Runaan's Hurricane design is parasitic.

(cross posted from the main forums)

In rosewater's recent blog he says this:

A parasitic design is one in which the mechanics force players to play with, and only with, cards from the set of the cards in question.

Now LOL doesn't have cards or sets, but it does have passive effects. So let me rephrase that into LOL terms:

A parasitic design is one in which the mechanics force players to play with, and only with, the passive effects in question.

So how is Hurricane parasitic?

Simple. It's all about on-hit effects and only on-hit effects. 70% attack speed? More on-hit effects. The passive? On-hit effects all around.

I think that is the item's core deficiency and what is making it sub-par to other items.

That's how riot really screwed this item over. Yes it has potential, but when all is said and done, it is really a parasite of on-hit effects. Aside from Bork, ADCs rarely get items with on hit effects. Even Elder lizard is total crap on them now that it lost its sustain. ADCs don't get cleaver. They don't get frozen mallet. Ranged AP champs? Not very many get Nashor's tooth, the only on-hit effect AP champs really care out.

Hurricane really multiplies on-hit effects which are few and far between. ADCs have better items to get. AP champs need raw AP for late game more than they need more on-hit effects. Since hurricane doesn't give move speed, AD, AP, CDR, or Crit it's sole purpose is to multiply on hit effects. But there aren't many for the two groups of champs who can use it to get.

I think this is why it largely remains a niche item. In order to shine it needs items or kit abilities with a specific trait and since those are few and far between, this item isn't as good as it was intended to be. That's why it never became the Hydra for ranged champs that Riot wanted. Hydra gives raw damage and sustain. TBH if I were behind I'd be more tempted to build Hydra on my ADC than getting hurricane. Hurricane is trying to multiply for what a lot of ranged champs is a big fat 0.

Anything times 0 is 0, and that how the item fails.