The Juggernaut Changes

To begin - I am quite actually depressed with the alterations of...well this season. Almost NONE of the changes of season 5 have "improved" the game (for me).

Scuttle is kind of cool, but I play(ed) teemo, so it actually is yet one more nerf to an already withering champion. The jungle changes were, honestly, annoying. I am NOT really a jungler, but I do it now and then when my team needs me to, and to be honest...not much changed beyond jungle just being....annoying. Its harder to manage, harder to DO, and doesnt really ADD anything other than...being changed. (just a couple examples)

But here is the bottom line with what this post is about.

I have always enjoyed playing champions that saw little play. It was fun to try and bring them into games and get some diversity, some interesting and fun scenarios. That's why I started playing Mundo, Sion, and Mordekaiser as some examples. Over the last two seasons...all my champions have gone through some serious changes. Riot has been updating these champions to try and bring them into the meta, and that is a GOOD thing. A diverse meta is a healthy meta, and also better for the game at large - but here is what I am trying to get at -

None of these changes have been AT ALL enjoyable. I am not the only one who played these champions. I am sure that some people LIKED the changes. But it is honestly killing my love of this game at this point. Teemo was my first main, and remains my favorite champion. I honestly do not care that people dislike him, he is a more strategy intensive, risk/reward style champion that was so much fun to play, especially against people I DIDNT counter, people who i had to work to out play and out smart. Sadly, the community hates Teemo, and so riot has nerfed him, time and time again, and again, despite the SHEER amount of time since Teemo was last an 'actual' pick, one that was strong and competitive. One that doesn't earn me an automatic report from my own team for picking because im "trolling" - Teemo is apparently still to strong.

My next two mains (started in late season 2) - were ryze and xin. They were fun for a LONG time, and I have many fond memories of playing them. Sadly, Xin is no longer viable (the way I played him, not saying he is a weak champion) and Ryze has been changed to be an incredibly different champ from where he once was. Dr. Mundo, (AD) Sion, and (sustain) Mordekaiser became my favorite picks (also playing some Viegar, Blitzcrank, and Garen). I had so much fun in season 3, that I doubt any future season could live up to it. Despite some problems, that was when I felt the game was most balanced, and when the game was the most fun to play. Season 4 was when changes began that I felt "cluttered" the game, and made it less of a past time for me. But I really started to feel my love of the game collapse when Sion was reworked.

With the new Sion, he is, well.....boring. He doesnt lane well, and cant really 1v1 (in my experience, I am sure I am not he best player with him) - ESPECIALLY compared to his old incarnation. Then it was the Viegar changes, particularly his stun (though to be honest, he is still fun to play, just frustrating vs all the high mobility champs now) Then the mundo reductions in s4(?) with the mastery changes and the indirect nerfs via items and the buffing of other champions.

By a few weeks ago, I was down to playing Garen, Mordekaiser, Singed, and I have been trying Aatrox on aand off...but I dont much care for him. Singed is, honestly, not strong. At all, right now. hes fun, and quirky, but loses a LOT of match ups, and cant much help his team.

So now, I have been playing Garen, as either bruiser or full tank, and doing moderately well. Even if I was not an amazing player with him, it was FUN. With his new changes (and yes, perhaps I will get used to them)....he is now so underwhelming. I go into fights I am used to being able to win and doing LESS damage, I am less durable (w nerf) his slow was reduced, and some, if not a fair portion of his power, is now dependent on targeting someone who can likely dual me and I will just feed further. (Example. I am playing tank garen, seeing if it is still viable, and we are a bit into the game. I have Randuins, Thornmail, and spirit visage. My current target is their 12/2 vayne. I will let you guess as to how trying to do anything to her went.)

Morde now has been SEVERLY damage nerfed. He LITERALLY has no w in solo lane, and deals less aoe damage, and sustains less off of minions. Most of his damage has been shoved into an empowered basic attack, despite him being one of the most easily kited champions in the GAME. Whats worse, I played him top, and sometimes mid. Mostly as a hard split pusher/team fight ap burster using high sustain and shield to survive. Guess what doesnt work at all now.

I don't ask that champions stay the same forever. I have ALWAYS picked riots side when people moan and complain about changes brought to the game. But why is that we can't preserve their playstyles? Why does "rework" mean "deleting the old and making a new champion with the same backstory* (sometimes)" -

I am honestly at a complete loss with these changes at the moment, and dont even know if I want to keep playing. I have put a ridiculous amount of my time and money into this game. I have brought so many friends to it to start playing, and done my best to be a positive person in game and in community....but it feels like the game is just gone.