According to Riot's official statement, Viktor was too much of a "one man show". They didn't like that Viktor could handle himself independently from his team. To put it simply, they want interaction on a scale beyond burst and zone control.
I mean, I *personally find VIktor's zone denial to be INCREDIBLY satisfying. But they consider it "flat:"
Viktor
What we’re happy with:
- ‘Glorious Evolution’ thematic and Hex Core feel unique
- Multiple cast paradigms make playing Viktor different from other mages
What we’re less happy with:
- Viktor’s primary contributions to his team are overwhelmingly about getting damage off quickly, lending itself to a flat experience overall.
What we hope to see coming out of the update:
- Viktor provides a team unique ways to play around enabling his huge teamfight potential rather than feeling like a one-man show
Vik is being picked fairly commonly in professional play. The general assumption is that burst-mages are boring to watch (WHERE MY DASHES @?!). You can see the ult's burst damage being switched out to heavily favour his DoT effect, for example.
But Viktor could be more than a burst mage. He could have taken this mage update in stride, becoming something special. I mean, what if the team responsible for updating Viktor had decided AGAINST destroying the Machine Herald's current identity? What if Riot had chosen to, instead, focus on updating him to be more team-oriented? To add on to the identity he already has?
Vikt used to have 3 augments. Each augment would do something different - upgrading a specific ability with additional functions AND providing unique stats. Unfortunately, these augments were weak - and so they were combined into the one hex core when Viktor got his first big update.
Riot has said that they like Viktor's augment. They like the theme. So why not add onto the theme and give him his two old augments BACK? A tanky augment for peel potential and top-laning; A support augment for setting up team plays and aiding the Marksman; And - of course - the death augment he has now, for bursting down enemy mid laners. Obviously, he'd only be allowed to pick one - but it would make him more than a burst mage.
Riot doesn't NEED to destroy a champion just to fit him in a mould. Viktor has a precedent - he used to be built to function in every lane. We could still go back to that design!
I mean, let's face it, Vik is all about designs.
I've made a thread pitching this very idea, and support would be greatly appreciated if anyone else there feels this could be a good direction to go.
In my personal and most gracious opinion, it's high time Viktor got his 2 augments back.
=/= 
