Maokai’s Journey Towards Balance in Season 14: Navigating a Winding Road
League of Legends, the immensely popular online multiplayer game, has seen its fair share of champion balance changes over the years. One such champion who has undergone numerous adjustments is Maokai, the Twisted Treant. As we enter Season 14, Maokai’s journey towards balance continues, as developers strive to find the perfect equilibrium for this iconic tank.
Maokai, known for his durable nature and crowd control abilities, has always been a staple pick in the top lane. However, his dominance in certain metas has led to periods of frustration for players and a need for adjustments. Riot Games, the developer behind League of Legends, has been actively working to address these concerns and ensure that Maokai remains a viable and balanced pick.
One of the key aspects of Maokai’s journey towards balance is his ability to sustain in lane while also providing utility for his team. In previous seasons, Maokai’s passive ability, Sap Magic, allowed him to heal when taking damage. This made him incredibly difficult to poke down and forced opponents to engage in all-ins to have a chance at defeating him. However, this sustain was deemed too powerful and was subsequently nerfed.
In Season 14, Riot Games has taken a different approach to Maokai’s sustain by adjusting his passive ability. Instead of healing directly from damage taken, Maokai now gains a shield that absorbs a portion of incoming damage. This change encourages players to be more strategic with their trades and rewards them for timing their abilities correctly. It also provides counterplay opportunities for opponents by allowing them to burst through the shield before committing to an all-in.
Another area of focus in Maokai’s journey towards balance is his crowd control abilities. Maokai’s Twisted Advance, a targeted dash that roots the enemy upon arrival, has been a powerful tool for engaging and locking down opponents. However, its reliability and low cooldown made it difficult for opponents to escape or retaliate.
To address this, Riot Games has made adjustments to the cooldown and range of Twisted Advance. While it still provides Maokai with a reliable engage tool, opponents now have more opportunities to outplay him by dodging or kiting his engages. This change promotes a more interactive laning phase and rewards players who can anticipate Maokai’s engages and react accordingly.
Furthermore, Maokai’s ultimate ability, Nature’s Grasp, has also undergone changes in Season 14. Previously, this ability had a global range, allowing Maokai to impact team fights from anywhere on the map. However, this global presence made it difficult for opponents to avoid or play around.
To address this issue, Riot Games has reduced the range of Nature’s Grasp, making it more localized and easier to dodge. This change forces Maokai players to be more strategic with their ultimate usage and encourages opponents to position themselves properly to avoid its impact. It also opens up opportunities for counterplay and rewards players who can effectively navigate the winding road of Maokai’s ultimate.
As Season 14 progresses, Maokai’s journey towards balance will continue. Riot Games will closely monitor his performance and make further adjustments if necessary. The goal is to ensure that Maokai remains a viable pick without being overpowered or frustrating to play against.
In conclusion, Maokai’s journey towards balance in Season 14 is a testament to Riot Games’ commitment to creating a fair and enjoyable gameplay experience. Through adjustments to his sustain, crowd control abilities, and ultimate, developers are striving to find the perfect equilibrium for this iconic tank. As players navigate the winding road of Maokai’s changes, they can look forward to a more interactive and balanced gameplay experience in the top lane.
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