It really sucks to be an immobile mage not named Malzahar right now

warpenguin555·Nov 27, 2017·41 votes·2,241 views

They feel awful to play and it's killed my interest in playing mid lane. They have trash items, lost resistances, and most are forced to use a support keystone because Phase Rush, Arcane Comet, and Electrocute/Domination path aren't viable options on them. AD assassins out damage them from the moment they get and AP assassins get to zone and bully the immobile mages while the mages are forced to sit there and take it unless their name is Malzahar. While I love Malzahar, I don't want to be forced to play him every game because he's the only one who can deal with the popular mid laners.

btw yes I know bruisers are shit right now too but thats a topic better suited for a top laner

EDIT: Changed the title so i wouldn't get 1000 comments about Malzahar being a great mid because people only read the title

70 Comments

WeatheredNov 27, 201712 votes

TwistedFate Orianna Taliyah Are fairly strong in mid lane right now.

ModWulf HelhammerNov 27, 201723 votes

Let's be honest: when has Orianna not been at least playable.

5000000000000000Nov 28, 20172 votes

Isn't that a sign of good design?

Z3SleeperNov 28, 20171 votes

Might as well call Lee Sin good design too.

Except Riot explicitly stated that they wanted to nerf him and the only reason they didn't nerf/rework him was cuz of backlash.

5000000000000000Nov 29, 20171 votes

Oh yeah, I guess that's a good point. mb

Slythrin UmbreonNov 28, 20172 votes

That one time in Season 5 when they nerfed chalice and the mana mastery. Fun fact, the highest rated guide on mobafire at the time was literally renamed to "pick a different champion." But I understand if Season 5 Assassin Meta doesn't count.

~~sorry, slight OCD compels me to answer questions~~

MetalGearTeemoNov 28, 20171 votes

She's been picked at every worlds since her creation. She's one of the most nerf insulated champions in the game.

Subject 5Nov 28, 20172 votes

[{quoted}](name=The Wolf King,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=jEoTL57U,comment-id=00040000,timestamp=2017-11-27T21:06:20.189+0000)

Let's be honest: when has Orianna not been at least playable.

Oh no not this again, I remember when the boards said that Ori was the most balanced mid champ in the game to ever exist - the following day an upvoted thread was how broken Ori was and always has been.

5000000000000000Nov 29, 20171 votes

I thought Vel'Koz is the most balanced immobile mage ever, at least according to Boards.

Weiss GuertenaNov 29, 20171 votes

And then Rito was like "hey, let's change this guy for no reason outside muh niche picks".

5000000000000000Nov 29, 20171 votes

Isn't he still pretty balanced

koshkyraNov 28, 20172 votes

I disagree with taliyah but ori and tf are just ridiculous

LegitBusinessmanNov 28, 20171 votes

{quoted}

I disagree with taliyah but ori and tf are just ridiculous

TF has some of the weakest base damage for a mage and is extremely item dependent. Most matchups are pretty bad for him. He has what may be the most telegraphed CC in the game. His rotation is based on W which means he has to be in auto range, compared to most mages his range of initiation is extremely low.

FeathermaneNov 28, 20173 votes

{quoted}

Are fairly strong in mid lane ~~right now~~ always.

ftfy

AnateraNov 28, 20171 votes

Not really no. Unless you're counting the utility they bring.

Sahn UzalNov 28, 20174 votes

??? Why would you not count the utility a champion brings when deciding how powerful they are? It's a part of their powerbudget afer all.

AnateraNov 28, 20171 votes

Maybe because some of their utility isn't applicable in mid lane?

Nick Da ChipNov 28, 20171 votes

Good utility sets up for excellent ganks.

Sahn UzalNov 28, 20172 votes

So if I play GP into a champion with no CC I can ignore the power budget the CC cleanse eats up because it's not useful in lane?

5000000000000000Nov 29, 20171 votes

I think the confusion may be because Anatera was responding to "...are fairly strong in mid lane right now," and interpreted it as "...are strong in lane." Like you can't really use TF or Taliyah ultimate in lane to duel.

