Logical Improvement to Cloud Drake ("The Ugly Drakeling") - good balancing effect

Besrell Ker·6/17/2016, 9:19:16 PM·3 votes·787 views

There has been a lot of discussion about Cloud drake specifically over the last few weeks of LCS play. It is widely acknowledged as the "ugly duckling" of the drakes, to use the best term the casters and players have called it. The movement speed is certainly undervalued by players in a professional world of lane swaps, 1-3-1, 4-1, and other types of play that increased rotation benefits.

With that being said, here is a simple suggestion that would increase its value, slightly, but at the same time make it feel so much better to players.

*Healing Rain - decreases burn effects experienced by players and teams objectives by 30-40-50%. (Applies to Elder Drake, Brand passive, Liandry's, Red Buff, and so forth.)

Note that this would not remove the movement speed buff it already applies, just add to it.

Reasons for contention-

  1. It's thematic! Yay, who doesn't like appropriate theme content, they named it the Cloud Drake after all and not the Wind Drake for a reason. Movement speed works with the wind in the clouds, but there feels like there is a missing element to its name.
  2. There are no current defensive drake buffs. It seems to be a good balance to the Earth Drake and Infernal Drake. Ocean Drake provides sustain, but not during combat.
  3. Burn has really increased in prevalence throughout the game and effectiveness. There are not many effective ways to prevent burn and this would certainly give the Cloud Drake contestable late game value, giving your team the ability to withstand an Elder Drake siege or team fight.
  4. Cloud Drake obviously needs some sort of small tweak or adjustment to make it competitive. Unless of course the idea is that one of the Drakes has less impact. The statistics show right now that there is not much of a gap on the Win-Loss record of the different drakes. However, I would say that those are somewhat skewed given the effectiveness of the other three drakes in comparison early. Cloud Drake certainly fits the role of consolation prize versus something that is contested.

9 Comments

DarioSiehtFeinde6/17/2016, 10:00:49 PM1 votes

Sounds like a great idea.

I'm not sure if a anti-burn dragon would make sense, but a defensive dragon would be awesome! [slayer-jinx-wink]

ModThe Djinn6/17/2016, 11:45:19 PM1 votes

I think this would make it an even LESS desirable Drake, sadly, as there are some teams where the only burn prevention would be Red Buff. I'm not too excited about a Drake buff that ONLY helps against Red Buff.

Automatis6/19/2016, 3:32:28 PM1 votes

bad