damage, Depending on which stat is higher or if both are at similar numbers, Ezreal can gain AP and AD through landing spells on enemy champions, Like veigar but 100% Champion locked. He has his current AD growth rate split between AD, and AP. (Same growth damage, hybrid), His Gauntlet's gauntlet will glow Red, White or Purple to note the strongest stat.

Q: Stays the same mostly, but plays with the new adaptive passive. Red: Can Crit for a reduced percentage White: Counts as a basic attack, This works off Guinsoo's, Purple: Can proc spell effects.

W: I wanted to bring it back to Early Ezreal, So here's what I thought of. Removed: Attack Speed Buff Red: Now Slows Enemy Attack Speed on hit. White: Now Slows Enemy Attack Speed and movement speed on hit for reduced effect Purple: Now Slows Enemy on hit.

E: will always prioritize champions and follows the same Adaptive trends as the others.

R: Stays the same, except glows Orange, White or Peach depending on the higher stat (Default skins) (Plays off Mixing Yellow with Red and Purple)

I felt like this would keep Ezreal's Identity as the Skillshot Marksman, while also highlighting the fact that he was and is intended to be a hybrid marksman.

I also like your ideas for Ezreal, they're less drastic compared to mine. My only problem with them is that the Passive is already done by characters like Ryze and Vladimir, and his W is done by Shyvana and Lucian. I just think that since they've been done enough, we can give him something else to revitalize him, rather than just make him stronger.

I would like to see your ideas in the game though!

BerylCrab8/31/2017, 8:43:50 PM1 votes

Ezreal main here, tanks are invulnerable. somethings gotta give... to anyone saying ezreal is okay, i dare you to go play him for 10 games and actually carry more than 1 or 2. The reality is if you win a game with ezreal in this meta, your team probably didnt even need your help to win.