But you're definitely right

TS MediaNov 28, 20171 votes

What makes TF so strong? He feels pretty damn weak right now.

CamilleRule34Nov 27, 20176 votes

Play mages that outrange malzahar and have abilities that can go through minions, or abilities with really wide hit boxes.

Velkoz Lulu Xerath

CamilleRule34Nov 27, 20174 votes

{quoted}

Play mages that outrange malzahar and have abilities that can go through minions, or abilities with really wide hit boxes.

also foot note i only read the title and the tldr

SnowplosionNov 28, 20176 votes

Immobile mages seem to be rocking pretty solid win rates.

Nausicäa Nov 28, 20175 votes

{quoted}

Immobile mages seem to be rocking pretty solid win rates.

Winrates are irrelevant.

Every Zed or Kat ive played against on an immobile mage can literally 100-0 me instantly with half an item complete and theres shit u can do about it. Theres literally no counterplay or skill anymore, an assassin mashes their buttons on you and you're either dead or need to recall cause if you dont you're dead when their cooldowns are back up.

The fact is that damage is just flat out too high right now. Even if everyone in the game was at a 50% winrate its not fun. They need to fucking give us back resists or lower the fucking damage.

SnowplosionNov 28, 20174 votes

I mean their play rates and ban rates aren't terrible either, so they seem to be good where they are.

KuboxNov 28, 20175 votes

Don't most immobile mages have kits that actually can utilize Comet?

I'd actually argue that the immobile mages that can't use any keystones are in the minority here.

Slythrin UmbreonNov 28, 20173 votes

So much, this. People are really hating on comet way too much. But I love it :u

LunarEdge7Nov 29, 20171 votes

It's just the part where Comet isn't unreliable, that looks off-putting. Even if Aery gets nerfed again, people will still use it because it actually hits..

Some AP mages would rather save their cc for risk of being ganked or dived under turret rather than just for comet procs to hit, that's what I hear a lot at least

KuboxNov 29, 20171 votes

Still not convinced about this. Looking down the list

Anivia Can use Comet just fine. Annie Prefers Predator. AurelionSol Phase Rush is great, but Comet is still an option, both because of being a Rylai's builder but also because of Comet's cooldown reduction mechanic. One of the unlucky ones. Cassiopeia Same as Aurelion Sol. When is Fiddlesticks not a champion getting screwed by changes? Heimerdinger Can abuse Comet's CD reduction. Karthus Karthus is also a champion that always gets the shaft. Lissandra Spammy kit that slows. Comet's fine. Lux I think we've experienced how fine she is. Malzahar In theory should be in the "abuse Comet's CD reduction" group, but is currently too busted to care. Can also use Predator. Ryze Comet, Phase Rush and Electrocute all should work on him. Swain Same as Aurelion Sol. Syndra Somewhat unlucky. Can use Predator, Electrocute or Phase rush decently well. Taliyah Slightly unlucky. In theory can use Comet but her main combo makes it miss. TwistedFate Can use Comet, tough I'm sure he could make Predator or Phase rush work just fine. Veigar Unlucky. Velkoz Part of the Lux group. Viktor Unlucky. Vladimir Vlad is weird. If anything, Aery works on him because of the way his kit works, which is short bursts of CDs that can't properly utilize the CD reduction of Comet. Though if he went back to Rylai's he could use it. Xerath Can use Comet. Ziggs Seems to be doing fine with Comet. Zilean Zil's kit is weird enough that I can't blame runes for not being perfect on him. Zyra Similar to Aurelion and co. Abuses Rylai's + Comet's CD reduction (From what I hear her plant's attacks reduce it).

I've left the shielders ( Karma Lulu Morgana Orianna ) out because Aery is technically made for them, but most of them have either slows/CCs or spammy kits.

Overall, the majority of immobile mages have a rune or two they can work with. I wouldn't say that they got shafted as a class more than any other. I'd say any issue immobile mages have is tied to game balance and items more than runes or, in some cases, the champion itself.

