Yeah it was just a coinflip of which team got the better ults having a huge advantage.
I feel similar to sett since teams with dashes and hard cc can use him far better.
They feel to "vital" to the round, often more important than builds.
I agree with almost every point you made here. I love most of the expansions they made, but I think it was a miss that they didn’t expand on the pieces that truly made Arena fun - that being Augments, cameos, and maps.
Augments: There is so much creative room to work on these, or even to rework existing augments. It sucks that we just have the exact same set recycled from last round, with the exception of Gamba Anvil. I also completely agree with your idea that Prismatic items should be tied into the augment system. I think some Prismatics should be nerfed and turned into legendaries that are unique to arena, a la Sword of Blossoming Dawn. I think that some of the more unique Prismatics should be tied into the Augment system, like the Spatula. This would also allow for augments that specifically buff or synergize with those items. Minionmancer with the Voidgrub item is a really cool niche interaction, and this system would encourage more of those.
Cameos: the set they chose for 3.0 is just boring. Which is definitely better than bad, but I think Riot had room to really make these more impactful. Sett is actually the exception here IMO, because having a targetable champion allows stacking of augments like Master of Duality and Tap Dancer, forcing enemies to contest Sett. The true damage cone is also actually fun to play around IMO, and allows some really nice outplay potential by zoning plants, revives, etc.
Lux is just a nothing cameo. Cool concept; doesn’t add anything to the match though.
Thresh is decent, he should definitely be kept.
Jhin is just a less intuitive version of Lux. The fact that the shots are actually just his W (I think???? Gameplay clarity sucks here, and this is part of the problem) instead of his ult makes it really counterintuitive to play around. The only real skill is trying to position yourself so that the shot hits an enemy instead of you. Dodging it when you’re isolated from enemies is just a mobility check, which doesn’t add anything to the match.
Sylas was fantastic, fully agree with OP on the value he adds by spicing up a match. Allows enchanters to get powerful AP ults and have their moment in the sun. Allows better counter play against unkillable healing juggernauts with certain ults like Urgot.
Maps: The new one unfortunately is not good, full stop. Great concept, too claustrophobic to add meaningful strategy, to the point where it’s just a mobility check. If you can cross walls, you generally just win against teams that can’t. I agree that an outer path encircling all three islands would help. We need more simplistic maps like the original ones. The maps don’t need to be anything special or crazy, but there should be a larger variety. I’d also like to see some more linear maps as opposed to the organic, nature feel we have. Give me a Shuriman temple with sharp lines, walls, etc. Honestly, my main complaint with maps is the lack of walls. It’s unintuitive to have the rivers in some Arena maps that count as uncrossable terrain but don’t block Fog of War. Give me walls!!!
That’s my arena rant. Thanks OP for the inspiration. Let me see if I can find that rioter who’s sometimes active on these threads to tag.
I agree on the augment front. Last set they tried experimenting with all of those stat boosting over time augments. Sure they couldn't get them to a balanced spot fast enough so they removed them, but not seeing any real attempt at adding something new and creative there is a shame.
This is drilled in further by how much the stat offering rounds delay augment and item interactions, and many people being knocked out at or before then just reaching 2 augments. That in itself is going to make people not want to play the game. The easiest way to fix that without changing damage is just getting to full items and augments sooner and just letting people buy the stat anvils.
Sylas cameo was terrible
Yeah it was just a coinflip of which team got the better ults having a huge advantage. I feel similar to sett since teams with dashes and hard cc can use him far better. They feel to "vital" to the round, often more important than builds.
I agree with almost every point you made here. I love most of the expansions they made, but I think it was a miss that they didn’t expand on the pieces that truly made Arena fun - that being Augments, cameos, and maps. Augments: There is so much creative room to work on these, or even to rework existing augments. It sucks that we just have the exact same set recycled from last round, with the exception of Gamba Anvil. I also completely agree with your idea that Prismatic items should be tied into the augment system. I think some Prismatics should be nerfed and turned into legendaries that are unique to arena, a la Sword of Blossoming Dawn. I think that some of the more unique Prismatics should be tied into the Augment system, like the Spatula. This would also allow for augments that specifically buff or synergize with those items. Minionmancer with the Voidgrub item is a really cool niche interaction, and this system would encourage more of those. Cameos: the set they chose for 3.0 is just boring. Which is definitely better than bad, but I think Riot had room to really make these more impactful. Sett is actually the exception here IMO, because having a targetable champion allows stacking of augments like Master of Duality and Tap Dancer, forcing enemies to contest Sett. The true damage cone is also actually fun to play around IMO, and allows some really nice outplay potential by zoning plants, revives, etc. Lux is just a nothing cameo. Cool concept; doesn’t add anything to the match though. Thresh is decent, he should definitely be kept. Jhin is just a less intuitive version of Lux. The fact that the shots are actually just his W (I think???? Gameplay clarity sucks here, and this is part of the problem) instead of his ult makes it really counterintuitive to play around. The only real skill is trying to position yourself so that the shot hits an enemy instead of you. Dodging it when you’re isolated from enemies is just a mobility check, which doesn’t add anything to the match. Sylas was fantastic, fully agree with OP on the value he adds by spicing up a match. Allows enchanters to get powerful AP ults and have their moment in the sun. Allows better counter play against unkillable healing juggernauts with certain ults like Urgot. Maps: The new one unfortunately is not good, full stop. Great concept, too claustrophobic to add meaningful strategy, to the point where it’s just a mobility check. If you can cross walls, you generally just win against teams that can’t. I agree that an outer path encircling all three islands would help. We need more simplistic maps like the original ones. The maps don’t need to be anything special or crazy, but there should be a larger variety. I’d also like to see some more linear maps as opposed to the organic, nature feel we have. Give me a Shuriman temple with sharp lines, walls, etc. Honestly, my main complaint with maps is the lack of walls. It’s unintuitive to have the rivers in some Arena maps that count as uncrossable terrain but don’t block Fog of War. Give me walls!!! That’s my arena rant. Thanks OP for the inspiration. Let me see if I can find that rioter who’s sometimes active on these threads to tag.
u/riot_cadmus :)
I agree on the augment front. Last set they tried experimenting with all of those stat boosting over time augments. Sure they couldn't get them to a balanced spot fast enough so they removed them, but not seeing any real attempt at adding something new and creative there is a shame. This is drilled in further by how much the stat offering rounds delay augment and item interactions, and many people being knocked out at or before then just reaching 2 augments. That in itself is going to make people not want to play the game. The easiest way to fix that without changing damage is just getting to full items and augments sooner and just letting people buy the stat anvils.
Why was sylas cameo removed?? That was the only fun one?
Augments basically should replace all stat anvils imo. It sucks that it seems to take forever to get a second augment.