[Discussion] A balanced approach to building Azir...thoughts?

I recently picked up Azir. I am really enjoying his play style and am looking to optimize his Output in game. There is a lot of debate on the best way to build him, and I understand both points of view.

The main focus for his output will be specificly on obtaining 3 core stats [AP, AS, CDR] and to a lesser extent magic pen as most of his output is magey.

I have always found a balanced approach works best, basicly looking at each core stat as the sides of a cube...LxWxH...and getting the most output by maximizing the volume of said cube. This bodes true for many aspects of the game, and while its not always a percise tool, I find it more often than not is accurate to a degree.

You have 3 major sources of getting these ideal stats...and one minor one. The major sources are items primarily, and runes as a secondary source of stats. The last one being mastery pages which provide very little as a whole compared to the other 2 but measurably some quantity to be midful of.

Rune choices are the main focus of what I want to talk about here. I have a very different view of optimal rune choices than most fir Azir, and by my logic a good reason to go against the grain. My philosophy on most rune choices is this...based on your optimal stats you are looking for in some capacity, fill out runes with stats that are most difficult to come by in your preferred item paths. In other words. If its a stat you can benift from greatly, perticular early game, and its not one you can easily obtain through itemization, load up on it in runes.

That logic being stated...the stat most difficult for Azir to itemize for is AS for offensive pourposes, and AR for defensive purposes. This is because the vast majority of items that look useful on Azir seem to lack those two stats. I can get tons of AP items...many items with CDR that is caped at 40% anyways, lots of items with HP, and several items with MR.

I count only 1 major item with AS he benifts from and only one major item with AR, those being Hourglass and Nashors tooth. In any other situation where I might require more of a stat being it HP, MR, CDR, or AP, I can find multiple choices to fill those needs. Not true with AS and AR.

In an effort to maximize his late game optimal balanced output I am beginning to wonder if maxing runes and masteries around increasing his AS over other choices like CDR or AP are more valid than meets the eye at first glance. For example. Say you take the 5%CDR in offense. Its very easy to accidentally go over the 40%CDR cap with any number of items when doing this. That 5% becomes wasted. Taking the AS mastery instead gives you similar early game output, but stays relevant late game when you hit your 40%CDR max with nearly any of the items he woukd likely build By end game.

Something to think about and discuss. One point of contention will obviously be that he is better built as a burst mage. That is certainly one way to do it...and specialists within a team are great assessts. However, I think he can offer far more in a more balanced build, especially when it comes to objective control and counter jungling...which is incredibly strong due to the static nature of objectives and the massive sustainable DPS and speed with which he can dispatch them (specifically when getting some AS into his build), along with his innate ability to jump walls using his kit to escape trouble.

Feel free to discuss and experiment. That is all I am doing with this thread, instigating thought and logic into my own understanding of using one of my new favorite champions.