League of Legends: Statik Shiv to Receive a Further Nerf in Patch 13.17
Riot Games constantly updates League of Legends by adding, removing, and reintroducing items to keep the game fresh. However, balancing these items can prove to be a challenge for the developers. One recent example of this is the recurring nerfs to a marksman item.
After three seasons without Statik Shiv, Riot returned this iconic item to the game in Patch 13.10. Unfortunately, it turned out to be overpowered, leading to mages abusing it in the mid lane. Spideraxe, a League mod, has confirmed that Statik Shiv will receive another nerf in Patch 13.17, reducing its AP ratio from 30% to 15%.
Reasons Behind the Statik Shiv Nerfs
When Statik Shiv made its comeback in Patch 13.10, AD carries initially favored the then-broken Stormrazor. In response, Riot significantly buffed the item for two consecutive patches. However, this led to an unexpected consequence.
LeBlanc, Kai’Sa, and even Twisted Fate started building Statik Shiv, creating a demand for the item. As a result, it was subsequently nerfed over the next three patches. Nevertheless, Patch 13.17 will introduce yet another tuning change for this item.
Targeting Mages and Item Diversity
This upcoming nerf is primarily aimed at preventing LeBlanc and other mages from building Statik Shiv. While this may seem reasonable, it highlights the lack of versatility and damage in mage items compared to bruiser and assassin items. As Riot prepares to share updates for preseason 14, players hope for improvements in item diversity.
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