LunarEdge7Nov 30, 20171 votes

So.. partially runes but mostly the lame items. Rip AP

LUXANNA HOSHIDONov 27, 20174 votes

I agree, Lux literally has no options. Comet feels weak on her due to her long CD's (so she can't reduce it by constantly hitting spells, even at max CDR) and Electrocute's long CD just feels bad.

ShablagooNov 28, 20171 votes

Assassins us electrocute the cd isnt a problem with them? Long cd's early, I dont really see but if they are then good cuz her cd can get to 27 sec which is actually insane, also comet isnt weak the cd is so low and if you hit ur snares it does its dmg, you just are not use to skill shot stuff.

Starcraft243verNov 28, 20171 votes

No, because a mage pokes. An assassin all ins.

ShablagooNov 28, 20172 votes

Wait so mages never all in? Would all ining not being using all your abilites you dont have to get into melee range to all in.

Starcraft243verNov 29, 20171 votes

All in is getting into a situation where either you hurt your opponent enough in the process that he can't retaliate, or you will be so much behind that you can't do it a second time.

In poker it translates into a situation where one of the player will straight out lose if he follows or start the all in. In LoL it translates into a situation where : ever you run away from the all in, using defensive summoners. Or face the all in and one of them die.

ShablagooNov 29, 20171 votes

Again so mages never all in? I dont understand how you giving the definition changes that? And assassins have to all in once they have a specific advantage aka when the mage have no cc. Therefore if they all in it is because they played right. Mages all in on assassins when they don't have a chance to get away with mobility, it is the same, so I dont understand how they are distinguished by those. And for the most part assassins can poke too, zed, talon, and kata? So what is your point they are not distinguished by those two they are not in those set categories.

foxplosionNov 27, 20174 votes

Please dont tell anyone that Malzahar is good,

Riot wont do anything to help immobile mages if they see this post, they just will nerf Malzahar even more. item 3070 [sg-janna]

Succubús GFNov 28, 201716 votes

He needs nerfs tho

PhearBunnyNov 27, 20173 votes

it really sucks to be 6inches when her new bf is 7 :'(

EvenNov 28, 20173 votes

All I ask for is more keystone options for mages.

rtbf76109271Nov 28, 20171 votes

ya.. it feels so dumb to get Aery on mages without a spell which can proc the shield half, but it is better than comet for so many champions. I feel like DOT mages especially have nothing perfect (which isn't an issue for Malzahar specifically since he is so strong but still)

xelakerNov 28, 20171 votes

most mages with a dot spell can proq aery at least twice though. and he goes in on auto attacks. if you spend the majority of the game fighting or poking aery is decent enough.

rtbf76109271Nov 29, 20171 votes

It's not that it isn't decently strong, it's just weird they have to use a keystone where they can't make use of the shield half. Like it makes it feel like keystones have something missing

ShablagooNov 28, 20173 votes

http://champion.gg/statistics/#?sortBy=general.winPercent&order=descend&roleSort=Middle Umm sorry are u specifically talking about vic, cass, syndra, and aur maybe. I dont see it even if it is true lb and ekko are extremly mobile yet lux is doing better then them both. This is just another mage complaining thread with no real proof. Those three just need buffs, but the majority not really.

Also if ppl are going to come and say statistics dont mean anything, then what proof do you have other then your personal opinion which has no bases? How is anyone suppose to believe you. Thats why this mages are bad circle jerk is just getting annoying their is nothing to back it up.

andromecornNov 29, 20173 votes

Does Anivia count? (Genuine question, not a main or anything but she has a high winrate right now)

Akali PrimeNov 28, 20172 votes

AurelionSol item 3070

oh no....the enemy assassin mid laner hit 6

GibberwattNov 28, 20172 votes

IDK man, I just came out of a game as a zyra mid, running comet, and kicking the booty of a zed, running electrocute. Maybe you need to change ur playstyle a little to handle the new meta, instead of just continuing with the dick measuring contest that is oh so common these days.

Digital DaddyNov 27, 20171 votes

inComINg MagE UpDaTE?

foxplosionNov 27, 20172 votes

Oh god, please not another one [zombie-brand-mindblown]