Initial thoughts on Sett

Let me preface this: I'm not making any definitive comments on whether he's going to be stronk or not since it's going to take a while for us to see how Sett faces off against the competition. These are more predictions of potential pain points, and noting aspects of his design that I think deserve praise or concern.

Passive: Honestly, I like the idea behind his passive. There's a nice rhythm to it, and I think giving his follow up punch extra range allows him to pivot targets or land the follow up without too much jank. My primary focus is how hard he'll spike with titanic hydra and tri force, especially given the former's auto reset (aa1 aa2, Qaa1 (sheen), Qaa2, Titanic aa 1, aa 2).

Something I do appreciate is the pretty conservative 15% AD ratio on it, and him having very low attack speed indeed. Seriously, Bork, bloodrazor, Guinsoo, Wit's end, phantom dancer and greaves, and he only maxxed out at 2.48. Side note, for a juggernaut he has base AD that's somewhat lower compared to his contemporaries such as Illaoi or Darius.

Q: Very straightforward. Again, pretty conservative numbers with a focus on max health. I think the combined 10% base on both punches might be slightly high at a glance, but his flat damage is only a total 100. Really it's main purpose looks to be an auto reset and method of smacking chunkier opponents. I also love his movement speed bonus only being towards champions. It's in character, and it restricts his mobility in escape.

W: This is the one that's going to be harder to predict. On one hand, seeing true damage on a basic ability concerns me. On the other hand, most likely it'll be maxed second and it doesn't have a direct AD ratio, instead only increasing the amount of grit converted into damage. It's visual clarity is excellent. It has a long wind up with very clear indicators as to where it's going to land, and his model screams at you when he's got enough grit to really leave a mark.

It's worth noting that I think for once the true damage was used as a damage limiter, rather than enabler. If it inflicted bonus physical damage rather than being a true damage converter, it would perhaps give Sett a little too much pushing power without tiamat. That said, if this ability was to land on the strong side I think it would be down to grit generation rather than its base damage. I am a wee bit concerned about it proccing off of turret damage and how his dives might pan out, but the shield is very brief.

E: Dear god I love the clear hit box outline, just like his W. Not too long, not too short, has conditions in order to use it to maximum effect, consistently know where the target lands, wind up's short enough to be useful, long enough to react to, and no knock up or airborne bullshit to obnoxiously strengthen it. Riot, please take notes. This is how you design an ability, especially a last max ability.

R: This is arguably the worst designed ability out of all of them. Or to be more accurate, least good. I think this takes the positives of Vi's ult, and shimmies things around a bit so it's not problematic. Let me explain.

Vi's designed so that she can follow anyone and dunk them. That does however, leave her vulnerable to burst. At the same time, if she builds too tanky and she won't be able to finish off her target. It means she has to be careful with her ultimates and consider how her Q fits into the mix. Sett on the other hand chooses where his target wants to go, as opposed to the other way round. At the same time, to pick someone out of a fight (or to start one using them) requires mobility and repositioning tools he can only get through flash or items.

The ability is a targeted ability, so he can't use it willy nilly to escape like a certain abomination. The base damage doesn't look too high, and is dependent on the targets bonus health, meaning he needs to be choosier with his targets to get maximum effect. My main gripes are that I think his landing spot and the size of the crater need to be more clearly indicated for both his knowledge, and his opponent's.

Overall, I think Sett is the best designed champion we've had in the last 2-3 years. He's got very clear strengths (punching down chunky bois), clear weaknesses (very situational mobility and is very kitable), very clear indicators for his abilities bar his ultimate, and is overall very solid.

Whether he'll land on the strong or weak side, I can't say. What I can say, is that it's very clear that they made sure there were lots of levers to manage his strength.

Love, a tank main.