A Perspective on Liandry's Torment (Mage Update)

The juggernaut influenced changes to the Black Cleaver have shown Liandry's Torment to be counter-intuitive. Flat penetration alongside percent armor shred (or current health burn) creates an all or nothing decision when looking at the relative power of an item.

Although there are many similarities between the old Black Cleaver and Liandry's Torment, it is important to note that Liandry's does not entirely fall into the category of "this item does everything." There is a specific purpose for Liandry's, which is high health, low resistance targets.

The problem with an item favoring a high health, low resistance target is the synergy between health and resistances.

Against a pure tank itemizing health and magic resist, there is not a more efficient item than Void Staff. On the other end of the spectrum, a low health, low magic resist target will be most susceptible to Sorcerers boots as an early damage amplifier.

So what is left? The champions that forgo the health-resistance synergy for damage alongside their inflated HP bar...

Let us imagine a yung Darius coming out of lane with a Titanic Hydra, Sterak's Gage, and a Black Cleaver. You would imagine this Darius is very fed to be building those items together. If he were not fed, those items would seem like a greedy purchase.

Well that Darius just happens to be the high health, low resistance fantasy of a Liandry's wielder.

Is that really what you want out of Liandry's Torment, an item who's sole purpose is to punish greedy juggernauts? Or better yet, an item that punishes players that do not understand tank itemization.

But hey, I'm cool with an item that lets me 1v5 noobs on my smurf. It is basically all the AP stats you need to take on multiple, less mechanically skilled players.

;)