Some Items Concepts to Balance Tanking- Including Thornmail Rework

Itemization is always an issue when it comes to new patches. We've seen many items reworked, or scratched entirely. R.I.P. Mana Pots and Green Wards. Deathfire was scrapped and became a mastery.. We have the current topic of Lord Dominiks and The Black Cleaver. And we have the ongoing concern for Thornmail. It can be hard to balance items when you have such a variety of Champion kits. There'll always be at least one champion able to excel off of a single item. And that can be frustrating. My largest concern with items is the ability to tank. Items that revolve around damage output completely outclass items that revolve around reducing damage. This is shown in the Thornmail vs. Lifesteal debates. I've posted many discussions to Concepts & Creations: I'm an imaginative guy. I think I have a few ideas for items that could play well with our tanky champions, while not getting the one-up over damage output items.

Ruby Slippers Just a basic type of boot that also builds Health. + Unique Passive: Enhanced Movement- +40 Movement Speed There's no Place Like Home: Recall is reduced to 2 seconds when Champion's Health is below 30%

I'm just messing around. But a pair of boots that boost Maximum Health would be a great addition.

Armageddon Cuirass An explosive piece of armor. + Adds: Armor, Ability Power, Health Unique Active: Erupt- For 2 seconds, damage against Champion generates charges. After 2 seconds, a fiery explosion circles champion dealing magic damage based on the number of stacks.

This will help Champions like:

Phantom Cloak A ghostly coat. + Adds: Health, Ability Power, Magic Resistance Unique Passive: +5% Move Speed Unique Active: For 3 seconds gain +10% Move Speed and incoming Magic Damage is reduced 25%.

This will help champions like:

Thornmail A rework. Basically, cut the cost of Thornmail, remove Chain Vest from the build and require 2 Cloth Armors instead, cut the armor buff, cut the damage redirection, and make Thornmail a T2 item. + = +40 Armor Passive: Redirects damage to attackers equal to 5% damage received + 5% of Armor

This will allow for more powerful builds

Glacier Mail A build from the 'reworked' Thornmail. + +90 Armor Unique Passive: Thorns- Redirects damage to attackers equal to 15% damage received + 20% Armor Unique Passive: Cold Steel- Basic attacks against champion reduce the attacker's Attack Speed by 25% for 1 seconds.

Basically Cold Steel + Thorns. Helps champions like

Masochist's Plate A build from the 'reworked' Thornmail. + +50 Armor, +25 Attack Damage, +15% Life Steal Unique Passive: Redirects damage to attackers equal to 15% damage received + 15% Armor. Unique Passive: Returns Health to the champion equal to 20% of all redirected damage.

I got this idea while trying to mess around with Rammus..however Rammus' W doesn't utilize spell vamp very well. This would go great on champions like .. not that he needs any help. I actually got the name from his Ultimate.

Razor Cuirass A build from the 'reworked' Thornmail. + +100 Armor Unique Passive: Redirects damage to attackers equal to 15% damage received + 15% Armor. Unique Passive: Taking damage from basic attacks increases champion's Armor by 5 and causes the enemy to bleed out for 1 seconds, stacking up to 25 bonus Armor which decays after 2 seconds without taking physical damage.

I always figured blades on armor would be more devastating than thorns. I think it's a nice answer to the Thorns vs. Lifesteal debate. This item goes well with any champion that can engage a response- i.e. taunts.

Do you have any ideas for items/item balancing for tanks? Share them in the comments! I can't be the only one who thinks we could use some more defensive items. Thanks for reading :)