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@Morello @Riot, can we get some context for the Ahri PBE changes?

Direwolfiez·1/24/2015, 2:19:47 AM·10 votes·1,341 views

Really, I don't even play Ahri and I find this change baffling. I can't find the specific source, but I remember a Rioter commenting on reddit about how they, and Riot in general, wanted to change her from being a mobile assassin mage into a kiting poke mage (if you know what I'm talking about, feel free to provide the link). Seriously? That's not even remotely similar to her current playstyle in any way. Why? She is, in my opinion, one of the more healthier assassins in the game. She blows all her spells to kill one target, and since she has mana, she has to run before she's CC'd and blown up, and wait for her CDs to end before being useful again (since she isn't AD and can't contribute by autoattacking).

My own opinion aside, can you please explain why you're taking this approach to Ahri? Again, I don't even play her, but as someone that played her primary targets, ADCs and APCs, I actually liked playing against her. Her mobility gave her an inherent advantage, but other than that, I felt that I had an equal opportunity to outplay her as she did me, and if she killed me, I always knew that I screwed up. I've never been killed by an Ahri after the damage amp addition and thought, "Wow, this is the most toxic, well-rounded character in the game with relatively few weaknesses". To cut the rambling short...I liked playing against her.

I don't understand these changes. I don't get why anyone at Riot would want to completely change her playstyle. What is so wrong with it, currently? I'd really like to get that question answered, so please, if you can take the time and post a few times, a lot of people, including myself, would be very grateful.

21 Comments

Riftic1/24/2015, 4:52:15 AM3 votes

Ignoring how questionable the changes themselves are, it doesn't even make a bit of sense to completely change how Ahri plays by removing her ability to assassinate.

Champion reworks/gameplay updates happen because a champion's gameplay is either outdated or unhealthy (unfair, frustrating to play as/against, etc). Ahri's current gameplay is neither outdated nor unhealthy. In fact, Ahri offers the most counterplay and interaction of any assassin.

Furthermore, changing her to be focused on kiting enemies is neither fun for the player or the opponent. There is very little a player can do against a champion that kites them all day, much like being sieged by a Ziggs. This is an obvious step backwards in interactivity and health.

It doesn't even make sense lore-wise to move Ahri away from being an assassin. She lures in people and kills them while their guard is down. How does that correspond to kiting, exactly?

What is even the point of these changes? Why alienate people who like Ahri the way she is now? Is it all on a whim? Why?

SmokingPuffin1/24/2015, 6:32:46 PM1 votes

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/GinIa17t-52-live-gameplay-patch-forecast?show=rundown http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/uzXWWVZ9-ahris-state-after-52?show=rundown

She is, in my opinion, one of the more healthier assassins in the game. She blows all her spells to kill one target, and since she has mana, she has to run before she's CC'd and blown up, and wait for her CDs to end before being useful again

I think you're probably correct about this. Healthiest assassin is a bit of a tallest dwarf competition, but Ahri is clearly ahead of many assassins.

What is so wrong with it, currently?

The main problem with Ahri is that her E-centric playstyle is extremely reliant on DFG, and DFG is going away. They nerfed other aspects of her kit when they focused it on E windows, and the other playstyles no longer function. I think E will still feel rewarding even without the amp, it's still an amazing CC effect.

I am pretty excited about the contextual mobility offered by the new Q mechanic. I don't really know how this is going to work out, but I do remember mage Ahri being fun to play as and against. Ahri used to be a considerably more versatile champion.

ChargeItDownMid1/24/2015, 8:06:17 PM1 votes

[deleted]

Yenn1/24/2015, 10:16:44 PM1 votes

Ahri was originally a kiting/poking mage. Assassin Ahri is an abomination.

Direwolfiez1/25/2015, 1:48:32 AM1 votes

Not counting opinions on Ahri herself, what does everyone else think about this change? Personally, I find these changes rather disturbing. Again, I don't play Ahri, but the possibility of one of my favorite champs having one of their playstyles completely removed without any dialogue happening at all kinda freaks me out. Again, I'm not defending Ahri because I like her so much as I'm defending Ahri to keep this from becoming precedent and commonplace. I'm sure that this has happened before, but that's all the more reason why we should have conversations with Riot about it, and try to keep it from happening again.

Somnitsu1/25/2015, 5:33:29 AM1 votes

I agree, I really don't care for the new changes comming her way. I think her needs reworks on her ult and W but not what thy're doing is trying to make her into the female version of ezreal.

MrSlowDie1/25/2015, 5:42:57 AM1 votes

{quoted} healthier assassins in the game.

ikr, I made a thread that no one cares about. http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/4Azpz5y9-ill-remember-the-day

I love her "assassinating people with charm" style. I really love her as assassin, she has mobility, but it's on a long CD. She has health sustain, but has to hit many target. She can delete squishy, but has to rely on skill shot. She can spam spells, but gated by mana.

when she kills me, I am mad to myself, not to her OPness

yet riot said this champ is remarkably healthy assassin Zed