My Solution to the Current Meta circa 2017

Meserion·Dec 2, 2017·1 votes·302 views

~~Foreword~~

The problem with the current meta is that ADCs, and to a lesser extent AD in general, are extremely overtuned. The methods in which they deal damage combined with the potent item choices they possess makes them extremely powerful; So powerful in fact, that it can be said it is almost not even worth taking any AP champions anymore. They achieve this by having ready access to Burst mechanics as well as have multiple avenues to outscale defense; effectively they can hit like burst mages and nullify tank items. The things about supports having powerful synergies with ADCs and the fact AD items are so cheap, are just icing on the cake. I see the real problem as something that has been brewing for many seasons and it is only now that people are starting to realize the full extent of it.

In my mind LoL shares many things with other class-based games. They have about 3 distinct roles, Tanks, DPS, and Heals. If you pay attention other class games like Heroes of the Storm, World of Warcraft, Dota2, Overwatch, Team Fortress 2, and so on, you notice that there are more DPS than there are Tanks or Heals. This can be reasoned that most prefer to deal damage as opposed to Tanking or Healing. I can understand because it has a more reliable feedback than Tanking and Healing, and that feedback is what engages the player. Up until this season, The balance in LoL has remained the same as other games, 3 DPS, 1 Tank, 1 Heal/Support. What happened this season is it became the "Protect the ADC" meta where the ADC was the only true viable DPS and everyone else became Supports and Tanks. Most people want to DPS, so season 7 has flown in the face of what people actually want, which is a dangerous direction to take a game in. I have a solution that not only will fix the current problems, but also future-proof champion design so it will be much harder for this to happen again. There are likely many solutions, but this one is mine. ** Without further ado, here is my solution:**

Damage Methods (not types like AD or AP) would be separated into two distinct types, BURST and DPS.

Burst: Damage that is dealt in a very small window but is also very high, with the intent of assassinating or "deleting" a target. This damage type would be extremely potent in the early game but by mid to late game, would falloff. This falloff would occur because things like Armor, Magic Resist, and HP would be built. A Burst damage dealer would have to alter their playstyle to focus on weakened targets with less than 50% HP rather than straight up deleting targets. Tanks would serve as the counter to Burst damage.

DPS: Damage that is dealt over a long period of time, this damage would not be bursty but be consistent. DPS would be able to outscale defense but could only achieve this after being in combat long enough. Their damage would start coming together mid to late game, as it would be reliant on gear and levels.

To ensure that these 2 damage methods remain separate, there would many item changes including the introduction of a new type of item called a "Paragon" item.

Paragon item: A special item that is extremely potent in one way. Only one of these items would purchasable per champion, so the player would have to choose wisely.

Paragon items would serve to seperate the DPS from the Burst by making key elements of each role tied to these items:

along with would become Paragon items for AD. and would become Paragon items for AP.

Would be changed to now give 10% Armor penetration with each auto attacking stacking up to 10 times for 10 seconds. This would be for AD DPS so they can outscale defense, Burst would not get 10 autos off before their target runs away.

Would be changed so that each instance of magic damage dealt gives 15% Magic Penetration stacking up to 6 times and lasting 10 seconds. Even if an AP Burst damage dealer does cast 6 times its likely their abilities are on cooldown so they cannot full benefit from this item, only a DPS can make use of it in full.

Tanks would also get Paragon items designed to counteract ceratin types of damage like AD or AP and these items would work against even DPS champions. This would be done to ensure that the damage types on a team are diverise and that we never going back to the "Protect the ADC" meta.

Two Tank Paragon items:

would now reflect damage back equal to 30% of the physical damage dealt (in place of other Thorn mechanic) to them and apply grievous wounds for 1 second in addition to it's other effects.

would now store 10% of the magic dealt damage, empowering your next basic attack to deal true damage.

In addition to Paragon items, Things like Crit would be removed from items as it is a Burst mechanic, it would only be tied to certain champions where crit and therefore burst is a iconic element of their design. Examples of Champions that would need to changed include: . For some champions like Rengar, it would be a simple change, but someone like Yasuo would need a big change.

For Yasuo, I could suggest a passive. Passive: Targets that are knocked up are now vulnerable for 1.5/3 seconds (based on level), When Yasuo damages that vulnerable target, his abilities and attacks will critically strike.

That would be one of many changes but for Yasuo it would preserve his crit mechanic even after crit items are gone.

With these changes in mind some ADCs would be true DPS like and . And some like and would be burst champions. THis needs to be something to get used to to be sure, but this is a far healthier change than what might happen.