Riot, can we talk about your recent releases and reworks?
So I have noticed a rather frustrating and terrifying trend when it comes to your reworks and releases. You, for whatever reason, like making these Champs that have ridiculous amounts of slow, stun, damage and shielding. Don't believe me?
=TL:DR? Review of Champs Below. Probs stuff you already know. If you dont want to read the text wall it's just me going over the abilities and their effects that these champs have. Carry on if you don't want to read=
Zoe: Can use a magic missile that gains more damage the further out it's thrown and her sleepy bubble. Not to mention her teleporting ability to help with this endeavor.
Irelia Rework: Gains a stacking damage buff on basic attacks, has a dashing attack that heals herself and it's cooldown is refreshed if target is marked. Has a charge that not only does increased damage but also allows her to take reduced damage while it's active. A stun between her two blades in which placing one allows them to set up the other for a near instant stun and finally a blade wall 'that will damage, slow and disarm enemies that walk through it.' and if that wasn't enough the dash is made worse between enemies and minions.
Aatrox Rework: Has a knock up within a specific section of his Q combos that does increased damage, has deathbringer stance which reduces healing AND shields, has a dash that gains him two stacks of damage (and has the passive to heal him for the damage he does) and finally an ult that revives him upon dying in said state (These all are fairly punishable in comparison to the previous two however)
Akali Rework: Dealing spell damage 'creates a ring of energy around them. Exiting that ring empowers Akali's next auto attack with bonus range and damage.' An ability that throws a fanned out area of kunai that damages AND slows and upon full energy HEALS Akali. Throws a shuriken that causes her to flip backward a good ways away and recasting it, upon it hitting someone, allows Akali to DASH to them which also deals damage. An ult that causes her to leap at enemies, stunning AND damaging them and a recast allows her to execute said enemies in that direction. Then of course theres the smoke cloud with true invisibility to even TOWERS.
=End of Review of Champs=
Now, lets get to what this brings me to.... The new champion; Neeko.
She has a passive that lets her disguise herself as allied champs. No big deal.
A Q that throws a seed to damage people, goes off again if it kills someone or a large monster. Again, no big deal there.
Every third attack deals bonus magic damage and gives her increased movement speed (so akin to Jhin there) while also giving her an active effect to go invisible and send a clone in another direction. (A bit of Karma or Shaco there so a little frustration when she's already invisible.)
A root that goes through champs and if it hits multiple champs it grows in size, speed and root duration. Possibly dodgable though based on the current vid? Early game will be a little concerning.
Now onto the bigger issue; Her ult. An ult that charges and gives her a shield. (so a bit of Nunu there) Said charge area slows enemies and releasing it causes massive damage and stuns enemies. Now just this specific description seems like something fair enough. You can usually get out of Nunu's ult if you play it right or have a good amount of movement speed, kiting capability or a well timed flash.
Then we get to this: 'When disguised by Inherent Glamour, enemies won’t see Neeko’s initial charge-up.'
So now we have an ult that already gives her a slow to enemies and a shield to herself only for it to turn into a massive damage dealer and stunner that CANNOT BE SEEN during it's initial charge while she is invisible effectively making it like a Nunu ult covered by Akali's shroud but without the ability to be thrown into sight upon use of said ability.
Why? Can't you just take her out of invisibility when they are using this? This gives players time to react if they have the skill to do so but giving a champ a charge up ult that cannot be seen while charging is just ASKING for an initial nerf just like the Akali and Irelia reworks. Better yet, what is with you and creating/reworking champs to have so much in the way of extra capabilities? Slow, Stun, Lifesteal, Shielding...all these without item builds and multiple in one.
What is the reasoning behind this? Do we really need champions that can do MULTIPLE THINGS at once? Why not have specialties like Ashe with her slow and stun and that's it? Why not have Irelia who can slice through a persons health and gain lifesteal and that's it? Why not an Akali who is punished for using their smoke cloud under tower like every other champ in the game?
If the path ahead involves more champs with more extra capabilities to allow them to be more and more effective alone then whats the point of playing a team game when you're just going to get those types who will smurf with these characters in newer accounts or will just play the 'Don't worry guys, I can carry' game?
These are just some concerns I have with the state of where we are heading with these reworks and champ releases. I'd like to think I'm not the only one who thinks this but who knows. What do you think, Summoners?