Should Flash be the third Summoner Spell?

Electric Buyers·May 15, 2016·3 votes·1,291 views

Basically a principal of game design, is that when something is used literally all the time in pretty much every scenario, it should be removed or should be a given. So flash... let's talk about that. Flash is the most used summoner spell by so much, it's mind boggling. Unless you are a Shaco player, I doubt you can recall the last time you didn't take flash. Should Flash be a free spell on every champion, and allow us room for two other Summoner Spells, or should it be removed altogether? Or should it just stay the same because if it isn't broke, don't fix it?

There is a lot more that can be said about this concept, but that is the bare bones of it. What do you think? Why do you think that?

Thanks for the input!!

16 Comments

Princess EmmaMay 15, 20164 votes

Having an extra summoner slot by having Flash by default will throw the game off balance.

It sounds good on paper, but there will be some large power shifts across the board, it promotes diversity, which is good, but it would eventually bring a negative impact unless checks and balances were put in place.

Simply removing flash isn't a great idea, but opening up an extra summoner slot isn't either. Flash is like the parasite that keeps you alive.

Electric BuyersMay 15, 20161 votes

Can you go a little in depth about the power shifts? It is an interesting concept on paper, considering everyone without gap closes would be sort of like a fish out of water. But another interesting thing, is that I have played a few games with immobile champs without flash to intentionally improve my positioning. You might be very surprised at how not having flash, changes the way you play, it's like getting caught with your pants down.

SomeLinkMay 15, 20161 votes

Well for example, if everyone had flash. More people might start running tp/ignite (especially assassins) which means the meta shifts over to super cautious play, or super ganking play.

Electric BuyersMay 15, 20161 votes

Or super position conscience play!

SomeLinkMay 15, 20161 votes

Not really.

The issue here is that flash is being used to "gate" other summoners as well. Removing that gate just shifts what becomes necessary.

TP being common, much like TF/Rek'Sai/Tahm Kench/Shen promotes passive play. In that it is far more risky for the ones at the disadvantage to try to make plays. It also would lead to more and easier split pushing.

Riot doesn't like passive play. They don't like farm for 20 minutes and then have 1 team fight play.

TP is really the only thing I could think to replace flash as the next must have.

Umbra ZMay 15, 20161 votes

without flash immobile mages will be legit screwed especially against Assasins

Electric BuyersMay 15, 20161 votes

So it should be standard then?

Meep ManMay 15, 20161 votes

If Flash gets added to the game, Shaco, Kassadin, Singed, and sometimes even Hecarim players are all getting an indirect nerf. If it's removed, everyone else needs to be slightly buffed.

Umbra ZMay 15, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Inept Maverick,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=oAtlt80b,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2016-05-15T14:53:57.285+0000)

If Flash gets added to the game, Shaco, Kassadin, Singed, and sometimes even Hecarim players are all getting an indirect nerf. If it's removed, everyone else needs to be slightly buffed.

I think you have it backwards? not really sure though...

Electric BuyersMay 15, 20161 votes

I see what you are saying, and that is an interesting point. But how would it not simply balance out in the end? Wouldn't it pretty much be like it is now? What I mean when I say that is, it would be like Rengar jumping on you with your flash down if you were Jinx. (You're kinda like... whelp... gg)

MLDzXnRRRMay 15, 20161 votes

Actually Flash is way better on the mobile assasins than immobile champions... Removing Flash will nerf Riven to trash tier - you will be no longer able to Flash+W + Q+R the enemy team for 80-100 % of their hp in a second.

Electric BuyersMay 15, 20161 votes

While this isn't necessarily incorrect, the idea is that nobody has flash. I could see riven even being more powerful if flash was removed, considering she has 4 gap closes.

ll League God llMay 15, 20161 votes

There is a reason we have summoner spells... its to make the best use out of our champs with decisions we make or feel more inclined to take

As someone who plays a decent amount of tryndamere, i feel like he would become the strongest champ in league

Why you might ask?

When i lane tryndamere i almost ALWAYS take exhaust / ignite because its just that strong... and you wanna give him another free mobility boost ontop of this?

What a terrible choice

Immagine a fizz with exhaust / ignite and flash? just saying...

Electric BuyersMay 15, 20161 votes

So how was the game meta dictated before sums were added? How did teamfights and objective taking play out differently?

ll League God llMay 15, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Electric Buyers,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=oAtlt80b,comment-id=00040000,timestamp=2016-05-15T19:03:23.242+0000)

So how was the game meta dictated before sums were added? How did teamfights and objective taking play out differently?

you are comparing apples to oranges, first off flash has almost ALWAYS been apart of league play outside the beta, also the game in seasons 1-4 were vastly different than seasons 5 and 6 so making comparrissons isnt even worth the waisted energy.

There is a ton more champs now with vastly different mechanics.

You strike me as someone who has an idea, and when people dont agree you will sit here all day long asking why people dont agree with you instead of simply realising that flash isnt 100% needed on every champ, and making it so would BREAK certain champs to the point of being 100% pick / ban

Removing flash would result in across the board reworks because mobility on champs is already very high

Giving flash to everyone would break champs with high mobility not because of having flash, but by allowing them to take flash COMBINED with exhaust or ignite boosting their killpower or escape power through the roof.

I have nothing further to say here