Zeke's Harbinger Gives Too Much Utility

The Yetii Rider··2 votes·1,338 views

So, it's no secret that utility supports need help, I get that. But Zeke's Harbinger is too much, flat out. My friends have read the item and said "Oh, it's too slot inefficient to be rushed on all-in supports, and utility supports will probably build it second". No. That's not how this works.

50% crit is immense. It's guaranteed. It's six seconds, and it is disgusting. The meta will shift and ADCs will only build 50% crit chance (Or as close to it as they can get, probably just IE + PD) and then straight AD/Lifesteal/Attack Speed. The new bot lane will be decided by which support can rush Zeke's fastest (probably most Spellthief supports, Morgana) and which carries benefit the most from high AD builds (Tristana, Graves, Caitlyn, Lucian, JInx).

It's a cute idea. But it's way too frontloaded and way too easy for any support to just build it. Does it have bad stats for tanks? Sure. Does that matter? No. Sighstone has bad stats and people build that all the time, because it gives unquestionable amounts of utility. This item allows you to save your ADC not only gold, but also item slots, which is beyond insane. Stick this on a Janna and watch as she gives her carry attack speed, AD, magic damage on-hit, bonus health as a shield, move speed, 20% bonus AP, and crit all at once (Ardent Censer, Tailwind, Captain boots, Eye of the Storm, Zeke's).

Okay, so the item is cool in thought process, but 50% crit is bad. Just...no! Attack speed would obviously be safer but Ardent Censer already gives it. AD would be another good bet but Zeke's Herald already gave AD and few players built it. And Talisman already gives move speed. So I get it, Riot. It seems like there's nothing else left to give ADCs but free crit. But crit is a broken mechanic already, and you still haven't fixed it! Back in January I think, when everyone was upset over critical strikes, someone from Riot appeared and said you were looking to lower the % damage amp because 200% was too high. But you haven't done that yet, so please don't just hand marksmen free 200% damage in their support's item slot. This item will be a must buy, and if an ADC with Zeke's goes up against an ADC without Zekes, it will be a massacre, period.

5 Comments

Critmaster Garen1 votes

i think the hardest part is going to be to convince the support to bind me instead of the adc

: /

Sightless661 votes

ADCs will only build 50% crit chance (Or as close to it as they can get, probably just IE + PD) and then straight AD/Lifesteal/Attack Speed.

That is exactly what they do right now. IE, PD, BT or BotRK, LW, one situational item. Every game, almost every ADC. What's new?

The new bot lane will be decided by which support can rush Zeke's fastest

No it won't. This is not that strong that early. I've played on the PBE with and against this item. It's easy to abuse a laner who makes rushing Zeke's their number one priority, because a ton of the item's value is tied into A. the support not roaming, which is a pretty huge restriction to have when you're at the point where the support has a completed item and B. the active power, which is very easy to track and not fight for. It also gives crit to your ADC, and while crit is nice, it isn't that amazingly strong early in the game. It's a force multiplier. If they don't have a lot of power, it's not going to give you a ton to work with.

It's going to be a strong item, one most supports want to have, but it's not going to screw up laning, and it's not going to be such a rush item. Trust me, when you get to actually try it, you'll see that it's not such a big deal as people are claiming.

The Yetii Rider1 votes

What's new is the 50% bonus crit chance. The build you have described is gaining power. A significant amount of power.

If a carry has 70% crit chance with just an IE built, then yes, that damage will be significant. And yes, there is counterplay with the window of power, but lots of supports and junglers can force that window, like Rek'sai and Leona. If you jump on the ADC with 50% crit, the ADC will burn Flash or trade, and they will trade poorly.

Sightless661 votes

What's new is the 50% bonus crit chance. The build you have described is gaining power. A significant amount of power.

It's already the only build for most of these champions. It doesn't matter if it is gaining power because it's already the only option. There is no meta shift from this build getting stronger, because it is already the strongest build.

On top of that, this specific build doesn't stand to benefit much more than others. The only thing that makes the 50% crit chance stronger is whether or not you have an IE. Otherwise, the amount of other crit items that I have doesn't matter at all when determining the strenght of this item (so long as I don't have more than 50% natural crit of course). What this actually means is that I don't need the PD to make this work, because crit chance does not get stronger based on how much other crit chance you have. I don't need to hit 100% crit chance. Actually, because this item will give my build more crit, it actually benefits me to force more autoattack dps into the build through AD and attack speed for the crit to benefit. Crit only becomes stronger when combined with other stats that aren't crit, so theoretically, this should encourage builds that don't follow up the IE with PD like every single build does right now (it won't because those options don't exist, but if they did, this item would help those builds).

If you jump on the ADC with 50% crit, the ADC will burn Flash or trade, and they will trade poorly.

A few objections In lane, that is a huge if. The stacks are readily apparent. I can stand back and wait for you to lose the stacks every time they're up because the stacks will pop when you farm.

More importantly though, the point when a support tends to finish this item is almost always past the point when laning has already ended. I really can't emphasize enough that this item rarely if ever will be finished before laning ends, and once laning has ended it becomes a good deal harder to force strong fights with the proc (partially because the support should be roaming while the ADC solo farms, partially because engagements become more situational).

It would help me a bit if you respond directly to my post. I wouldn't have seen your response at all if I hadn't randomly stumbled across this post again.

HomelessSkittle1 votes

Another issue is that it's a latent Rabadon's for your APC. Shoot it off right before a fight breaks out and now the mid laner has 55% increased Ability Power. Let that sink in for a second, especially when considering that they should have around 400+ AP late game. And Veigar is still a thing. 1000+ AP is decently common if the game gos on for any length of time.

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