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AP itemization

Jesuszilla·3/15/2016, 12:06:06 PM·3 votes·615 views

When are we going to see a rebalance to AP items and get off the AD champions completely running this game. At least give us some reworks or something. Because currently we have this going on:

AD champions are better at killing turrets, baron, dragon, pretty much all objectives are run by an AD champion, because their auto damage gets better with items. This is a HUGE change from how heroes worked in DOTA. To offset this bonus tower damage was given based on AP, but those champions are still seriously hindered when it comes to taking Baron, Dragon, or Herald. Not to mention the differential on ADs taking turrets versus AP champions has only increased over time.

AD champions have easy itemization and options for sustain. Lifesteal is a VERY powerful stat for both ranged and melee AD champions allowing them longevity in fights and the ability to recover from damage while they push. AP champions either have to have it built into their kit or require heavy investment in an item that returns poorly in their other states, slowing their overall effectiveness and impact. Hence why WOTA is relegated to normally being bought on sustain based mages of which there are very few.

Defensive items have increasingly gotten stronger, further pushing mages out of the meta. Normally since as mentioned above sustain based mages are relatively scarce, most mages need to be able to deal burst damage to be effective. They function generally as pseudo ranged assasins in that they can output a large amount of upfront damage in a fight without putting themselves in danger. The tradeoff is they have cooldowns, skillshots, and a relative lacking of lockdown/escapes. Most mages are not overly mobile. But with defensive items growing more effective for both tanks and AD champions, especially with hexdrinker and Sterak's which was so good even on ranged it had to be nerfed, mages are failing to fulfill damage roles in teamfights too. Generally most mages have less overall burst and damage than an AD, making AD's the literal king of everything. They kill champions, turrets, and objectives. Why bring a mediocre champion for damage when you can just run bruisers, tanks, and ADs with hybrid damage and effectively cut out AP champions completely.

Cost effectiveness, items available, and powerspike potential are getting worse and worse for AP champions as both new AD and tank items are added to the meta. This overall means way more AD and bruisers and a complete lack of hardly any AP and the death of a diverse meta. This is stale, please give us something new and interesting for the mages.

3 Comments

Zero Skill Tank3/15/2016, 12:26:33 PM1 votes

This. Almost every mage with positive winrate at the moment has some history as support pick, because AP items are so bad that picking less item-reliant champions have become the only option.

Phenyxs3/15/2016, 1:48:18 PM1 votes

I would agree that mages are weaker and slower in response to lane cc or cs. But a lot of ad and adc champs are as well. What I see is what I call boosting there ruins. Example is no mr and extra ap or magic. I looked up jinx online for feedback to her nerf and to see what's New to comp for that. Number one most views and votes was attack speed to replace her Mr. So it isn't just a mage issues it is a Game issue. And again only riot knows what there trying to do. Is it working? Ask that question to the community. I would tell you there running in circles and are lost and a nerf a year ago or more is now being overhauled back? Why? If it isn't broken don't fuck it up. Well riot appears to like to tamper with it. And it sucks. Good champ non worthy of running cause the can't measure up anymore. But God riot loves to push the sales and new store items on you. I don't go in the store anymore. Chances are what there selling is old and washed up.

Jesuszilla3/17/2016, 12:29:17 PM1 votes

It's like that awkward moment when you realize that the best AP champion in the game is Corki building AD. It's seriously in a really bad place because the mages just aren't getting played like they should. And it's not really because of meta from what I've seen, but item imbalance skewed in the favor of bruisers and AD champions.

Playing AD and need some defense again magic? Hexdrinker, Sterak's, Visage, so many good options for a bruiser. Lifesteal, cooldowns, attack speed, and penetration are all stacked into neat packages and easy to build into efficiently and smoothly.

Not so for AP champions. You have Zhonya's for a little bit of armor and possibly the worst bang for the upgrade. You literally have to value the active at around 1000 gold for it to be gold efficient. Sure the active is nice, but I don't think it's 1000 gold nice.

AP champions have very strict and specific lines for building their items, and it becomes increasingly harder for them to deviate if they miss their item power spike simply because of how difficult it is to perform their role effectively. An ADC who is behind on items can still add enough impact to a fight by drawing it out and pressuring consistent ranged damage. The lack of longevity for AP champions in fights and their burst and bust style of play means that if an AP is behind on items they will literally be hitting like a wet noodle and having to constantly give up objectives.