Boards›Gameplay

Is Rek'Sai really in a good place right now to launch? (also, thoughts on her balance?)

John Berserk··10 votes·3,240 views

Because I have yet to see any new PBE updates (at all) since she was brought to PBE, and literally everyone I ask who has played her on PBE says shes terrible, and everyone I see commenting about her (such as streamers) says shes terrible too.

But where are all of the topics about her? Shouldnt people be giving feedback on her? How she plays, how she feels, her power curve throughout the game, what you should buy on her or how to build her, and everything else? I look on the front page and there's literally ONE topic about her, and its a Jurassic Park reference. I'm legitimately surprised by this. You guys pretty much always dogpile onto the conversations when it comes to new champions and reworks, talking about them nonstop until they actually release, complaining about one thing and/or praising another, but not with Rek'Sai.

This silence kind of worries me, because if no one is talking about her, then Riot has no choice but to assume shes fine as is and will release what may be a very underpowered champion.

I have yet to play her myself, but looking at her kit and hearing the reactions from others, she really doesn't look all too great...good tankiness stats-wise, but little damage and little cc with nothing to make up for it but some opportunities for some clever mobility and ganks (even if her tunnels are destroyed laughably easy).

I like her design myself. I think it could be fun and definitely a unique experience. However, all of the negative reactions towards her power makes me think she's not in a good place right now, definitely not in a good place to launch in. And if my gut feeling is true, why is hardly anyone talking about her?

What do you guys think, is she good? Bad? Kind of inbetween? What changes do you think she needs to be good for launch, if any?

27 Comments

Vore Monster9 votes

She needs sticking power in my opinion. Her base stats and growth is laughably one of the lowest in the game, with Riot thinking that her mobility makes up for it. She also loses half of her kit's potential with her tunnels being globally seen by enemies once discovered, and destroyed in 1.5 seconds with a gold reward of 10g.

Does she need some love? Yes. Does she need an overhaul? No. Just give her tunnels HP and prevent them from permanently showing on the map when seen, buff her stats either offensively or defensively, and give her a slow on her poke ability.

John Berserk2 votes

This is how I feel (without having actually played her of course).

I feel like her tunnels could have at LEAST a few hits needed to destroy them, could only appear to the enemy team when they're in sight of a champ or ward they control, and maybe have her Q (both burrowed and unburrowed) apply a slow or something.

About the Q idea: I was thinking the burrowed Q can apply a bigger slow than the unburrowed Q hits, but the unburrowed hits could apply a slow to all enemies hit. That would at least give her something to follow up with after her knockup.

The Storm Dragon5 votes

Riot has said that they've been intentionally undertuning new champions because of how 'different' some of their mechanics are. Rek'Sai being weak is intentional for two reasons: 1. The aforementioned undertuning, 2. Riot is experimenting on how to properly gauge mobility in terms of the power budget.

Kingsgrave1 votes

Riot has said that they've been intentionally undertuning new champions because of how 'different' some of their mechanics are. Rek'Sai being weak is intentional for two reasons: 1. The aforementioned undertuning, 2. Riot is experimenting on how to properly gauge mobility in terms of the power budget.

They have to be careful because she could honestly be Nocturne 2.0

Meep Man4 votes

They said no PBE updates till Monday.

John Berserk1 votes

Oh did they? I must have missed that then.

Regardless, I'm still surprised at the lack of general conversation about her.

RoyaiChaos1 votes

Guessing Thanksgiving break?

ProjectE3 votes

I would recommend watching videos made by Pawnce on both his youtube and twitch accounts. I have seen most of the videos that he has on Rek'sai and I found them to be very informative. I could see why people believe she is a terrible champion however I like her play style. Her ult does seem to be on the long side for me when it come to cooldowns (nothing a little CDR can't fix), but this is because it falls in the category of a global ult and these tend to be long. She brings a different play style that some people are not comfortable with thus some would call her a terrible champion. I think she is a mean counter jungler and I can't wait to get my hands on her.

Lord OwlBear2 votes

All I know is I watched a video on her tunnel and how it was glitchy (like in some spots you could glitch over walls or go much further than intended). I dunno if those have been fixed on the pbe but it seems like a good place to start.

Lord OwlBear1 votes

here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Xa4V2o1Nk

CalciferHowel1 votes

here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Xa4V2o1Nk

Were you expecting them to throw you our in the middle of the wall? Honestly, it's just like a well done flash type Ability.

Lord of Ruts1 votes

fiddle can do the same with his ult so im cool with it

Lord OwlBear1 votes

This isn't an ult or even a flash, its a basic ability that can be used much more often.

CalciferHowel1 votes

This isn't an ult or even a flash, its a basic ability that can be used much more often.

Like an Ezreal E, or a Kat Shunpo? Yup, totally new concept...

