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Why Riven has her shield :)

Arya Riven··10 votes·943 views

This post isn't to say Riven is balanced, fair or well designed. Those are different topics. It is merely addressing one aspect of her kit top laners complain about a lot.

Her shield.

Riven has her shield because she is a melee damage dealer, all melee damage dealers barring assassins have some form of defensive steroid or fight sustain, this allows them to trade in lane without it being a total loss, and team fight without dying before they get in range to do their job.

Riven has: Mid tier base HP for a top laner. Mid Tier HP per level for a top laner. The 6th lowest HP regen in the game(this one is important). The 4th lowest HP regen per level in the game(this one is important). Bottom 1/3rd of champions for base AD. Bottom 1/3rd of champions for base AD per level. Bottom 20 for attack speed. 7th highest attack speed for level(because she builds none). Middle tier Armor and Bottom 1/rd Armor per level for a top laner. Above Average MR and MR per level(for trading against top mages).

Here is the important thing when talking about Riven's shield: The 6th lowest HP regen in the game(this one is important). The 4th lowest HP regen per level in the game(this one is important).

Her other defensive stats are about average, but this one is utter garbage. Almost as bad as poor Mordekaiser. Riven has no other form of sustain in her kit either. If Riven goes in for a trade against any laner with sustain, and comes out behind or even cuts even with them, that is a lost trade for her, as she must either burn a pot or wait for regen. In fact at level 1 it would take Riven 1.5 minutes to regenerate 100 HP. Which can be done by other top laners in between 10-40 seconds depending on their kit sustain and HP regen.

Outside of Laning, Riven has no other defensive steroid. If we compare her to her peers who are melees that have to dive in and deal damage. Her shield does not compare to Juggernaut steroids or tank steroids. Riven is a Skirmisher. Other people in her class are Ekko, who has a huge shield plus his ult. Fiora, who has her passive healing and her parry. Yasuo, who has his shield and windwall. Yi who has his W. Trynd who has his ult and Q. Jax who has his dodge. All Skirmishers have a defensive steroid, usually that has some skill and planning involved in it's use, and allows them to survive team fighting and laning. Riven is no different.

Those who insist her shield is 'cancer' and must be removed. Must also want all of these champions to lose their defensive steroids. Otherwise they are being hypocritical.

With respect for the positive end of the community - level7rovinonetrickboxboxlcs.

17 Comments

WoonStruck7 votes

Riven doesn't have her shield because of low HP regen.

She has low HP regen because of her shield. Specifically because the rest of her kit leaves very little room to punish her without getting punished yourself. Go look at the patch notes.

She used to have the highest HP regen in the game.

Whoops, there goes your whole argument.

Arya Riven4 votes

The argument was all Skirmishers have sustain/defense. The shield is Riven's sustain/defense.

Wînter Fox4 votes

Saying this to the Boards is like telling Nazi Germany the Jews aren't so bad

Mira Arya Enthe2 votes

I lold.

ReZisT Lust1 votes

this is nein/10 joke

Ben Sharpio3 votes

this is why you find all of the hardcore riven mains in extremely high elo. Because riven has a lot of weaknesses that can be abused against the best riven players in the world.

Arya Riven4 votes

This post isn't to say Riven is balanced, fair or well designed. Those are different topics. It is merely addressing one aspect of her kit top laners complain about a lot.

Her shield.

That is not a topic I am getting into.

Ben Sharpio4 votes

this is why you find all of the hardcore riven mains in extremely high elo. Because riven has a lot of weaknesses that can be abused against the best riven players in the world.

Admit that a competent riven player ignores all of your stupid rules with "defensive steroids"

Arya Riven4 votes

A competent anything player covers the weaknesses of their champion. :)

Mira Arya Enthe3 votes

This isn't a topic worth getting into with the boards community. I wouldn't worry, Riot isn't going to issue any unfair nerfs. If Riven received nerfs it would be to her Q damage or CD. Not her shield. But if you must discuss anything like this, I suggest taking it to reddit. The community there is a tad more mature and Riot interacts with them more. Most mains of Riven, Lee Sin, Yasuo, Vayne, Fizz, Syndra, etc. Don't even come on the boards. Because the boards are overloaded with hipsters who only play unpopular champions, mage mains and angry rage posters complaining about their noob teams.

Ralanr4 votes

Not sure it'd be taken seriously on /r league of legends since it's mainly esports stuff. Summoner school would be better.

TyrekGoldenspear3 votes

Agreed.

Riven needs some kind of damage mitigation like all the other champs of her class.

Her base stats took a hit to compensate for her burst, but her kit definitely rewards dedication and skill.

Ahristocats1 votes

Some of your arguments are pointless

her shield isn't here to compensate being bottom 20 attack speed at level 1 in the game her shield is also not here to compensate her low hp regen

her shield is here to make her able to do her job, that's all you don't need to make pointless words

Mira Arya Enthe1 votes

Her HP regen being so low is to make her laning weaker so she can maintain her primary defensive ability. Her shield. If you do 100 damage to Riven and Riven does 100 damage to you. Any other top laner will get that 100 back twice as fast barring pots. Top tier Rivens still span the hell out of pots even if using her shield effectively.

But I agree. Saying "It's necessary for skirmishers" SHOULD be enough.

Arya Riven1 votes

Darius may not have his Q heal due to a lack of escape but he certainly needs it because he cannot escape. Riven may not have her shield due to regen but she needs it due to a lack of regen. Both have them so they can do their job. But both need them because they lack some other tool to do said job. In Riven's case it is the lack of other sustain. In Darius case it's because he is all in with no way out. Which fits his character. It is glory or death. Riven's E fits her character. Ran from the war when the goin' got tough. :P

Escheton1 votes

So you are saying she gets lots of cool powerful things because she has a weakness she can overcome by simply chosing a mastery, runepage or cheap item with lifesteal. While those powerful things shut down anyone able to trade with her even if she chooses to not go for those things except for the item, but that item builds into a sustain/burst-enhancer anyways, so it's fine?

I disagree.

Arya Riven1 votes

I'm saying literally all skirmishers have a defensive steroid. Riven's E is hers.

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