How Riot Could Fix Kalista
I think everyone knows that Kalista used to be a very problematic champion due to having a very strong kit. She has an infinite kiting passive, a second smite, moving wards, and a get-out-of-jail-free card for your support. All of these things combined on a champion designed for a carry role is and was toxic for the game. However, Riot is hesitant on what they wanted to do with Kalista. Everything on her kit defined this champion, and removing anything would make her totally different and I understand that. However, her core identity is what makes her the toxic champion that she once was. Riot decided to just shaft her by gutting all her power without compensation. There are still things though that I think can make Kalista more healthy for the game, while also making her viable and balanced.
Riot can either:
- Lower her attack range
- Decrease Rend damage
- Remove her passive
These are with compensation buffs of course. Just adding these nerfs to her in her current state would be useless.
All of these things could solve something problematic in her kit. By making her range shorter, it will be harder for her to start that chain of endless kiting. I was thinking of maybe 475-450 range. This is less than all adcs, but it should be enough to not make her shit while making her still viable with compensation. This change will probably impact her already weak laning phase though. She wont have much power early game since her trades will be very support-reliant. However, items like Rapid Fire Cannon can be good options for the late game so she is still stronger as a late game carry.
Riot can also decrease her rend damage. Basically having Kalista on your team that stacks her rend on an objective can make it almost impossible to lose that objective because of smite and rend damage can outsmite anything. Also, a fully stacked rend can one shot an enemy squishy doing a specific technique (stacking it on a monster, waiting for someone to walk by, then q for the kill as well as making the rend stacks hit someone that doesnt have vision. This rend proc will insta kill them). While Kalista's rend is a very unique, high risk high reward type of ability, it just has too many uses that make it a really strong ability.
They can also remove her passive. This is the most insane change to her kit, but possibly the most effective. Everyone knows that Kalista's passive is basically what defines her as a champion. Sadly, the one thing that defines her also happens to be the most problematic component of her kit. By removing Kalista's passive, she will be forced to kite like normal adc's. This turns her from a very mobile and aggressive damage dealer to a more passive and immobile champion. This will probably be the best change to her kit because she wont be as oppressive. Obviously heavy compensation buffs would be needed. Just removing her most powerful ability would require a new passive that is also strong. It will also require serious buffing on her abilities.
Overall, these are somethings that I think can help balance Kalista. If anyone has feedback, feel free to comment about it and make suggestions. This is also just my opinion, and if you guys have better changes then I would be happy to hear them.
