3 Hit Passives - A challenge to the Boards

qetzel·9/15/2015, 10:57:35 PM·1 votes·2,454 views

There are a lot of posts on the Boards today complaining about 3 hit passives. They have become more prevalent, it is true.

Aatrox Gnar TahmKench Vayne ViEkko XinZhao Velkoz Diana Passives

Although Diana's, Xin's and Aatrox's are target agnostic.

XinZhao Yasuo Mordekaiser Actives

Am I missing any? That isn't many... Anyway:

Why are they used?

As I understand it, they are a way of rewarding a champion for focussing a target. It also locks power away unless the champion commits.

This is important in designing champions. It prevents power from being too front loaded and prevents instant hit and run styles of play, which aren't fun for the opponent if they are good, and aren't fun for the player if they aren't.

So why three? Well... Three feels fair. Two is too easy to pull off, so fails, and four would feel unrewarding for the pay off, which would be far less frequent. Think of how powerful Braum's passive is compared to others for the trade off of a fourth attack.


My challenge to the Boards is simple. If you are bored of three hit passives, come up with something better that fits the same, necessary purpose.

Go on. Yeah. I know. Harder than it sounds, huh?

EDIT: Gonna constantly edit this as people point out the champion's I've missed.

20 Comments

ReshiKillim9/15/2015, 10:59:08 PM1 votes

Xin has a 3 hit passive and Diana does too~

AtheosisX9/15/2015, 11:01:16 PM1 votes

Braum Has four hit passive but gets help from teammates to proc it.

Velkoz Has three hit passive that only procs off of spells.

RyzeRework9/15/2015, 11:01:26 PM1 votes

riven maybe? she would be with yasuo kinda 3 different skills in 1 skill as actives

IcyPepper9/15/2015, 11:03:38 PM1 votes

What if there was a reverse 3 hit passive?

If you get hit three times, one of your spells gets modified? Of course, for fairness, it couldn't be an offensive passive or a targeted ability.

CaptnJakSparrow9/15/2015, 11:06:40 PM1 votes

What we've gathered is GB can't.

Did you expect any different? they're quick to bitch, but they fall flat on their ass when forced to think of something:B.

bad manner kid9/15/2015, 11:15:04 PM1 votes

There is nothing wrong with 3 hit passives... its a challenge that rewards sticking to someone.

Passive aoe damage is similar but doesn't require auto attacking. It really depends on the champion design how they should be "rewarded," but I think people are just bored of tick tick boom type stuff.

WalkingInACircle9/15/2015, 11:23:31 PM1 votes

Any kind of tether.

Anything that ramps up per hit, not just payload per 3 hits.

Enduring effects after more than 3 hits, like Ashe's focus.

Tilomentry9/16/2015, 12:03:43 AM1 votes

You forgot Jax the original 3-hit passive

Chuck Charles9/16/2015, 5:52:33 AM1 votes

i dont mind 3-hit passives. but an alternative could be something like "being in combat with X champion for more than X seconds activates this passive blah blah blah. " with combat being defined as either champion receiving or giving damage to each other in the last 3 seconds. it could give a champion a ramp up time.

Black Boeg5/8/2016, 1:31:45 PM1 votes

im thinking Udyr Udyr's Phoenix Stance™ uses a semi active 3-hit passive

Vistha Kai5/8/2016, 1:35:10 PM1 votes

How about a...

MasterYi 4-hit passive!

100YO11/24/2017, 9:48:43 PM1 votes

The perfect PROC Team Top - Gnar/Aatrox Jungle - Vi/Jax Mid - Ekko/Diana Adc - Vayne Support - Braum/Tahm Kench

I pref Gnar,Vi,Ekko,Vayne,Braum as the ultimate proc team. Whats your proc team? ;)

Dokueki Kenshin11/24/2017, 10:11:41 PM1 votes

Honestly, I think you can build upon the same concept but have an additional gate.

Example: Varus. His blight stacks place up to 3 stacks on a target, but they HAVE to be proc’ed by another one of his abilities. And even despite this, yes, if you go ASAP Varus, it’s INCREDIBLY rewarding. You literally delete your opponent’s healthbar. :D

Tahm Kench uses a similar mechanic, too. He has to hit you three times before he can swallow you, and that swallow is a separate ability.

Also, Braum isn’t really a fair example. His is a 4 hit because his lane partner can also proc it.