It seems no matter what you build, Transcendent Blades just does not feel powerful, nor make really big differences in fights. Its damage and healing are so... under par compared to competition. I feel as though it really could stand to get some changes.
Unfortunately, if I suggest ANYTHING, you'll probably discredit me, so...
NinjaFifer3 votesI have no clue what you're talking about. If you hit all 4 shots, that's 320+240%AD at level 6. The only other Ults in the game that hit that hard come from mages and full blood stack Darius and Cho'Gath. Now, take into account that it's also a passthrough skillshot that doesn't lose damage as it hits targets AND heals you as you're dealing damage, to the tune of 80+40%AD if you land all of them on one champ. At level 6, Heal heals for 175. You're packing one of the hardest hitting ult's in the game, with half a Heal minimum, which means you're kind of wrong saying that it is weak.
Since the damage is dealt in 4 segments, it might feel like it's weaker, since it's not moving their health bar down as fast. That's the only reason I have for why you guys feel this way.
darkdill1 votesConsidering that Irelia can't really use armor penetration and that she stacks AS rather than AD, and you don't actually get that much mileage out of those 4 shots at level 6.
NinjaFifer1 votesAt level 6, armor pen is unnecessary to consider. Same goes for AS/AD, since neither will be high enough to compare to the 320 base damage and 80 points base heal per target. That's quite a bit of mileage to come out of a ult that doesn't "make really big differences in fights." It's not the most powerful in the game, but it's still quite good, and even better in teamfights with more targets.
Also, you said yourself in your post that "No matter what you build" it feels weak. I guaran-damn-tee ya that if you built all AD and penetration, that person who just got hit for 640+240%AD at level 16 would not be saying that your ult is weak.
GhastlyGhoulMan1 votesBetter nerf Irelia...
2dsystem2 votesBecause the rest of her kit is too strong, they have to make her weak somewhere :P
I feel your pain though, i really only like her ultimate in that it gives me sheen procs.
Solarious281 votesYea, I can kill easily with her ultimate, but it still lacks luster. It lacks a lot of luster. It's like "Yay! I killed someone, I guess..."
JackYAqua1 votesIt's brutal in lane because you can just heal up half your missing health easily.
darkdill1 votesThat's probably the reason it feels so bad in team fights: too good at non-teamfight.
Honestly, here's how I'd change it:
Increase the base damage, but cause it to deal half damage to minions and monsters.
Upgrade the healing ratio versus Champions, but give it damage decay per subsequent target hit.
These changes would allow for other changes, but primarily would realign Irelia's ultimate to be used against other players, not minions (unless you want to use it sub-optimally).