In the Auto-Battler Teamfight Tactics, the LoL Auto Chess, Riot apparently cannot stop nerfing the item “Locket of the Iron Solari”. The amulet was still considered one of the best and strongest items yesterday, according to the tier list. It had already been nerfed twice by then. With the LoL Patch 9.15 today, Riot finally put an end to the item.
What kind of item is this? The item “Locket of the Iron Solari” (en. Locket of the Iron Solari) is created by combining Armor and the Needlessly Large Rod.
This results in an item that benefits not only the wearer – like other items in Teamfight Tactics – but several champions as well.
This is how the item originally was: At the very beginning, as mentioned in the Item Cheat Sheet for Teamfight Tactics, the item granted its wearer and all nearby allies a shield that absorbed 200 health points.
Since up to 6 champions could stand around the central champion, 7 champions could be affected if they formed a tight grouping. The item was often given to the Sorceress Lulu (featured image).
This meant: The amulet could protect up to 7 champions for a total of 1400 health points. It was as if you gave 7 people a belt that granted them 200 additional health points.
This was the effect: There were players who specifically aimed for the tactic of stacking several of these items on one character, up to 3.
This was called “Locket Stacking.” Sorcerers or Rangers are generally considered glass cannons in Teamfight Tactics: They deal a lot of damage but have low survivability.
With Locket Stacking, these glass cannons suddenly had more health points, survived longer, and could at least cast a spell and deal damage to the enemy.
This tactic was considered too strong. Players engaging in “Locket Stacking” in Teamfight Tactics were often insulted and cursed in chat.
3 Nerfs in 2 Weeks
This was the 1st nerf: With the first nerf in mid-July, the item no longer affected the champion and all directly adjacent allies, but only the champion and 2 to the left and right of him in a row. However, the shield increased to 300.
This meant: Up to 5 champions could still be protected, for 1500 health points. They no longer needed to be clustered together but rather aligned in a row, making squishy targets theoretically more vulnerable.
However, this did not work at all.
This was the 2nd nerf: As a hotfix, due to urgency, Riot Games shortly thereafter reduced the item to 200 health points. This meant that only 5 champions could be protected for 1000 health points.
This was the effect: In a tier list of Teamfight Tactics that just appeared, the item “Locket of the Iron Solari” was still considered the best or at least second-best item in the game, according to a top player. Even 1000 health points (5 belts) were still too strong.
Players say: Locket “sucks” now
This is the killer nerf now: Now Riot Games has finally killed the item with a nerf. Because the shield now lasts only 4 seconds at the start of the fight after LoL Patch 9.15 and then fades completely. However, the shield increases from 200 to 250.
Let’s see if this nerf is enough to end the reign of terror of the item.
The only thing left for Riot is probably to keep hammering the amulet until it breaks completely.
This is how it is seen now: According to initial reactions from players to the patch, the item is currently just dead (via reddit). The item is considered to be bad and useless in its current form.
However, players already have ideas for stacking a new offensive item. Because it deals damage to opponents when they cast spells. It seems Riot Games is facing the next balance problem in Teamfight Tactics.
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