The most controversial topic lately has been the “underwhelming” nature of the Marksmen role as these champions, once seen as the team’s backbone, have gradually shifted to a more utility-focused role. Riot Games even conducted a comprehensive buff for all champions in this position, except for a few special characters, to please the players. However, that is not enough to satisfy the top pro player marksmen in the world, who live and breathe this role.
Recently, during one of his streams, Rekkles shared some very accurate insights about this position and his wishes regarding how Riot Games treats the marksman champions. This is definitely what every pro player in this role hopes for.
Rekkles: “I wish they would rework the old marksman champions instead of just releasing new ones like they currently do. Just look at Aphelios and Senna, these champions make other marksmen feel obsolete and difficult to play, while the new champions are just too strong and everyone plays them all the time. I think both new champions and reworks can be interesting, and it would be great if they reworked the marksmen. How about playing Vayne all the time? I would love that.”
“I also think some champions have amazing skill sets, but they just don’t fit in 2020 anymore. For example, Jhin, his tools are very unique but playing that champion feels very strange, like you’re playing League of Legends from four years ago instead of the current meta,” Rekkles concluded.
One of the reasons why most current marksman champions (except for Senna, Aphelios, and Varus) are becoming extremely weak is that their skill sets have become outdated. We are all too familiar with champions that have skills supporting single-target damage and become stronger towards the late game, while lacking mobility and having too few effective crowd control abilities.
Meanwhile, newer champions possess too much power. Aphelios is perhaps the most accurate example, as he has five weapon forms that provide everything a marksman needs. Want a champion that shoots far, shoots fast, slows enemies, roots, and heals continuously? Boom, and Aphelios appears with all of that. Naturally, the other champions feel completely outdated.
With League of Legends reaching a total of 150 champions, perhaps Riot Games needs to prioritize reworking old champions so that those characters can compete with the new names. Then League of Legends will truly become a strategic game, rather than just picking a strong champion and securing a guaranteed victory.