The mages Steraks

TheDiff·2/16/2016, 1:47:22 PM·3 votes·1,179 views

You know, everyone is complaining about being a bit too over powered right now. I've even seen someone complain how there isn't a mage version of steraks. Is everyone forgetting ?? Granted that the only mages who build this are late game carries that need the mana to spam their spells, but it gives a huge ass shield. That's 30% of your mana going into a shield. If that is your only mana item, that is at least a 300+ shield on you at your command. However, the difference in these two items is that you can use steraks every 45 seconds, whereas you can only use Seraphs Embrace once every 2 minutes.

I think that if Riot isn't going to change Steraks to melee only and keep it a bruiser/tank item, then they need to increase it's cooldown and nerf the shield it gives you so it will match or be of equvilant value of ability power counterpart. Just a thought.

14 Comments

ValyrianBlade2/16/2016, 1:53:39 PM2 votes

Seraph's Embrace is 158% gold efficient on it's own (i.e. not including the bonus ability power from other mana sources, including your base mana [which everyone has]) and not including the active shield. You also have control over when the shield activates (i.e. it won't activate right as you're about to kill your enemy and are sure you don't need it).

Sterak's Gage is 62.35% gold efficient before the 25% base AD increase. Even once we add in the 25% base AD increase, even in the highest base AD scenario (Mordekaiser at level 18) it's under 97% gold efficient. That's more than 60% behind Seraph's in the best case scenario (and most champions aren't nearly as high AD as Mordekaiser, and also no champion is level 18 for the entire match...).

It's no doubt that the Sterak's shield is larger and applies more frequently. The item itself is so much weaker, so much more dependent on the shield to be strong.

Nanuk Pihoqahiak2/17/2016, 10:14:22 AM2 votes

Not sure why so many people hate Seraph's. It easily provides the most AP out of just about every item and synergizes well with RoA. The only downside is that it's a lategame oriented build in a fast meta. HOWEVER! This was improved with the season changes that gave Archangel's a Needlessly Large Rod buildpath, allowing you to rush that first if you so desire.

Cherysse2/16/2016, 2:22:17 PM1 votes

20% of your CURRENT mana. It is not huge unless you have 5k MP ir something like it, I know because Ive got to have those quantities with MP runes

Old Man Teeto2/16/2016, 2:32:18 PM1 votes

The problem with it is that you have to start it early, you have to remember to use it, you can't use it while stunned, and it scales off your mana and most mages don't need such insanely large pools.

Pretty sure only Ryze and Karthus consistently build it and only a few other mages can make good use of it (Anivia, Zilean, Kassadin).

Steraks is a "buy it anytime after 30 minutes" and it's good. If you could flat buy Seraph's, I'm sure we'd see it more often.

Meep Man2/16/2016, 4:55:29 PM1 votes

I just get Seraph's on champions I build mana on anyways. It gives a ridiculous amount of AP on those champions, allowing for huge damage with tankier builds, like Frozen Heart and Rod of Ages.

DeathBurst2/17/2016, 10:35:09 AM1 votes

Please people, stop comparing AP vs AD itemization. If AP champs need some new items, they should get these new items, even if they have no AD counterparts. But every item should NOT have 2 versions, one for AP and one for AD. The 2 classes of champs are intended to --and actually do-- work differently.

So, ask for items that you need, do not ask for items just because the other group has them. :)

Cheers ;)