Under-utilized Items

[taznkid]

Just thinking of making a list of items that are rarely used that I can think of.

 

1. Energy Saber

Does rather pitiful damage in exchange for using up a ton of energy. I tried to see if I could get it to work by creating the most powerful Energy Sustain build I could think of (Ihan Crystal, Everthirst, Cerebros), but even that does not stop the high energy consumption for long. Just....bring back the old Energy Saber. Please.

 

2. Symphonic Seed

Not a bad item, but Yamato Reactor and Asura's Guise pretty much provide all the CDR needed, with superior uniques

 

3. Lifetech Nanosuit

Seems like a good item actually, but generally people don't have room or something like that

 

4. Ancient Rune

I....just don't see it. I believe Kura's Deathmask or Asura's Guise are generally preferred over this item for superior damage or better sustain respectively

 

5. Eternal Drive

A good item in theory...but everything in AoS dies so fast that a 1 second CC is often enough to get someone killed, hardly enough time for someone to react in time and use Eternal Drive. More often I see it used as a diving tool in a similar manner to Lord Zhyrkan's Q, in that you cast it on yourself then go in against some CC heavy hero.

 

I think a better rework would be something like a Parallax-effect, in that the targeted hero, upon receiving a debuff, is cleansed of debuffs and has debuff immunity for 4-5 seconds, with this buff lasting for 15 seconds or so (in that you have a 15 second window in which this effect can apply, after the 15 seconds pass you will no longer have this protection).

 

6. Contamination Shard

Since the introduction of Tenderizer/reworked Cauterizer, I've seen this item less and less, and rightfully so. Contamination Shard mostly synergizes with Str based carries, but Tenderizer is cheaper, with overall better benefits, providing superior Armor and Weapon Damage, as well as that powerful anti-DPS unique (that actually applies to anything, so not necessarily Anti-DPS but more like additional hidden stats).

 

7. Darwin's Might

Personally I like the item, but most people opt for Explosive Retrofit or Naix Claw, saying "screw Spell Resist", or just getting Galactic Defender instead.

 

8. Lion's Bane

Don't really see this item on anyone but Bio, and occasionally Starscream. Nothing wrong with the item but...just seems a bit selective. I mean...looking at the stats, it's as if the item was created just for Bio.

 

 

Those are all the items off the top of my head. If I forgot any, then that just shows how under-utilized said item is.

[Adamantium]

1. Old energy saber will not return because of how much weapon damage it gave from energy. Blackhole energy saber builds were pretty ridiculous. Whale thinks it's fine now, but if anything it should get buffed to be useful.

 

2. I agree that I usually don't find a place for symphonic in my build because I don't want to replace anything.

 

3. Agree

 

4. I think the item is pretty weak especially because of its stats. As for the unique, dealing 16% Current Health over 2 seconds, sounds better than it feels.

 

5. I see it bought plenty of times in inhouses. I think the item is in a good place. I do see your point about everything happening quickly and not having the chance to react though.

 

6. I think it's the perfect STR dps/ bruiser item. I don't think its under-utilized at all.

 

7. Darwin's currently gives the most sustainability bonus amongst the lifesteal items. I see it bought on STR heroes. True, people seem to favor Explosive but hey if they wanna miss out on the good, I'll take em.

 

8. It's such a weird item. Highest STR in the game, CDR, a little MS and then the weird unique that gives movement speed near structures. It's nice if there is a lot of action near towers or you have wards everywhere but its such a selective item like you said. I think it needs a different unique.

[taznkid]

Why can't you just decrease the numbers on old energy saber :l

 

Although, I do admit that purple light it gives off looks pretty sexy...

[Adamantium]

Why not make current energy saber good instead?

[taznkid]

Why not make current energy saber good instead?

Because you can't. As long as it's a item that drains your energy, it's going to be either stupidly weak, or if it's buffed up to compensate, stupidly strong because the scaling will be too high.

[Adamantium]

I've never understood this concept of something having to be madly op or up. It seems to be a common way of addressing a design flaw but it doesn't actually do anything. How can this concept not be balanced if it drains energy like an ability does but adds enough damage to warrant its cost.

[Skydie]

Because you can't. As long as it's a item that drains your energy, it's going to be either stupidly weak, or if it's buffed up to compensate, stupidly strong because the scaling will be too high.

 

It is based on a LoL item, people still buy that :)

 

The real reason is that there aren't enough heroes for Energy sabre to be viable on versus other DPS items.

[Jaysi]

I usually get life tech on Drake if we have a secondary tank or support that picked up a few team items. Outside of that, I don't get it on many tanks unless I'm against a spell heavy comp.

Edited April 22, 2015 by Jaysi

[Doom]

It is based on a LoL item, people still buy that :)

 

The real reason is that there aren't enough heroes for Energy sabre to be viable on versus other DPS items.

 

Well, LoL equivalent (Manamune/Muramana) is only bought on 3 heroes ever (urgot, ezreal, jayce) and they have 124 heroes so..........

