Since Riot is big about rework low counterplay (assassins?) kits why not take another look at mages?
There are certain midlaners who have lack of counterplay and are unfun to play. These champions are outdated, not played often but when you face them you wish wouldn't have to. They all have point and click nukes, CC and are hard to play around. I'm not saying to gut these champions, I'm simply asking to provide more windows of counterplay while trading, fighting and laning. These champions do have counterplay, aren't overpowered but lack counterplay.
Her Q/W/E are all dodgeable but if she hits one thing she can 1 shot you with R, it's not really healthy.
Lacks window of counterplay. She has her stun active very often and if she doesn't she still wins the trade because of her E giving her a damage reduction aura. Give her more windows to be played around instead of her being a walking nuke with very tiny windows of counterplay. You have to avoid her because otherwise she will 1 shot you.
Early game she's weak but once she hits 6 she can near 1 shot everyone with her R and E. You can't run due to her W so a mobility champion is required. Even if she gets destroyed she can use her wall or Q and R for some cc.
Has good pushing, loads of point and click and forces enemies to buy QSS. His combo has no counterplay if you don't have QSS + some sustain. His early pushing is pretty poor but after the early levels he's unstoppable.
Some mages do have a good design with less or no problems which the above champions have. Examples are:
Her entire kit can be played around and everything can be dodged. She has good waveclear but isn't oppressive when ahead. Has no point and click nuke either.
Has loads of skillshots and can be played around. She is hard to catch but isn't as oppressive as above mentioned midlaners
She needs to hit her W+E combo to do significant damage. Has loads of counterplay and isn't oppressive.
