[Item Concept] Scuttler's Shell

Scuttler's Shell

• Cost: 750 Gold
• Recipe: Cloth Armor + 450 Gold
• 25 Armor
• Passive: Moving will make you Block.
• UNIQUE Passive - Block: Blocks 30 damage from the next champion or large monster basic attack.

Thornmail

• Cost: 2350 Gold
• Recipe: Chain Vest + Scuttler's Shell + 800 Gold
• 80 Armor
• UNIQUE Passive: Blocks 30 physical damage from champion basic attacks.
• UNIQUE Passive: Upon being hit [...]

What does this do? It maintains Thornmail's strength in the mid game against AA-heavy enemies, but reduces its effectiveness in the late game as the block is applied before resistance reduction (the value 30 is reduced by your Armor reduction). Because the build path is stronger, you have an easier time building it too. Overall Thornmail becomes more of a response item, but not a long-term solution.

Why need Scuttler's Shell for this change? Scuttler's Shell could also build into Deadman's Plate thematically (-->Movement), but then Chain Vest would have too few items to build into and the Deadman's would be harder to get. Maybe if Deadman's ever needs to be nerfed again?

The Block passive also opens up a more interesting variety of defensive items. For example, something like Herald's Vise (Herald as in Rift Herald) which could be for Fighters, or Heart of Gold for Control Junglers and Supports.