devtrackers.gg
Let's talk about Hextech Megadrive. Disclaimer: this is all only my opinion. Let's talk about what is good and what isn't in the things suggest in this post.
Now, I think we can all agree that the item sees no real consistent use from our fellow support players. I think that its effect is really interesting, even though it is quite niche and not made for every champion, which is totally fine that such items exist. The issue I have with the item is that its stats show it is made for enchanter supports, while its effect would feel way better on tank and engage supports (such as Alistar, Leona, or Rakan for instance). Enchanter supports aren't able to maximize the use of the effect, making it feel really underwelming to me. This feeling is also exacerbated with the fact that the item offers a ton of different stats... Making each stat okay at best. It currently gives 300 Max Health, 35 AP, 200 Max Mana, and 15 Ability Haste for a total cost of 2700G (the item costs 650G components excluded). Build-wise, I would say that if anybody wants to buy this item, they would do it during the early or mid game, as the stats would help during the laning phase, and the effect could be used the most this way.
And so, I feel like this item has potential to be great for mages as an earlygame item, with some tweaks to it. Here's what I propose:
Stats:
300 Max Health -> unchanged
35 AP -> 75 AP
200 Max Mana -> Unchanged
15 Ability Haste -> removed
Build Path and cost:
Lost Chapter (1050G) + Giant's Belt (1000G) + 650G (total: 2700G) -> Blasting Wand (900G) + Giant's Belt (1000G) + 1100G (total: 3000G)
Effect:
Tinker: while in combat with an enemy champion, healing or shielding an ally will refund 10% of your active item's remaining cooldown (3 second cooldown). -> while in combat with an enemy champion, healing or shielding an ally or yourself will reduce 10% of your non-ultimate ability cooldowns of their remaining cooldown (5 second cooldown)
The other part of the effect remains unchanged.
Why this change?
This makes the item a solid alternative to Luden's Echo or Rod of Ages, as they are the notorious two items mages usually go for as a first item.
Rod of Ages gives a ton of mana, AP, and Max health for a low cost of Gold, however it requires 7.5 minutes after it is bought to be fully stacked, which is around the 11-12 minutes mark.
Luden's Echo offers a great spike in max mana, ap and ability haste. Even though it is outclassed in Mana and AP by RoA when fully stacked, the item offers a better early game, while the mid to late game is weaker than RoA's.
With these changes, Hextech Megadrive finds a middle ground : it gives less AP and Max Mana than both, however it offers immediate Max Health greater than RoA's (but gets outclassed by it when stacked) and Luden's. The AP is high enough for mages to feel threatening enough in the early game, while not matching what Luden has to offer for the same amount of Gold (keeping it as the "king first item" for mages AP-wise). Furthermore, the effect is really interesting this way: mages with supporting abilities such as Annie or Morgana will be able to get some indirect ability haste through supporting with their ability, all the while getting the cooldown reduction for their active items as they heavily need it (Annie, for instance, relies a lot of protobelt, and Morgana relies on stasis). This gives them an impact through the whole game, especially during teamfights, which is when the shields and heals are used, and when heavy CC is also used giving them access to their enchant more often.
So, here is what I think about Hextech Megadrive and the used it could possibly have! What do you think? I would also enjoy discussing about this with u/r0guefool too :)
External link →