Kha'zix Evolution Update Idea: Pierce (Q), Cripple (W), Finish (E), Eliminate (R)

Qualities meritable to retain:

• The ability to evolve his abilities is unique to Kha’zix. Such a mechanic has the potential to promote reactive play, giving Kha’zix a means (other than his build) to adapt to the situation he finds himself in – an assassin that can be blind-picked?
• ‘Isolation’ is a mechanic that suits Kha’zix well – it encourages Kha’zix to watch for opportune moments to make a pick, and enables him to deal with lone splitpushers he otherwise couldn’t control, yet in a clear, defined way.
• Unseen Threat, Jump and Camouflage are also unique mechanics that all befit an Assassin.

Qualities that may be improved in:

• Currently, some evolutions (namely Claws and Wings) grant general power that is useful in all situations, which eclipse the others somewhat – this reality cuts the meaningful choices a Kha’zix can make, and fails to deliver somewhat on his ‘adapting’ fantasy.

'Most of the opportunity space on Kha'Zix lies in making his Evolution choices more meaningful, interesting, and exciting. Kha'Zix is unlikely to get anything too significant since he's already in a decent spot, but hopefully we get a chance to spice up some of the less enticing Evolutions.'

• If Kha’zix is behind and he doesn’t have the damage to kill his target, the player can find it quite difficult to contribute to his team.

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/a/a2/Kha%27Zix_OriginalSkin.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160519195549

Possible update direction:

Evolved Spike Racks (W): As well as adding additional Spikes and granting sight, his spikes apply ‘Grounded’/’Crippled’ status to enemy champions (preventing them from casting a blink or dash ability) for a brief moment.

Kha’zix should look to evolve this if his priority target is Mobile.

Loading Grounded status onto an assassin might be a bit toxic (then again, it can’t be as toxic as a Silence or Stun), thus it is probably necessary to gate this effect onto his Evolution only, where he is consciously investing toward the status and sacrificing/withholding other Evolutions to do so.

A Kha’zix, particularly one that is behind, may also choose this to help peel away threats for his team.

Evolved Camouflage (R): As well as adding a third activation of stealth and granting, each proc of Unseen Threat on the same target grants Kha’zix a temporary, stacking buff to his damage against them.

Kha’zix should look to evolve this if he finds himself in Extended Duels against a lone enemy.

If Kha’zix is having trouble defeating an isolated enemy (one that has a means to survive his initial burst and whittles Kha down while he is waiting for cooldowns), the Kha’zix player may choose to evolve his camouflage, where his windows of stealth and bonus single-target damage aid him in winning the 1 versus 1.

Might be a bit problematic to load more sustained damage on an assassin, but given his identity as a picker this might be an acceptable place to grant power, so long as the target is alone.

Evolved Claws (Q): As well as granting bonus range to his attacks and Q, his Q reduces/ignores armour / deals bonus max/missing -health damage.

Kha’zix should look to evolve this if his priority target is Tanky.

While Kha’zix shouldn’t look to prioritize tanks in a teamfight, if his team is having trouble dealing with a fed front-liner or multiple tanks, Kha’zix may evolve this to better control them if he needs to.

Evolved Wings (E): As well as granting bonus range to his leap, it's cooldown resets on each Takedown (unchanged).

Kha’zix should look to evolve this if there are Multiple Threats that he needs to deal with.

The resetting jumping allows a successful Kha’zix to shine in teamfights where he can access another target. Many other assassins can’t do this, so it’s probably necessary to continue to gate this with an Evolution.

If this Evolution is still picked over the others (the ability to escape after a kill might be considered almost mandatory on a true Assassin) perhaps it might be worth loading lesser mobility on his unevolved E?

In my opinion, Kha'zix is in a pretty decent spot (much more than other Assassins), and these changes are all about 'spicing up' his Evolutions so that he can better fulfill his 'adapting' thematic and fantasy in an intentional, strategic manner.

Are there any glaring balance or quality-of-life flaws in this idea? Let me know what you think!

Other Original Gameplay Update Ideas: The PrideStalker's Hunting Ground