Ideas for potential Zed Rework in the "Assassin Update"

SWG l decept··4 votes·4,199 views

With the QSS nerfs coming in soon and the Assassins Rework soon after, Zed is definitely going to be a 100% pick or ban rate and there doesn't seem to be a way to balance that by just tweaking some numbers. As a Zed main since release, I'd like to hear some thoughts that could either

A.) Prevent a Rework B.) Design a Rework

I've come up with some idea's myself, no numbers involved but some concepts that could be tweaked into something viable.

    ![item 3157](https://ddragon.leagueoflegends.com/cdn/16.20.1/img/item/3157.png) 

New AD Item Idea

AD Zhonya's -esq : Vamp Scepter -> Creatively Named Armguard + Pickaxe = Creative Name

Armguard: basically the same concept as zhonyas, although instead of stacking armor per minion killed it's Life Steal

Now for the completed item, it could be a straight up Zhonyas. However i thought of a potential, more creative alternative, You gain stacks upon cs'ing regular minions 1 for minions 3 for Cannons 5 for Large Creep Each stack adds health to a Shield active to a cap of whatever. Basically a charging up barrier with a static but significantly smaller Cooldown. This seems to balance itself out. You can't just AFK farm between each fight so it's always up, you'll have to play a risk for reward finding decent times to farm without messing up your team, also trying to not get caught out while farming.

Zed Rework Idea Zed

Living Shadow - W

Instead of scaling AD it would increase the damage of Shadow abilities by a percent amount per leveling of the ability, Still same CD and missle speed

Shadow Slash - E

Instead of instant cast it would be similar to a Darius Q, however, the longer you hold the E (up to 1 or 1.5 seconds) the more the damage and radius is. So technically you can instant cast but it would be way better for a charged hit especially with the reworked ultimate

The Power of the Shadows (dumb name) - Ultimate (R)

Zed marks an enemy for 3 seconds, for each ability landed over the span of 3 seconds(shadow abilities included) Zed spawns a shadow around his opponent for each ability landed. The space inbetween the shadow and the opponent on spawn would be slightly larger than the radius of a fully charged Shadow Slash

1 ability - Shadow directly in front 2 - Front and back 3 - Triangle with the point behind 4 - Square 5 - Pentagon etc

These shadows remain for 2 seconds and will cast the next ability(only 1) you use for significantly reduced base damage, however still receive the buff from W.

(optional addition) If Zed hovers his mouse over one of the shadows and presses W, he swaps with that shadow, sorta like an azir turret input


                                                                                                                  Zed Rework 2

Razor Shuriken - Q

Same thing as Live

Living Shadow - W

Similar to the other W I mentioned, This one does not have an AD buff upon scaling, this one offers a percent increase to shadow damage, however with the new Ult it has a different appeal to it.

Shadow Slash - E

Same as live

Death Mark - R

Zed marks his target, casting a shadow in front of his target and appearing behind them, after 3 seconds the mark explodes and deals (same as live) AD damage, also, for each time zed damaged his opponent during this mark, Zed strikes with a shadow for a flat AD amount each hit.

Basically for each ability you land Zed spawns a shadow and it strikes the opponent, think of the old Fiora ult, it would be a similar animation, probably just shadows dashing through her, and they deal a flat amount for each. The flat amount would be pretty low, but with the buff from W and the amount you can stack it.

This may seem disorganized and I apologize, but let me throw in a few more details.

To generate a stack you can do any form of damage as long as it's unique so.

E - Tiamat - Auto - Q x2 - Ignite (only 1 stack total for any tick) - auto - E = 8 Stacks.

Each stack is applied 0.4 seconds apart from each other, this gives opponents time to react but still makes it devastating if not prepared.

Stacks will do very little, but still reasonable damage, based soley on how well you can stack it, this will set apart good Zed's from bad.

You can still go back to your ult shadow like Live Zed.

Also, these are open to changes, it's not like this is the finalized idea, I'd like to hear your opinions on what could be better.

Thanks for reading. [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

6 Comments

Talinis1 votes

Hahahaha, AD Zhonyas, no, that actually just buffs Zed. AP's literally have 1 armor option while AD's have multiples of MR/defensive options. Armguards blows in comparison to hexdrinker early which allows Zed to shrug off AP burst easily. One of the actual things that would keep him in check is just giving AP's VIABLE options against physical damage early, like an AP version of Hex against physical damage.

SWG l decept1 votes

Did you read the whole thing :C

Talinis1 votes

Yes, but it doesn't matter because AD's do not need Zhonya's when they already have scimitar (qss, which removes debuffs, ults etc) which AP's don't and they have access to a magic damage shield in hex/maw which is powerful early (which ap's don't) and steraks (which guards against burst which most aps are). AD's do not need ANOTHER tool to deflect burst and guard against ap. And ironically, Zhonya's works better guarding against AP burst by Zhonya'ing the combos than it actually does VS AD since AD rely more on autos. If AP's had proper tools to defend themselves, Zed wouldn't be as big of a problem. AP should get an item where if they are bursted below 30% hp, they are immune to or take like 90% less physical damage for a short period of time.

SWG l decept1 votes

QSS no longer removes debuffs as of 6.10, and it isn't a zhonya's it's a barrier that stacks life steal pre built

Talinis1 votes

[{quoted}](name=hi im decept,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=pQHp05nG,comment-id=0000000000000000,timestamp=2016-05-04T18:54:03.348+0000)

QSS no longer removes debuffs as of 6.10, and it isn't a zhonya's it's a barrier that stacks life steal pre built

In the article you said, straight up zhonya's or stack a barrier. No. They need zero more items with any kind of defensive capability. AP's need items, not AD. It is why Zed has such a good laning phase because his lane opponents have no viable option against him. Zed can just buy hex and be fine since he has lifesteal. AP's are fucked until they pony up for zhonya

Neamean1 votes

Just and FYI the assassin update isn't guarantee to be next it hasn't been decided between Diving Fighters, Assassins and Tanks.

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