Lord OwlBear1 votes

Yeah but those cant go over 2 walls or glitch you over others, did you even watch the video?

Rinky Dinky2 votes

Uh, everyone I have seen stream has said she is amazing, and that she might actually need nerfs.

OmManiPadmeHum2 votes

Uh, everyone I have seen stream has said she is amazing, and that she might actually need nerfs.

Her Q is fun. the 3 swipe cleave is great jung clear. Her W is the bread and butter. it is what this champ is all about. Her E is a nice true damage strike, but I would like to see it buffed for how squishy she is Her R is cool. fun to watch. I which it had some amplified damage at the end though. or something.

People are right though. while she is tunneled, she shouldn't be targetable. the tunnels are already set up so you can't just keep dashing back and forth in the same one over and over. There is a CD on the tunnel for when you can go through it again. They need to make something so that using it seems more than just a gap closer.

Also, the whole thing with getting rid of the tunnels. They either need to make it so you have to attack it and kill it like a pink ward (hit it 5 times), or have to kill both sides of tunnel. If one side is left open, Rek'Sai should be able to start the burrow again and just recreate the opening again. Creating a tunnel into dragon is worthless because you just have to stand on it to make it go away. making it very unlikely you can quick use it or ult to it.

A Slime Appears1 votes

No she should stay targetable, we don't need more dumb shit like troll poles and troll pools and zhonyas.

MrSc0tty2 votes

Riot has a thanksgiving break. That's why no updates dude.

You know, like every company that exists.

John Berserk1 votes

Yeah, that explains the lack of PBE updates, but that doesnt explain the lack of Rek'Sai discussion in general, which is one of my main concerns.

Supposedly they're going to update the PBE today, so maybe we'll see some changes for her.

warpenguin5552 votes

She needs some kind of CC imo other then her W. When she ganks the only thing she can really do is tunnel then come out of burrowed form for a knockup. Unless the teammate you're ganking is Yasuo or has super CC, it seems unlikely they will die. the only other thing she can do after that its punch people, and if you're getting ganked you arent staying and fighting. Maybe a Slow on her burrowed Q would work.

This is just the way i see it. Im not on the PBE for her but i have watched some videos on her gameplay.

EDIT: Can she use summoners spells when burrowed? i dont remember seeing people doing that from the gameplay i saw.

Grouchy Poro2 votes

I think you're missing the point with her. She's not meant to be a strong ganker, she's meant to be a counter jungler. Her purpose is to starve the enemy jungler and make them less effective. She has some gank potential which is good but like trundle the point is to be an oppressive force rather than get kills. Her playstyle encourages powerfarming with tunnels to countergank.

Yawnli1 votes

people play her top now. she does kinda well

Teslyn1 votes

i played her.. my thoughts before to my thoughts now on her

i thought her underground skill would be more of a vlad pool immunity instead of a movement speed increase form. (but a deeper thought would be to make it so she cant get targeted, but can still get hit by skill shots.) Ult is cool.. it was what i expected. was hoping that you would knock people to the side as you are move to the location. if they are on your path the directional underground skill shot.. her W. alittle underwhelming.. should be a slow added to that or something. She will be the center of focus because she is squishy and she does alot of damage. i dont like how her tunnels when one hole is collapsed it closes both holes. if her holes wouldnt both die.. it would help out tactically so the enemy team would have to drop both holes. they drop quick too .. just kinda stumps her.

she needs some minor tweaks but it seems like he damage out put is trying to over compensate for her.

360D3GR3SS1 votes

While burrowing and/or unburrowing she is untargetable. Strong and appropriate buff. Note: she is only untargetable for about .75 seconds durring the animation of her burrow and/or her unburrow

Leggie1 votes

She needs pbe nerds, I've played a lot of her and she has too much burst and too much mobility with the only drawback being her inability to chase very well.

More from Gameplay

3 Refunds per season, upvote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay764 comments
7,167
votes
3 Refunds per season, upvote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay156 comments
3,510
votes
UPVOTE FOR URF
Gameplay606 comments
2,440
votes
Yes plz.
Gameplay456 comments
1,721
votes
3 Refunds per season, up vote if you want 3 refunds per season.
Gameplay114 comments
1,716
votes
When is ANYONE at riot going to address the awful new player experience?
Gameplay634 comments
1,383
votes

More by John Berserk

There should be a sandbox mode for testing purposes
Maps & Modes83 comments
271
votes
Should dashes be affected by slows?
Gameplay106 comments
109
votes
Amazing job on Reaper Soraka
Story, Art, & Sound35 comments
62
votes
I need a reason to keep Frost Queen's Claim late game, let alone build it in the first place.
Gameplay32 comments
38
votes
What if Evelynn was the Black Rose?
Story, Art, & Sound59 comments
35
votes
@Riot, really hope you're considering a "Riot Chief of Police" skin for Azir
Gameplay15 comments
28
votes