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Does the new dragon need a fix?

B0MBSIGHT·11/26/2014, 8:17:35 AM·7 votes·1,384 views

I'm not pretending to be an expert on game balance these are just my impressions and opinions, Im mostly curious to see where the community is at on this topic since I haven't seen any threads about it.

After playing a few games in the new SR I've noticed a disturbing trend. The team that gets the first dragon typically gets all the dragons. This is partially indicative of the games flow. The team that is dominating early game will naturally get the first dragon and the second one. However after that second dragon it feels like it becomes very hard for the losing team to secure any dragons. The team that is dominating eventually receive more dragon buffs in the mid game where they are most effective. The cumulative permanent buffs and that early/mid game advantage provide a frustrating barrier determined by the first 10 min of the match. Not to mention it doesn't seem to be any stronger than the old dragon.

Now I imagine that the current dragon was made exclusively with pro/ranked teams in mind, and I'm sure it will work fine in that environment. But playing in low elo solo queue it is a nightmare. Without the early game advantage it is impossible to control the dragon without teamwork. I hate it atm and feel that it can be quite unfair in solo q. My question to the community is: Does the dragon need to be change? Why or why not?

9 Comments

Pvt Yong Tai11/26/2014, 10:13:48 AM4 votes

I feel the dragon simply needs to do more damage. If the dragon does more damage, it becomes prohibitive for teams to solo or duo dragon early on. It won't affect higher level play because they usually have most of the team at dragon when they do it anyway, but for lower level play it will push dragon to be a mid-game objective rather than an early-game one, allowing them a little time to focus on their lanes. I'm really tired cause it's late but I hope I made sense. I'm going to bed

Arch Mage Magnus11/26/2014, 10:07:45 AM2 votes

I see dragon go back and fourth every game honestly. I think it's great at the moment.

Knight Devout11/26/2014, 10:00:06 AM2 votes

More precisely, i'd move the utility buffs, like movment speed and pushing power in the first 2 stacks, and the other combat buffs as the last 2.

Dig Dux11/26/2014, 5:27:59 PM2 votes

You can solo dragon level 2 with pantheon. YES dragon needs buffs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxybbkmsSKQ or fiora lev 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWqcuYhcCgg or wukong level 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gl2Wz9lPBQ or yasuo lev 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-_TRiuup5A or fiddle sticks or nunu

you get the picture

dragon clearly needs buffs

Blacksmth11/26/2014, 10:12:45 PM2 votes

Riot had a goal for dragon before the release of the updated SR. It was to make dragon and baron feel more like a battle. Currently, as Dig Dux and other players have mentioned, Dragon needs buffs. I think, not only to its damage but to its overall mechanics and feel.

Dragon can be taken down single handed. When low level champs can solo a dragon, it's really sad to think that such a terrifying beast can be slain so easily.
Dragon's attacks and abilities aren't challenging. It seems like Dragon spawns, starts to float, then falls over and dies.
The buffs dragon hands out are too good for the little work that goes into defeating dragon.

Dragon should have stages in which it behaves differently, not only when it levels up throughout the game but during battle while champions are dealing damage to it.

When dragon spawns, is first engaged or if a champion comes in its perimeter, it should scream and fear all champions that are close enough.
Dragon might want to begin the fight with melee attacks. Swipe and deal damage to all champions in an arc. Increased melee attack speed and lifesteal attacking not only with both claws in front (or aoe) but if a champion is behind dragon, it can simultaneously whack and displace champions with its tail.
At about half life or so Dragon takes flight knocking back and damaging any champions within the range of its wings. Have dragon gain a -like ability that pulses and deals damage to characters within range or even a -like reflective scales. Give dragon the ability to spit %life fire damage in a cone like or shoot a pillar of fire like . Have the fire damage inflict grievous wounds to further discourage soloing. When the beast is about to be slain and the last hit (or smite) is struck, dragon should explode dealing further damage to champions in a radius.

There are so many things that can make dragon feel like a real battle Implementing more diversity in dragons skills,attacks and mechanics will make for a truly satisfying dragon fight. Right now dragon is far to easy. imagine if an entire team has below 25% hp remaining from a teamfight that just ended, dragon will get shit on and the enemy team would think (well that's a free dragon for them) with the buffs slaying a dragon comes with. Baron, blue and red buffs are almost there, but that's another topic.

IwfiKe3qjM11/26/2014, 3:06:53 PM2 votes

I think the Dragon need to change... the Slayer stacks in particular...

I prefer the stacks order changed and some change to few stack buffs:

15% more damage to monsters and minion
5% MS boost
5% AD and AP boost
15% more damage to buildings
Double all previous stacks and your attack burn 100 true damage for 5 seconds... lasts for 150 seconds...

AD and AP boost can break even with Baron buff (flat 40 AD and AP) easily when you get the 5th stack at 8% so better nerf it...

kcStranger12/16/2014, 1:39:55 AM1 votes

Yup, it needs to be changed...primarily the first buff. I actually made an extended post about this (http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/6qF2XQEj-new-dragon-is-imbalanced-but-can-be-fixed), but the basic point is the because the first dragon gives a small but significant percentage bonus to AD/AP, it fundamentally imbalances the strengths of AD/AP-oriented champions/items over defensive ones, and promotes snowballing. I think the imbalance is small enough that League of Legends is still a fun game like it always was, but dragon needs a fix.