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Mordekaiser: Polishing the Metal

proXc··2 votes·848 views

Mordekaiser Firstly, this thread is purely about Mordekaiser and the sole purpose of it is to discuss the various directions that Riot could go with Mordekaiser's gameplay to make him a better champion in all aspects. Mentioning other champions as comparisons is fine, of course, but don't derail the thread.

July 9th:

Mordekaiser's Gameplay: What does Mordekaiser do? What should he do? What champions can we compare Mordekaiser to? What does Mordekaiser not have that would really benefit his unique identity? What does Mordekaiser already have that isn't clarified or emphasized enough?

So I've started us off with a few questions to answer about Mordekaiser as we move forward. I think they're important questions. If you have any relevant questions to add, please do so below and I'll update this post.

My additions to the discussion:

"What does Mordekaiser already have that isn't clarified or emphasized enough?" + "What champions can we compare Mordekaiser to?"

Kha'Zix Khazix Q - Taste their Fear PASSIVE: Kha'Zix marks enemies that are isolated from their allies. Enemy champions are marked as isolated when they have no allies (allied champions, minions or turrets) within 425-units. Isolated targets receive 30% extra damage.

Mordekaiser Mordekaiser Q - Mace of Spades If the target is isolated, the ability deals 65% more damage.

Withholding some of my thoughts, the thread is now open for discussion! :) Manners encouraged.

9 Comments

HappyHazard074 votes

I feel like currently morde is just a walking nuke. He doesn't really do anything besides damage while also being a bit tankier than a mage. He doesn't really have an identity yet because he is barely played but i would guess that maybe people who actually play him may have an idea of what he is supposed to be.

proXc2 votes

That's exactly right. He's got very little in terms of variety, and it gets stale very quickly. The potential he has for a niche kit and ability synergy is all there, but it hasn't been pursued enough in my opinion. I think Riot should even go so far as to look at how Mordekaiser casts his abilities. Is his E really perfect as an instant-cone-damage ability? Not likely.

Variks the Loyal3 votes

I think Mordekaiser's lack of mobility could be his niche/identity.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YouWillNotEvadeMe

When I think of Mordekaiser, I see this big, hulking, lumbering suit of armor. Similar to Sion, but Sion is more unstoppable strength. Mordekaiser is a wraith that feeds off of suffering, and the idea of preventing enemies from fleeing from him could help be his niche. In this, he could be a tanky fighter rather than a bursty mage, who thrives in sustained conflicts where he can inflict as much pain as possible on an enemy.

I think his E is problematic for that. It promotes bursting, and doesn't make much thematic sense (A bunch of maces popping out from the ground? Although I suppose they're fixing that). I would replace it with something to help lock down enemies and prevent them from escaping you.

E: Malice and Chains - 24/36/48/60/72 Health - 8/7/6/5/4 Second Cooldown - 700 Range

Mordekaiser launches a spectral chain from his gauntlet in a line. If the chain strikes an enemy, it impales them, dealing 70/85/100/115/130 (60% AP)(60% AD) Magic Damage and chaining them to Mordekaiser, preventing them from leaving a 700 Range area around him.

They are chained to Mordekaiser for 5 seconds, and take Magic Damage equal to 2% of their maximum health every second. While chained, all damage over time effects on the target have their damage increased by 20%.

Enemies can break the chain with dash or blink spells, but the chain snaps upon breaking, stunning them for 1.5 seconds.

Something similar to an ability like this.

Photos of Ghosts2 votes

Never played him, but I feel like he's quite supposed to be (although a mage) the archetype of the Garen-like bruiser: tons of damage, tons of tankiness, nothing else. A soloqueue stomper with no possible existence in competitive. In my opinion, he has in that sense a pretty clear identity. He just needs pretty heavy number tweaks.

proXc1 votes

I think every champion should have a place in competitive play that isn't solely defined by numbers, but we'll get there in time. Take Annie for example. Even a simple champion can make it to the grand stage.

I feel that even Garen has more options available to him than Mordekaiser, whether it's a grand total of 3 more options or 5. And, Garen is a successfully simple champion, while Mordekaiser feels like an wannabe complex champion. Morde sits in the same category as Yorick right now. They've either got something that will never work, or they lack something that'll make their mechanics whole. We could even say right now that the area that's giving trouble is "Bruisers with Pets." Riot has said themselves that sometimes a champion's numbers don't have a middle point between too strong and too weak because the overall kit doesn't allow it.

Photos of Ghosts1 votes

I honestly feel like Yorick is definitely on the "too strong" side.

Laraso1 votes

I don't really understand why you think it isn't clear what he's supposed to be. Mordekaiser is a short ranged AP mage, a durable splitpushing monstrosity who acts as a bully in lane and an equalizer in team fights. He can single handedly turn a losing fight into a winning one by killing the right target and bringing them to his side.

Honestly I love his kit the way it is right now, and while it could certainly be improved, I do think Mordekaiser should be one of the last champions we should be looking to rework right now. I may be a bit biased as a Mordekaiser main, but honestly I think he's in a pretty decent spot right now, especially in comparison to other champs who are in much more need of attention.

Elise Taric Poppy Urgot Olaf Yorick

Like, what exactly is the reason you think Morde needs to have a complete gameplay change? His winrates are fine, is it because he has a low pickrate? What exactly do you find wrong with his kit the way it is right now?

proXc1 votes

He has barely any difference between his two roles. Top and Mid. He plays them exactly the same more or less, and there's almost no room for change. As a Fighter, or as a Mage, there's pretty much no change. When he engages, or runs away, no change. Etc, no change. It's not about his winrate. It's about how absolutely boring and static he is (in a way, yes, low pick rate).

I'm not saying his gameplay needs to change completely, I'm only hoping it gains some variance, or more emphasis on certain points of play. "He can single handedly turn a losing fight into a winning one by killing the right target" - most champions can do that, in fact, that's how you win a teamfight in general. What else can he do?

TWGdabeast1 votes

As someone who has played Mordekaiser for quite some time, he is a great burst/ up close and pummel his enemies, he lacks mobility and cc, making it simple for enemies to simply walk away from the big metal man.

the magnet add on to his w is really ineffective, it isnt enough to assist you escaping and you cant cast it on an enemy to catch up.

while cc may make Mordekaiser too much to go in on, his counterplay dictates you hurt him when his shield is low or not present.

Maybe they can add a buildup of tenacity to his passive so he is atcually better in a fight. this strengthens the need to hit him when he is weak and to make him harder to fight, or rather trap in cc so Mordekaiser can atcually contribute to fights .

the tenacity is to make him also be a better pick. a big no no on morde is to not pick him against heavy cc teams. I think this will help the big metal giant.

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