Talk:Ezreal/@comment-5494818-20140514132015/@comment-24040326-20140514140217

This. The problem with Ezreal is that one of his biggest stregnths ((Read: Being able to itemize versatile according to his kit)) is also his biggest threat, He can build Standart adc, and even if he gets fed, other ADCs will win him becase of Damage Boost ((Cait's passive, Draven's axes, Vayne's Silver Bolts)) or ATK Speed steroid ((Graves, Tristana))  or outdamaging him ((Corki, Twitch, Lucian)) Or simply outplaying him somehow ((Jinx, Quinn, Kog'Maw)).

So he can't build standart adc, he goes for Trinity for AD Caster damage, BT for sustain, LW for ArPen, he still deals damage, but he needs to build up his passive, not to mention the lack of crits until IE ((if you ever get it)) can be the difference between a duel with other ADC.

Then Ez tries another build, full CDR, however he misses on DPS because there aren't many CDR items he benefits with ((Ionian boots of lucidity, he misses on the 70% ATK Speed with passive and Zerker's. IBG gives him much needed self peel and mana, at the cost of missing out on raw damage.Black Cleaver is good and he can apply the stacks at a safe range with Q. Problem is BC is niche on an ADC with 75% of his damage being magic damage. Zeke's Herald is just... outdated to put it that way, you won't benefit much from it unless heavy AD team.Youmuu's could wor on him, but as a champion who relies a bit too much from itemization you can't afford to be missing on 553 gold when the active is on cooldown, besides, Ez's ranged so he misses out on two seconds from the active. Zephyr is actually pretty good on Ez given that every stat helps him, sadly it just gives 10% of CDR ((it would be OP and too much cost efficient if it gave more CDR than that though)).

So Ez gives in and goes AP, he has even worse early game than usual ((Akali, Zed, Kat, Talon say hi and laugh at Ez mid, since so squishy)) and sacrifices mid game power, where AD Ez shines ((at least until Lich Bane and heavy AP item)) for crazy lategame kill potential and insane AoE global magic damage. Problem is getting there, he can be shut down easy and hard if/when he uses his E for damage.

Ezreal is at the moment the Red Mage of League. Jack of all trades, master of none.