Thornmail got some problems, yo.

So, wanted to talk about . This thing is sort of a relic of League's first incarnation and, as such, kinda shows. Namely, here are some glaring problems I have with the item:

• Massive amount of flat armor...but doesn't give back half as much as or . Both heavy armor items, these two items give way better stuff than Thornmail. Longer to put together but overall a larger lasting effect.
• Thornmail only returns auto-attack damage. In a game with a far greater amount of AD Casters ( etc) this feels like a sort of odd choice. Even ADCs have a lot more AD skills compared to the original few.
• This item returns magic damage, making it less suitable for tanks who pepper in AD with their builds.
• Thornmail has a total cost of 2200. Likewise, Frozen heart costs 400 more...but offers more stats and utility. Randuins as well is more expensive but better in the long run.

So what can we do about Thornmail? It's a cool idea for an item but it just doesn't have the same impact in a game. If I want armor but they have yasuo, zed, whatever? I'd just get Randuins or FH. So here are some ideas that could be done. Nothing I assert as a 100% fix but something we can talk about.

1.) Lower the passive to 10-25% return damage, increase gold cost, add an active as seen below.
**Active: **For 0.2(x level) seconds, returns all PHYSICAL damage dealt to the target. (At max level, 3.6 seconds).

This idea needs tweaking but you get the general idea. Now you have something more fitting to counter people with hardcore AD outputs. Furthermore, this scales with level so rushing this item super early won't make it impossible for someone to kill you while still providing power late game. More so, it's not just a free passive damage return. Now you have to actively plan to attack while (at the same time) the enemy will have to better fight and decide if they should attack you while the active is going or to wait, risking you getting away but also giving safety.

2.) Return magic damage as well, possibly change the build path.

It's been talked about before, but the idea that it could block magic attacks as well could prove useful in making thornmail a "I'm melting too fast as a tank, this will return their burst to them" tool. Still super expensive, but the idealization is still there.

3.) Increase armor, making it better than FH and Randuins but only in flat armor.

Worth a shot.

These ideas are basically "throw science at the wall, see what sticks". Sure, building full tank and letting an Ashe AFK attack you to her death makes it -seem- good but being completely honest, I don't see many people purchasing this item. It'd be nice if we had the chance to diversify our tank builds, but only time will tell if Thornmail needs a buff...or anything at all.