 

I used to rush E Saber on Boros, but now that's awful....... maybe good on DPS oracle/null/imortal/jakk (especially the jakk, since you get back energy per attack) but I haven't tried it.

[Spooky]

My few cents.

 

1. Energy Saber

Does rather pitiful damage in exchange for using up a ton of energy. I tried to see if I could get it to work by creating the most powerful Energy Sustain build I could think of (Ihan Crystal, Everthirst, Cerebros), but even that does not stop the high energy consumption for long. Just....bring back the old Energy Saber. Please.

Just make it do more damage because item definitely is very weak in current state. Additional damage is very low. There is literally no reason why get it over, for example, Scythe Sliptide.

 

3. Lifetech Nanosuit

Seems like a good item actually, but generally people don't have room or something like that

Item is fine. Still very nice on tanky heroes or with strong sustain, like Dekaha, LZ, Yig, Drake, etc

 

4. Ancient Rune

I....just don't see it. I believe Kura's Deathmask or Asura's Guise are generally preferred over this item for superior damage or better sustain respectively

On every hero with good DoT ability that item is powerful. Lurker is the best example. Obviously u wont get it on heroes without DoT as there is no point.

 

5. Eternal Drive

A good item in theory...but everything in AoS dies so fast that a 1 second CC is often enough to get someone killed, hardly enough time for someone to react in time and use Eternal Drive. More often I see it used as a diving tool in a similar manner to Lord Zhyrkan's Q, in that you cast it on yourself then go in against some CC heavy hero.

 

I think a better rework would be something like a Parallax-effect, in that the targeted hero, upon receiving a debuff, is cleansed of debuffs and has debuff immunity for 4-5 seconds, with this buff lasting for 15 seconds or so (in that you have a 15 second window in which this effect can apply, after the 15 seconds pass you will no longer have this protection).

The only concern I have about that item, which basically makes I wont get it on many supportive tanky heroes is that it doesn't bring any health to carrier at all.

Edited April 22, 2015 by Spooky

[John]

Does anyone buy lockbox still? Haven't seen it apart from when soed got it on kerrigan to land his Q and R combo.

[BestPlayer]

Does anyone buy lockbox still? Haven't seen it apart from when soed got it on kerrigan to land his Q and R combo.

 

Very funny, is that why you were feeding boros when I rekt you on rory?

[Adamantium]

Ancient rune does not proc on dots

[PhoenixRajoNight]

It is based on a LoL item, people still buy that :)

 

The real reason is that there aren't enough heroes for Energy sabre to be viable on versus other DPS items.

 

I'm pretty sure the LOL item gives you AP as well, so maybe it should give int?

 

BTW with Everthirst, and equipping rifle on summers, you can actually cause yourself to lose 0 energy with it. The problem there is that Everthirst isnt really worth slotting on Summers.

Edited April 22, 2015 by PhoenixRajoNight

[OPReN]

1. agreed

2. i still get this item over death mark, which is completely bad item, on cyprus

3. Nah, it's not weak. Rushing organic + nanosuit is really strong after 1 team item for tank

4. I think this item is in same place with seed. after finishing 5 items, you need one of seed or ancient rune depends if your skill is spammable(ancient rune) or high mana cost(seed)

5. agreed

6. agreed, i had never seen the usage of this item even before Tenderizer/reworked Cauterize

7. agreed, i dont really see the point for carries to get hp regen with respect to max health... it fits more with tank but it requires auto attack to activate regen.

8. Nope, still good health item when you already have 1 organic(obviously you don't want to buy 2 organic)

[lauzboi]

on this topic, does anyone use phantom menace anymore? I feel like i'd rather just get a shinobi if i need cloak and get galatic or sliptide if i really need the spell resists.

[taznkid]

Phantom Menace provides:

 

1. Movement Speed

2. Agility

3. Overall Resist

 

Its a all around good item, but weaker than items that specialize in a certain area. Having said that, I think Sliptide offers much of what Phantom Menace does, only better.

[Adamantium]

I usually laugh when I see people pick it up because I think it's just so weak comparatively.

[taznkid]

I think people even prefer Contamination Shard over Phantom Menace even on Agility Heroes.

[Adamantium]

Just gotta make the unique on phantom menace op so people have incentive.

[lauzboi]

I also think that it needs to add movement speed itself, not just a %. Otherwise, I just don't feel like the cost is worthwhile. I agree I'd rather just have a sliptide or contamination shard.

 

Now the maneuverability the old menace had, that was something that made it worthwhile both for farming and ganking.

[BestPlayer]

You don't need to buff contamshard or phantom menace.

 

The items are fine. I don't see how you compare sliptide with phantom menace either, since the items are (and are supposed to be) wildly different.

EDIT: And why you would want old energy saber to come back is ridiculous. All the retard heroes going ES/BHM was beyond cancerous.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Soedenone

[OPReN]

silver soul >>>>> contam and phantom

[Adamantium]

I just don't see why you would ever make a spot in your item build for phantom menace

[lauzboi]

I'm just waiting for someone to tell me when I should get a phantom menace instead of something else.

 

If phantom menace is so fine already, than when do I ever get it?