How does Riot decide what deals physical or magic damage?

Kikirino·Dec 4, 2015·2 votes·469 views

Because the inconsistency is driving me nuts. I play a lot of physical champs and they have random magic damage in their kits for no reason. Like Jax. He jumps to a target (Q) and deals physical damage but then he hits them extra hard (W) and it is magic...? Yasuo as well. Slices you with his sword to deal physical damage but if he dashes it is magic for some reason. But him lifting and suspending you in air isn't magic... And Lee Sin. He shoots a compressed sound wave at you (Q) for physical damage but if he smacks the ground to send out another sound wave (E) it is magic. Last example is Jayce. If he swings his hammer in a downward motion (Q) it is physical damage but if he swings it in horizontally (E) it is magic.

These things make about as much sense to me as making Malzahar's silence deal physical damage or Kennen's Lighing Rush physical. Seemingly random for no reason.

5 Comments

UltraboomerDec 4, 20151 votes

I came in here to make a very smart sounding argument of rational reasons for these seeming inconsistencies. Then I read your post while trying to figure out what to explain, and realized that aside from jax w (mana charged lamp post) and lee sin q (compressed air shattering bones) I can't explain any of it. You're right, that is kind of strange.

Pierce The VealDec 4, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I came in here to make a very smart sounding argument of rational reasons for these seeming inconsistencies. Then I read your post while trying to figure out what to explain, and realized that aside from jax w (mana charged lamp post) and lee sin q (compressed air shattering bones) I can't explain any of it. You're right, that is kind of strange.

{quoted}

The issue with those examples is the rest of their kits are magic as well so it fits. The examples I game are all physical champs (Jax being hybrid) with random magic damage in their kit for no reason.

This is more of a balance thing, and less of a design thing.

Earlier on in the game, hybrid was a new and shiny thing, so Jax was all about dealing both kinds of damage. That was what settled as creativity in a meta where %crit and %dodge prevailed.

However, as time went on, hybrid champion releases became something rather rare. Diana, if I am not mistaken, was their last attempt at a hybrid champiom. However, on champions that deal mostly physical damage, magic damage is added in order to either give them a diversity of damage choices counteracting enemy resistances, but also make it so that they do not scale as well because of that ability, limiting their damage because they cannot benefit totally from penetrations.

CrettDec 4, 20151 votes

Alistar HEADBUTT! MAGic damage PULVERIZE! MAGIC DAmage

Rampage?? MAGiC?

Blitzcrank Grab My Magical GraB attack

Akali cut u. deal magic damage

DrMundo Magical Cleavers

Ezreal I shoot you with magic. But it deals Physical Damage

Malphite Giant Rock Charges at you, deals magic damage

KikirinoDec 4, 20151 votes

The issue with those examples is the rest of their kits are magic as well so it fits. The examples I game are all physical champs (Jax being hybrid) with random magic damage in their kit for no reason.