To counter shield-creep, should there be a "Shield Breaker" effect?

darkdill·Aug 18, 2017·3 votes·623 views

Shield creep is now upon us, and I think that one way it could be broken down is if an item is introduced that either adds bonus damage against shields or has an active effect that instantly shatters an enemy shield. Varian has this ability as a Talent choice in HoTS and it works well against opponents like Artanis, so it's not inconceivable to think that this could work in LoL.

But would this run into "too niche" or "hard-counters are bad"?

12 Comments

TerozuAug 18, 20172 votes

Shields have been useless for forever, let supports be effective for god's sake.

Sir YamazukiAug 18, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Shields have been useless for forever, let supports be effective for god's sake.

Only 7 champions being played support out of over 20 have shields, and some of them are small shields. Shielding is mostly an issue on champions like Janna where it lasts almost as long as the cool down and when you have another champion with shields in a solo lane or jungle. After all, not all champions with shields go bot lane as a support.

Also, I don't agree with the suggestion either, but for different purposes. I strongly dislike GW and prefer healing be balanced around it not existing and sustain items being unique/can't be stacked. Don't want to see a similar mechanic for shields.

Variks the LoyalAug 18, 20172 votes

It depends on how powerful it is.

Honestly, it would be better for shields to be brought into line as opposed to a hard counter for shields to be introduced.

If one were introduced, it probably would be unhealthy, since it would either be an always build or a never build based on the meta. In HotS, Varian has the talent choice of Shattering Throw so he can opt into it to counter enemies with shields; this balances out because HotS has no items, and thus not every character has shields (No Locket, for example). Meanwhile his other choices on that tier can grant him other utility like %-health damage to bust tanks or reduced healing. The fact that HotS has no items actually keeps that talent balanced.

In LoL, every character technically has access to shields through Locket, for example, or Masteries like CoC, on top of champion abilities. It wouldn't be a situational buy, then, as much as it would be a MUST buy against teams with a Locket - which is almost every game.

It would make a neat way to rework item 3022 .

item 3144 + item 1011 + 600g - 3100g total

30 AD 10% Life Steal 400 Health

Unique - Active: Throw the Frozen Mallet at the target enemy, dealing 200 Magic Damage (Increased by 500% VS Shields) and slowing the target by 25% for 2 seconds.

Just tinkering. Probably not very balanced.

Yeah, it would be better to just nerf shields.

TheDesoIationAug 18, 20171 votes

Just add bonus dmg to shields on item 3033 and that would probably work

BALDG1VEN BOOMERAug 18, 20171 votes

RIP Janna

Variks the LoyalAug 18, 20172 votes

ADCs are not the characters that would need this sort of effect. Really would be better on a Juggernaut or a Skirmisher.

TheDesoIationAug 18, 20171 votes

yeah but then you would need to create a whole new item and bruisers/skirmishers already have great itemization with item 3812 item 3026 item 3071 item 3155 item 3748 I think another good item for them would just be too much

Variks the LoyalAug 18, 20171 votes

Eh. Cleaver is great, but DD and GA are not pure-Fighter items. Hell, GA was reworked for ADCs mainly.

Titanic is just okay. It's great on certain champions and shit on others.

TheDesoIationAug 18, 20171 votes

Yeah their intention was for it to be used by adcs but how often do you see JarvanIV Kled Riven Fiora Renekton and the other bruiser toplaners just build these?I dunno about you but i feel like every time theres a bruiser top he builds titanic into bc into gargoyle or ga or hexdrinker

The Last BalladAug 19, 20171 votes

Yeah, we really don't need to extend the corrupting hand of GW to shields. Sure it is easy, but taking shortcuts in coding instead of doing it the right way tend to cause issues down the line. It would be much better to create a separate effect that cannot coexist with GW than give everyone a way to dismantle it from the get go. Doing that would also force you to consider whether its more beneficial for you to be able to break shields or if you need to cut the enemies in fight sustain.

TheDesoIationAug 20, 20171 votes

thats why i said item 3033 not item 3123 800g for countering sheilds and heals would be too bs