Item Idea for the assassin rework

Radiant Seraph·May 31, 2016·1 votes·728 views

This is an idea I had for an item for the upcoming assassin rework that IMO could make balancing AD assassins much easier.

"Insert name here" +65 AD +250 Mana +10% Coodown Reduction Unique Passive: Spellblade: Using an ability empowers the next basic attack within 3 seconds, that deals 75% Base AD (+50% Bonus AD) bonus physical damage. It has mana because it would build out of sheen. Well, this item would be great for champions such as Talon or Zed, and RIOT would be able to balance them around this. Also it would be useful for Corki, who is weak ATM, and other Spellblade users such as Gangplank or Ezreal, who could see tweaks around the existence of this item.

If you think it is unbalanced tell me in what way and I would try my best to change it. Also, I accept suggestions for a name for the item.

8 Comments

FurriesAreHotMay 31, 20162 votes

Balancing champion around an item is a horrific idea. It only makes nerfinh champions harder due to thier strong itemization. Also why would I build this item over something like Trinity Force? It just seems unnessasary and counter productive.

With love, Fowl (buy me a name change ;-;)

Radiant SeraphMay 31, 20163 votes

{quoted}

Balancing champion around an item is a horrific idea. It only makes nerfinh champions harder due to thier strong itemization. Also why would I build this item over something like Trinity Force? It just seems unnessasary and counter productive.

With love, Fowl (buy me a name change ;-;)

Don't you know why the Duskblade of Whatever was created? It was created because AD assassins didn't have items created with them in mind: They bought AD Carry items, and they yet do. To be really balanced, AD assassins need real "core" items to get, and be balanced around them, as other classes are. I believe that's why they changed Youmuu's in the marksman rework as well, but I'm not sure about it. Also, you would build this because this item scales with BONUS AD instead of BASE AD, and hence it would do more damage on a full AD build

ModThe DjinnMay 31, 20163 votes

{quoted}

Balancing champion around an item is a horrific idea.

I have to disagree here. Marksman are almost entirely balanced around the damage spike carried in Infinity Edge or the CDR spike carried in Essence Reaver, plus one solid AS item. Having "core" itemization to balance around can actually be a really strong tool to help define classes, although you have to tread carefully because it CAN have adverse side effects.

Now, this CAN work the opposite way -- nerfing a class of champions because one item is too powerful (Devourer, for example) isn't a good idea when that item could simply be adjusted. But balancing Mage burst under the assumption that high AP ratio burst champions will purchase Luden's Echo and Deathcap at some point? Perfectly reasonable (and actually GOOD) design.

ModThe DjinnMay 31, 20161 votes

There's an issue here in how Assassins tend to play: most of them burst down the target. Talon, Pantheon, Rengar, Zed, etc. tend to spam abilities in a very short window of time, making the Spellblade passive largely useless on them, as they'll likely only trigger it once before killing their target outright. They also often don't need mana or CDR for the same reason: a dead target doesn't need more spells sooner to finish it off.

If anything, this item is better on massive AD-scaling non-assassins with frequent ability use, like Bruiser Zed, Riven, Renekton, Jhin, Gangplank, and Fiora. Not sure that matches your intended goal.

Radiant SeraphMay 31, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=The Djinn,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=WN28l6zK,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2016-05-31T15:53:55.363+0000)

There's an issue here in how Assassins tend to play: most of them burst down the target. Talon, Pantheon, Rengar, Zed, etc. tend to spam abilities in a very short window of time, making the Spellblade passive largely useless on them, as they'll likely only trigger it once before killing their target outright. They also often don't need mana or CDR for the same reason: a dead target doesn't need more spells sooner to finish it off.

If anything, this item is better on massive AD-scaling non-assassins with frequent ability use, like Bruiser Zed, Riven, Renekton, Jhin, Gangplank, and Fiora. Not sure that matches your intended goal.

This item synergizes with most assassins' kits, and in my opinion they could put this item to good use. Also, from the champions that you listed, only Riven and Jhin would truly shine with this item, since they are the only that go full AD in that list. Since when is Pantheon an assassin anyway?

PickpocketTwitchMay 31, 20161 votes

[deleted]

ModThe DjinnMay 31, 20162 votes

{quoted}

you never want a champion to feel obligated to build an item

Infinity Edge / Essence Reaver. Shiv/Runaan's/Phantom Dancer for Marksmen.

Luden's Echo / Deathcap for AP burst mages.

Gold generation / Sightstone for supports.

Jungle items, which are often locked into one of two choices for your character.

Having a "Core" item isn't bad. Having MULTIPLE mandatory items starts to become a problem.

Radiant SeraphMay 31, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=The Djinn,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=WN28l6zK,comment-id=00020000,timestamp=2016-05-31T21:24:28.960+0000)

Infinity Edge / Essence Reaver. Shiv/Runaan's/Phantom Dancer for Marksmen.

Luden's Echo / Deathcap for AP burst mages.

Gold generation / Sightstone for supports.

Jungle items, which are often locked into one of two choices for your character.

Having a "Core" item isn't bad. Having MULTIPLE mandatory items starts to become a problem.

Don't forget the new Guinsoo for on-hitters ... ... ... Just kidding